Blue Spots Research Articles

Potential for Maternally Administered Vaccine for Infant Group B Streptococcus

BackgroundNatural history studies have correlated serotype-specific anti–capsular polysaccharide (CPS) IgG in newborns with a reduced risk of group B streptococcal disease. A hexavalent CPS–cross-reactive material 197 glycoconjugate vaccine (GBS6) is being developed as a maternal vaccine to prevent invasive group B streptococcus in young infants.MethodsIn an ongoing phase 2, placebo-controlled trial involving pregnant women, we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a single dose of various GBS6 formulations and analyzed maternally transferred anti-CPS antibodies. In a parallel seroepidemiologic study that was conducted in the same population, we assessed serotype-specific anti-CPS IgG concentrations that were associated with a reduced risk of invasive disease among newborns through 89 days of age to define putative protective thresholds.ResultsNaturally acquired anti-CPS IgG concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of disease among infants in the seroepidemiologic study. IgG thresholds that were determined to be associated with 75 to 95% reductions in the risk of disease were 0.184 to 0.827 μg per milliliter. No GBS6-associated safety signals were observed among the mothers or infants. The incidence of adverse events and of serious adverse events were similar across the trial groups for both mothers and infants; more local reactions were observed in the groups that received GBS6 containing aluminum phosphate. Among the infants, the most common serious adverse events were minor congenital anomalies (umbilical hernia and congenital dermal melanocytosis). GBS6 induced maternal antibody responses to all serotypes, with maternal-to-infant antibody ratios of approximately 0.4 to 1.3, depending on the dose. The percentage of infants with anti-CPS IgG concentrations above 0.184 μg per milliliter varied according to serotype and formulation, with 57 to 97% of the infants having a seroresponse to the most immunogenic formulation.ConclusionsGBS6 elicited anti-CPS antibodies against group B streptococcus in pregnant women that were transferred to infants at levels associated with a reduced risk of invasive group B streptococcal disease. (Funded by Pfizer and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; C1091002 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03765073.)

Therapeutic Efficacy and Complains of Dermal Melanocytosis with Picosecond Laser

Therapeutic Efficacy and Complains of Dermal Melanocytosis with Picosecond Laser

The study on the prevalence of Mongolian spots in the neonates.

Mongolian Spots (MS) generally exist at the time or under the first few weeks of the neonate life-cycle, often considered a birthmark, characterized by hyper-pigmented marks especially bluish-black hue that cannot vanish easily and are generally found on the lumbosacral region. As this MS is reminiscent of bruises and appears to be caused by abuse, this may raise questions about the possibility of abuse. Hence, it is significant to identify MS bruises. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of MS in neonates by using the parameters like location, method of delivery, gestational age, and, weight at birth. 500 neonates were enrolled in the study for the evaluation of the prevalence of Mongolian spots. The study design was cross-sectional, observational, and conducted for two and a half years. The neonate's whole skin surface, including the hand palms, scalps and soles, mucous membranes, genitalia, hair, and nails, was inspected in adequate light. The changes were seen (physiological and pathological) over the skin, so the details were reviewed, analyzed, and documented. Photographic records were kept to document the study. Descriptive statistics were analyzed by t-test and Chi-square test and the inferential statistics were analyzed by proportions and Chi-square test. From the 500 neonates, 408 (81.6%) were reported to have Mongolian spots. Based on the site of locations 337 (82.60%) neonates were found with spots maximum on the sacrococcygeal area and rarely on the extremities 4 (0.98%). 221 (54.1%) were found with normal vaginal delivery, and males have more predominance 247 (60%). Based on the gestational age full term was 366 (89.71%), with the birth at a weight of more than 2.5 kg found in 349 (85.54%). The study concluded that the maximum number of neonates had been found with Mongolian spots and it is very common among neonates. This study will enlighten the awareness of the physician to distinguish the other lesions from other cutaneous skin conditions. The only drawbacks of this research study are a smaller sample size and limited study duration. The study of diameter, size, and dimensions of spots are not included. More intervention studies are required to compare MS with other skin conditions and their therapies. Further research is required for the study of the dimensions of marks on the neonate's body.

