Hair removal for Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI using light and heat energy technology

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of a light and heat energy (LHE)-based system (SkinStaion system; Radiancy Inc, Orangeburg, NY, USA) for hair removal in subjects with skin types V and VI. METHODS: Thirty-one subjects with Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI were consented for treatment with the system. Twenty-six subjects completed the 12-week follow-up. Safety was evaluated at each visit and efficacy was evaluated at both follow-up visits. RESULTS: An average hair clearance of 41.7% from 57 treatment sites was reported at the 6-week follow-up visit and a 35.5% average hair clearance was reported at the 12-week follow-up. Edema was only reported in 2 cases (7.7%) of the study population. Eleven cases of erythema were reported following treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment with the modified LHE system was safe and effective for hair removal in patients with skin types V and VI.     

A new technic for early prenatal diagnosis: trophoblast biopsy. Preliminary study

The authors report a preliminary study of chromosomal analysis made on chorionic villosities. The samples were taken by means of biopsy forceps. The "direct" method was used to determine the karyotype. Since then two diagnoses have been made on progressive pregnancies.     

Extraocular muscle insertions relative to the fovea and optic nerve: humans and rhesus macaque

PURPOSE: To identify extraocular anatomic relationships of muscle insertions relative to the fovea and the optic nerve. METHODS: Thirty-eight human eye bank eyes and 10 rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) eyes were measured. Ten human volunteers were used to determine the horizontal rectus muscle-to-globe apposition in primary, left, and right gaze. RESULTS: External globe measurements (human/rhesus; mm +/- SD) from the temporal border of the optic nerve (ON) to the center of the fovea (F) were 3.7 +/- 0.6 and 2.6 +/- 0.2; F to the posterior border of the inferior oblique (IO) insertion, 2.5 +/- 0.8 and 0.5 +/- 0.4; ON to the posterior border of the IO, 5.6 +/- 0.9 and 2.8 +/- 0.3; horizontal axial plane (H) of the eye, defined by the long posterior ciliary artery, to the IO, 2.0 +/- 0.8 and 0.5 +/- 0.4; and H to F, 1.0 +/- 0.6 and 0.4 +/- 0.3, respectively. The IO insertion formed an arc, inferior to H, with an anterior-to-posterior cord insertion width of 9.2 +/- 0.7 and 7.7 +/- 0.3. The IO angle of insertion (theta) was 30 degrees in 84% (32/38) and 0 degrees in 16% (6/38) of human eyes and 25 to 30 degrees in all rhesus. In 20 human volunteers, from the ON to the apex of lateral rectus globe apposition was 13.9 +/- 1.1 in primary, 17.2 +/- 1.9 in lateral, and 9.3 +/- 1.7 in medial gaze. CONCLUSIONS: The fovea is located mostly superior and slightly posterior to the posterior border of the IO insertion. Topographic relationships of the extraocular muscles relative to the fovea are essential for the design of extraocular drug delivery systems.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia: A review of 62 hospitalized adult patients

Summary In a prospective study,Chlamydia pneumoniae was identified as the etiological agent in 62 (17.9%) of 346 adult patients hospitalized over the course of one year for community-acquired pneumonia at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel. The diagnosis ofC. pneumoniae infection was based on serological testing of antibodies by the MIF technique. In 43 of these patients (69.4%), at least one other etiological agent, in addition toC. pneumoniae for community-acquired pneumonia was identified.Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 34 patients withC. pneumoniae (54.8%), as an additional causative factor in infection. Community-acquired pneumonia patients withC. pneumoniae were significantly older than non-C. pneumoniae patients (p=0.03), had a higher APACHE II score on admission (p<0.05), a higher rate of positive blood cultures (p=0.02), and longer periods of hospitalization (p=0.022). Seven patients with pureC. pneumoniae infection recovered, despite treatment which is not considered to be specific forC. pneumoniae. It was concluded thatC. pneumoniae is a common etiological agent for community-acquired pneumonia in our region, particularly in the elderly, and is characterized by a high rate of concomitant infections with other pulmonary pathogens. No specific clinical or radiological pattern was discerned that could distinguish betweenC. pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia and non-C. pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia.

