Evaluation of the wound healing potential of Sophora alopecuroides in SD rat's skin

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sophora alopecuroides Linn. (Leguminosae) has been largely used in traditional folk medicine in China as an anti-inflammatory agent and to treat various skin wounds, including sore furunculosis and ulcer (a common type of non-healing wound). The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of S. alopecuroides gel on skin wound healing in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

When the rats were anesthetized, full-thickness skin wound was performed on dorsal area by using biopsy punch with 8 mm diameter. Then, wounds received treatment with different doses of S. alopecuroides gel (1.25%, 2.5% and 5%, w/w) once a day with the gel base used as vehicle control and rb-FGF as positive control. Every five animals were sacrificed after 7, 12 days after surgery for histopathology and relevant biochemical indexes analysis. Besides, after RAW 264.7 cells exposure to LPS (1 μg/ml) with or without total extract (25 and 50 μg/ml) for 24 h, the culture supernatant was used for detection of IL-1β and TNF-α levels using ELISA kits and the protein lysate for western blot analysis.

RESULTS

A remarkable wound closure was observed after administration with 5% S. alopecuroides gel with the wound area of 30% and 8.5% as compared to 42% and 19% in the control group on day 7 and 12, respectively. Histological and immunostaining analysis for the wound tissues also revealed that S. alopecuroides promoted the growth of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Meanwhile, it was able to ameliorate inflammatory response and promote the production of TGF-β. In addition, we also demonstrated that S. alopecuroides inhibited the release of inflammatory mediators and expression of iNOS as well as up-regulated the expression of Arg-1 in LPS-triggered RAW 264.7 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study confirmed that S. alopecuroides had a great potential for accelerated wound healing by regulating the over expression of inflammatory response for the first time and provided theoretical basis for the traditional use. It can be used as candidate drug for the treantment of chronic non-healing wounds.

A chitosan/mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based anticancer drug delivery system with a "tumor-triggered targeting" property

To enhance drug utilization and reduce their side effects, the strategy of "tumor-triggered targeting" was introduced to fabricate dual-pH-sensitive chitosan (CHI)/mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based anticancer drug delivery system (DDS) in this work. Model drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was loaded in MSN, which was modified with benzimidazole (Bz) group. Then chitosan-graft-β-cyclodextrin (CHI-g-CD) was applied as the "gatekeeper" to cover MSN through host-guest interaction between β-CD and Bz. After being coated with targeting peptide adamantane-glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-serine (Ad-GRGDS), methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) benzaldehyde (mPEG-CHO) was finally grafted on CHI through the pH-sensitive benzoic imine bond. Due to the dynamic protection of PEG, the obtained carriers were "stealthy" at pH 7.4, but could reveal the shielded targeting peptide and the positive charge of CHI in the weakly acidic environment achieved a "tumor-triggered targeting". Inside cancer cells, the interaction between β-CD and Bz group could be destroyed due to the lower pH, resulted in DOX release. Both in vitro and in vivo studies proved the DDS could targeting induce cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit tumor growth, and reduce the cytotoxicity of DOX against normal cells. It is expected that the system named DOX@MSN-CHI-RGD-PEG could be a potential choice for cancer therapy.

Pediatric allergic rhinitis with functional gastrointestinal disease: Associations with the intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal peptides and therapeutic effects of interventions

Children are susceptible to allergic rhinitis (caused by external allergens) accompanied by functional gastrointestinal disease, which seriously affects physical and mental health. Antihistamines and nasal spray hormones are commonly used in clinical treatment, but these drugs often have unsatisfactory efficacy and result in high recurrence rates. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis with functional gastrointestinal disease and seeking safer treatment and prevention methods is essential. Herein, molecular ecology and immunoassays were used to analyze correlations between pediatric allergic rhinitis with functional gastrointestinal disease and both the intestinal microbiota and gastrointestinal peptide levels. Fifty healthy children (healthy group) and 80 children with allergic rhinitis with functional gastrointestinal disease (case group: evenly divided into a control group (conventional drug therapy) and an intervention group (conventional drug therapy + glutamine+probiotics)), were enrolled. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus counts and the gastrin and motilin levels were lower in the case group than in the healthy group, whereas Enterobacter, yeast, and Enterococcus counts and the somatostatin, serotonin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide levels were higher. Post treatment, intestinal microbiota indices, gastrointestinal peptide levels, and intestinal barrier function were better in the intervention group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The intervention group had a significantly higher total therapeutic response rate (95.00%) than the control group (77.50%). The intestinal microbiota was closely associated with gastrointestinal peptide levels. Treatment with glutamine and probiotics regulated these levels, re-established balance in the intestinal microbiota, and restored intestinal barrier function.