A Review of Dermal Melanocytosis

Abstract Dermal melanocytosis is a histological term used to describe a clinical spectrum of cutaneous diseases which present as bluish-gray pigmentation of the skin. The most common forms include the Mongolian spot (MS), nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito, and dermal melanocyte hamartoma sharing similar etiologies and histologic findings but different associations and prognosis. Although these lesions usually resolve by 1 to 2 years of age, widespread aberrant MSs, nevus of Ota, and nevus of Ito can persist into adulthood and can become a great concern for the patients regarding the pigmentation and health risk associated with the same. An extensive literature search was done; all clinical trials, randomized double-blind or single-blind controlled trials, open-label studies, retrospective studies, reviews, case series, and case reports concerned with dermal melanocytosis were screened. The selected articles were retrieved; the final manuscript was prepared, analyzed, and presented in a narrative fashion.

The protective value of the colour and shape of the mountain katydid's antipredator defence.

Deimatic behaviour is performed by prey when attacked by predators as part of an antipredator strategy. The behaviour is part of a sequence that consists of several defences, for example they can be preceded by camouflage and followed by a hidden putatively aposematic signal that is only revealed when the deimatic behaviour is performed. When displaying their hidden signal, mountain katydids (Acripeza reticulata) hold their wings vertically, exposing striking red and black stripes with blue spots and oozing an alkaloid-rich chemical defence derived from its Senecio diet. Understanding differences and interactions between deimatism and aposematism has proven problematic, so in this study we isolated the putative aposematic signal of the mountain katydid's antipredator strategy to measure its survival value in the absence of their deimatic behaviour. We manipulated two aspects of the mountain katydid's signal, colour pattern and whole body shape during display. We deployed five kinds of clay models, one negative control and four katydid-like treatments, in 15 grids across part of the mountain katydid's distribution to test the hypothesis that their hidden signal is aposematic. If this hypothesis holds true, we expected that the models, which most closely resembled real katydids would be attacked the least. Instead, we found that models that most closely resembled real katydids were the most likely to be attacked. We suggest several ideas to explain these results, including that the deimatic phase of the katydid's display, the change from a camouflaged state to exposing its hidden signal, may have important protective value.

Aplasia Cutis Congenita With Cutaneous Meningioma: A Rare Case.

Cutaneous meningioma, characterized by ectopic meningothelial cells in the dermis or subcutis, is a rare neoplasm. Generally, the most common location for cutaneous meningioma is the scalp. We report a case of cutaneous meningioma presenting as soft, light red, atrophic, and smooth patches with central blue spots. On histological examination, the tumor consisted largely of epithelioid cells, whorls, nests, and syncytial sheets of meningothelial cells. HMB-45, Melan-A, and S100 were negative; epithelial membrane antigen and somatostatin receptor 2 were positive. Ultimately, histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry results supported a diagnosis of cutaneous meningioma. In addition, dermal dysplasia was observed above the tumor, manifested by thinning of the dermis and loss of appendages. No abnormalities were found on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Cutaneous meningioma is an extremely rare tumor, and its manifestation as an atrophic patch is even rarer. There have been mainly clinical reports of cutaneous meningioma. This was a rare case of focal aplasia cutis congenita with cutaneous meningioma. For cutaneous meningioma to be diagnosed earlier, there needs to be greater public awareness about the condition.

Determination of Cyanide at Trace Levels by Computational Scanning Densitometry

Introduction: Cyanide is one of the most commonly present anions in industrial effluents, highly toxic to human and animal life. Therefore, its determination in aqueous media by simple, portable, and quick methods is required. Objective: This study aims to develop a simple and quick method to determine this anion at the micro level in aqueous media without using any expensive instrument. Method: The method is based on treating the microliter sample of aqueous cyanide with the classical Lassaigne’s reagents on a TLC plate. After heating in an oven for a few minutes, a deep blue spot of ferric ferrocyanide complex appeared on the plate. The color depth of the spots was measured by scanning the TLC plate and analyzing the image with an indigenous software package. Result: As a result of fusion with metallic sodium, carbon and nitrogen of the organic compound combine to form cyanide, which first reacts with Fe(II) to form hexacyanoferrate ion [Fe(CN)6]4- that further combines with Fe(III) to create a neutral deep blue colored coordination complex, ferric ferrocyanide Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3. Discussion: This process converts real-world colors into numeric computer data consisting of rows and columns of pixels. Each pixel will consist of three numeric components, i.e., red, green, and blue. The pixel's color will be one of 16.8 million possible color combinations (256 shades of red, green, and blue each). Conclusion: From the comparison of results obtained by the proposed method and standard ion-selective electrode method, it can be concluded that the former method for determining micro quantities of cyanide in aqueous samples using computational densitometry is a simple, accurate, and adequately precise method without the involvement of sophisticated instrumentation.

