Dead sea bath salt for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: a double-blind controlled study

Back-ground The beneficial effect of the Dead Sea (DS) area in psoriasis is attributed in part to the DS water, which has a high content of minerals, Aim The aim of the study was 10 evaluate the sole therapeutic effect of DS salt in psoriasis. Patients and Methods Thirty patients wild psoriasis vulgaris, involving >15% body area, were included in the study, which was conducted in a double-blind controlled manner. Treatment consisted of once daily baths, heated lo 35°C, of 20 min duration, for 3 weeks, of cither DS bath salt (group I) or common salt (group II). Clinical evaluation was based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score determination before and after treatment Results Twenty-five patients 113 in group 1 and I 2 in group II) terminated the treatment protocol. In both groups, treated by US hath salt and common salt, respectively, the mean PASI score before treatment (18.6, ± 9.4 and 15.7 ± 7.1. respectively) decreased significantly al the end of the treatment (11.4 ± 6.1 and 11.4± 6.6, respectively). The mean percentage reduction of PASI score at the end of the treatment regimen, was higher in patients treated with IDS bath salt (34.8%) compared to patients treated with common salt (27.5%) (P > 0.05). The mean percentage reduction a month after termination of the treatment protocol was higher in patients treated with DS hath salt (43.6%) than in those treated with common salt (24%) (P > 0.05). Conclusions The present study implies a beneficial effect to bathing wish either DS hath salt or common salt as a sole therapy for psoriasis vulgaris. However, we observed an enhanced beneficial effect of DS hath salt compared to common salt.     

不同冰敷方式对急性闭合性软组织损伤处理效果的影响

目的  探讨急性闭合性软组织损伤急性期冰敷处理的最佳时间和最佳方式。方法  选用健康家兔48只，随机分为持续冰敷组和间断冰敷组，对照组采用自身对照的方法，观察各组兔子损伤后4 h、8 h、12 h、24 h、48 h及72 h 6个时间点的损伤肢体肿胀值，以及24 h、48 h及72 h组损伤部位的皮肤颜色、出血点、皮下瘀斑变化以及组织病理变化情况。结果  损伤肢体肿胀值：持续冰敷组、间断冰敷组与对照组比较各组间差异有统计学意义（P =0.000）；皮肤颜色打分仅48 h时各组间以及持续冰敷组在不同时间点间的差异有统计学意义；出血点打分各组比较差异无统计学意义；皮下瘀斑打分仅持续冰敷组、对照组在不同时间点有差异；组织病理变化：冰敷（包括持续冰敷和间断冰敷，下同）组与对照组比较在48 h和72 h时有差异，其他时间点的两两比较没有明显差异。结论  对急性闭合性软组织损伤早期48 h以内给予冰敷处理较为理想，持续冰敷比间断冰敷效果更好。

     

Tobacco smoking, an independent determinant for unhealthy diet?: A cross-sectional study of Norwegian workers on platforms in the North Sea

The objective of the study was to examine whether male tobaccosmokers had a more unhealthy diet than non-smokers. Data onsmoking and other variables were collected by questionnaireinterviews and food intake by one 24 h recall. The setting was2 oll platforms. The participants were 310 healthy men workingon 2 platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Themean ages were 37 and 39 years for non-smokers and smokers.The prevalence of smoking was 50.3%. Smoking decreased withincreasing level of education, but increased with degree ofurbanization. Smokers consumed less vegetables, fruit and fish,but more meat, soft drinks containing sugar and more coffeethan non-smokers. Smokers had a higher intake of fat and a lowerintake of carbohydrate, vitamins A, D and C and dietary fibre.Smoking was an independent predictor for increasing the consumptionof coffee and high intake of energy, energy from fat and cholesteroland a decreasing consumption of vegetables, fruit, energy fromcarbohydrates, dietary fibre and vitamins A and C. It is concludedthat smokers had a more unhealthy diet than non-smokers.     

复方海蛇注射液的配制及其临床应用

对复方海蛇注射液的配制，成分及氨基酸分析进行了报道，并对其抗风湿机理进行了初步探讨，临床观察表明，对５００例痹症患者的总有效率为９８．４％，其中对风湿性关节炎疗效最佳，梨状肌综合症次之。     

100名大学生初次航海晕船病发病情况分析

目的　观察 10 0名初次出海航行大学生的晕船病发生率及其影响因素 ,为预防晕船病提供科学依据。方法　 10 0名健康男性大学生 ,首次在海上航行 13d。在海况变化时对他们的晕船病发生率、症状和分度进行观察。同时观察风速、涌高、风浪持续时间、船速、船横摇程度和居住舱的位置、人数和通风设备。结果　晕船病总发生率为 39.0 % ,其中轻度 3.0 % ,中度 36 .0 %。航行第 4 ,6 ,9,12天晕船病的发生率分别为 37.0 % ,2 .0 % ,12 .0 %和 4 .0 %。当时风速 2 .5～ 8.2 m/s、涌高 0 .5～ 1.5 m、船横摇程度 4°～ 12°、风浪持续时间为 1.5～ 15 .0 h。居住舱 8号 b舱的学生晕船病发生率明显高于通风较好的a舱的学生。结论　海上连续航行 6～ 12 d,6 7%以上晕船学生可养成前庭适应。风浪和涌是引起晕船病的主要因素。风浪持续时间延长可增加晕船病发生率。居住舱的空气质量也是影响晕船病的重要因素。     

