Application of a pigment measuring device – Mexameter®– for the differential diagnosis of vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus

Background/purpose: Vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus (ND) present similar hypopigmented macules with significantly different prognoses. Although the distinction between the two diseases is important, differential diagnosis relies on medical history and physical examination, which is far from decisive in some cases. The Mexameter^® is an objective skin color-measuring device, and has been reported to provide a reproducible and sensitive means of quantifying small skin color differences. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of a Mexameter^® for discriminating these diseases.
Methods: A selection of 202 hypopigmented skin lesions (182 from vitiligo and 20 from ND) were the objects of this study. Using a Mexameter, MIs were obtained from lesions and symmetrically located control skin. RMIs, ratios of the MIs of lesional skins to control skins, were calculated.
Results: The mean MIs and RMIs were significantly different for vitiligo and ND. The mean RMI of ND lesions was 74±13, which was significantly higher than that of vitiligo lesions (50±24). No ND lesion had an RMI of <50%.
Conclusion: This study shows that the Mexameter^®, an objective pigment-measuring device, can be used to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of hypopigmentary disorders, and that the relative melanin index (RMI), which represents the relative pigment levels, might be a more effective parameter than the melanin index (MI) itself for comparing pigmentation differences.     

Metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with psoriasis

The formation of LTB4 and its omega-oxidation products 20-hydroxy- and 20-carboxy-LTB4 from exogenous [14C]arachidonic acid (AA) by neutrophils from 12 psoriatic patients and 10 healthy controls was investigated. Only a slight difference was detected in the mean amount of [14C]LTB4 produced. In contrast, the amounts of [14C]omega-oxidation products obtained from psoriatic PMN were 2.4-fold higher than the amounts from PMN of healthy controls. We conclude that in vitro, psoriatic PMN synthesize more LTB4 from exogenous AA than do PMN of healthy individuals and due to an efficient omega-oxidation system, the net release of LTB4 in both groups appears to be similar.     

嗜铬细胞瘤患者围手术期处理的改进

目的：探讨提高嗜铬细胞瘤患者围手术期安全性的措施。方法：对15例嗜铬细胞瘤患者、术前采用选择性α1受体阻滞剂多沙唑嗪控释片(可多华)控制高血压；11例患者采用3D DCEMRA进行肿瘤定位；术中均采用联合高容量血液稀释(AHH)和术中患者自体血回输纠正血容量。结果：除1例持续性高血压患者需联合钙离子拮抗剂和ACEI药物降压外．其余患者血压控制均为满意；根据3D DCEMRA定位选择手术径路者均顺利完成手术；AHH联合术中自体血回输使14例患者避免了异体输血。结论：本文围手术期处理改进．可多华可明显减少药物的不良反应；采用3D DCEMRA进行肿瘤定位，可增加手术安全性；AHH联合术中自体血回输可减少医疗成本和异体输血，以及由此而引起的并发症。     

Mid-trimester abortion using prostaglandin E2 gel.

Nineteen cases of mid-trimester pregnancy were terminated using prostaglandin E2 gel applied intracervically. In this prospective study, 42% were primipara with gestational age at the time of abortion between 16 and 28 weeks. The induction to abortion time was 19.65 +/- 10.37 h with a success rate of 89%. The average number of applications was 1.8 times (range 1-3 times) and the average dosage of prostaglandin required was 5.5 mg (range 3-9 mg). The complications were minimal except retained placenta in 42% of cases. Prostaglandin E2 in form of gel applied intracervically is an effective alternative to the commonly used hypertonic saline or, more recently, to prostaglandin analogues for termination of pregnancy in the second trimester.     

A magnetic resonance imaging study of putamen nuclei in major depression.

The basal ganglia are recognized as putative mediators of certain cognitive and behavioral symptoms of major depression. Moreover, patients with basal ganglia lesions have repeatedly exhibited significant affective symptomatology, including apathy, depressive mood, and psychosis. Using high resolution, axial T2 intermediate magnetic resonance images, and a systematic sampling stereologic method, we assessed putamen nuclei volumes in 41 patients with major depression (DSM-III) and 44 healthy volunteer controls of similar age. Depressed patients had significantly smaller putamen nuclei compared with controls. Age was negatively correlated with putamen size in both groups. These results are the first demonstration of diminished putamen volumes in depression and further support a role for basal ganglia structures in the etiopathogenesis of depression.     

