EVALUATION OF PUVASOL AND PUVASOL WITH TOPICAL BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE PLUS SALICYLIC ACID LOTION IN THE TREATMENT OF SCALP PSORIASIS

The efficacy and safety of betamethsone dipropionate 0.05% with salicylic acid 2% scalp lotion was evaluated in 60 patients with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis. Out of 120 patients with scalp psoriasis 60 patients received PUVASOL alone and 60 patients received PUVASOL alongwith lotion 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate with 2% salicylic acid scalp application for 3 weeks. The erythema, induration, scales and pruritus steadily improved in patients throughout the 3 weeks treatment course with betamethasone dipropionate with salicylic acid scalp application. At the end of therapy 84.3% of those patients receiving PUVASOL and betamethasone dipropionate-salicylic acid combination had 75% improvement of their scalp psoriasis versus 34.9% of those patients using PUVASOL alone. Complete clearing of the scalp was seen in 35% patients receiving therapy with topical betamethasone-salicylic acid and 11.6% with PUVASOL alone. Local side effects were primarily burning and stinging in 5 (83%) cases treated with topical betamethasone salicylic acid scalp application and 1 (1.6%) receiving PUVASOL alone. Combined therapy with PUVASOL and topical betamethasone dispropionate 0.05% with salicyclic acid 2% application appears to be safe and an effective treatment for scalp psoriasis.KEY WORDS: Betamethasone dipropionate, PUVASOL, Photochemotherapy, Scalp psoriasis     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">APOE</Emphasis> polymorphism is associated with lipid profile,but not with arterial stiffness in the general population

Background  

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death and disability in developed countries. In most cases, the progress of CVD is influenced by environmental factors and multifactorial inheritance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between APOE genotypes, cardiovascular risk factors, and a non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness in the Brazilian population.     

Interleukin-1 Gene Polymorphisms and their Relation with NFκB Expression and Histopathological Features in Psoriasis

Background:

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by exaggerated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins. Various genetic polymorphisms including IL-1 are implicated in pathogenesis of psoriasis. The exact role of IL-1 gene polymorphisms and their interaction with NFκB is not yet determined. We aimed to study various genetic polymorphisms of IL-1 in psoriasis and their influence on NFκB and histopathological features.

Materials and Methods:

112 newly diagnosed cases of psoriasis vulgaris were included in this prospective study. Histology was done on sections and genotyping was done for the IL-1β and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) genetic polymorphisms. In addition, NFκB immunostaining was performed on 89 sections and the intensity of staining was evaluated in the epidermis, basal cells, and the lymphocytes.

Results:

A strong association of IL-1β 511 C/T polymorphism was found with both genotypes and alleles in psoriasis. A strong correlation was also detected between the IL-1β genotype and the grade of NFκB immunostaining in the epidermis (P = 0.012). The grade of NFκB lymphocyte staining showed a strong correlation with the IL-1RA genotype (P = 0.025) but not with the IL-1β genotype (P = 0.226). The genetic polymorphisms did not show any correlation with the histological features.

Conclusions:

IL-1 genetic polymorphisms may not play a very direct role in pathogenesis of psoriasis. However, their interaction with NFκB appears to be a significant factor in this direction as NFκB is activated by pro-inflammatory genetic polymorphisms and therefore may influence the severity of psoriasis.     

五味子酚对氧自由基损伤小鼠脾淋巴细胞的保护作用

研究了五味子酚(Sal)对氧自由基损伤小鼠脾淋巴细胞的影响。体外实验结果表明,Sal在5×10^-6mol·L^-1时对Fe²⁺-VitC引起的脾淋巴细胞GSH含量降低有明显的抑制作用,且能阻抑Fe²⁺-Cys引起的MDA生成增加,改善细胞膜的流动性。用扫描电镜观察到Sal在5×10^-4mol·L^-1时可逆转Fe²⁺-VitC引起的脾淋巴细胞表面微绒毛皱折减少、细胞变形等病理改变。体内高氧分压应激损伤小鼠实验表明,igSal20mg·kg^-1×8d可逆转脾淋巴细胞SOD活性代偿性增高,并提高脾淋巴细胞内GSH含量。以上结果提示Sal对氧自由基损伤脾淋巴细胞有保护作用。     

Posterior abdominal stab wounds: role of CT evaluation

Stab wounds to the back present a diagnostic problem, since missed occult abdominal injuries can lead to serious morbidity. In a prospective study of 205 patients, the authors evaluated the usefulness of abdominal computed tomography (CT) in assessment of low-velocity penetrating injury to the back. CT results were classified into three groups. Category 1 included injuries limited to superficial subcutaneous tissue (n = 174); category 2, injuries to the retroperitoneal compartment (n = 18); and category 3, injuries within the peritoneal cavity (n = 13). Fifty patients underwent surgery, including 30 with category 1 injuries, nine with category 2 injuries, and eleven with category 3 injuries. CT categorization of injury, compared with surgical findings in these 50 patients, had a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 93%. The CT interpretation was considered correct if it demonstrated peritoneal penetration or retroperitoneal injury potentially requiring surgery. The remaining 155 patients were managed nonoperatively, and none had late complications. Abdominal CT is a reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of penetrating injury to the back.