A review on traditional usages, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of periploca forrestii schltr

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Periploca forrestii Schltr. was listed as a classical medicinal plant in "Miao medicine", which is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). According to the theory of TCM, P. forrestii has the efficacy of relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, and dispelling wind and eliminating dampness. Hence, it was often used for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injury in clinical practice.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to present comprehensive information for the research progress of P. forrestii. The researches on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of the plant are summarized. We mainly focus on the phytochemical and pharmacological investigations. As a representative class of phytochemicals in P. forrestii, more attention is paid to cardiac glycosides. The insights into potential action of mechanisms and possible future studies on P. forrestii are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant literature was acquired from scientific databases including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scifinder, Baidu Scholar, PubMed and Chinese national knowledge infrastructure. Monographs and Chinese pharmacopoeia were also utilized as references.

RESULTS

To date, all kinds of phytochemical constituents have been isolated and identified from this plant including cardiac glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, quinones, organic phenolic acids and others. Among these, cardiac glycosides were considered as the major ingredients and bioactive materials. Modern pharmacological studies demonstrated that the plant possessed extensive bioactivity, such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, immunosuppressive action, wound healing activity, antioxidant, anti-tumor and, cardiotonic properties.

CONCLUSIONS

As an important medicinal plant, lots of studies have proved that P. forrestii has significant therapeutical effects, especially on rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injury. These results provide modern scientific evidence for traditional use and contribute to the development of novel remedies for chronic diseases. However, the exact mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Furthermore, the long-term in vivo toxicity and clinical efficacy also require in-depth exploration in the future.

Multi-stimuli responsive hollow MnO2-based drug delivery system for magnetic resonance imaging and combined chemo-chemodynamic cancer therapy

The exploration and application of hollow manganese dioxide nanoparticle (HMDN) for biosensing and biomedicine has gained significant research attention in the past decade. In this study, a type of biodegradable HMDN is prepared for multi-stimuli responsive tumor-targeted drug delivery, which was successfully loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). Then, the drug-loaded HMDN is functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a gatekeeper followed by citraconic anhydride (cit) functionalized poly-_L-lysine (PLL(cit)) as a charge reversal moiety successively to yield the resultant DOX@HMDN-PEI-PLL(cit) nanoparticles. In vitro study showed that DOX@HMDN-PEI-PLL(cit) exhibited a ''stealthy'' property under physiological conditions and enhanced cellular uptake activity in response to the mild acidic tumor microenvironment due to the departure of cit. In vitro release profiles proved that the decomposition of HMDN to Mn²⁺ under acidic condition/high glutathione (GSH) concentration triggered the release of DOX and Fenton-like reaction for improved therapeutic effect. And Mn²⁺ could also act as a T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. In vivo studies further proved with both the charge reversal and combined therapy properties, DOX@HMDN-PEI-PLL(cit) showed a good tumor enrichment ability and therapeutic effect with few side effects to the mice. These results demonstrate that DOX@HMDN-PEI-PLL(cit) nanoparticles are promising drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Traditional chemotherapy based on anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) shows limited efficacy with serious side effects. We employed hollow manganese dioxide nanoparticle (HMDN) to loaded DOX and coated it with polyethyleneimine and then citraconic anhydride functionalized poly-_L-lysine to endow it with a charge reversal property to obtain a multi-stimuli responsive drug delivery system named DOX@HMDN-PEI-PLL(cit). It was ''stealthy'' with low cellular uptake capability by normal cells, but could be "acid-activated" in tumors for endocytosis by cancer cells to reduce side effects. HMDN could be decomposed to Mn²⁺ under acidic conditions/high glutathione concentration to release DOX intracellular. DOX and Mn²⁺ catalyzed Fenton-like reaction could achieve a combined chemo-chemodynamic therapy. And Mn²⁺ could be used for T₁-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Detection and monitoring of the neuroprotective behavior of curcumin micelles based on an AIEgen probe

