The use of isotretinoin for acne – an update on optimal dosing,surveillance, and adverse effects

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Acne is a chronic, inflammatory, and immune mediated disease of pilosebaceous unit, highly prevalent in adolescents. It involves face, trunk, and back; may leave scars and affect quality of life. Early, effective, and safe treatment is the key for disease resolution. Oral isotretinoin is the unique treatment for cure or prolonged remission for moderate and severe acne, preventing psychosocial impact and scars. It inhibits sebaceous glands activity and has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.     

Antioxidants Properties,Physicochemical, and Sensory Quality Attributes of a New Soy-Based Beverage with Lemongrass and Lime Juice

This work aimed at developing a new soy-based beverage and studying the influence of formulation ingredients on its antioxidants, physicochemical, and sensory properties. For this purpose, mixed beverages with lemongrass, lime juice, and soymilk were formulated. Soy-based beverages showed differences in pH, ratio, and color as compared to mixed beverages without soy. Soymilk increased the phenolics content and the ABTS antioxidant capacity, while lemongrass aqueous extract increased the DPPH antioxidant capacity of soy-based beverages. The new soy-based beverage had good acceptance for all attributes and can be considered a viable alternative source of nutrients and bioactive compounds to consumers.     

翻转课堂教学法在天然药物化学实验中的应用

目的利用翻转课堂教学法改进传统的天然药物化学实验课教学模式,提高该课程的教学效果。方法从实验教学的课程设计与开发,课前自主学习、课中内化及课后评估和讨论等环节进行了一系列的探讨与改革。结果翻转课堂教学模式为解决学生长期以来在天然药物化学实验课中缺乏主动参与性、探索性等问题提供一剂良方。结论在天然药物化学实验课教学中引入翻转课堂教学模式的初步探索为天然药物化学实验课的改革提供了依据和思路。     

B cell and B cell-related pathways for novel cancer treatments

B cells are recognized as the main effector cells of humoral immunity which suppress tumor progression by secreting immunoglobulins, promoting T cell response, and killing cancer cells directly. Given these properties, their anti-tumor immune response in the tumor micro-environment (TME) is of great interest. Although T cell-related immune responses have become a therapeutic target with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, not all patients benefit from these treatments. B cell and B cell-related pathways (CCL19, −21/CCR7 axis and CXCL13/CXCR5 axis) play key roles in activating immune response through humoral immunity and local immune activation via tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) formation. However they have some protumorigenic works in the TME. Thus, a better understanding of B cell and B cell-related pathways is necessary to develop effective cancer control. In this review, we summarize recent evidences regarding the roles of B cell and B cell-related pathways in the TME and immune response and discuss their potential roles for novel cancer treatment strategies.     

The Natural Course of Serum D-Dimer,C-Reactive Protein,and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Levels After Uneventful Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the baseline levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and monitor the natural course of these serum markers after uneventful primary total joint arthroplasty.MethodsThis prospective study enrolled 81 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty. The level of serum D-dimer, CRP, and ESR was measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 15, and 45. Mean peak values, peak times, and distribution were compared between D-Dimer, CRP, and ESR.ResultsThe mean preoperative serum D-dimer, CRP, and ESR level was 412 ± 260 (range 200-980) ng/mL, 2.93 ± 2.1 (range 1-18) mg/L, and 22.88 ± 17.5 (range 3-102) mm/h, respectively. The highest mean peak for D-dimer, CRP, and ESR was at postoperative day 1, 3, and 5, respectively.ConclusionD-dimer levels reached peak levels on postoperative day 1 and then declined rapidly to a plateau level by postoperative day 3. A second, albeit small, peak in the level of D-dimer occurred on postoperative day 15. The level of CRP and ESR remained elevated for much longer with CRP returning to baseline on postoperative day 45 and the level of ESR had not returned back to normal on postoperative day 45.     

On the origin of schizophrenia: Testing evolutionary theories in the post‐genomic era

Considering the relatively high heritability of schizophrenia and the fact that it significantly reduces the reproductive fitness of affected individuals, it is not clear how the disorder is still maintained in human populations at a disproportionally high prevalence. Many theories propose that the disorder is a result of a trade‐off between costs and benefits of the evolution of exclusively human adaptations. There have also been suggestions that schizophrenia risk alleles are accompanied with increase in fitness of affected persons or their relatives in both past and current social contexts. The discoveries of novel schizophrenia‐related genes and the advancements in comparative genomics (especially comparisons of the human genome and the genomes of related species, such as chimpanzees and extinct hominids) have finally made certain evolutionary theories testable. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, the basic principles of evolution that complement our understanding of the subject, and the latest genetic studies that examine long‐standing evolutionary theories of schizophrenia using novel methodologies and data. We find that the origin of schizophrenia is complex and likely governed by different evolutionary mechanisms that are not mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the most recent evidence implies that schizophrenia cannot be comprehended as a trait that has elevated fitness in human evolutionary lineage, but has been a mildly deleterious by‐product of specific patterns of the evolution of the human brain. In other words, novel findings do not support previous hypotheses stating that schizophrenia risk genes have an evolutionary advantage.     

牙龈间充质干细胞递送支架载体的研究进展

组织工程技术通过利用支架材料、种子细胞、生长因子以达到修复或再生组织器官的目的。支架材料的作用是为种子细胞提供机械支撑并且保护细胞免受体内有害微环境的影响。因此,选择或制备适当的支架材料是组织工程中的关键一步。近年来,将支架材料和牙龈间充质干细胞(gingival mesenchymal stem cells,GMSCs)联合应用于组织工程的研究逐渐走向成熟。本文就组织工程中牙龈间充质干细胞递送支架载体的研究现状进行综述,以期为GMSCs组织工程递送支架载体材料的开发和选择提供思路。