Effects of repetitive superficial chemical peels on facial sebum secretion in acne patients

BACKGROUND: Glycolic acid and Jessner's solution are popular superficial chemical peel agents for the treatment of facial acne, and increased sebum secretion is one of the major aetiological factors of acne. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of 30% glycolic acid peels and Jessner's solution peels on sebum secretion in facial acne patients. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with mild to moderate facial acne were included. Twenty-seven patients were treated with 30% glycolic acid peels and 11 patients with Jessner's solution peels. Each peel was performed twice with an interval of 2 weeks. Before and 2 weeks after each peel, sebum levels of forehead, nose, chin and cheeks were measured by using a Sebumeter (SM810 Courage & Khazaka, Cologne, Germany). RESULTS: The sebum levels were not significantly changed by two peels treatments of 30% glycolic acid peels or Jessner's solution peels on the facial skins of patients with facial acne. CONCLUSIONS: The two types of peels, 30% glycolic acid peels and Jessner's solution peels, did not affect sebum secretion of the facial skins of patients with facial acne after the two peels treatments. The accumulative effects of more than two peels treatments using these modalities need further evaluation.     

Value of monoclonal anti-CD22 (p135) antibodies for the detection of normal and neoplastic B lymphoid cells

Two monoclonal antibodies (To15 and 4KB128) specific for the B cell- associated CD22 antigen (135,000 mol wt) are described. On immunoenzymatic analysis of cryostat tissue sections, these antibodies strongly label both mantle zone and germinal center B lymphoid cells in secondary lymphoid follicles (and also scattered extrafollicular lymphoid cells) but are unreactive with other cell types (with the exception of weak reactivity with some epithelioid histiocytes). These reactions differ from those of monoclonal antibodies B1 and B2 (anti- CD20 and CD21) but are similar to those of the pan-B antibody B4 (anti- CD19). One of the anti-CD22 antibodies (To15) has been tested extensively by immunoenzymatic labeling on greater than 350 neoplastic lymphoid and hematological samples. The CD22 antigen was found in tissue sections in most B cell-derived neoplasms, the major exceptions being myeloma (all cases negative) and a small proportion of high-grade lymphoma (6% of cases negative). In cell smears, the antigen could be found on neoplastic cells in most B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, including common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (90% positive) and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (89% positive). We conclude that anti-CD22 antibodies are of value for identification of human B cell lymphoproliferative disorders (especially when used in conjunction with anti-CD19 antibodies). Previous reports that the CD22 antigen is absent from many B cell neoplasms are probably due to its being expressed within the cytoplasm of immature B cells rather than on their surface.     

A Single Center Experience in 266 Patients of Infantile Malignancies

Introduction: The diagnosis and management of cancer in infantile age group is a significant challenge to pediatric oncologists. Malignancies occurring in infants often have different clinical and biological behavior in comparison to older children. This study was performed with an aim to find out the profile of infantile cancers at a tertiary care cancer center in South India. Methods: The present study was a retrospective analysis of infants presenting with malignancy between 2003 and 2012 to our center in South India. Result: A total of 4588 pediatric patients were registered in the Department of Pediatric Oncology at our institute between 2003 and 2012. Among those, 266 (5.79%) of the patients were infants (0–1 years). There were 65.75% males and 34.25% females. Solid tumors were the most common malignancy in this age group (72.56%). Leukemias were observed in 67 (25.19%) infants. ALL was the most common hematological malignancy (17.29%) followed by AML (5.64%). Common solid tumors in descending orders were neuroblastoma, soft tissue sarcoma, renal tumors, germ cell tumors, retinoblastoma and hepatoblastoma. Thirteen (4.89%) neonates were seen in our study. The most common malignancy in neonates was neuroblastoma. Conclusion: The distribution of malignancy in infants is quite different from that which is found in older children. Although neuroblastoma is the most common infantile tumor in western countries, in our study leukemia is the most common infantile malignancy. Embryonal tumors such as neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma, and hepatoblastoma were more prevalent in infants. Solid tumors were the most common malignancy in infants which is followed by leukemia.     

Comparison of the prognostic values of 68Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor

Purpose

To determine the prognostic value of ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT in patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (NET), and to compare the prognostic value with that of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and other conventional clinicopathological prognostic factors.

Methods

Data from 37 consecutive patients (age 46.6?±?13.5 years, 51 % men) with well-differentiated NET who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT were analyzed. All patients underwent a baseline visit with laboratory and radiological examinations. Clinical and imaging follow-up was performed in all patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) was measured from the date of the first PET/CT scan to the first documentation of progression of disease.

Results

⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was positive in 37 of the 37 patients and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT was positive in 21. During follow-up 10 patients (27 %) showed progression of disease and 27 (73 %) showed no progression (24 stable disease, 3 partial response). The median follow-up was 25 months (range 2 – 52 months). Among the variables evaluated none was significantly different between the progressive disease and nonprogressive disease groups, with only SUVmax on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT being borderline significant (P?=?0.073). In the univariate analysis for PFS outcome, SUVmax on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT (HR 0.122, 95 % CI 0.019 – 0.779; P?=?0.026) and histopathological tumor grade (HR 4.238, 95 % CI 1.058 – 16.976; P?=?0.041) were found to be associated with PFS. Other factors including age, sex, primary site, Ki-67 index, TNM stage, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT status (positive/negative), SUVmax on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and type of treatment were not significant. In multivariable analysis, only SUVmax on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT was found to be an independent positive predictor of PFS (HR 0.122, 95 % CI 0.019 – 0.779; P?=?0.026).

