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Suppressor of fused (SUFU) is widely regarded as a key negative regulator of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) morphogenic pathway and a known tumor suppressor of medulloblastoma (MB). However, we report here that SUFU expression was markedly increased in 75% of specimens compiled in a tissue array comprising 49 unstratified MBs. The SUFU and GLI1 expression levels in this MB array showed strong positive correlation, which was also identified in a large public data set containing 736 MBs. We further report that increasing Sufu gene dosage in mice caused preaxial polydactyly, which was associated with the expansion of the Gli3 domain in the anterior limb bud and heightened Shh signaling responses during embryonic development. Increasing Sufu gene dosage also led to accelerated cerebellar development and, when combined with ablation of the Shh receptor encoded by Patched1 (Ptch1), promoted MB tumorigenesis. These data reveal multifaceted roles of SUFU in promoting MB tumorigenesis by enhancing SHH signaling. This revelation clarifies potentially counterintuitive clinical observation of high SUFU expression in MBs and may pave way for novel strategies to reduce or reverse MB progression.

Although E3 ligase Speckle type BTB/POZ protein (SPOP) promotes tumorigenesis by acting as a key regulatory hub in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the detailed molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a well-known tumor suppressor, Suppressor of Fused (SUFU), is downregulated by SPOP. Interestingly, this downregulation depends on cullin-3(Cul3)-SPOP E3 ligase, but SUFU is not a direct substrate of SPOP. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a ubiquitinated substrate of SPOP, is involved in SPOP-mediated SUFU reduction. Importantly, inhibition of SUFU leads to elevated SHH and WNT signaling, consequently rescuing the reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of ccRCC cells caused by SPOP-knockdown. Moreover, combinatorial treatment with SHH and WNT inhibitors shows more effective for suppressing ccRCC cell proliferation and aggressiveness. These findings demonstrate that a novel SPOP-PTEN-SUFU axis promotes ccRCC carcinogenesis by activating SHH and WNT pathway, providing a new treatment strategy for ccRCC.

Background: Hedgehog signaling is essential to the regulation of embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and stem cell self-renewal, making it a prime target for developing cancer therapeutics. Given the close link between aberrant Hedgehog signaling and cancers, many small molecular compounds have been developed to inhibit Smoothened, a key signal transducer of this pathway, for treating cancer and several such compounds have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (GDC-0449 and LDE-225). However, acquired drug resistance has emerged as an important obstacle to the effective use of these first generation Hedgehog pathway blockers. Thus, new Smoothened inhibitors that can overcome such resistance is an urgent need going forward., Results: We established the Smoothened/βarrestin2-GFP high-throughput screening platform based on the mechanistic discovery of Hedgehog signaling pathway, and discovered several active small molecules targeting Smoothened including 0025A. Here we show that 0025A can block the translocation of βarrestin2-GFP to Smoothened, displace Bodipy-cyclopamine binding to wild-type Smoothened or mutant Smoothened-D473H, reduce the accumulation of Smo on primary cilia and the expression of Gli upon Hedgehog stimulation. In addition, we show that 0025A can effectively suppress hair follicle morphogenesis and hair growth in mice., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that 0025A is a potent antagonist targeting Smoothened wild-type and mutant receptors in the Hedgehog signaling pathway and may provide a new therapy for refractory cancers.

Methamphetamine (Meth) is one of the most frequently abused drugs worldwide. Recent studies have indicated that antibodies with high affinity for Meth reduce its pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to develop a technique for virus-based passive immunization against Meth effects. We generated a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype-8 vector (AAV-MethAb) carrying the gene for a Meth-specific monoclonal antibody (MethAb). Infection of 293 cells with AAV-MethAb resulted in the expression and secretion of antibodies which bind to Meth. The viral vector was then examined in adult ICR mice. Systemic administration of AAV-MethAb resulted in long-term expression of MethAb in the serum for up to 29 weeks. Serum collected from the animals receiving AAV-MethAb retained a high specificity for (+)-Meth. Animals were challenged with Meth five weeks after viral injection. Meth levels in the brain and serum were reduced while Meth-induced locomotor activity was significantly attenuated. In conclusion, AAV-MethAb administration effectively depletes Meth from brain and serum while reducing the behavioral response to Meth, and thus is a potential therapeutic approach for Meth abuse.

Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) may heal their skin wounds scar-free in both paedomorphs and metamorphs. In previous studies on small punch skin wounds, rapid re-epithelialisation was noted in these two axolotl morphs. However, large wound size in mammals may affect wound healing. In this study, large circumferential full thickness excision wounds on the hind limbs were created on juvenile paedomorphic and metamorphic axolotls. The results showed re-epithelialisation was more quickly initiated in paedomorphs than in metamorphs after wounding. The migrating rate of epidermis on the wound bed was faster in paedomorphs than in metamorphs and thus completion of re-epithelialisation was faster in paedomorphs than in metamorphs. Within these re-epithelialisation periods, neither basement membrane nor dermis was reformed. Epidermal cell proliferation was detected by EdU-labelling technique. In the normal unwounded skin, epidermal proliferation rate was higher in paedomorphs than in metamorphs. After wounding, the epidermal proliferation rate was significantly lower in the migrating front on the wound bed than in the normal skin in paedomorphs. The EdU-labelling rate between normal skin and migration front was not different in metamorphs. Lacking of more proliferating epidermal cells on the wound bed indicated that the new epidermis here derived rather from migrating epidermal cells than from cell proliferation in situ. In conclusion, re-epithelialisation in the large wound might be fully completed in both morphs despite it was initiated earlier and with faster rate in paedomorphs than in metamorphs. The new epidermis on the wound bed derived mainly from cell migration than by cell proliferation in the re-epithelialisation period. J. Morphol. 278:228-235, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals,Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Growing evidence has indicated that opioids enhance replication of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus in target cells. However, it is unknown whether opioids can enhance replication of other clinically important viral pathogens. In this study, the interaction of opioid agonists and human influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus was examined in human lung epithelial A549 cells. Cells were exposed to morphine, methadone or buprenorphine followed by human H1N1 viral infection. Exposure to methadone differentially enhanced viral propagation, consistent with an increase in virus adsorption, susceptibility to virus infection and viral protein synthesis. In contrast, morphine or buprenorphine did not alter H1N1 replication. Because A549 cells do not express opioid receptors, methadone-enhanced H1N1 replication in human lung cells may not be mediated through these receptors. The interaction of methadone and H1N1 virus was also examined in adult mice. Treatment with methadone significantly increased H1N1 viral replication in lungs. Our data suggest that use of methadone facilitates influenza A viral infection in lungs and might raise concerns regarding the possible consequence of an increased risk of serious influenza A virus infection in people who receive treatment in methadone maintenance programs., (© 2015 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Background: The transmission routes for human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) infections in areas with high seroprevalence are not known. In the work described here, persistent PARV4 viral replication was investigated by conducting a longitudinal study., Methods: Ten healthcare workers each provided a blood sample at the beginning of the study (first sample) and 12 months later (second sample). The paired samples were tested for PARV4-positivity by immunoblotting analysis and nested polymerase chain reactions., Results: IgG antibodies against PARV4 were detected in six participants, three of whom also had IgM antibodies against PARV4. The immunoblotting results did not vary over time. PARV4 DNA was detected in the first blood sample from one participant who had IgG antibodies against PARV4 and in the second blood samples from 2 participants who had IgG and IgM antibodies against PARV4., Conclusions: Detection of PARV4 DNA in the second blood samples from two seropositive participants suggests the existence of persistent PARV4 replication or reactivation of inactive virus in the tissues. The finding of persistent or intermittent PARV4 replication in individuals with past infections provides an important clue toward unraveling the non-parenteral transmission routes of PARV4 infection in areas where the virus is endemic.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive psychostimulant with tens of millions of abusers around the world, and currently there is no effective or approved medication for addiction to it. Monoclonal antibodies with a high affinity for methamphetamine have the potential to sequester the drug in the vascular compartment and reduce entry into the brain, acting as peripheral pharmacokinetic antagonists without inducing adverse effects on neurons. However, in order to maintain the antibodies at an effective level, repeated administration is required, which would be expensive and problematic for patient compliance. In this study, we intended to investigate whether using a recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer technique can be an effective approach to achieve long-term expression of anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies in mouse models. We generated a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector encoding the heavy and light chains of an anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody, which were constructed in a single open reading frame and linked with a 2A self-processing sequence. In the context of virus-mediated gene transfer, expression of full-length and functional monoclonal antibodies was successfully demonstrated in vitro and in vivo . Further investigations on dose optimization, long-term expression, and protection from methamphetamine challenge in mouse models are ongoing.

