Pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis: immunohistochemical study using elastic fiber cross-reactivity with an antibody against amyloid p component

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE)-like papillary dermal elastolysis is a rare disorder clinically characterized by multiple, asymptomatic nonfollicular papules, yellow or flesh colored, grouped to form plaques with cobblestone appearance. These plaques are arranged symmetrically on the neck and supraclavicular areas of adult or elderly women, closely resembling the lesions of PXE. Histopathologically, the lesions are characterized by a band-like area of elastolysis along the papillary dermis. We report 2 cases of PXE-like papillary dermal elastolysis, in which the anomalies of the elastic tissue were immunohistochemically investigated with an antibody to the amyloid P component. This immunostaining demonstrated a band-like loss of elastic tissue along the papillary dermis. No clumping, fragmentation, or calcification of the elastic tissue was seen. We also review the literature about this rare process and discuss the differential diagnosis with other elastic tissue disorders that may show similar clinical and/or histopathologic findings.     

Ivabradine in combination with beta-blocker improves symptoms and quality of life in patients with stable angina pectoris: results from the ADDITIONS study

Aim

Several clinical trials have demonstrated the antianginal and anti-ischemic efficacy of ivabradine in combination with beta-blocker in patients with stable angina pectoris. The ADDITIONS (PrActical Daily efficacy anD safety of Procoralan^® In combinaTION with betablockerS) study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ivabradine added to beta-blocker, and its effect on angina symptoms and quality of life in routine clinical practice.

Methods

This non-interventional, multicenter, prospective study included 2,330 patients with stable angina pectoris treated with a flexible dose of ivabradine twice daily in addition to beta-blocker for 4 months. The parameters recorded included heart rate, number of angina attacks, nitrate consumption, tolerance, and quality of life.

Results

After 4 months ivabradine (mean dose 12.37 ± 2.95 mg/day) reduced heart rate by 19.4 ± 11.4 to 65.6 ± 8.2 bpm (p < 0.0001). The number of angina attacks was reduced by 1.4 ± 1.9 per week (p < 0.0001), and nitrate consumption by 1.9 ± 2.9 U per week (p < 0.0001). At baseline (i.e., on beta-blocker), half of the patients (51%) were classified as Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) grade II; 29% were CCS grade I. After 4 months’ treatment with ivabradine, most of the patients were CCS grade I (68%). The EQ-5D index improved by 0.17 ± 0.23 (p < 0.0001). The overall efficacy of ivabradine was considered by the physicians as “very good” (61%) or “good” (36%) in most patients. Suspected adverse drug reactions were documented in 14 patients; none were severe.

Conclusion

In daily clinical practice, combining ivabradine with beta-blocker not only reduces heart rate, number of angina attacks, and nitrate consumption, but also improves the quality of life in patients with stable angina pectoris.

     

Heart rate as an independent risk factor in patients with multiple organ dysfunction: a prospective,observational study

Purpose  

To study the association between baseline heart rate and outcome in patients with multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) as well as the course of heart rate over the first 4 days during MODS.     

Value of comprehensive renal ultrasound in children with acute urinary tract infection for assessment of renal involvement: comparison with DMSA scintigraphy and final diagnosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of comprehensive renal ultrasound (US), i.e., combining greyscale US and amplitude-coded color Doppler sonography (aCDS), for assessment of urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants and children, compared to (1) ^99mTc DMSA scintigraphy and (2) final diagnosis. Two hundred eighty-seven children with UTI underwent renal comprehensive US and DMSA scintigraphy. The results were compared with regard to their reliability to diagnose renal involvement, using (1) DMSA scintigraphy and (2) final diagnosis as the gold standard. Sixty-seven children clinically had renal involvement. Sensitivity increased from 84.1% using only aCDS to 92.1% for the combined US approach, using DMSA scintigraphy as the reference standard. When correlated with the final diagnosis, sensitivity for DMSA scintigraphy was 92.5%; sensitivity for comprehensive US was 94.0%. Our data demonstrate an increasing sensitivity using the combination of renal greyscale US supplemented by aCDS for differentiation of upper from lower UTI. Sensitivity for DMSA and comprehensive US was similar for both methods compared to the final diagnosis. Comprehensive US should gain a more important role in the imaging algorithm of children with acute UTI, thereby reducing the radiation burden.     

Organ dysfunction is associated with hyperglycemia in critically ill children

Objective  

To determine the association between organ dysfunction and hyperglycemia in critically ill children receiving intravenous insulin.     

Pharmacodynamic interaction between lumefantrine and desbutyl-benflumetol in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

The pharmacodynamic interaction between lumefantrine and monodesbutyl-benflumetol has been investigated in 44 fresh isolates of patients with a Plasmodium falciparum infection from the region of Mae Sot (Thailand). Both substances proved to be effective against parasite maturation within the test concentration range, with monodesbutyl-benflumetol being effective at a lower concentration than lumefantrine. Synergism between the two substances was evaluated with a combination of lumefantrine and monodesbutyl-benflumetol at a ratio of 4.25:1. The geometric mean values for complete inhibition of schizont maturation were 1035.7 nM for lumefantrine, 655 nM for monodesbutyl-benflumetol and 222.5 nM for the combination of both. An analysis for interaction according to the method of Berenbaum indicates a moderate synergism at the IC(50), which gets stronger with increasing ICs and reaches the highest level at the IC(99). The geometric mean of the sums of the FIC(50) is 0.73, of the FIC(90) it is 0.37 and of the FIC(99) it is 0.25.