In recent years, the role of mitochondrial injury in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has attracted extensive attention. Studies have shown that curcumin (Cur) can protect nerve cells from beta-amyloid (Aβ)-induced mitochondrial damage. However, natural Cur encounters limited application due to its poor biocompatibility and bioavailability. To improve the solubility and biocompatibility of natural Cur, we prepared water-soluble curcumin micelles (CurM). Furthermore, the mitochondria-specific aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe (TPE-Ph-In) was employed to observe the protective effect of CurM on the damage of mitochondrial morphology, distribution, and membrane potential caused by Aβ. Results showed that CurM had higher solubility, stronger stability and retention effect, and better cellular uptake than that of natural Cur. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of CurM on mitochondrial morphology, distribution, and membrane potential damage induced by Aβ25-35 were observed utilizing TPE-Ph-In as an indicator of mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential. Thus, this method provides a useful strategy for experimental research and clinical treatment of AD with mitochondrial damage as the pathogenic mechanism.

A Novel Nanosystem Realizing Curcumin Delivery Based on Fe3O4@Carbon Dots Nanocomposite for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, which seriously affects human health but lacks effective treatment methods. Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregates are considered a possible target for AD treatment. Evidence is increasingly showing that curcumin (CUR) can partly protect cells from Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity by inhibiting Aβ aggregation. However, the efficiency of targeted cellular uptake and bioavailability of CUR is very low due to its poor stability and water-solubility. In order to better improve the cell uptake efficiency and bioavailability of CUR and reduce the cytotoxicity of high-dose CUR, a novel CUR delivery system for AD therapy has been constructed based on the employment of the Fe₃O₄@carbon dots nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄@CDs) as the carrier. CUR-Fe₃O₄@CDs have a strong affinity toward Aβ and effectively inhibit extracellular Aβ fibrillation. In addition, CUR-Fe₃O₄@CDs can inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by Aβ fibrils and the corresponding neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. More importantly, it can restore nerve damage and maintained neuronal morphology. These results indicate that the application of CUR-Fe₃O₄@CDs provides a promising platform for the treatment of AD.

The impacts of gene polymorphisms on methotrexate in Chinese psoriatic patients

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line treatment for psoriasis in China. The metabolic processes of MTX include various proteins and genes. Previous studies have shown that gene polymorphisms had significant impacts on the efficacy of MTX. However, the influence of gene polymorphisms has not been reported in the Chinese psoriatic patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to verify the impacts of candidate genes polymorphisms on the effectiveness of MTX in a Chinese psoriatic population.

METHODS

In this study, we enrolled 259 psoriasis patients from two clinical centres. Each of them received MTX treatment at 7.5-15 mg/week for at least 8 weeks. Patients were stratified as responders and non-responders according to whether the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score declined more than 75% (PASI75). According to previous reports, 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped for each patient using the Sequenom platform. Fisher's exact test, the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney tests and ANOVA analyses were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Among 259 patients, there were 182 males and 77 females, 63 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 196 patients without arthritis phenotype, and the age of all patients ranged from 19 to 70 years (49.7 ± 13.6). The baseline PASI value of patients was 13.8 ± 8.5, and 33.2% of patients achieved a PASI75 response after MTX treatment. Patients carrying the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 gene (ABCB1) rs1045642 TT genotype were associated with more severe psoriasis skin lesion (P = 0.032). Furthermore, the ABCB1 rs1045642 TT genotype was found to be more frequent in non-responders (P = 0.017), especially in moderate-to-severe patients (P = 0.002) and patients without psoriatic arthritis (P = 0.026) after MTX treatment.

