The concept of cancer stem cells (CSC) has been established over the past decade or so, and their role in carcinogenic processes has been confirmed. In this review, we focus on cervical CSCs, including (1) their purported origin, (2) markers used for cervical CSC identification, (3) alterations to signalling pathways in cervical cancer and (4) the cancer stem cell niche. Although cervical CSCs have not yet been definitively identified and characterized, future studies pursuing them as therapeutic targets may provide novel insights for treatment of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the most common cause of female cancer‐related mortality worldwide. Decreased expression of long noncoding RNA growth arrest‐specific 5 (GAS5) is found in human cervical cancer tissues and associated with poor prognosis. However, the studies on associations between GAS5 level and malignant phenotypes, as well as sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drug in cervical cancer cells are limited. In this study, overexpression of GAS5 in cervical cancer cells resulted in prohibited cell proliferation and colony formation, which were promoted by siGAS5. Enhanced GAS5 increased cell percentage in the G0/G1 phase and decreased cells percentage in the S phase, whereas reduced expression did not. The malignant behaviors of cervical cancer cells, manifested by cell migration and invasion, could be weakened by the GAS5 overexpression and enhanced by siGAS5. Furthermore, in cisplatin‐induced cell, overexpression of GAS5 reduced cells viability and enhanced apoptosis, whereas in cells transfected with siGAS5, apoptosis eliminated. We have reported the upregulation of microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) and its oncogenetic roles in cervical cancer previously. In this study, we found the negative relationship between the GAS5 and miR‐21. Moreover, the decrease of miR‐21 associated proteins phosphorylated STAT3 and E2F3 was seen in GAS5 overexpressed cells, both of which could be increased by siGAS5. The GAS5 deficiency also reduced miR‐21 target proteins TIMP3 and PDCD4 expressions. Taken together, the GAS5 expression level is inversely associated with malignancy, but positively associated with sensitivity to cisplatin‐induced apoptosis, suggesting that GAS5 could be a biomarker of cisplatin‐resistance in clinical therapy of human cervical cancer.

Diagnosing asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) in HIV-infected patients is difficult. A recent report suggested that CXCL13 is a promising diagnostic marker for neurosyphilis in HIV-positive patients. However, whether CXCL13 can be a diagnostic marker for ANS in HIV-infected patients remains unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine the role of CXCL13 in diagnosing ANS in HIV-infected patients. This study comprised two study and three control groups. Two study groups included 12 HIV-infected patients with ANS and 25 patients with syphilis and HIV co-infection (without ANS). Three control groups included 9 patients with ANS without HIV infection, 25 HIV-infected patients without syphilis and 10 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of CSF CXCL13 were measured before and after neurosyphilis therapy. Our results showed that CSF CXCL13 concentrations were significantly increased in all of the HIV-infected patients with ANS, the 25 HIV patients with syphilis and the 9 ANS patients without HIV, but not in the patients of the other two control groups. CSF CXCL13 concentrations declined in the two study groups of patients following neurosyphilis therapy. Therefore, CSF CXCL13 concentrations could improve the diagnosis of ANS in HIV-infected patients.

Background Cold urticaria (ColdU), that is, the occurrence of wheals or angioedema in response to cold exposure, is classified into typical and atypical forms. The diagnosis of typical ColdU relies on whealing in response to local cold stimulation testing (CST). It can also manifest with cold‐induced anaphylaxis (ColdA). We aimed to determine risk factors for ColdA in typical ColdU. Methods An international, cross‐sectional study COLD‐CE was carried out at 32 urticaria centers of reference and excellence (UCAREs). Detailed history was taken and CST with an ice cube and/or TempTest® performed. ColdA was defined as an acute cold‐induced involvement of the skin and/or visible mucosal tissue and at least one of: cardiovascular manifestations, difficulty breathing, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Results Of 551 ColdU patients, 75% (n = 412) had a positive CST and ColdA occurred in 37% (n = 151) of the latter. Cold‐induced generalized wheals, angioedema, acral swelling, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itch of earlobes were identified as signs/symptoms of severe disease. ColdA was most commonly provoked by complete cold water immersion and ColdA caused by cold air was more common in countries with a warmer climate. Ten percent (n = 40) of typical ColdU patients had a concomitant chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). They had a lower frequency of ColdA than those without CSU (4% vs. 39%, p = .003). We identified the following risk factors for cardiovascular manifestations: previous systemic reaction to a Hymenoptera sting, angioedema, oropharyngeal/laryngeal symptoms, and itchy earlobes. Conclusion ColdA is common in typical ColdU. High‐risk patients require education about their condition and how to use an adrenaline autoinjector.

Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LCLE) is an unusual manifestation of cutaneous lupus erythematosus in which erythematous, atrophic, dyschromic lesions are located along the lines of Blaschko. Calcinosis cutis and secondary milia are very uncommon in lupus erythematosus. We present a rare case of LCLE with calcinosis cutis and milia.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IgG anti-thyroid autoantibodies (AAbs) play important roles in the immunopathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). To date, association of IgE and IgG AAbs with Chinese CSU patients has not been fully investigated. We aimed to explore prevalence rates of IgE and IgG AAbs in Chinese CSU patients and their association with clinical and laboratory parameters. Serum IgE and IgG AAbs against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (TG), total IgE (tIgE) and specific IgEs were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay and immunoblotting. Meta-analyses and literature review were conducted. The meta-analyses indicated that CSU cases were 4.98, 6.90 and 6.68 times more likely to have positive anti-TPO IgE, anti-TPO IgG and anti-TG IgG (all P < 0.001) compared with controls, respectively, and revealed a positive correlation between the prevalence rates of anti-TPO IgE and anti-TPO IgG ( r = 0.53, P = 0.025). A total of 1,100 Chinese Han adult CSU patients and 1,100 ethnicity-, age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited from 15 centers. Prevalence rates of anti-TPO IgE, anti-TPO IgG, anti-TG IgE or anti-TG IgG in the patients were all significantly higher than those in the controls. Significant correlations were observed between prevalence rates of anti-TPO IgE and anti-TPO IgG ( r = 0.297, P < 0.001) as well as between those of anti-TG IgE and anti-TG IgG in the patients ( r = 0.137, P < 0.001). Patients with anti-TPO IgE or anti-TPO IgG had significantly lower tIgE levels ( P < 0.001). Positive anti-TPO IgE, positive anti-TPO IgG and tIgE < 40 IU/mL were independent predictors of antihistamine-refractory cases. In conclusion, the prevalence rates of IgE and IgG AAbs in Chinese CSU patients are significantly elevated and reciprocally correlated. This study verifies the results of previous case-control studies of CSU patients from other populations and ethnicities.

Immunosuppressive drugs and biological agents may represent a potential risk of lymphoma development in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. But most cases are diffuse, large B-cell lymphomas. Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma, a provisional entity in the 2005 WHO-EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas, is only described in a limited number of reports. To our knowledge, our case is a rare instance of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma, after associated treatment with methotrexate and etanercept, in a patient with moderate rheumatoid arthritis who had undergone an orchidectomy incorrectly.

The aim of this study was to establish a murine model of lower genital tract infection by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum and evaluate differences in pathogenicity of five serotypes. BALB/c female mice were divided into seven groups (five mice in each group), including five groups infected in the lower genital tract after treatment with estradiol with U. urealyticum serotypes 4 and 8 and U. parvum serotypes 1, 3, and 6, respectively, and two control groups of untreated mice and estradiol treated mice. The presence of infection was determined on solid and liquid culture media. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression in lower genital tract secretions was determined by PCR, and morphological and histological changes of the lower genital tract were observed. The genital secretions of all inoculated mice were positive for U. urealyticum and U. parvum on culture in both liquid and solid media. TNF-α expression at 7 and 14 days after infection was markedly increased as compared with that of the controls. Morphological changes of the external genitalia included hair loss and erosions, and histological examination revealed infiltration by inflammatory cells. The five serotypes tested were all found to be pathogenic, and the pathogenicity varied with serotype 4 showing the greatest pathogenicity.