First record on the occurrence of long fingered gurnard Lepidotrigla longimana (Scorpaeniformes: Triglidae) from Bangladesh

This study confirmed the presence of triglid fish Lepidotrigla longimana Li, (1981) for the first time in Bangladesh waters. Four individuals of this species were collected from Cox's Bazar (21.77 N 91.62 E) on 5 October 2018 as bycatch. The species was taxonomically identified through the traditional morphometric method which was further validated by a molecular approach based on partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences (DNA barcodes). The body length is three times of the head length and 4.1 times of the body height. Head length is 2.5 times larger than the snout length and 3.2 times of the eye diameter. The number of scales on the lateral line is 60. A smaller blue spot is present on the inner side of the pectoral fin. The average K2P distances of the COI sequence within species were 0.53. In the Maximum likelihood (ML) tree, the sequences clustered together under a single clade. Morphometric, meristic and molecular data thus confirmed the species as L. longimana. J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 47(1); 29-32: June 2023

CPC06 Congenital urticaria pigmentosa mistaken for nonaccidental injury

Abstract A male infant presented to his general practitioner for a routine 6-week check. His parents reported the presence of tan–brown lesions since birth. The marks were uniform in colour, were present on the trunk, scalp and face, and were not overlying bony prominences. There was concern that these lesions represented bruising as a manifestation of nonaccidental injury (NAI), and urgent paediatric review was arranged. He was admitted for investigation of potential NAI, and dermatology consultation was sought. On examination, scattered reddish brown-to-tan macules and papules were noted on the torso and limbs, not overlying bony prominences. Darier sign was negative, although some reactive cutis marmorata was appreciable on the trunk following rubbing of multiple lesions. A diagnosis of urticaria pigmentosa (UP), or cutaneous mastocytosis, was made clinically. Skin biopsies demonstrated an infiltrate of spindled and round mast cells and scattered eosinophils within the superficial and mid-dermis, with immunohistochemistry positive for CD117, consistent with UP. Blood tests during admission showed a normal complete blood count and coagulation screen (including von Willebrand factor), normal renal and liver function, normal lactate dehydrogenase, normal immunoglobulins and normal mast cell tryptase. Cranial ultrasound and liver ultrasound were normal. Mastocytosis is a spectrum of disease characterized by pathological accumulation of mast cells in tissues, including skin, bone marrow and the gastrointestinal tract. Cutaneous mastocytosis can be further classified as maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis, also known as UP, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis and localized cutaneous mastocytomas. With UP, children typically present in the first 2 years of life with multiple reddish-brown macules, papules and/or plaques distributed anywhere on the body, most commonly the trunk. In darkly pigmented skin, lesions may be hyperpigmented and erythema less appreciable. Darier sign, a transient urticarial response upon gentle rubbing of the skin, is classic and supportive of diagnosis, although it is not always demonstrable. UP has rarely been reported to be misdiagnosed as NAI. Other ‘bruising’ mimics include disorders of coagulation, Valsalva petechiae, vasculitis, acute haemorrhagic oedema, incontinentia pigmenti, phytophotodermatitis, coin rubbing, spooning, cupping, Mongolian spots, morphoea, neuroblastoma and ink stains, some of which may be unfamiliar to paediatricians or dermatologists. Dermatologists have a crucial role in recognizing cutaneous manifestations of NAI in children, which commonly includes bruising, particularly in infants who are not yet mobile. While consideration of NAI is important in all children presenting for medical care, this case highlights the importance of considering underlying dermatoses to avoid unwarranted distress and unnecessary investigations.

Infantile galactosialidosis associated with extensive Mongolian blue spots: An uncommon presentation

No abstract available Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2023: 52(2): 236-238

Fabrication of Antibody Conjugated Super Magnetic Oxide Nanoparticles for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most widespread cancers in the world. Early diagnosis is the most important factor in treatment efficiency. Furthermore, new methods for early diagnosis and treatment play an important role. In this study, we designed targeted conjugation of antibodies with iron nanoparticles and evaluated the binding properties of antibodies to prostate cancers and benign tissues. This method in addition to having a lower cost has high sensitivity and specificity. Anti- PSCA antibodies were purified and conjugated to super magnetic oxide nanoparticles (SPION). Then, iron staining on prostate adenocarcinoma tissues was performed. At the same time, immunohistochemically staining was performed on similar tissues to compare the results. In addition, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) samples were used as a control sample. In adenocarcinoma tissues with iron staining, many blue spots are seen compared to benign tissues, and the number of these spots increases with increasing tumor grade. These findings indicate the characteristic of iron staining as a conjugate antibody to iron can be an appropriate approach to specific staining of tumor markers in cancer tissues and can be used to diagnose prostate cancer due to its safety, low cost, sensitivity, and specificity.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis and its impact on the conservation of Ischnura rubilio Selys, 1876 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) in Taiwan

