Treatment of brittle nail with a hydroxypropyl chitosan‐based lacquer,alone or in combination with oral biotin: A randomized,assessor‐blinded trial

We evaluated in a randomized, assessor‐blinded, study the efficacy of a hydroxypropyl chitosan‐based nail lacquer (HPC‐NL) alone or in combination with oral biotin (HPC‐NL + B) in the treatment of brittle nail syndrome (BNS). Fifty subjects (21 men; mean age 64 years) with BNS were enrolled. Twenty‐six were randomly assigned to HPC‐NL and 24 to the HPC‐NL and biotin, 10 mg/daily (+B). Topical and oral treatments lasted for 4 consecutive months. The primary outcome was the evolution of the Onychodystrophy Global Severity Score (OGSS) assessing nail dystrophy, lamellar and longitudinal splitting, dyschromia, and pitting. At baseline, the OGSS, mean (SD), was 8.4 (2.1) in the HPC‐NL group and 11.8 (2.3) in the HPC‐NL + B group. The OGSS was significantly reduced during treatments in both groups. At Month 4, OGSS was reduced by 57% (HPC‐NL) and 62% (HPC‐NL + B). At the end of study period, the percentage of subjects with an OGSS reduction of ≥50% in comparison with baseline was 53% in the HPC‐NL group and 80% in the HPC‐NL + B group (p = .05). Both treatments were well tolerated. In subjects with BNS, HPC‐NL alone is associated with a clinically relevant improvement of nail appearance. The combination of HPC‐NL and oral biotin is associated with further clinical improvement.     

Survival advantage of women in localized melanoma mainly relies on clinical-pathological differences by sex. A retrospective study of 1,607 patients in Valencia,Spain

Background

Among melanoma patients,women have a better prognosis than men but the differences might be due to a different presentation of melanoma.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify differences in clinical presentation and survival in cutaneous melanoma between men and women in a Spanish population stratified by age.

Materials & Methods

In total, 1,607 consecutive patients with localized cutaneous melanoma and complete clinical and pathological information were evaluated. Average follow-upwas 5 years. Patients were stratified by age into three groups: ≤45 years, 46-60 years, and >60 years. Disease-free survival, overall-survival and disease-specific survival were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate survival analyses were evaluated using Cox modelling.

Results

Melanoma presented more frequently in the trunk in male patients and in the lower extremities and acral location in female patients. Men presented thicker tumors than women. However, for histological type, mitotic rate and ulceration there were no significant differences between the sexes. In the univariate survival analyses, women showed better disease-free, overall and disease-specific survival in the younger age group, compared with males of the same group. After adjusting for anatomical site, Breslow thickness, mitotic rate and presence of ulceration, there were no differences between males and females in any of the three age groups.

Conclusion

The superior survival for women over men did not persist after adjusting for multiple prognostic variables such as anatomical site, Breslow thickness, mitotic rate and ulceration.

     

Non-invasive diagnostic imaging of colorectal liver metastases

Colorectal cancer is one of the few malignant tumors in which synchronous or metachronous liver metastases [colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs)] may be treated with surgery. It has been demonstrated that resection of CRLMs improves the long-term prognosis. On the other hand, patients with un-resectable CRLMs may benefit from chemotherapy alone or in addition to liver-directed therapies. The choice of the most appropriate therapeutic management of CRLMs depends mostly on the diagnostic imaging. Nowadays, multiple non-invasive imaging modalities are available and those have a pivotal role in the workup of patients with CRLMs. Although extensive research has been performed with regards to the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography, computed tomography, positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance for the detection of CRLMs, the optimal imaging strategies for staging and follow up are still to be established. This largely due to the progressive technological and pharmacological advances which are constantly improving the accuracy of each imaging modality. This review describes the non-invasive imaging approaches of CRLMs reporting the technical features, the clinical indications, the advantages and the potential limitations of each modality, as well as including some information on the development of new imaging modalities, the role of new contrast media and the feasibility of using parametric image analysis as diagnostic marker of presence of CRLMs.     

Detection of doxorubicin hydrochloride accumulation in the rat brain after morphine treatment by mass spectrometry

Purpose  

The blood–brain barrier discriminates the access of several molecules to the brain. This hampers the use of some drugs, as doxorubicin, potentially active for treatment of brain tumors. We explored the feasibility of active modification of the blood–brain barrier protection, by using morphine pretreatment, to allow doxorubicin accumulation in the brain in an animal model.     

Effect of fluid resins on the surface roughness and topography of resin composite restorations analyzed by atomic force microscope

The aim of the study was to verify the influence of surface sealants on the surface roughness of resin composite restorations before and after mechanical toothbrushing, and evaluate the superficial topography using atomic force microscope. Five surface sealers were used: Single Bond, Opti Bond Solo Plus, Fortify, Fortify Plus and control, without any sealer agent. The lowest values of surface roughness were obtained for control, Single Bond and Fortify groups before toothbrushing. Fortify and Fortify Plus were the sealer agents that support the abrasive action caused by the toothbrushing although Fortify Plus group remained with high values of surface roughness. The application of specific surface sealants could be a useful clinical procedure to maintain the quality of resin-based composite restorations.