Narrowband Ultraviolet B Light in Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Case Report

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) (previously called eosinophilic granuloma, Hand–Schüller–Christian syndrome, Letterer–Siwe disease, and Hashimoto–Pritzker disease) is a rare, heterogeneous disorder with highly variable presentation. LCH commonly affects the skin, as well as internal organs. Because the skin lesions appear benign, and LCH is unfamiliar to most physicians, diagnosis is often delayed. Treatment is controversial, with further clinical study needed. For persons with extensive, skin‐limited disease, the existing topical therapies are impractical. We present a child with cutaneous LCH lesions that responded to ultraviolet light phototherapy with minimal adverse effects or patient discomfort.     

Association of G-protein-coupled receptor 154 with asthma and total IgE in a population of the Caribbean coast of Colombia

Background G protein‐coupled receptor 154 was described as an asthma susceptibility gene by positional cloning. It has been subsequently associated with asthma and other inflammatory diseases in several populations with different ethnic origin. Replication of associations adds reliability to these findings. Objective To analyze the association of G protein‐coupled receptor 154 with asthma and total and mite‐specific IgE levels in a population of the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Methods We genotyped seven single nucleotide proteins (SNPs) in GPR154 in 475 asthmatics, 394 controls and 116 families from Cartagena, Colombia using either SnaPshot or TaqMan. Total and specific IgE against Blomia tropicalis and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were determined by ELISA. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was assessed and case–control and family‐based analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the SNPs and their haplotypes and asthma and IgE. Association analyses in the case–control dataset were corrected by population stratification using 52 ancestry informative markers. Results Allelic distribution was similar to that described in other populations. Two SNPs were associated with the same direction of the effect in both datasets. Allele A of Hopo546333 was protective for asthma (case–control OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.17–0.99, P=0.042; P=0.043; families Z score=?2,236; P=0.025). Similarly, allele C of rs740347 conferred low risk for asthma (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28–0.70, P=0.00017; P_c=0.00037) and total IgE (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09–0.88, P=0.015; P_c=0.030) in the case–control study and families (Z score=?3.207, P=0.0013; Z score=?3.182, P=0.0014, respectively). Haplotype CCAGGT was associated with total IgE (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.14–2.71, P=0.006, P_c=0.007) in the case–controls group and CGCGGT with both phenotypes (P=0.044 and P=0.032, respectively) in families. Neither SNPs nor haplotypes were associated with levels of mite‐specific IgE. Conclusions Our findings in a sample of asthmatics from Colombia suggest a relevant role of G protein‐coupled receptor 154 in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergy.     

The evaluation of gastrointestinal function in diabetic patients

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Effects of Enteral Nutrition on the Barrier Function of the Intestinal Mucosa and Dopamine Receptor Expression in Rats With Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Impaired intestinal mucosal barrier (IMB) function is common in traumatic brain injury (TBI), but dopamine receptors (DRs) change in intestinal mucosa after TBI, and effects of enteral nutrition (EN) and supplements on IMB function remain unclear. Our purpose was to study the effects of EN and supplements on intestinal mucosal permeability (IMPB) and the expression of DRs DRD1 and DRD2 in the intestinal mucosa of rats with TBI. Methods: Forty‐eight rats were divided into 8 groups; control, animals with TBI, dopamine group, animals with TBI treated with dopamine antagonist, EN alone, or EN combined with glutamine, probiotics, or a combination of probiotics and glutamine daily after TBI. Results: The IMPB was improved in the glutamine, probiotics, and combination groups. Including probiotics improved IMPB more than adding glutamine, and bacterial translocation in the intestines after TBI was reduced in the probiotics and combination groups (all Ps < .01). TBI led to elevated DRD1 and DRD2 mRNA and protein levels, which were reduced in the DA antagonist, glutamine, probiotics, and combination groups. DRD2 mRNA and protein levels in the probiotics and combination groups were decreased more than in the DA antagonist group (all Ps < .01). The increased IMPB after TBI correlated with increased DRD1 and DRD2 levels in the rat intestinal mucosa. Conclusion: EN supplemented with probiotics or combining glutamine and probiotics lowers the increased IMPB, bacterial translocation, and DRD1 and DRD2 mRNA and protein expression in rat intestinal mucosa caused by TBI.     

Effect of various regimens of chronic and acute nicotine exposure on myocardial infarct size in the dog

Smoking is a risk factor for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, and the risk increases with increasing numbers of cigarettes smoked. The effect of cigarette smoking on the size of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been evaluated. This study describes the effect of 1 component of tobacco smoke, nicotine, on the size of experimentally induced AMI in closed-chest dogs. Daily exposure to nicotine before AMI increased the volume of infarcted tissue (p less than 0.0001). Acute exposure to nicotine (with prior chronic exposure) resulted in a larger volume of infarcted tissue (p less than 0.0001). Thus, chronic, acute and post-AMI exposure to nicotine has an adverse effect on the volume of subsequent infarcted tissue, and continued exposure after AMI further enlarges infarct size.