Junying Gu

Bio: Junying Gu is an academic researcher from Tongji University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Psoriasis & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 6 publications receiving 89 citations.

Efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with high rate of recurrence New anti-interleukin-17 (IL-17) and anti-IL17RA biologics are in Phase 3 clinical trials and may prove to be more effective than existing biologic drugs Now we perform a meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis In this meta-analysis, data analysis was performed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 50 software Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 3,213 psoriasis cases were included in the meta-analysis Co-primary endpoints (week 12) were ≥ 75%/90% improvement in psoriasis area and a score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) on a 5-point Investigator’s Global Assessment scale (IGA mod 2011 0/1) versus placebo [1] The overall efficacy in the meta-analysis was as follows: PASI 75: for secukinumab 150 mg versus placebo, fixed-effects OR = 4925, 95% CI: 3367-7206, Z = 2007, P < 000001; PASI 90: for secukinumab 150 mg versus placebo, fixed-effects OR = 4492, 95% CI: 2472-8162, Z = 1249, P < 000001; IGA mod 2011 0/1: for secukinumab 150 mg versus placebo, random-effects OR = 2225, 95% CI: 763-6484, Z = 568, P < 000001; Compared with placebo, there were no significant adverse effects in the secukinumab groups, demonstrating safety in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis The proportion of patients who achieved 75%, 90% and IGA mod 2011 0/1 reductions respectively was significant in the secukinumab groups, demonstrating a rapid clinical improvement accompanied by a favorable short-term safety profile

Needle-free injection of 5-aminolevulinic acid in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of condylomata acuminata.

Abstract: The external application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) results in a shallow penetration depth in thick or extensive condylomata acuminata (CA) lesions, thus demonstrating a poor therapeutic effect for those patients. To compare the efficacy of needle-free injection with external application of ALA in PDT for the treatment of CA, 160 CA patients with thick or extensive warts received ALA-PDT by means of external application or needle-free injection of ALA, respectively. The complete response (CR) rate and recurrence rate in the two groups were analyzed. The CR rate after the first treatment in the needle-free injection group (68.8%) was significantly higher compared with that in the external application group (52.5%; P=0.035). The recurrence rates in the needle-free injection group and external application group were 4.1 and 15.4%, respectively (P=0.022). The needle-free injection of ALA increases the therapeutic effect of PDT for CA patients with thick or extensive lesions. It shortens the treatment time and reduces the recurrence rate, and has great potential in the treatment of CA.

Disruption of circulating CD4+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations in psoriasis patients is ameliorated by narrow-band UVB therapy.

Abstract: Narrow-band UVB (NB-UVB) therapy is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis; however, its precise mechanism is still unclear. To investigate the circulating CD4(+) T-lymphocyte subpopulations in psoriasis patients before and after NB-UVB, thus providing new insights into the mechanism of NB-UVB in the treatment of psoriasis. We performed NB-UVB treatments for psoriasis patients (n = 30) and used flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and ELISA for the detection of circulating CD4(+) T-lymphocyte subpopulations. The results were compared with healthy controls (n = 20) as well. We found increased circulating T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cell levels as well as decreased circulating regulatory T cells (Treg) levels compared to healthy controls. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the percentage of circulating Th17 cells and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Furthermore, the percentage of circulating Th17 cells was negatively correlated with the Treg cells which led to an imbalance of Th17/Treg. NB-UVB therapy significantly reduced circulating Th1and Th17 cell levels while increasing Treg cell levels. These findings indicate that the overexpression of Th1 and Th17 cells together with the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The mechanism of NB-UVB in the treatment of psoriasis may be through the inhibition of Th1 and Th17 cell immune response as well as the promotion of Treg cell immune response, thus ameliorating the disorder of circulating CD4(+) T-lymphocyte subsets.

Drugs for Autoimmune Inflammatory Diseases: From Small Molecule Compounds to Anti-TNF Biologics