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated for the first time that polymorphism of the ABCB1 rs1045642 TT genotype is predictive of a worse clinical response of skin lesions to MTX therapy in a Chinese psoriatic population.

pH/GSH-Dual-Sensitive Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System for Targeted Cancer Therapy

The purpose of developing novel anticancer drug delivery systems (DDSs) is to efficiently carry and release drugs into cancer cells and minimize side effects. In this work, based on hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticle (HMSN) and the charge-reversal property, a pH/GSH-dual-sensitive DDS named DOX@HMSN-SS-PLL(cit) was reported. HMSN encapsulated DOX with high efficacy and was then covered by the "gatekeeper" β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) through the glutathione (GSH)-sensitive disulfide bond. Thereafter, adamantine-blocked citraconic-anhydride-functionalized poly-l-lysine (PLL(cit)-Ad) was decorated on the surface of the particles via host-guest interaction. The negatively charged carriers were stable in the neutral environment in vivo and could be effectively transported to the tumor site. The surface charge of the nanoparticles could be reversed in the weakly acidic environment, which increased the cellular uptake ability of the carriers by the cancer cells. After cellular internalization, β-CD can be removed by breakage of the disulfide bond in the presence of a high concentration of GSH, leading to DOX release. The preparation process of the carriers was monitored. The charge-reversal capability and the controlled drug-release behavior of the carriers were also investigated. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the excellent cancer therapy effect with low side effects of the carriers. It is expected that dual-sensitive DOX@HMSN-SS-PLL(cit) could play an important role in cancer therapy.

CMT2Q-causing mutation in the Dhtkd1 gene lead to sensory defects, mitochondrial accumulation and altered metabolism in a knock-in mouse model

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of inherited neurological disorders of the peripheral nervous system. CMT is subdivided into two main types: a demyelinating form, known as CMT1, and an axonal form, known as CMT2. Nearly 30 genes have been identified as a cause of CMT2. One of these is the 'dehydrogenase E1 and transketolase domain containing 1' (DHTKD1) gene. We previously demonstrated that a nonsense mutation [c.1455 T > G (p.Y485*)] in exon 8 of DHTKD1 is one of the disease-causing mutations in CMT2Q (MIM 615025). The aim of the current study was to investigate whether human disease-causing mutations in the Dhtkd1 gene cause CMT2Q phenotypes in a mouse model in order to investigate the physiological function and pathogenic mechanisms associated with mutations in the Dhtkd1 gene in vivo. Therefore, we generated a knock-in mouse model with the Dhtkd1^Y486* point mutation. We observed that the Dhtkd1 expression level in sciatic nerve of knock-in mice was significantly lower than in wild-type mice. Moreover, a histopathological phenotype was observed, reminiscent of a peripheral neuropathy, including reduced large axon diameter and abnormal myelination in peripheral nerves. The knock-in mice also displayed clear sensory defects, while no abnormalities in the motor performance were observed. In addition, accumulation of mitochondria and an elevated energy metabolic state was observed in the knock-in mice. Taken together, our study indicates that the Dhtkd1^Y486* knock-in mice partially recapitulate the clinical phenotypes of CMT2Q patients and we hypothesize that there might be a compensatory effect from the elevated metabolic state in the knock-in mice that enables them to maintain their normal locomotor function.

Method to retrieve aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol scattering phase functions with a modified CCD laser atmospheric detection system

Vertical distributions of ambient aerosols and their corresponding optical properties are crucial to the assessment of aerosol radiative effects. Traditionally, ambient aerosol phase function is assumed as a constant of input parameter in the retrieval of the vertical distribution of aerosol optical characteristics from remote sensing measurements (e.g. lidar or camera-laser based instruments). In this work, sensitivity studies revealed that using constant aerosol phase function assumptions in the algorithm would cause large uncertainties. Therefore, an improved retrieval method was established to simultaneously measure ambient aerosol scattering phase functions and aerosol scattering function profiles with a modified charge-coupled device-laser aerosol detection system (CLADS), which are then combined to yield vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients. This method was applied and evaluated in a comprehensive field campaign in the North China Plain during January 2016. The algorithm showed robust performance and was able to capture temporal variations in ambient aerosol scattering phase functions and aerosol scattering function profiles. Aerosol extinction coefficients derived with simultaneously measured aerosol phase functions agreed well with in-situ measurements, indicating that uncertainties in the retrieval of aerosol extinction vertical profiles have been significantly reduced by using the proposed method with the modified CLADS. The advantage of this modified CLADS is that it can accomplish these aerosol measurements independent of other supplementary instruments. Benefiting from its low cost and high spatial resolution (∼1 m on average) in the boundary layer, this measurement system can play an important role in the research of aerosol vertical distributions and its impacts on environmental and climatic studies.

