Analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL6 gene in patients with stromal keratitis

Recent work suggests that herpes simplex virus (HSV) stromal keratitis in the mouse is caused by autoreactive T lymphocytes triggered by a 16 amino acid region of the HSV UL6 protein (aa299-314), Science 279, 1344-1347). In the present study we sought to determine whether genetic variation of this presumed autoreactive UL6 epitope is responsible for different pathogenic patterns of human HSV keratitis. To accomplish this, we sequenced the HSV UL6 gene from ocular isolates of 10 patients with necrotizing stromal keratitis, 7 patients with recurrent epithelial keratitis, and 8 patients with other forms of HSV keratitis. The sequences obtained predicted identical UL6(299-314) epitopes for all 25 viral isolates. Furthermore, the upstream sequence of all isolates was free of insertions, deletions, and stop codons. We conclude that different pathogenic patterns of human HSV keratitis occur independent of genetic variation of the HSV UL6 (299-314) epitope.     

Long-term adiposity changes are related to a glucocorticoid receptor polymorphism in young females

Male and female preadolescents and adolescents who participated in phase 1 of the Québec Family Study, and who were retested about 12 yr later, were recruited and subdivided on the basis of a genetic variant within the intron 2 of the glucocorticoid receptor (GRL IVS2-BclI). The increase in sc adiposity over the 12-yr follow-up period in the 4.5/2.3 genotype female subgroup was more than twice that observed in the 4.5/4.5 and the 2.3/2.3 genotype subgroups (P < 0.01). The statistical significance of this difference was essentially unchanged after adjusting for changes, over time, in percent dietary energy as fat, alcohol consumption, and participation in vigorous physical activity. In male subjects, the same trend was found, but it did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, this study suggests that a significant interaction effect exists between variation in the glucocorticoid receptor gene and body fat gain in female subjects experiencing the transition between adolescence and adulthood. Further research will, however, be necessary to characterize the lifestyle factors promoting fat accumulation, over time, among genetically susceptible individuals.     

Use and abuse of topical corticosteroids in infections of the skin and related structures

Topical corticosteroids have improved the management of many inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. However, these medications are associated with certain adverse effects that are potentially serious. The potent anti-inflammatory actions of these drugs increase susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections, and therefore may preclude them from use when infection is the known cause of the disease. In addition, children may be more vulnerable than adults to systemic effects of topical corticosteroids because percutaneous absorption is proportionately greater. These are important considerations, and physicians need to weigh and compare the risks and benefits associated with these medications before initiating treatment. This involves an appreciation of which patient populations are at high risk, which skin conditions are incompatible with topical corticosteroid therapy, and which alternative nonsteroidal medications are effective in treating inflammatory skin diseases.     

Parenting style of Chinese fathers in Hong Kong: correlates with children's school-related performance

This study investigates parenting styles among Chinese fathers in Hong Kong as perceived by their school-age children. Four parenting styles, namely inductive, indulgent, indifferent, and dictatorial parenting, are assessed using the Parent Behavior Report (1988). Data were collected through a questionnaire survey on a sample of 1011 Primary Three to Five Chinese students from six schools in Hong Kong and 471 fathers. Findings show that among Chinese fathers, the least common parenting style is inductive, while the other three styles are of similar occurrence. Chi-square analysis shows no significant association between children's grade level and father's parenting style. However, there is a significant association with gender, with fathers more likely to be perceived as dictatorial with boys and indulgent with girls. The effect of paternal styles on children's school-related performance is also examined. MANOVA results show that significant differences are found among children of the four paternal style groups with respect to academic performance, interest in school work, aspiration for education, involvement in extracurricular activities, and efficacy for self-regulated learning. Post-hoc tests reveal that children's performance is similar between the groups with indulgent and inductive fathers, and between children of indifferent and dictatorial fathers, with the former groups performing better than the latter in general. Findings are discussed with regard to research on parenting style and paternal behavior, as well as understanding the roles of fathers in Chinese families in the socio-cultural context in Hong Kong.     

Brucella melitensis infection stimulates an immune response leading to Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease

A 43-year-old Greek cattler with a history of brucellosis three months previously for which he was treated with sulfonamides for three weeks, was admitted to the hospital complaining of fever, arthralgias, night sweats, painful cervical and axillary lymph nodes as well as a weight loss of 8 kg in the previous four months. Since microbiological and serological studies did not give a specific diagnosis, an open cervical lymph node biopsy was performed. The histological examination revealed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. The etiology of the disease is unknown but viral, bacterial, protozoal and neoplastic as well as physicochemical agents may stimulate a particular immune response leading to Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Hereby, we present a case in which Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease followed brucella melitensis infection. This association permits us to hypothesize that the initial brucella melitensis infection three months previously triggered an immune response leading to Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. The association of the disease with brucellosis is very important since these two entities share some similar characteristics, with brucellosis being relatively common in Europe. To our best knowledge, in the English language bibliography, this is the first reported case worldwide, though another similar case was described in the Spanish literature ten years ago.     

A comprehensive view of sex-specific issues related to cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women. In fact, CVD is responsible for a third of all deaths of women worldwide and half of all deaths of women over 50 years of age in developing countries. The prevalence of CVD risk factor precursors is increasing in children. Retrospective analyses suggest that there are some clinically relevant differences between women and men in terms of prevalence, presentation, management and outcomes of the disease, but little is known about why CVD affects women and men differently. For instance, women with diabetes have a significantly higher CVD mortality rate than men with diabetes. Similarly, women with atrial fibrillation are at greater risk of stroke than men with atrial fibrillation. Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The lack of good trial evidence concerning sex-specific outcomes has led to assumptions about CVD treatment in women, which in turn may have resulted in inadequate diagnoses and suboptimal management, greatly affecting outcomes. This knowledge gap may also explain why cardiovascular health in women is not improving as fast as that of men. Over the last decades, mortality rates in men have steadily declined, while those in women remained stable. It is also becoming increasingly evident that gender differences in cultural, behavioural, psychosocial and socioeconomic status are responsible, to various degrees, for the observed differences between women and men. However, the interaction between sex-and gender-related factors and CVD outcomes in women remains largely unknown.