Although Ischnura aurora (Brauer, 1865) was traditionally considered to be widely distributed in Asia, the populations west of continental China have recently been identified as equivalent to Ischnura rubilio Selys, 1876. While the Taiwanese population has long been regarded as I. aurora as well, Taiwan in fact represents the distribution boundary between I. aurora and I. rubilio. Based on molecular and morphological analyses, we confirm that the “I. aurora-like” damselfly in Taiwan corresponds to I. rubilio. It is noteworthy that the abdominal blue spots of males in the Taiwan population have a unique phenotype compared to those found in specimens from India and continental China. According to past references and current surveys, the I. rubilio population in Taiwan has critically declined, with only one confirmed locality currently remaining. To maintain the Taiwanese population of I. rubilio, we recommend that prompt conservation measures of the habitat be implemented, focusing on the concept of the Satoyama Initiative.

SCDet: A Robust Approach for the Detection of Skin Lesions.

Red, blue, white, pink, or black spots with irregular borders and small lesions on the skin are known as skin cancer that is categorized into two types: benign and malignant. Skin cancer can lead to death in advanced stages, however, early detection can increase the chances of survival of skin cancer patients. There exist several approaches developed by researchers to identify skin cancer at an early stage, however, they may fail to detect the tiniest tumours. Therefore, we propose a robust method for the diagnosis of skin cancer, namely SCDet, based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) having 32 layers for the detection of skin lesions. The images, having a size of 227 × 227, are fed to the image input layer, and then pair of convolution layers is utilized to withdraw the hidden patterns of the skin lesions for training. After that, batch normalization and ReLU layers are used. The performance of our proposed SCDet is computed using the evaluation matrices: precision 99.2%; recall 100%; sensitivity 100%; specificity 99.20%; and accuracy 99.6%. Moreover, the proposed technique is compared with the pre-trained models, i.e., VGG16, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet and it is observed that SCDet provides higher accuracy than these pre-trained models and identifies the tiniest skin tumours with maximum precision. Furthermore, our proposed model is faster than the pre-trained model as the depth of its architecture is not too high as compared to pre-trained models such as ResNet50. Additionally, our proposed model consumes fewer resources during training; therefore, it is better in terms of computational cost than the pre-trained models for the detection of skin lesions.

Anaphylatoxin C5a receptor signaling induces mitochondrial fusion and sensitizes retinal pigment epithelial cells to oxidative stress

Mitochondrial dynamics is a morphological balance between fragmented and elongated shapes, reflecting mitochondrial metabolic status, cellular damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The anaphylatoxin C5a derived from complement component 5 cleavage, enhances cellular responses involved in pathological stimulation, innate immune responses, and host defense. However, the specific response of C5a and its receptor, C5a receptor (C5aR), in mitochondria is unclear. Here, we tested whether the C5a/C5aR signaling axis affects mitochondrial morphology in human-derived retinal pigment epithelial cell monolayers (ARPE-19). C5aR activation with the C5a polypeptide induced mitochondrial elongation. In contrast, oxidatively stressed cells (H2O2) responded to C5a with an enhancement of mitochondrial fragmentation and an increase in the number of pyknotic nuclei. C5a/C5aR signaling increased the expression of mitochondrial fusion-related protein, mitofusin-1 (MFN1) and − 2 (MFN2), as well as enhanced optic atrophy-1 (Opa1) cleavage, which are required for mitochondrial fusion events, whereas the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (Erk1/2) phosphorylation were not affected. Moreover, C5aR activation increased the frequency of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contacts. Finally, oxidative stress induced in a single cell within an RPE monolayer (488 nm blue laser spot stimulation) induced a bystander effect of mitochondrial fragmentation in adjacent surrounding cells only in C5a-treated monolayers. These results suggest that C5a/C5aR signaling produced an intermediate state, characterized by increased mitochondrial fusion and ER-mitochondrial contacts, that sensitizes cells to oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial fragmentation and cell death.