Effect of surface roughness of optical waveguide on imaging quality and a formula of RSE tolerance and incident angle

The optical waveguide is a lightweight and portable scheme for augmented reality near-eye display devices. However, the surface roughness of the waveguide affects its imaging performance, which has not been studied. In this work, we investigate the light scattering caused by the root-mean-square roughness of the waveguide surface and present two methods to numerically analyze the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the display system. Here, we consider the effects of different surface roughness, incident angle, and incident wavelength on the scattering distribution when other conditions are constant. For a simplified optical waveguide display system, the MTF degradation and the variation of the tolerance is calculated. And when the MTF (@ 40 cycles/mm) is required to be 0.3 and the incident angles of the total reflection surface are 45°, 55°, 65° and 75°, the random surface error (RSE) tolerances are 0.207λ₀, 0.255λ₀, 0.347λ₀ and 0.566λ₀ (λ₀=0.5461µm), respectively. We find a formula descripting the relationship between RSE tolerance and incident angle. If the RSE tolerance exceeds the value of the formula at an angle, the imaging quality of the system will drop significantly. The formula can predict tolerances and incident angles and provide basic tool for imaging quality analysis and manufacturing for optical waveguide AR/VR display systems.

Host-guest fabrication of dual-responsive hyaluronic acid/mesoporous silica nanoparticle based drug delivery system for targeted cancer therapy

In this paper, a targeting hyaluronic acid (HA)/mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) based drug delivery system (DDS) with dual-responsiveness was prepared for cancer therapy. To avoid the side reaction between the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and HA, host-guest interaction was applied to fabricate the DDS named DOX@MSN-SS-N=C-HA. The "nanocontainer" MSN was modified with benzene ring via both pH-sensitive benzoic imine bond and redox-sensitive disulfide linkage. When DOX was loaded in the pores of MSN, the channels were then capped by the "gatekeeper" β-CD grafted HA (HA-g-CD) through host-guest interaction between β-CD and benzene. HA endowed the drug carriers with the targeting capability in CD44 over-expressed cancer cells. After cellular uptake, the carriers could rapidly release DOX for cell apoptosis due to both the hydrolysis of benzoic imine bond at low pH and the cleavage of disulfide bond at a high concentration of glutathione (GSH) intracellular. In vitro drug release studies and in vitro cytotoxicity studies were taken to investigate the dual-responsiveness of the carriers. And the CD44-receptor mediated cancer cell targeting capability was investigated as well. In conclusion, the targeted dual-responsive complex DDS fabricated through host-guest interaction has promising potential in cancer therapy.

Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing of plasma cell-free DNA for detection of driver and resistance mutations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Genomic analysis of plasma cell-free DNA is transforming lung cancer care; however, available assays are limited by cost, turnaround time, and imperfect accuracy. Here, we study amplicon-based plasma next-generation sequencing (NGS), rather than hybrid-capture-based plasma NGS, hypothesizing this would allow sensitive detection and monitoring of driver and resistance mutations in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and methods

Plasma samples from patients with NSCLC and a known targetable genotype (EGFR, ALK/ROS1, and other rare genotypes) were collected while on therapy and analyzed blinded to tumor genotype. Plasma NGS was carried out using enhanced tagged amplicon sequencing of hotspots and coding regions from 36 genes, as well as intronic coverage for detection of ALK/ROS1 fusions. Diagnostic accuracy was compared with plasma droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and tumor genotype.

