RE: Histoplasmosis in a child with JRA on low-dose methotrexate

SIR, We appreciate the comments of Kleiman et al., which serveto     

Selective parity RARE imaging.

This work describes a novel method for rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE)/fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging that removes the constraint of compliance with the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) condition. In a multiecho sequence, echoes with either odd or even parities are acquired. The refocusing angles are chosen using a recursive algorithm, so that the signal amplitude satisfies a predetermined modulation function. In the examples given in this article an exponential decay to a plateau is used. At each echo the echo parity that gives the desired signal amplitude for the minimum refocusing angle is selected. It is further shown that in the presence of an initial magnetization having an arbitrary phase distribution, the complex conjugate of the signal of one echo parity has to be taken and its k-space coordinates reversed. T(2) (*)-weighted images are presented and initial applications to diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and functional imaging shown.     

Retinal degeneration associated with RDH12 mutations results from decreased 11-cis retinal synthesis due to disruption of the visual cycle

Human Molecular Genetics     

Lack of sensitization for trimellitate, phthalate, terephthalate and isobutyrate plasticizers in a human repeated insult patch test.

Two hundred and three human volunteers were tested for evidence of sensitization to several plasticizers following 3 weeks of dermal application three times a week. Tris(2-ethylhexyl)mellitate (TOTM; 1%, v/v), 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol-diisobutyrate (TXIB; 1%, v/v), di(2-ethylhexyl)terephthalate (DEHT; 0.5%, v/v) and diethylphthalate (DEP; 2%, v/v) were applied to the skin of volunteers under semi-occlusive patch for 3 consecutive weeks and the reactions to a challenge application noted following a 2-week rest period. Slight erythema was observed in four individuals exposed to TOTM, two of which resolved within 96 h and one that occurred only after 96 h. Slight erythema was noted in three subjects exposed to TXIB, one of which resolved by 96 h and one that occurred only after 96 h. Two subjects had slight erythema to DEHT, one that resolved by 96 h and one that occurred only after 96 h. One reaction occurred with DEP at 96 h after challenge. Of the positive responses, one subject reacted to all test substances. No subject had a response grade of 1.0 or greater. Because of the low response, the overall conclusion is that none of the plasticizers demonstrated evidence of sensitization or irritation.     

Scale-up of Adhesive Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Pharmaceutical Research -