What the skin of 341 premature newborns says - a transversal study

ObjectivesDetermine the frequency of dermatological diagnoses in preterm newborns up to 28 days of life and associated perinatal factors. Methoda cross-sectional analytical study with a convenience sample and prospective data collection, was conducted between November 2017 and August 2019. Overall, 341 preterm newborns who had been admitted to a University hospital – including those admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – were evaluated. Results61 (17.9%) had less than 32 weeks gestational age (GA), with a mean GA and birth weight of 33.9 ± 2.8 weeks and 2107.8 ± 679.8g (465 to 4230g), respectively. The median age at the time of evaluation was 2.9 days (4 h to 27 days). The frequency of dermatological diagnoses was 100% and 98.5% of the sample had two or more, with an average of 4.67+1.53 dermatoses for each newborn. The 10 most frequent diagnoses were lanugo (85.9%), salmon patch (72.4%), sebaceous hyperplasia (68.6%), physiological desquamation (54.8%), dermal melanocytosis (38.7%), Epstein pearls (37.2%), milia (32.2%), traumatic skin lesions (24%), toxic erythema (16.7%), and contact dermatitis (5%). Those with GA< 28 weeks showed more traumatic injuries and abrasions, whereas those with ≥ 28 weeks had physiological changes more frequently, and those with GA between 34-366/7 weeks, had transient changes. ConclusionDermatological diagnoses were frequent in our sample and those with higher GA showed a higher frequency of physiological (lanugo and salmon patch) and transient changes (toxic erythema and miliaria). Traumatic lesions and contact dermatitis were among the 10 most frequent injuries, reinforcing the need to effectively implement neonatal skin care protocols, especially in preterm.

Mongolian Spot Involving the Lower Eyelid: A Rare Occurrence

Mongolian Spot Involving the Lower Eyelid: A Rare Occurrence

PO-01-004 DEVELOPMENT OF A THERMOCHROMIC BENCHTOP MODEL FOR A RAPID, EFFICIENT, AND COST-EFFECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF PULSED FIELD ABLATION THERAPIES

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is a non-thermal alternative to RF providing a tissue preferential therapy with no thermal necrosis. PFA applies high voltage, short electrical pulses to create irreversible cell membrane pores causing cell death. Since energy application intrinsically leads to Joule heating, parameters optimization is vital to obtain a therapy that limits temperature below 50°C, the cardiac thermal damage threshold. This constraint creates a complex multi-variable problem, requiring multiple in vivo studies to mitigate the likelihood of thermal damage, which can be inefficient and costly. Bench methods using ex vivo tissue or gels with thermal probes are inadequate as they rely on orientation and proximity to hotspots. The aim of this research was to develop a thermochromic phantom gel model that changes color when temperature exceeds the critical thermal damage threshold, enabling better visualization of thermal profile for PFA systems. The development of this gel model included a combination of saline with polyacrylic acid and a reversible thermochromic pigment that changes color ≥45°C. The gel allows any catheter to be coated. The coated Abbott VoltTM PFA catheter was placed in a 32°C heated saline bath (to obtain ΔT of 13°C, analogous to that observed between 37°C and 50°C) and PFA was applied using VoltTM PFA Generator. During ablation, real-time gel color change is noted (Purple<Threshold≤Light blue). Using this model, we compared an optimized PFA waveform to a Positive Control waveform known to cause thermal damage in vivo (N=1 section from 1 animal). Three gel batches were used to understand batch variability (N=15 at each batch). The positive control showed color change in 84% of trials. During ablation, light blue spots appeared on electrodes that enlarged with continued ablation, highlighting heat stacking for the Positive Control waveform. No color change was observed for the optimized waveform (N=45). The non-thermal nature of the lesion created by the optimized VoltTM PFA waveform was also confirmed in in vivo studies via histopathology (N=6 sections from 2 animals). This study demonstrated that the gel model can capture thermal damage risk with a Positive Control (84%). The optimized VoltTM PFA system waveform via the gel model is thermally safe, as confirmed via histopathology. This bench model offers an efficient and cost-effective method for optimizing PFA waveforms.

The giant clam commensal shrimp Anchistus miersi (de Man, 1888) (Decapoda: Palaemonoidae) new to Lakshadweep Sea, India

The genus Anchistus Borradaile, 1898 is a colourful shrimp from the commensal group. In this study, we are reporting a new occurrence of Giant Clam commensal shrimp Anchistus miersi (de Man, 1888 [in de Man, 1887–1888]) caught from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep Sea during February 2020. The present specimens (one each matured male and female) were collected from the mantle cavity of the Giant Clam, Tridacna maxima (Roding, 1798) in the coral lagoon at a depth of 4 m. Anchistus miersi is morphologically very similar to Anchistus demani, which is easily distinguished by the presence of a strong antennal spine and conspicuous accessory spinules in the third─fifth pereopods and presence of small blue spots all over the body. The molecular analysis confirms that, the morphological identification of the present Indian specimens displays an intraspecific genetic divergence of 0.3─1.2%. Besides, the remarkable taxonomic features and colour patterns, distributional ranges are also attested with the report of the species from the present area.

