FS03.6Efficacy of MAS063D (''Atopiclair'') in irritant contact dermatitis

Objective:  To determine the efficacy of a topical, MAS063D, in managing the clinical signs and symptoms of experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).
Methods:  Two patches of ICD were created using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in 20 consenting volunteers. MAS063D was applied to one patch and a vehicle‐only control to the other. Measurements were taken at baseline, 24, 48 and 72 hours as follows: blood flow volume (BFV); skin color (a*); transepidermal water loss (TEWL); patient's view of itch and visual scoring. Results: The objective measurements of BFV, a* and TEWL all showed statistically significant benefits of MAS063D over the vehicle‐only control. BFV and a* were significantly better at all time points (p = 0.046, p = 0.045 respectively at 72 hours) and TEWL at 48 and 72 hours (p = 0.02 at 72 hours). MAS063D demonstrated benefit in the visual scoring of irritant contact dermatitis that was not statistically significant. Patient‐assessed itch was low at baseline; significant improvement was neither expected nor demonstrated although a small benefit of MAS063D over vehicle was seen in the mean values.
Conclusions:  BFV and a* are both good indicators of local erythema. TEWL is a good indicator of skin integrity. MAS063D therefore demonstrated statistically significant benefit over vehicle on three clinically meaningful outcomes of SLS‐induced ICD, and therefore may benefit irritant contact dermatitis.     

Hemorrhagic intracranial malignant neoplasms: spin-echo MR imaging

Twelve patients with 15 separate, spontaneously hemorrhagic, intracranial malignant lesions (seven primary gliomas, eight metastatic lesions) were examined with spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T, and with computed tomography. The signal intensity patterns of these lesions, as seen on both short repetition time (TR)/short echo time (TE) and long-TR/long-TE spin-echo pulse sequences, were compared with the previously described appearance at 1.5 T of non-neoplastic intracerebral hematomas. The images of hemorrhagic intracranial malignancies showed notable signal heterogeneity, often with identifiable nonhemorrhagic tissue corresponding to tumor; diminished, irregular, or absent hemosiderin deposition; delayed hematoma evolution; and pronounced or persistent edema, compared with non-neoplastic hematomas. The demonstration of these characteristics in the appropriate clinical setting may suggest malignancy as the cause of an intracranial hematoma.     

犬急性心肌缺血区CO_2激光孔道的形态学变化

目的观察CO2激光对犬急性心肌缺血行心肌打孔后孔道的形态学变化,以探求TMLR的供血机制。方法8只杂种犬采用冠状动脉结扎方法造成左室前侧壁心肌梗死或缺血。使用大功率CO2激光在心肌缺血区域打孔,打孔数目3～5个/cm2,分别在TMLR后1周、1和6个月将犬心脏取出,经相应组织学方法处理后进行光镜和扫描电镜观察。结果孔道刚建立时可见气化孔道、炭化焦痂、坏死带及变形细胞层由内向外依次排列;TMLR后1周时孔道开放,孔道边缘有炎细胞浸润,1及6个月孔道内壁光滑,孔道与其它心肌结构相连,同时孔道周围的心肌微循环结构较前丰富。但孔道内壁的变化及炎症反应的程度与激光脉冲时间有关。结论TMLR后激光心肌孔道可以较长期保持通畅,使心腔内的氧合血通过这些孔道灌注心肌。但激光脉冲时间和心壁压力大小对孔道的通畅影响较大。     

Dental material artifacts on MR images

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the head and neck is becoming an important aid in evaluating pathologic conditions of the brain, midface, and pharynx. Certain dental materials cause artifacts during MR imaging of the lower midface. These artifacts can obscure the normal anatomy. This study describes the degree of artifact production caused by various materials commonly used in dental restorations. Of the materials tested, those causing artifacts were made of stainless steel, such as orthodontic bands used for braces, and pins or posts that are commonly drilled into teeth to provide structure or stability before filling. Materials used as temporary or permanent fillings or crowns--such as amalgam, gold alloy, aluminum, microfilled resin, and polyvinyl acrylics--did not cause artifacts in the images.     

Pseudarthrosis following lumbar fusion: detection by direct coronal CT scanning

Twenty patients with fusions of the lumbar spine (seven with pseudarthrosis, 11 with solid bony fusions, and two with fusions that appeared solid but assessment was complicated by the presence of surgical hardware) underwent computed tomographic (CT) scanning in the supine position in the axial plane and, employing a specially designed seat, in the coronal plane. Three-millimeter contiguous sections were acquired. The direct coronal images were compared with those reformated from the axial images. The higher-resolution direct coronal images facilitated the diagnosis of pseudarthrosis and increased confidence in interpretation of normal studies. Direct coronal imaging is easy to perform and in many cases requires fewer scans and less radiation than reformations. Because it provides more useful diagnostic information, direct coronal imaging should replace current methods for evaluating fusions of the lumbar spine.     

The Use of Fluorescent Antibody Technique for the Diagnosis of Equine Histoplasmosis "Epizootic Lymphangitis"

Summary: The fluorescent antibody technique was evaluated for the first time as a diagnostic aid for the diagnosis of equine histoplasmosis. Sera were obtained from several clinical cases of epizootic lymphangitis. The globulin fraction was separated, quantitated and then labeled with fluoresceine isothiocyanate.
Several antigen fmtives were tried. Heat-fixation proved to be the most appropriate. Conjugated sera diluted 1:5 yielded the highest fluorescence intensity with heat fixed mycelial antigen preparations. Acetone and p-formaldehyde treated preparations resulted in less efficient intensity. Glutaraldehyde was the least effective fixative.
The test substantiated humoral antibody formation during the course of the infection and its results seem promising for its use as a diagnostic aid.
Zusammenfassung: Die Fluoreszenz Antikörpertechnik wurde erstmals als diagnostisches Hilfsmittel bei der Diagnose der Pferdehistoplasmose verwendet. Seren wwden von mehreren klinischen Fällen der epizootischen Lymphangitis gewonnen. Die Globulinfraktion wurde abgetrennt und mit Fluoresceinisothiocat markiert. Mehrere Fixierungsmethoden für das Antigen wurden untersucht. Die Hitzefixierung erwies sich als am günstigsten. Konjugierte Seren in einer Verdünnung von 1:5 ergaben die höchsten Fluoreszenzintensitäten mit hitzefixiertem Mgzelantigen. Aceton und Formaldehyd als Fixative ergaben weniger giinstige Resultate. Glutaraldehyd war am wenigsten wirksam. Mit dem Test ließ sich die Bildung humoraler Antikörper während des Verlaufs der Infektion nachweisen. Der Test stelit außerdem eine vielversprechende diagnostische Methode dar.
Pferdehistoplasmose