Conclusion

SUVmax measured on ⁶⁸Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT is an independent, positive prognostic factor in patients with well-differentiated NET and is superior to SUVmax on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and conventional clinicopathological factors for predicting PFS.     

Internal fixation of fractures of both bones forearm: Comparison of locked compression and limited contact dynamic compression plate

Background:

The locking compression plate (LCP) with combination holes is a newer device in fracture fixation. We undertook a study comparing the LCP with limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) in the treatment of diaphyseal fractures of both bones of the forearm.

Materials and Methods:

This is a prospective comparative study, 36 patients (18 in each group) with fractures of both the forearm bones (72 fractures) were treated with one of the two devices. The average age of the patients was 30.5 years (range 16–60 years) with mean followup of 2.1 years (range 1.5–2.8 years). The patients were assessed for fracture union and function and complications and by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score for patient related outcome at the latest followup.

Results:

There was no significant difference in two groups with respect to the range of movements or grip strength. One case had delayed union (LC-DCP group) and another had synostosis (LCP group). Plate removal was done in four cases within the study period with no refracture till the presentation of this report.

Conclusion:

LC plating is an effective treatment option for fractures of both bones of forearm. The present study could not prove its superiority over LC-DCP.     

In vitro and in vivo characterization of A-940894: a potent histamine H4 receptor antagonist with anti-inflammatory properties

Background and purpose:

The histamine H₄ receptor is widely expressed in cells of immune origin and has been shown to play a role in a variety of inflammatory processes mediated by histamine. In this report, we describe the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of a potent histamine H₄ receptor antagonist, A-940894 (4-piperazin-1-yl-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2-d]pyrimidin-2-ylamine).

Experimental approach:

We have analysed the pharmacological profile of A-940894 at mouse native, rat recombinant and human recombinant and native, histamine H₄ receptors by radioligand binding, calcium mobilization, mast cell shape change, eosinophil chemotaxis assays and in the mouse model of zymosan-induced peritonitis.

Key results:

A-940894 potently binds to both human and rat histamine H₄ receptors and exhibits considerably lower affinity for the human histamine H₁, H₂ or H₃ receptors. It potently blocked histamine-evoked calcium mobilization in the fluorometric imaging plate reader assays and inhibited histamine-induced shape change of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells and chemotaxis of human eosinophils in vitro. In a mouse mast cell-dependent model of zymosan-induced peritonitis, A-940894 significantly blocked neutrophil influx and reduced intraperitoneal prostaglandin D₂ levels. Finally, A-940894 has good pharmacokinetic properties, including half-life and oral bioavailability in rats and mice.

Conclusions and Implications:

These data suggest that A-940894 is a potent and selective histamine H₄ receptor antagonist with pharmacokinetic properties suitable for long-term in vivo testing and could serve as a useful tool for the further characterization of histamine H₄ receptor pharmacology.     

Marrow transplantation for chronic myelocytic leukemia: a controlled trial of cyclosporine versus methotrexate for prophylaxis of graft- versus-host disease

Forty-eight patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, aged 11 to 47, were treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide and fractionated total body irradiation, followed by infusion of marrow from HLA-identical siblings. They were randomized to receive either methotrexate (MTX) (n = 23) or cyclosporine (CSP) (n = 25) as postgrafting prophylaxis for graft-v-host disease (GVHD). All patients had evidence of sustained hematopoietic engraftment. Seventeen of the 25 patients receiving CSP and 17 of the 23 patients receiving MTX are alive between one and almost four (median, 1.7) years, with an actuarial survival rate at three years of 62% and 66%, respectively (P = .60). Also, with respect to most other parameters studied, the two drugs were identical. The probability of acute GVHD was .42 and .46, respectively (P = .70), that of chronic GVHD, .50 and .63 (P = .44), and that of death from transplant-related causes, .30 and .24 (P = .51). There were no differences in the speed of granulocyte and platelet engraftment (P = .82 and .94, respectively), and the duration of hospitalization was comparable (P = .58). Patients receiving MTX required red cell transfusions for a shorter period of time (P = .02), but had a slightly increased morbidity from early oral mucositis. The leukemia recurrence rates were comparable (P = .60). With the regimens used in this study, we conclude that CSP failed to reduce the incidence of GVHD and improve the survival of patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia when compared to results with standard MTX.     

Growth and development following marrow transplantation for leukemia

One hundred forty-two patients between the ages of 1 and 17 years who survived disease-free more than 1 year after marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancy had growth and development evaluations from one to 14 years posttransplant (median 4 years). Prior to transplant all children received multiagent chemotherapy and 55 also received central nervous system irradiation, but none had growth and development evaluations. Marrow transplant preparation included high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI) given as a single dose of 9.2 to 10.0 Gy (79 patients) or as fractionated doses of 2.0 to 2.25 Gy/d for six to seven days (63 patients). After transplant abnormal thyroid function was present in 39%. Stimulated 11-desoxycortisol levels were subnormal in 24% of patients evaluated. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency was present in 17 of 25 children who received previous cranial irradiation. Partial GH deficiency was present in 4 of 25 who received previous cranial irradiation and in 6 of 18 who had not received cranial irradiation. Height velocity was decreased in all patients. After transplant, height was significantly influenced by chronic graft-v-host disease and single-dose TBI. Sixty-eight percent had delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics. Gonadal failure occurred in nearly all who were postpubertal at transplant. While it is not possible to determine how many of these endocrine abnormalities occurred as a result of treatment administered prior to transplantation, these data do demonstrate that children who become long-term survivors after marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancy have endocrine abnormalities that adversely affect growth and development.