Results

A total of 168 specimens from 46 patients were studied. Matched plasma NGS and ddPCR across 120 variants from 80 samples revealed high concordance of allelic fraction (R2 = 0.95). Pretreatment, sensitivity of plasma NGS for the detection of EGFR driver mutations was 100% (30/30), compared with 87% for ddPCR (26/30). A full spectrum of rare driver oncogenic mutations could be detected including sensitive detection of ALK/ROS1 fusions (8/9 detected, 89%). Studying 25 patients positive for EGFR T790M that developed resistance to osimertinib, 15 resistance mechanisms could be detected including tertiary EGFR mutations (C797S, Q791P) and mutations or amplifications of non-EGFR genes, some of which could be detected pretreatment or months before progression.

Conclusions

This blinded analysis demonstrates the ability of amplicon-based plasma NGS to detect a full range of targetable genotypes in NSCLC, including fusion genes, with high accuracy. The ability of plasma NGS to detect a range of preexisting and acquired resistance mechanisms highlights its potential value as an alternative to single mutation digital PCR-based plasma assays for personalizing treatment of TKI resistance in lung cancer.

LncRNA ZNF667-AS1 inhibits inflammatory response and promotes recovery of spinal cord injury via suppressing JAK-STAT pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the role of lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 in the recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI), and to investigate its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were randomly assigned to the SCI group, the sham group and the lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 group, with 10 mice in each group. With Infinite Horizon device at a dose of 80 Kdyn, mice in the SCI group and the lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 group experienced SCI by an acute hit on the C5 spinous process. Before animal procedures, mice in the lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 group were additionally injected with overexpression lentivirus of lncRNA ZNF667-AS1. On the contrary, mice in the sham group only received laminectomy. After successful construction of the SCI model in mice, grip strength was accessed. LncRNA ZNF667-AS1 expression in spinal cord tissues before and after SCI was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. Meanwhile, the protein expression levels of relative genes in Janus Kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Grip strength of forelimb in the SCI group recovered significantly slower than that of the sham group. With the prolongation of SCI, the expression of lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 was gradually decreased. However, the expression levels of JAK2, STAT3 and iNOS were upregulated in a time-dependent manner. In addition, mice in the lncRNA ZNF667-AS1 group presented remarkable grip strength recovery of forelimb after SCI.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA ZNF667-AS expression is gradually downregulated after SCI. Meanwhile, it inhibits the inflammatory response and promotes SCI recovery via suppressing the JAK-STAT pathway.

Smart identification of psoriasis by images using convolutional neural networks: a case study in China

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which holds a high incidence in China. However, professional dermatologists who can diagnose psoriasis early and correctly are insufficient in China, especially in the rural areas. A smart approach to identify psoriasis by pictures would be highly adaptable countrywide and could play a useful role in early diagnosis and regular treatment of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES

Design and evaluation of a smart psoriasis identification system based on clinical images (without relying on a dermatoscope) that works effectively similar to a dermatologist.

METHODS

A set of deep learning models using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) was explored and compared in the system for automatic identification of psoriasis. The work was carried out on a standardized dermatological dataset with 8021 clinical images of 9 common disorders including psoriasis along with full electronic medical records of patients built over the last 9 years in China. A two-stage deep neural network was designed and developed to identify psoriasis. In the first stage, a multilabel classifier was trained to learn the visual patterns for each individual skin disease. In the second stage, the output of the first stage was utilized to distinguish psoriasis from other skin diseases.

RESULTS

The area under the curve (AUC) of the two-stage model reached 0.981 ± 0.015, which outperforms a single-stage model. And, the classifier showed superior performance (missed diagnosis rate: 0.03, misdiagnosis rate: 0.04) than 25 Chinese dermatologists (missed diagnosis rate: 0.19, misdiagnosis rate: 0.10) in the diagnosis of psoriasis on 100 clinical images.

CONCLUSIONS

Using clinical images to identify psoriasis is feasible and effective based on CNNs, which also builds a solid technical base for smart care of skin diseases especially psoriasis using mobile/tablet applications for teledermatology in China.