Psoriasis is a heterogeneous disease with seven major psoriasis susceptibility loci reported so far on chromosomes 1p, 1q, 3q, 4q, 6p, 17q, and 19p, respectively. To investigate the psoriasis susceptibility loci in Chinese Hans, a genome-wide scan was performed with two-point and multipoint parametric and nonparametric linkage analyses in 61 multiplex families. These families were Chinese Hans residing in east and south-east China, comprising 189 affected and 166 unaffected individuals. We detected evidence for linkage at 6p21 (PSORS1) with nonparametric linkage scores > 3 in the range of 39.9-62.3 cM and a maximum multipoint nonparametric linkage score of 4.58 (p=0.000032). Parametric analysis revealed a maximum two-point heterogeneity lod score of 4.30 with 58% as the proportion of linked families (alpha) and a maximum multipoint heterogeneity lod score of 4.25 (alpha=53%) under the assumption of a dominant model. We could not confirm a previous reported locus (PSORS3) on distal chromosome 4q; however, a region of highly suggestive linkage was identified proximal to this proposed locus. Multipoint nonparametric analysis demonstrated nonparametric linkage scores > 3 throughout a region between 152.5 cM and 165.1 cM (from pter) with a maximum peak of 3.69 (p=0.00033) at 157.9 cM, which locates D4S413. A maximum multipoint heterogeneity lod score of 2.31 (alpha=46%) was reached at 163.1 cM. With two-point parametric linkage analysis, we observed the highest lod score of 2.43 and heterogeneity lod score of 3.94 (alpha=77%) at marker D4S1597. Our results showed that chromosomes 6p and 4q may contain genes involved in the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in a Chinese Han population. Other regions with weaker evidence for linkage could also hide minor susceptibility genes.

Psoriasis vulgaris follows a pattern of polygenetic or multifactorial inheritance rather than single-gene inheritance.

Background and purpose: To compare 68 Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) and 18 F-FDG PET/ CT in imaging locally advanced oesophageal cancer, and evaluate the potential usefulness of 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT on gross target volume (GTV) delineation aimed at radiotherapy planning for oesophageal cancer as compared with contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) and 18 F-FDG PET/CT. Materials and methods: Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed oesophageal cancer who underwent both 18 F-FDG and 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT scans were selected. GTVs of the primary tumours based on CE-CT (GTV CT ), PET/CT, and CE-CT plus PET/CT were delineated. Gross tumour lengths were measured by GTVs and endoscopy and recorded. Results: The 68 Ga-FAPI PET showed significantly higher radiotracer uptake than 18 F-FDG PET (median SUVmax 16.71 vs. 11.23; P = 0.002) in the primary tumours. SUV thresholds of FAPI Â20%, 30%, 40%, and FDG Â40% showed similar lesion lengths compared with that in endoscopic examination (P > 0.05). GTV CT demonstrated the largest volume (median: 48.80 mm 3 , range: 14.83-162.23 mm 3 ) than PET-based GTVs. For PET/CT-guided complementary contouring of GTV CT , four patients (19%) were increased by FAPI Â20% and 30%, two patients (9.5%) were increased by FAPI Â40%, and only one patient was increased by FDG Â40%. Furthermore, the volume of GTV based on CE-CT plus FAPI Â20%, 30%, and 40% showed no significant difference with GTV CT and planning target volume based CE-CT plus FAPI-PET and meets the organ at risk standard. Conclusion:The 68 Ga-FAPI PET/CT methodology showed favourable tumour-to-background contrast in oesophageal cancer and might provide additional information for target volume delineation and help avoid tumour geographic misses.

Background Blastocystis sp. is an anaerobic protozoan that parasitizes many animal hosts and the human gastrointestinal tract, and its pathogenicity is controversial. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with Blastocystis sp. The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Methods A total of 420 fresh fecal samples were collected from 54 captive wildlife species in four zoos in southwestern China between June 2017 and September 2019. The prevalence and subtype (ST) genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. were determined by PCR amplification of the barcode region of the SSU rRNA gene and phylogenetic analysis. Results Overall, 15.7% (66/420) of the animal samples and 20.7% (14/54) of the species tested were shown to be infected with Blastocystis sp. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis sp. was found in Panzhihua Zoo (24.3%), which was significantly higher than that in Chengdu Zoo (6.9%), and Xichang Zoo (2.9%) (P < 0.05). There are also significant differences in the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. among different species (P < 0.05), and the highest of Blastocystis sp. prevalence was observed in white-cheeked gibbon, black great squirrel, and red giant flying squirrel (100%). Subtype analysis of Blastocystis sp. revealed nine subtypes, including six zoonotic STs (ST1-5, and ST8) and three animal-specific STs (ST10, ST14, and ST17), with ST17 as the predominant subtype (26/66) in Blastocystis sp.-positive isolates. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis sp. among captive wildlife in zoos in southwestern China. This study highlights that these animals may serve as reservoirs for human Blastocystis sp. infections.