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Ambulant erworbene Pneumonien durchChlamydia pneumoniae: Übersicht über 62 stationär behandelte erwachsene Patienten

Zusammenfassung Unter 346 im Rahmen einer prospektiven Studie erfaßten Patienten mit ambulant erworbener Pneumonie fanden sich 62 Fälle (17,9%), bei denenChlamydia pneumoniae als der verantwortliche Erreger identifiziert wurde. Die Studie lief über einen Zeitraum von einem Jahr am Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel. Die Diagnose basierte auf dem serologischen Nachweis von anti-C. pneumoniae Antikörpern mit der MIF-Technik. Bei 43 dieser Patienten fand sich mindestens noch ein zusätzlicher Erreger (69,4%). Bei 34 Patienten wurdeStreptococcus pneumoniae isoliert (54,8%). Patienten mit einerC. pneumoniae-Infektion waren signifikant älter als Patienten, bei denenC. pneumoniae nicht der Erreger war (p=0,03), diese Patienten hatten außerdem bei Einweisung einen höheren APACHE Score (p<0,05), häufiger positive Blutkulturen (p=0,02) und mußten länger stationär behandelt werden (p=0,022). Obwohl keine erregerspezifische Behandlung vorgenommen worden war, erholten sich 7 Patienten, die an einerC. pneumoniae Pneumonie erkrankt waren. Wir schließen aus den Daten, daßC. pneumoniae in unserer Region ein häufiger Pneumonieerreger ist, der vorwiegend ältere Personen befällt. Typischerweise besteht eine hohe Rate an Begleitinfektionen mit anderen Pneumonieerregern. Wir fanden kein spezifisches radiologisches Muster oder klinische Konstellationen, die eine Unterscheidung zwischenC. pneumoniae-Pneumonie und Pneumonien anderer Ätiologie ermöglichen würden.

     

Photodynamic therapy of colorectal cancer using a new light source

PURPOSE: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new alternative modality for palliation of rectal cancer. Current source of light for PDT are laser systems that are expensive and not necessarily needed for PDT. We evaluated a new nonlaser light source for PDT, Versa-Light ^® .METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro PDT—CT26 murine colon carcinoma cells were incubated with aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS ₄ ) for 48 hours and subjected to photoradiation using Versa-Light ^® ,and viability was assessed. There was a significant decrease in viability of treated cells compared with controls. In vivo PDT—BALB/c mice were injected either subcutaneously or intrarectally with CT26 cancer cells. IP AlPcS ₄ (2.5 mg/kg) was injected when tumors were visible. After 24 hours, mice were subjected to photoradiation. Massive tumor necrosis in response to PDT was observed. PDT also prolonged survival of treated mice. Patient treatment—A 70-year-old woman with recurrent local rectal carcinoma received intravenous Photofrin II ^® (2 mg/kg). After 48 and 96 hours, she was subjected to direct photoradiation. After the first light session, there was complete macroscopic disappearance of the tumor. Biopsies up to 10 weeks after the treatment showed no cancer cells in the treated area. Sixteen weeks later, a randomized biopsy from previous tumor site showed carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that Versa-Light ^® ,is a good light source for PDT. It was effective in both in vitro and animal studies. It can also be safely used for clinical PDT.Supported by the Roni Udassin Memorial Fund of the Israel Cancer Society.     

Isolation of genital mycoplasmas from blood of febrile obstetrical-gynecologic patients and neonates.