Abstract: Although initially described as an anti-tumor mediator, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is generally considered as the master pro-inflammatory cytokine. It plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis. Consequently, anti-TNF therapy has become mainstay treatment for autoimmune diseases. Historically, anti-inflammatory agents were developed before the identification of TNF. Salicylates, the active components of Willow spp., were identified in the mid-19th century for the alleviation of pain, fever, and inflammatory responses. Study of this naturally occurring compound led to the discovery of aspirin, which was followed by the development of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to the chemical advances in the 19th-20th centuries. Initially, the most of NSAIDs were organic acid, but the non-acidic compounds were also identified as NSAIDs. Although effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, NSAIDs have some undesirable and adverse effect, such as ulcers, kidney injury, and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. In the past two decades, anti-TNF biologics were developed. Drugs belong to this class include soluble TNF receptor 2 fusion protein and anti-TNF antibodies. The introduction of anti-TNF therapeutics has revolutionized the management of autoimmune diseases, such as RA, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), plaque psoriasis (PP), AS, CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). Nevertheless, up to 40% of patients have no response to anti-TNF treatment. Furthermore, this treatment is associated with some adverse effects such as increased risk of infection, and even triggered the de novo development of autoimmune diseases. Such harmful effect of anti-TNF treatment is likely caused by the global inhibition of TNF biological functions. Therefore, specific inhibition of TNF receptor (TNFR1 or TNFR2) may represent a safer and more effective treatment, as proposed by some recent studies. In this review article, the historical development of anti-inflammatory drugs after World War II as briefly described above will be reviewed and analyzed. The future trend in the development of novel TNF receptor-targeting therapeutics will be discussed in the context of latest progress in the research of TNF biology.

Trends and targets in antiviral phototherapy

Abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-established treatment option in the treatment of certain cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions. Though best-known for its application in tumor therapy, historically the photodynamic effect was first demonstrated against bacteria at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, in light of spreading antibiotic resistance and the rise of new infections, this photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, is gaining considerable attention. This review focuses on the PDI of viruses as an alternative treatment in antiviral therapy, but also as a means of viral decontamination, covering mainly the literature of the last decade. The PDI of viruses shares the general action mechanism of photodynamic applications: the irradiation of a dye with light and the subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are the effective phototoxic agents damaging virus targets by reacting with viral nucleic acids, lipids and proteins. Interestingly, a light-independent antiviral activity has also been found for some of these dyes. This review covers the compound classes employed in the PDI of viruses and their various areas of use. In the medical area, currently two fields stand out in which the PDI of viruses has found broader application: the purification of blood products and the treatment of human papilloma virus manifestations. However, the PDI of viruses has also found interest in such diverse areas as water and surface decontamination, and biosafety.

Secukinumab: a review of the anti-IL-17A biologic for the treatment of psoriasis:

Abstract: Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with numerous comorbidities and a profound impact on patients' quality of life. While its complex immune pathogenesis is still not fully delineated, current evidence supports a fundamental role of the T-helper-17 (TH-17) pathway and its related interleukin-17 (IL-17) cytokine. Thus, new antipsoriatic therapies have been developed to block this key cytokine and its downstream effects. Secukinumab is a fully humanized, monoclonal anti-IL-17A antibody, and the first in its class to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It has also been approved for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Its clinical efficacy in plaque psoriasis has been well demonstrated in numerous phase II and III clinical trials. In addition, it has shown superiority in clinical trials to current biologic agents including etanercept and ustekinumab, with a safe adverse event profile. In correlation with excellent skin improvements, secukinumab is also associated with significant improvements in health-related quality of life measures. Thus, secukinumab offers the potential for equal, or improved, therapeutic effects compared with other biologics, and is a valuable addition to our current antipsoriatic armamentarium.

Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Abstract: PACT therapy involves the use of a chemical dye which targets the organism cell wall, in this case the fungus. The dye is activated by a high powered lamp which starts a chemical reaction, and the release of oxygen into the affected nail plate. This sudden and prolonged release of oxygen helps to destroy the cell wall of the fungus and over the course of your treatment helps to eradicate it from your nail plate.

Systematic review of central nervous system anomalies in incontinentia pigmenti

Abstract: The objective of this study was to present a systematic review of the central nervous system (CNS) types of anomalies and to consider the possibility to include CNS anomalies in Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) criteria. The analyzed literature data from 1,393 IP cases were from the period 1993–2012. CNS anomalies were diagnosed for 30.44% of the investigated IP patients. The total number of CNS types of anomalies per patient was 1.62. In the present study there was no significantly higher number of anomalies per patient in females than males. The most frequent CNS types of anomalies were seizures, motor impairment, mental retardation, and microcephaly. The most frequently registered CNS lesions found using brain imaging methods were brain infarcts or necrosis, brain atrophies, and corpus callosum lesions. IKBKG exon 4–10 deletion was present in 86.00% of genetically confirmed IP patients. The frequency of CNS anomalies, similar to the frequency of retinal anomalies in IP patients, concurrent with their severity, supports their recognition in the list of IP minor criteria.