Background/purpose: We evaluated the long-term effects of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on oxidative stress, biliary acute phase protein expression, and liver function in CCl(4)-induced chronic liver injury., Methods: We evaluated the antioxidant activity of GTE in comparison with those of vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene in vitro by using an ultrasensitive chemiluminescence analyzer. Chronic liver injury was induced by intraperitoneally administering carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) (1 mL/kg body weight, twice weekly) to female Wistar rats for 8 weeks. The effects of low (4 mg/kg body weight per day) and high (20 mg/kg body weight per day) doses of intragastric GTE on CCl(4)-induced liver dysfunction and fibrosis were examined by measuring the bile and blood reactive oxygen species levels and biochemical parameters by using Western blot and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques., Results: GTE has greater scavenging activity against O(2)(-), H(2)O(2), and Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in vitro than vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene do. In vivo, CCl(4) markedly increased bile and blood reactive oxygen species production, lipid accumulation, number of infiltrated leukocytes, fibrosis, hepatic hydroxyproline content, and plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, and reduced plasma albumin levels. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that CCl(4) increased the acute-phase expression of six biliary proteins and decreased hepatic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), catalase, and CuZn superoxide dismutase protein expression. GTE supplementation attenuated CCl(4)-enhanced oxidative stress, levels of biochemical parameters, pathology, and acute-phase protein secretion, and preserved antioxidant/antiapoptotic protein expression., Conclusion: GTE supplementation attenuates CCl(4)-induced hepatic oxidative stress, fibrosis, acute phase protein excretion, and hepatic dysfunction via the antioxidant and antiapoptotic defense mechanisms., (Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Pen c 13, identified as a 33-kDa alkaline serine protease, is a major allergen secreted by Penicillium citrinum. Detailed knowledge about the epitopes responsible for IgE binding would help inform the diagnosis/prognosis of fungal allergy and facilitate the rational design of hypoallergenic candidate vaccines. The goal of the present study was to characterize the IgE epitopes of Pen c 13., Methodology/principal Findings: Serum samples were collected from 10 patients with mold allergy and positive Pen c 13 skin test results. IgE-binding epitopes on rPen c 13 were mapped using an enzymatic digestion and chemical cleavage method, followed by dot-blotting and mass spectrometry. A B-cell epitope-predicting server and molecular modeling were used to predict the residues most likely involved in IgE binding. Theoretically predicted IgE-binding regions were further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis assays. At least twelve different IgE-binding epitopes located throughout Pen c 13 were identified. Of these, peptides S16 (A(148)-E(166)) and S22 (A(243)-K(274)) were recognized by sera from 90% and 100% of the patients tested, and were further confirmed by inhibition assays. Peptide S22 was selected for further analysis of IgE-binding ability. The results of serum screening showed that the majority of IgE-binding ability resided in the C-terminus. One Pen c 13 mutant, G270A (T(261)-K(274)), exhibited clearly enhanced IgE reactivity, whereas another, K274A, exhibited dramatically reduced IgE reactivity., Conclusions/significance: Experimental analyses confirmed in silico-predicted residues involved in an important antigenic region of Pen c 13. The G270A mutant of Pen c 13 has the potential to serve as an additional tool for the diagnosis/prognosis of mold allergy, and the K274A mutant, as a hypoallergenic form of the epitope, may provide a framework for the design and development of a safe and efficient therapeutic strategy for treating human allergic diseases.

