This study aims to explore the effects of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway on human melanoma A375 cells. The melanoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from 45 melanoma patients. qRT-PCR was conducted to quantify the expression of miR-21 and the gene mRNA expressions. Human melanoma A375 cells were divided into the Mock, negative control (NC), miR-21 inhibitors, miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-SPRY1, miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-PDCD4, and miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-PTEN groups. Western blotting was used to determine protein expressions. CCK8 assay and Transwell assay were performed to evaluate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A375 cells. Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining was adopted to detect cell apoptosis. MiR-21 expression was higher in melanoma tissues than in adjacent tissues, while the mRNA and protein expressions of SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN were lower in melanoma tissues than in adjacent tissues. Compared with the Mock and NC groups, the miR-21 inhibitors group exhibited increased expressions of SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN and decreased expressions of ERK, p-ERK, NF-κB p65, and p-NF-κB p65. After transfection of miR-21 inhibitors, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A375 cells were inhibited, while the apoptosis of A375 cells was promoted. However, the effects of miR-21 inhibitors on the growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of A375 cells were reversed after transfection of siRNA-SPRY1, siRNA-PDCD4, or siRNA-PTEN. MiR-21 can promote the proliferation, migration, and inhibit the apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells by inhibiting SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN via ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cutaneous tuberculosis is showing a resurgence. It continues to be one of the most elusive and difficult diseases to diagnose in dermatological practice. We sought to describe the clinical manifestations, laboratory features, and antituberculous therapy in cases of cutaneous tuberculosis. Twenty cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were observed in this study. Of the 20 cases, seven were in women (35%) and 13 were in men (65%). There were eight (40%) cases of lupus vulgaris, four (20%) cases of orificial tuberculosis, four (20%) cases of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, two (10%) cases of scrofuloderma, and two (10%) cases of primary inoculation tuberculosis. In total, 20 strains of acid-fast bacilli were isolated by culture in Löwenstein-Jensen medium at 37°C. Mycobacterial species identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay showed that all strains were Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In vitro susceptibility testing by use of absolute concentration method showed that the 20 strains were sensitive to rifampin, ethambutol, and isoniazid; however, two strains were resistant to streptomycin. All of the patients responded favourably to antituberculous treatment. Cutaneous tuberculosis is a skin disease that should still be thought much of in mainland China, and in this study lupus vulgaris is the most common clinical presentation.

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Introduction: Previous studies found that vitamin D receptor (VDR) TaqI, BsmI, FokI and ApaI gene polymorphisms are associated with several inflammatory diseases. However, the relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is not clear. Aim: The purpose of our study was to explore the relationship between the polymorphism of VDR and the incidence of chronic spontaneous urticaria in the Chinese Han population. Meanwhile, the vitamin D levels in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria were also detected and the effects of VDR gene polymorphism on vitamin D levels were detected. Material and methods: The genotypes of four VDR polymorphisms (TaqI, BsmI, ApaI, and FokI) were studied using allelespecific PCR analysis in 90 CSU patients and 90 healthy controls. Results: Compared to the control group, the mutant allele (C) of FokI were more common in patients with CSU (57.2% vs. 45%, p = 0.020, odds ratio (OR) = 0.612, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.403-0.928). We found that serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in CSU patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.023). However, the effect of VDR gene polymorphism on vitamin D levels was not found in patients of CSU. Conclusions: We first reported the effect of VDR gene FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism on the incidence of chronic spontaneous urticaria in the Chinese Han population.