11β-羟类固醇脱氢酶与2型糖尿病

11β-羟类固醇脱氢酶(11β-HSDs)催化氢化可的松(皮质酮)和可的松(脱氢皮质酮)的相互转化，对调节局部糖皮质激素的活性起着重要作用，而糖皮质激素可诱导胰岛素抵抗。肝、脂肪等组织内11β-HSD活性的改变与肥胖、2型糖尿病等疾病密切相关。     

Studies on monoclonal anti-isotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies against leukemia and myeloma: IV modulation of membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines and tonsillar cell stimulated with McAbs

Summary In this study the technique of labelling the cell membrane with DPH fluorescence polarization was used to observe the membrane fluidity of B lymphocytic cell lines and tonsillar cells from healthy persons; the modulation effect on membrane-fluidity induced by McAbs against isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM from patients with leukemia was studied as well. The expression of the corresponding isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM on the cell membrane was determined. The results show that the membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines is remarkably higher than that of tonsillar cells from healthy persons, and McAbs against isotypic determinants of leukemic IgM can enhance the membrane fluidity of all kinds of cells mentioned above. However, the anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody increased only the membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines. These results indicated that there was a close relationship between the effect of McAbs on cell membrane fluidity and the expression of corresponding isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM on the cell membrane.     

Physical and spectroscopic methods for the evaluation of the interactions of antimitotic agents with tubulin.

The physico-chemical methods for the study of the binding of ligands to tubulin are examined in-depth, emphasizing the assumptions on which they are based and their limitations. The criteria of specificity and linkage to protein self-association are presented. It is shown that, of the direct equilibrium binding techniques, Hummel-Dreyer gel permeation chromatography and rapid ultracentrifugation are applicable only when binding is not linked to protein self-association. Disc filtration is valid only when the reverse unbinding reaction is very low. Binding linked to protein self-association can be measured by batch gel permeation or by dialysis equilibrium. The indirect techniques, such as fluorescence perturbation or difference absorption spectroscopy are discussed in terms of the assumptions on which they are based. They are shown to be used best only after characterization of the binding by direct techniques. Equilibrium binding parameters can also be deduced from careful kinetic experiments. Comparison of calorimetrically measured enthalpies of binding to van't Hoff enthalpies derived from equilibrium measurements indicates that the method of choice is calorimetric, while comparison with van't Hoff analysis can reveal the existence of reaction steps not detected by equilibrium measurements. Use of other indirect approaches, such as titration of an enzymic activity, can also lead to the detection of additional steps. The criteria are set up for the proper data analysis of ligand binding linked to protein self-association and the selection of the proper mode of linkage. It is shown how the thermodynamic contributions of various moieties of a ligand can be established by a rational structural modification of the ligand and the proper analysis of the binding measurements, in which all non-specific entropic contributions are taken into account. It is demonstrated also how a similar analysis of binding data can lead to conclusions about the reaction pathway from a comparison of equilibrium thermodynamic measurements on judiciously modified ligand molecules.     

BIOEQUIVALENCE BETWEEN rhGH FOR RECONSTITUTION AND READY-TO-USE rhGH IN TWO LIQUID FORMULATIONS

Objective To evaluate the bioequivalence between recombinant human growth hormone （rhGH） for reconstitution, and two dosages of liquid formulation of rhGH [ （151U） 5mg or （301U） lOmg per 3ml ]. Methods The study drugs were tested in a randomized, single-blind and three-period crossover studies in 24 healthy male subjects. The three drugs were administered by subcutaneous injection at a dose of O. 21U/kg body weight. A continuous somatostatin infusion was given in order to suppress the secretion of endogenous GH. The ve- nous blood samples were drawn at different time points to test the serum concentration of GH. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by statistical methods. Results 90% confidence intervals （CI） of AUC0-24h among three products were all within 80% - 125% interval （ 103. 4% - 116. 5%, 105. 7% - 119. 6% and 91.9% - 103. 7%, respectively）, and the Cls of C,~ among three products were all within 70% - 143% interval （91.9% - 114. 0%, 103. 7% -127. 2% and 81.6% -97. 4%, respectively）. There was no statisitical difference of tmax among all the three products. Conclusion These data demonstrate that there is bioequivalence between rhGH for reconstitution and two liquid formulations of rhGH.