In a prospective study, 1156 blood specimens collected from hospitalized febrile obstetrical-gynecologic patients and neonates with suspected sepsis, were inoculated into a conventional biphasic culture medium, Castaneda S and cultures incubated aerobically. 15-24 h later the broth cultures were subcultured to specific media for detection of mycoplasmas. Genital mycoplasmas were isolated in 15 samples (taken from 8 women) and in 2 from 1 neonate. Mycoplasmas and members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were the most frequent significant bacteria isolated from adult specimens. Mycoplasma isolations were associated with either postpartum or postabortum febrile infections in women. Four of the neonates, whose mothers were infected, showed respiratory distress at birth; 1 of them had mycoplasmas in the blood. All febrile states in obstetrical or gynecological patients, and in neonates, should routinely lead to blood cultures for detection of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas.     

Captopril (SQ 14,225) (d-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-l-proline): A novel orally active inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme and antihypertensive agent

Relatively potent and specific in vitro and in vivo (oral or intravenous) inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme by a nonpeptidic compound, captopril (SQ 14,225; d-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl-l-poline), was demonstrated in excised guinea pig ileum and in rats, rabbits, cats, dogs, and monkeys. The design of captopril was based on a hypothetical model of the active site of the enzyme. Captopril, in vitro or in vivo, was about ten times as potent as teprotide. Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by inhibition of the contractile or vasopressor activity of angiotensin I or by augmentation of the contractile or vasodepressor activity of bradykinin. Acute of subacute dosage with captopril moderately to markedly lowered the blood pressure of the renin-dependent aorticligated and the conscious two-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive rat; in the latter, the effect was intensified by concomitant dosage with a thiazide diuretic. Furthermore, the life-prolonging effects of captopril in renal hypertensive rats were augmented by a thiazide diuretic. In the two-kidney Goldblatt rat, acute captopril (p.o.) was about ten times as potent as teprotide (s.c.) in lowering blood pressure. Acute or subacute oral doses of captopril moderately reduced the blood pressure of the spontaneously hypertensive Wistar-Kyoto rat; chronic dosage almost normalized blood pressure. Captopril produced little or no hypotension in the saltreplete normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat. Bilateral nephrectomy virtually abolished the hypotensive activity of captopril in the spontaneous hypertensive rat. The results suggest that captopril acts in large part by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system to reduce elevated blood pressure, especially in renindependent models of hypertension; the roles of the kallikrein-kinin-prostaglandin systems and sodium balance remain to be elucidated. Captopril also lowers blood pressure in apparently non-renin-dependent types of hypertension by mechanisms that are as yet undefined.     

Efficacy and tolerability of a polysaccharide-resin-honey based cough syrup as compared to carbocysteine syrup for children with colds: a randomized,single-blinded,multicenter study

Background

Available pediatric treatments for acute cough are limited by lack of demonstrated efficacy. The objective of this trial is to compare the effects of a polysaccharide-resin-honey based cough syrup, and carbocysteine syrups on nocturnal and daytime cough associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URIs).

Methods

Using a single-blind randomization design, the study recruited children from 4 general pediatric community clinics. Participants included 150 children aged 2 to 5 years with an URI, nocturnal and daytime cough and illness duration of ≤7 days. To be eligible, children had to be free of medication on the day before presentation. A survey was administered to parents on 4 consecutive days beginning from the day of presentation in clinic. Children received the study preparation on the first evening and then 3 times per day for 3 further days. Main outcome measures were cough frequency, cough severity, bothersome nature of cough, and quality of sleep for both child and parent.

Results

Both preparations were well tolerated and cough improved over the study period. After one night and on all survey days, there was a significantly better result for polysaccharide-resin-honey (P<0.05) for all the main outcome measures. The trend of improvement over the 4 days was steeper for polysaccharide-resin-honey (P<0.05) with regards to all cough parameters.

Conclusions

Both polysaccharide-resin-honey and carbocysteine cough syrups were well tolerated in children over 2 years of age. The polysaccharide-resin-honey syrup was associated with a more rapid and greater improvement in all clinical cough symptoms measured, beginning from the first night of therapy. Both nocturnal and daytime cough improved, as did sleep quality for both children and parents.