The objective of this research was to investigate the possibility of solving the influence of the magnetostatic surface wave (MSSW) propagating velocity on the bandwidths of the single-scale wavelet transform processor using MSSW device. The motivation for this work was prompted by the processor that -3dB bandwidth varies as the propagating velocity of MSSW changes. In this paper, we present the influence of the magnetostatic surface wave (MSSW) propagating velocity on the bandwidths as the key problem of the single-scale wavelet transform processor using MSSW device. The solution to the problem is achieved in this study. we derived the function between the propagating velocity of MSSW and the -3dB bandwidth, so we know from the function that -3dB bandwidth of the single-scale wavelet transform processor using MSSW device varies as the propagating velocity of MSSW changes. Through adjusting the distance and orientation of the permanent magnet, we can implement the control of the MSSW propagating velocity, so that the influence of the MSSW propagating velocity on the bandwidths of the single-scale wavelet transform processor using MSSW device is solved., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that is among the most widely abused illicit drugs, with an estimated over 35 million users in the world. Several lines of evidence suggest that chronic meth abuse is a major factor for increased risk of infections with human immunodeficiency virus and possibly other pathogens, due to its immunosuppressive property. Influenza A virus infections frequently cause epidemics and pandemics of respiratory diseases among human populations. However, little is known about whether meth has the ability to enhance influenza A virus replication, thus increasing severity of influenza illness in meth abusers. Herein, we investigated the effects of meth on influenza A virus replication in human lung epithelial A549 cells. The cells were exposed to meth and infected with human influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) virus. The viral progenies were titrated by plaque assays, and the expression of viral proteins and cellular proteins involved in interferon responses was examined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. We report the first evidence that meth significantly reduces, rather than increases, virus propagation and the susceptibility to influenza infection in the human lung epithelial cell line, consistent with a decrease in viral protein synthesis. These effects were apparently not caused by meth's effects on enhancing virus-induced interferon responses in the host cells, reducing viral biological activities, or reducing cell viability. Our results suggest that meth might not be a great risk factor for influenza A virus infection among meth abusers. Although the underlying mechanism responsible for the action of meth on attenuating virus replication requires further investigation, these findings prompt the study to examine whether other structurally similar compounds could be used as anti-influenza agents.

Background: Chromosome translocation associated with neurodevelopmental disorders provides an opportunity to identify new disease-associated genes and gain new insight into their function. During chromosome analysis, we identified a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 1p and 12q, t(1; 12)(p32.1; q21.3), co-segregating with microcephaly, language delay, and severe psychomotor retardation in a mother and her two affected boys., Methods: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), long-range PCR, and direct sequencing were used to map the breakpoints on chromosomes 1p and 12q. A reporter gene assay was conducted in human neuroblastoma (SKNSH) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines to assess the functional implication of the fusion sequences between chromosomes 12 and 1., Results: We determined both breakpoints at the nucleotide level. Neither breakpoint disrupted any known gene directly. The breakpoint on chromosome 1p was located amid a gene-poor region of ~ 1.1 Mb, while the breakpoint on chromosome 12q was located ~ 3.4 kb downstream of the ALX1 gene, a homeobox gene. In the reporter gene assay, we discovered that the fusion sequences construct between chromosomes 12 and 1 had a ~ 1.5 to 2-fold increased reporter gene activity compared with the corresponding normal chromosome 12 sequences construct., Conclusion: Our findings imply that the translocation may enhance the expression of the ALX1 gene via the position effect and result in the clinical symptoms of this family. Our findings may also expand the clinical phenotype spectrum of ALX1-related human diseases as loss of the ALX1 function was recently reported to result in abnormal craniofacial development.

