Chronic Cutaneous and Mucosal Mucormycosis: as a Major Pathogenic Fungus.

Chronic cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare condition distinct from the acute form, characterized by a prolonged, indolent course and varied clinical presentations. This study presents a 5-year experience from a tertiary dermato-mycology clinic, identifying six cases, the majority of whom were immunocompetent, with trauma history reported in four patients. The median duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 60 months.

A population of dermal Langerin dendritic cells promote the inflammation in mouse model of atopic dermatitis.

Cutaneous dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the specific role of different subsets of DCs has not been well defined. This study aimed to investigate the contributions of Langerhans cells (LCs), resident dermal Langerin DCs (r-Langerin dDCs), and newly infiltrated inflammatory dermal Langerin DCs (i-Langerin dDCs) in an AD mouse model induced by the topical application of MC903.

High density, addressable electrohydrodynamic printhead made of a silicon plate and polymer nozzle structure.

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing is a promising micro/nanofabrication technique, due to its ultra-high resolution and wide material applicability. However, it suffers from low printing efficiency which urgently calls for a high density and addressable nozzle array. This paper presents a nozzle array chip made of a silicon plate and polymer nozzle structure, where the large silicon plate is conducive to a uniform spatial electric field distribution, and the polymer SU8 nozzle can inhibit tip discharge due to its insulating character and liquid flooding as SU8 is hydrophobic.

Enhanced phenotype of calcipotriol-induced atopic dermatitis in filaggrin-deficient mice.

Impaired function of filaggrin (FLG) is a major predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis (AD). Several studies on FLG-deficient (Flg ) mice have indicated an essential role for FLG in the skin barrier and the development of AD, but none of the studies have described the characteristics on Flg mice with calcipotriol (CPT)-induced atopic dermatitis, which restricts the comprehensive understanding of functions of FLG. The present study sought to generate Flg mice and applied CPT to produce AD-like dermatitis for in vivo analysis of the FLG functions.

Plasma exosomal regulates mitochondria-dependent keratinocyte apoptosis by targeting XIAP in severe drug-induced skin reactions.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe drug-induced cutaneous reactions characterized by keratinocyte apoptosis. Exosomes are nanometer-sized membranous vesicles in body fluids. They contain functional proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs, which induce immune dysfunction and influence disease progression.

The Phytopathogenic Fungus Pallidocercospora crystallina-Caused Localized Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis in a Patient with a Homozygous Missense CARD9 Mutation.

Purpose: In the past decade, an increasing number of otherwise healthy individuals suffered from invasive fungal infections due to inherited CARD9 mutations. Herein, we present a patient with a homozygous CARD9 mutation who was suffering from localized subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Pallidocercospora crystallina which has not been reported to cause infections in humans.

Methods: The medical history of our patient was collected.

A tryptophan metabolite of the skin microbiota attenuates inflammation in patients with atopic dermatitis through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Background: Previous studies have revealed significant alterations in the skin microbiota of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) not only in diversity and composition but also in function, and the tryptophan (Trp) metabolic pathway is attenuated in the skin microbiota of patients with AD.

Objective: We sought to assess Trp metabolites on the skin surfaces of patients with AD and to explore the function of the microbial Trp metabolites in skin inflammation in patients with AD.

Methods: A gel-patch method was developed to collect metabolites on the skin surface, which were then assessed by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Source apportionment and a novel approach of estimating regional contributions to ambient PM in Haikou, China.

A novel approach was developed to estimate regional contributions to ambient PM in Haikou, China. In this paper, the investigation was divided into two main steps. The first step: analysing the characteristics of the chemical compositions of ambient PM, as well as the source profiles, and then conducting source apportionments by using the CMB and CMB-Iteration models.

Activation of Langerhans cells promotes the inflammation in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis.

Background: Langerhans cells (LCs) are epidermis-resident dendritic cells that sense and mediate stimuli from skin and outside world, and participate in various skin diseases, playing either pro-inflammatory or regulatory roles. However, the exact function of LCs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains unclear, and the conclusions of previous studies are controversial.

Objectives: To explore the role of LCs in mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis using langerin-diphtheria toxin A (DTA) mice that are constitutively deficient in LCs.

Sema4D is required in both the adaptive and innate immune responses of contact hypersensitivity.

Originally recognized as a regulator of axon guidance in the nervous system, Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D, CD100) also participates in various immune responses and many immune-related diseases. However, whether Sema4D is involved in the pathogenesis of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of Sema4D in oxazolone-induced CHS using Sema4D knockout (KO) mice.

Positive selection of B10 cells is determined by BCR specificity and signaling strength.

B10 cells, a regulatory B cell subset, negatively regulate immune responses in an IL-10-dependent manner. However, the mechanism of B10 cell development is unclear. We found that B10 cells mainly identified self-antigens.

Positive selection of natural poly-reactive B cells in the periphery occurs independent of heavy chain allelic inclusion.

Natural autoreactive B cells are important mediators of autoimmune diseases. Receptor editing is known to play an important role in both central and peripheral B cell tolerance. However, the role of allelic inclusion in the development of natural autoreactive B cells is not clear.

Innate autoreactive B cells as antigen-presenting cells in the induction of tolerance to conserved keratin polypeptide.

Innate B cells account for a substantial proportion of total B lymphocytes and express autoreactive B cell receptors directed against self-constituents. However, whether innate autoreactive B cells present auto-antigens to T cells, and if so, whether they trigger an autoimmune response, are unclear. In this study, we have characterized splenic keratin-reactive B cells from naïve mice and investigated their roles in keratin antigen presentation.

Novel functions of murine B1 cells: active phagocytic and microbicidal abilities.

B1 cells are evolutionarily conserved innate-like cells that share many features with macrophages. It has also been established that B1 cells have a close developmental relationship with macrophages. However, whether B1 cells are able to act as professional phagocytic cells is not clear.