沙棘油和维生素E对冷暴露大鼠脂质过氧化作用的影响

大鼠低温暴露后血及肝脏组织中ＬＰＯ含量显著升高，ＧＳＨ一Ｐｘ和ＳＯＤ活性明显下降；透射电镜下观察，肝线粒体明显肿胀，嵴断裂，结构不清甚至消失，基质电子密度降低。饲料中加入一定量的ＶＥ或沙棘油均可使上述指标的变化明显改善，接近于室温下正常对照组水平。沙棘油的改善效果优于同等剂量的ＶＥ。表明：沙棘油和ＶＢ可通过其抗脂质过氧化作用，提高机体的耐寒力。     

Trace metal levels in lichen samples from roadsides in East Black Sea region, Turkey

Objective To determine the metal contents of lichen species from East Black Sea region of Turkey for investigation of trace metal pollution sourced traffic. Methods The levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, palladium in lichen samples collected from East Black Sea region of Turkey were determined by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion method. The accuracy of the method was corrected by standard reference material (NIST SRM IAEA-336 Lichen). Results The contents of investigated trace metals in lichen samples were 7.19-22.4 μg/g for copper, 0.10-0.64 μg/g for cadmium, 4.03-44.6 μg/g for lead, 14.5-41.8 μg/g for zinc, 25.8-208 μg/g for manganese, 331-436 μg/g for iron, 1.20-3.01 μg/g for chromium, 1.48-3.90 μg/g for nickel, 0.20-3.55 μg/g for cobalt, 0.11-0.64 μg/g for palladium. The results were compared with the literature values. Conclusion Some lichen species such as Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Xanthoria calcicola, Peltigera membranacea, and Physcia adscendens are accumulated trace metals at a high ratio.     

Potential toxicological hazard due to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on Mediterranean top predators: state of art, gender differences and methodological tools

Man-made endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) range across all continents and oceans. Some geographic areas are potentially more threatened than others: one of these is the Mediterranean Sea. Levels of some xenobiotics are much higher here than in other seas and oceans. In this paper we review the final results of a project supported by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, in which the hypothesis that Mediterranean top predator species (such as large pelagic fish and marine mammals) are potentially at risk due to EDCs was investigated. We illustrate the need to develop and apply sensitive methodological tools, such as biomarkers (Vitellogenin, Zona Radiata proteins and CYP1A activities) for evaluation of toxicological risk in large pelagic fish top predators (Swordfish, (Xiphias gladius), Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus thynnus)) and nondestructive biomarkers (CYP1A activities and fibroblast cell culture in skin biopsy), for the hazard assessment of threatened marine mammals species (Striped Dolphin, (Stenella coeruleoalba), Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus))exposed to EDCs. Differential gender susceptibility to EDCs is also explored both in large pelagic fish and in cetaceans. In cetaceans, male specimens showed higher cytochrome P450 induction (BPMO in skyn biopsies, CYP2B in fibroblasts cell cultures) by xenobiotics with respect to females.     

Transfer of nodularin to three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.), herring (Clupea harengus L.), and salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the northern Baltic Sea

Nodularin (NODLN) is a hepatotoxin produced by the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena, which occurs regularly in the Baltic Sea. The primary aim of this study was to study the transfer of NODLN to three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.), herring (Clupea harengus membras L.), and salmon (Salmo salar L.), which were caught from the northern Baltic Sea between August 2002 and August 2003. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for NODLN analysis. NODLN was found in both herring (0–90 μg kg⁻¹ dw) and three-spined sticklebacks samples (2.8–700 μg kg⁻¹ dw). The recovery for the spiked stickleback samples in vitro was 28%. Only 1 salmon of a total of 10 contained a small amount of NODLN (10 μg kg⁻¹ dw). However, the high concentrations in individual stickleback suggest that possible transfer to higher trophic levels deserves more research.     

Three major glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient polymorphic variants identified in Mazandaran state of Iran

We report the first investigation of glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency among the Mazandaranians in the north of Iran. We analysed the G6PD gene in 74 unrelated G6PD-deficient men with a history of favism. Molecular analysis revealed three major different polymorphic variants: G6PD Mediterranean 66.2% (49 out of 74), G6PD Chatham 27% (20 out of 74), G6PD Cosenza 6.75% (5 out of 74). These findings indicated a higher prevalence of G6PD Chatham in this Iranian population than anywhere else in the world. In addition, the distribution of these G6PD variants is more similar to that found in an Italian population than in other Middle Eastern countries.