Background: The transmission routes of PARV4 are not completely understood. The first PARV4 serological study suggested that PARV4 is transmitted predominantly through parenteral route., Objectives: To set up an immunoblot system for studying the epidemiology of PARV4 infection in HIV-1 infected patients in Taiwan., Study Design: Recombinant fusion proteins SUMOVP2 (a.a. 272-630 of PARV4 open reading frame 2) and SUMOVP3 (a.a. 604-914) were made and used as antigens in immunoblot. Plasma samples were from HIV-1 infected intravenous drug users IDU (69), homosexuals (66) and heterosexuals (68)., Results: PARV4 IgG seropositive rate was 73.9%, 71.2% and 58.8%; IgM seropositive rate was 40.5%, 16.7% and 17.6% in IDUs, homosexuals and heterosexuals, respectively. Longitudinal samples were available from two homosexuals positive for IgM anti-PARV4, persistent IgM response was found over a period of 9 and 21 months, respectively., Conclusions: PARV4 is a common viral infection in HIV-1 infected homosexuals and heterosexuals in Taiwan. The detection of IgM anti-PARV4 does not always suggest recent PARV4 infection., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: AIMS Patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are reported to have an increased severity of irritating bladder symptoms, including urinary frequency and urgency. The mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to elucidate the possible etiologies underlying this problem., Methods: Data from 23 female patients with SS (15 primary and 8 secondary) who were treated in the urology clinic for chronic, irritating bladder symptoms were studied. Evaluation of each subject is composed of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), bladder diary entries, and urodynamic studies, which also included an ice water test (IWT) to detect the presence of a C-fiber mediated micturition pathway. Interstitial cystitis (IC) was diagnosed with post-hydrodilatation cystoscopic findings of glomerulations and a KCl test., Results: These patients complained predominantly of overactive bladder symptoms (OAB), including frequency (n=20, 87%), nocturia (n=16, 66%), and urgency (n=12, 52%). Based on the aforementioned evaluations, four patients (17%) had polyuria with normal bladder function, nine patients (39%) had detrusor overactivity (DO), seven patients (32%) had bladder hypersensitivity (including two patients (9%) diagnosed with IC), and three patients (13%) had negative findings. Ice water instillation neither elicited novel involuntary contractions, both in those with or without DO. Five of the six patients (83%) with DO versus one of the four patients (25%) without DO responded to antimuscarinic therapy., Conclusions: Various factors contribute to the irritating bladder symptoms in patients with SS, with DO being predominant. The LUTS developed in patients with SS are not due to any specific single etiology and that each patient must be individually carefully evaluated., (© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

OGtree is a web-based tool for constructing genome trees of prokaryotic species based on a measure of combining overlapping-gene content and overlapping-gene order in their whole genomes. The overlapping genes (OGs) are defined as adjacent genes whose coding sequences overlap partially or entirely. In fact, OGs are ubiquitous in microbial genomes and more conserved between species than non-OGs. Based on these properties, it has been suggested that OGs can serve as better phylogenetic characters than non-OGs for reconstructing the evolutionary relationships among microbial genomes. OGtree takes the accession numbers of prokaryotic genomes as its input. It then downloads their complete genomes from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information and identifies OGs in each genome and their orthologous OGs in other genomes. Next, OGtree computes an overlapping-gene distance between each pair of input genomes based on a combination of their OG content and orthologous OG order. Finally, it utilizes distance-based methods of building tree to reconstruct the genome trees of input prokaryotic genomes according to their pairwise OG distance. OGtree is available online at http://bioalgorithm.life.nctu.edu.tw/OGtree/.

