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Background and Purpose: Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic pruritic inflammatory disease of the skin involving neuro‐immune communication. Neuronal mechanism‐based therapeutic treatments remain lacking. We investigated the efficacy of intravenous lidocaine therapy on atopic dermatitis and the underlying neuro‐immune mechanism. Experimental Approach: Pharmacological intervention, immunofluorescence, RNA‐sequencing, genetic modification and immunoassay were performed to dissect the neuro‐immune basis of itch and inflammation in atopic dermatitis‐like mouse model and in patients. Key Results: Lidocaine alleviated skin lesions and itch in both atopic dermatitis patients and calcipotriol (MC903)‐induced atopic dermatitis model by blocking subpopulation of sensory neurons. QX‐314, a charged NaV blocker that enters through pathologically activated large‐pore ion channels and selectivity inhibits a subpopulation of sensory neurons, has the same effects as lidocaine in atopic dermatitis model. Genetic silencing NaV1.8‐expressing sensory neurons was sufficient to restrict cutaneous inflammation and itch in the atopic dermatitis model. However, pharmacological blockade of TRPV1‐positive nociceptors only abolished persistent itch but did not affect skin inflammation in the atopic dermatitis model, indicating a difference between sensory neuronal modulation of skin inflammation and itch. Inhibition of activity‐dependent release of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) from sensory neurons by lidocaine largely accounts for the therapeutic effect of lidocaine in the atopic dermatitis model. Conclusion and Implications: NaV1.8+ sensory neurons play a critical role in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and lidocaine is a potential anti‐inflammatory and anti‐pruritic agent for atopic dermatitis. A dissociable difference for sensory neuronal modulation of skin inflammation and itch contributes to further understanding of pathogenesis in atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most plane warts are recalcitrant to treatment. Both cryotherapy and local hyperthermia have been applied to treat plane warts. However, no direct comparative study on their respective efficacy and safety has ever been performed. To assess the efficacy and safety of local hyperthermia at 43 ± 1°C versus liquid nitrogen cryotherapy for plane warts. Sequential patients with plane warts entered the study, either receiving cryotherapy or local hyperthermia therapy at the discretion of the patients and the recommendations of consultants. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen was delivered in two sessions 2 weeks apart, while local hyperthermia was delivered on three consecutive days, plus two similar treatments 10 ± 3 days later. The temperature over the treated skin surface was set at 43 ± 1°C for 30 min in each session. The primary outcome was the clearance rates of the lesions 6 months after treatment. Among the 194 participants enrolled, 183 were included in the analysis at 6 months. Local hyperthermia and cryotherapy achieved clearance rates of 35.56% (48/135) and 31.25% (15/48), respectively (p = 0.724); recurrence rates of 16.67% (8/48) and 53.33% (8/15) (p = 0.01); and adverse events rates of 20.74% (28/135) and 83.33% (40/48), respectively (p < 0.001). Cryotherapy had a higher pain score (p < 0.001) and a longer healing time (p < 0.001). Local hyperthermia at 43°C and cryotherapy had similar efficacy for plane warts. Local hyperthermia had a safer profile than cryotherapy but it required more treatment visits during a treatment course. More patients preferred local hyperthermia due to its treatment friendly nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the molecular types of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex isolates and their clinical manifestations among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative patients in southeast China in the past 15 years. The molecular types of 109 isolates from 108 patients were analyzed by the PCR fingerprinting method, sequences of internal transcribed spacers of rDNA (ITS region), and sequences of the capsule-associated gene ( CAP59). In HIV-positive patients, clinical isolates were grouped into molecular types VNI (75%, 15/20), VNII (15%, 3/20), and VNIII (10%, 2/20). In HIV-negative patients, the majority of the clinical isolates were grouped into molecular types VNI (72%, 64/89), VNII (13%, 12/89), VGI (12%, 11/89), VNIII (1%, 1/89), and VGII (1%, 1/89). In reference to the mating type of the isolates, 97% (106/109) were of the MATα, 2% (2/109) were of the MATα/− and 1% (1/109) were of the MATα/ a. As for the clinical manifestations of the molecular types among the patients, the average cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of the patients infected by the C. gattii was higher than that of the patients infected by the C. neoformans. These results suggest that both HIV-positive and HIV-negative cryptococcal patients in the southeast of China are mostly infected by the C. neoformans strains. No C. gattii strains were found in HIV-positive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new phenolic glycoside (1) was isolated from the stems of Hydnocarpus hainanensis, along with 11 known compounds. The structures of all compounds were deduced using 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. The anti-oxidation activities of several compounds were also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]