Effect of acupuncture pretreatment of "Quchi"(LI11) and "Xuehai" (SP10) on mast cells and IL-33/ST2 in rats with urticaria

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment at "Quchi "(LI11) and "Xuehai "(SP10) on expression of interleukin (IL)-33, suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) and mast cell degranulation in sensitive area of skin tissue in rats with urticaria, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying prevention of urticaria. A total of 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, EA preconditioning and medication groups, with 8 rats in each group. The urticaria model was established by topical injection of the prepared anti-ovalbumin serum (foreign serum, 0.1 mL/spot) along the bilateral sides of the spinal column on the back, followed by injection of mixture solution of ovalbumin, 0.5% evans blue and normal saline via the tail vein 48 h later. EA intervention (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral LI11 and SP10 for 20 min, once daily for 7 d before modeling.Back sensitization was started from the 5th day on. Rats of the medication group received gavage of loratadine, and those of the model group received gavage of the same volume of normal saline. The diameter of evans blue spots at the back skin tissue was measured; the histopathological changes of the blue spot tissues were observed by light microscope after H.E. staining. The state of degranulation of mast cells in the subcutaneous loose connective tissue was observed by using toluidine blue staining. Serum IgE and histamine contents were detected by ELISA, and the immunoactivity of IL-33 and ST2 in the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the sensitized spots (evans blue exudation spots) was observed by immunohistochemistry. Compared with the blank control group, the diameter of evans blue spot, degranulation rate of mast cells, serum IgE and histamine contents, and the immunoactivity of IL-33 and ST2 in the evans blue exudation spot tissues were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the increase of the above-mentioned indexes was reversed in both EA and medication groups (P<0.01，P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the EA and medication groups in down-regulating the levels of the 6 indexes. H.E. staining of the blue spot tissues of rats in the model group showed incomplete structure of the epidermal layer of the skin, unclear interface of tissues, incomplete keratinization, chaotic epidermal cells, disorderly arrangement of fibers in the dermis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells and edema, which was relatively milder in the EA and medication groups. EA preconditioning can prevent urticaria (reduce size and sensitive reactions) in rats, which may be associated with its functions in lowering the level of IgE through inhibiting IL-33 and ST2.

Mongolian Spot in Kyrgyz and Mongolian Culture in the Context of Bodylore

Türklerin geleneksel inancına göre Moğol lekesi, Umay Ana’nın doğumu kolaylaştırmak için bebeğin kalçasına attığı tokattan kaynaklanmaktadır. Bu lekenin uğurlu ve kutsal olduğu kabul edilir. Kırgızlar bu lekeye Umay Ene’nin el izi derler. Manas Destanı’nda da kendine yer bulan bu leke bebeğin rızık kaygısıyla doğmak istememesi üzerine Umay Ene’nin eliyle yaptığı zorlamanın bir sonucu olarak meydana gelmiştir. Almambet’in doğumunun anlatıldığı dizelerde ise bebeğin doğumuna Umay Ene yerine Mîkâil, el ile değil de değnek ile müdahale eder. Moğollar bu lekeye mavi leke/benek derler. Moğollara göre mavi leke Moğol halkının bir sembolüdür ve dünya üzerine Moğollarla birlikte yayılmıştır. Moğollardaki bu düşüncenin Batılılar tarafından söz konusu doğum lekesinin Moğol lekesi olarak isimlendirilmesinden kaynaklandığı düşünülmektedir. Diğer yandan Moğollarda gök mavisinin kutsal bir yeri vardır. Mavi (gök) Tanrı, mavi (gök) kurt ve mavi (gök) leke kutsal gök kültüyle ilişkilidir. Türk-Moğol geleneğinde Umay Ana ve gök kültü nedeniyle şans ve kutsallıkla ilişkilendirilen mavi doğum lekesinin Moğollarda sonraki dönemlerde millî bir sembol hâline gelmesi Moğol lekesinin mitolojiden ideolojiye doğru bir anlam dönüşümü geçirdiğini göstermektedir.