The Penicillium genus of fungi is a frequently reported cause of allergic reactions. However, only a limited number of allergens have been reported. In Penicillium spp., many allergens show higher IgE-binding activity in culture filtrate extracts than in cellular extracts. In order to investigate the IgE-reactive profile of mold-sensitized patients, secreted IgE-reactive proteins from Penicillium citrinum were identified by 2-DE, serum immunoblotting, and nanoLC-MS/MS. Among the IgE-reactive spots, one known allergen, Pen c 13, and four novel allergens were identified. The cDNAs coding for Pen c 32 and Pen c 30 were cloned using designed primers based on nanoLC-MS/MS analysis. The amino acid sequences of Pen c 32 and Pen c 30 were, respectively, found to have extensive similarity with those of pectate lyases and catalases from various fungi. Native Pen c 30 was shown to have catalase activity and to bind to serum IgE from 48% of mold-allergic patients and induced immediate type skin reactions in a sensitized patient. Here, we present a proteome approach which resulted in the identification of four novel secreted allergens. These novel allergens might be useful in allergy diagnosis and in the treatment of mold-allergic disorders., (Copyright © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Hypernatremic myopathy was rarely reported in the literature and its clinical features have never been well-described. We present a 22-year-old man who had adipsic hypernatremia manifested with progressive proximal muscle weakness and remarkably high creatine kinase level that has never been reported in the cases of hypernatremic myopathy. His initial presentations were similar to that of polymyositis without the evidence of central nervous system dysfunction and hypopituitarism. The serum level of sodium at the beginning of myopathy is the lowest known in the literature. All the clinical presentations in this patient resulted from a hypothalamic mixed germ cell tumor with sub-acute intra-tumoral hemorrhage.

It is generally thought that parvovirus B19 is stable genetically. Consistently, genetic drift has not been found in patients with persistent B19 infection. In this report, longitudinal genetic changes in NS1 and VP1 gene of B19 isolates from three AIDS patients with persistent B19 infection were studied. One of the three patients was not treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). B19 viral DNA from these patients was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced directly. A single genetic change was found in the B19 isolate obtained from the patient not treated with HAART on Day 10 after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. The nucleotide sequences of B19 isolated from this patient, then remained unchanged over a period of 11 months. Analysis of NS1 clones derived from his longitudinal viral isolates showed the existence of quasi-species but genetic drift was not found. One of the other two patients treated with HAART experienced treatment failure; he was later treated with mega-HAART. In contrast to the genetic stability of B19 isolates from the patient not treated with HAART, multiple genetic changes were discovered in the viral isolates from the two other patients after HAART and mega-HAART, respectively. Through analysis of B19 clones, the frequency of clones containing these mutations confirmed the genetic drift. Nucleotide substitutions seen in VP2 gene of isolates with genetic drift from both patients were all non-conserved, suggesting that they are positively selected.

Background/purpose: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by diminished exocrine secretions with the resultant symptoms of dry mouth and dry eye. As genetic predisposition and ethnicity may alter the effectiveness of drug treatment, evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the secretagogue pilocarpine hydrochloride in the treatment of xerostomia in patients with SS in different populations is needed., Methods: Forty-four patients with SS were enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive 5 mg pilocarpine (Salagen) or placebo tablet four times daily for 12 weeks. Global evaluation and subjective responses of patients were assessed by questionnaires with visual analog scales and categorical checkboxes. Saliva production was also measured by modified Saxon's test., Results: Pilocarpine treatment significantly improved global assessment of dry mouth, symptoms associated with dry mouth (mouth comfort, ability to sleep and ability to speak), and saliva production compared to placebo. The drug was well tolerated and the most common adverse effect was sweating (5/23, 21.7%) resulting from the muscarinic agonist action of the drug. No serious drug-related adverse effect was found in this study., Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that therapy with 5 mg pilocarpine four times daily is effective, safe and well tolerated for the relief of oral symptoms in patients with SS in Taiwan.

To understand the clinical significance and mechanisms of cutaneous denervation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we assessed intraepidermal nerve fibre (IENF) density of the distal leg in 45 SLE patients (4 males and 41 females, aged 38.4 +/- 13.6 years) and analysed its correlations with pathology, lupus activity, sensory thresholds and electrophysiological parameters. Compared with age- and gender-matched control subjects, SLE patients had lower IENF densities (3.08 +/- 2.17 versus 11.27 +/- 3.96 fibres/mm, P < 0.0001); IENF densities were reduced in 38 patients (82.2%). Pathologically, 11 patients (24.4%) were found to have definite cutaneous vasculitis; the severity and extent of cutaneous vasculitis were correlated with IENF densities. Patients with active lupus had even lower IENF densities than those with quiescent lupus (1.86 +/- 1.37 versus 4.15 +/- 2.20 fibres/mm, P = 0.0002). By linear regression analysis, IENF densities were negatively correlated with the SLE disease activity index (r = 0.527, P = 0.0002) and cumulative episodes of lupus flare-up within 2 years before the skin biopsy (r = 0.616, P = 0.0014). Clinically, skin denervation was present not only in the patients with sensory neuropathy but also in the patients with neuropsychiatric syndrome involving the CNS. SLE patients had significantly elevated warm threshold temperatures (P = 0.003) and reduced cold threshold temperatures (P = 0.048); elevated warm threshold temperatures were associated with the reduced IENF densities (P = 0.032). In conclusion, cutaneous vasculitis and lupus activities underlie skin denervation with associated elevation of thermal thresholds as a major manifestation of sensory nerve injury in SLE.

Giant cell arteritis is rarely reported in people aged less than 50 years. We report a case of giant cell arteritis in a woman who developed symptoms of dizziness, headache, bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment, and had 1 episode of transient left hemiparesis before the age of 30. Carotid angiography showed multiple segmental narrowing in cranial vessels. Subsequently, at the age of 31, she had weight loss and developed a fever. Chest radiograph revealed mediastinal widening, and chest computed tomography revealed dilated pulmonary arteries and veins. Coronary angiography and aortography showed irregular narrowing of the descending aorta and multiple stenosis, with aneurysmal dilatation involving the proximal and distal coronary, pulmonary and mesenteric arteries. Multinucleated giant cells and predominant CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration were noted in a left temporal artery biopsy specimen. The patient's age and the finding of dilated pulmonary veins and prominent CD8+ T lymphocytes in the biopsy specimen suggest that this case was a distinct form of systemic giant cell arteritis.

Objective: We sought to explore bladder dysfunction in a cohort of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)., Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 152 female patients with SLE during a 15-month period. The clinical status of SLE was determined according to the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and bladder function was evaluated by lower urinary tract symptoms and urodynamic studies. We adapted the American Urological Association (AUA) index questionnaire to assess lower urinary tract symptoms in patients, which were compared with those in 227 age-matched healthy women., Results: The proportion of individuals reporting urinary frequency, urgency, weak urinary stream, and incomplete emptying, as well as severe lower urinary tract symptoms (AUA index score >/=20), was significantly higher in the SLE group when compared with the control group. The AUA index score showed a modest correlation with the SLEDAI score (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) but not with patient age or disease duration. There was a significant relationship between central nervous system involvement and the AUA index score. The most common urodynamic finding was a small cystometric bladder capacity (<150 ml; n = 7 patients), followed by a subnormal urinary flow rate (<12 ml/second; n = 6 patients). In 3 of 7 patients with small cystometric bladder capacities, imaging studies documented a contracted bladder with marked hydroureteronephrosis., Conclusion: Patients with SLE experience an increased prevalence of voiding dysfunction compared with healthy individuals. Voiding dysfunction can be attributable to either direct bladder involvement or other disease-related factors.

Lupus cystitis was rare but frequently resulted in obstructive uropathy and had a strong association with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. We treated six patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and obstructive uropathy from January 1996 to December 2001 in a university hospital. Evidence of cystitis was obtained from cystoscopic biopsy or the presence of thickened bladder wall in image study. Similar to other reports, five patients had GI manifestations such as abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea or ileus. In addition, mesenteric lymphadenopathy or pancreatitis was noted in three patients. Two patients had been treated for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), four and 20 years ago, respectively. All six patients had antibodies to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Five patients each had antibodies to cardiolipin (IgG aCL) or SSA. The high prevalence of anti-SSA had also been reported in Chinese lupus patients with intestinal pseudo-obstruction, a clinical manifestation frequently associated with bilateral ureterohydronephrosis. Two patients died of intractable infection after the surgical procedures for persistent ureterohydronephrosis and both patients had antibodies to ribosomal P proteins. Lupus cystitis might not be so rare in Chinese patients with SLE. The diagnosis should be kept in mind when lupus patients have urinary and/or GI symptoms.