Relationship of Hair Regrowth Pattern in Alopecia Areata Patches According to DIMT Classification with Treatment Modalities and Patch Size: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis

BackgroundThe morphology of hair regrowth in alopecia areata (AA) patches could be classified into four types, namely diffuse, irregular, marginal, and targetoid patterns, according to the DIMT classification. However, factors affecting hair regrowth patterns have not been investigated.ObjectiveWe investigated whether the DIMT-classified hair regrowth patterns of AA patches are associated with treatment modality and patch size.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 152 AA patches with hair regrowth.ResultsThe associations between the diffuse pattern and patch size >2 cm (p=0.006; odds ratio [OR]: 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17~0.74), between the irregular pattern and triamcinolone acetonide intralesional injection (p<0.001; OR: 274.87, 95% CI: 25.75~2,933.56), between the marginal pattern and systemic and topical corticosteroid (p=0.018; OR: 4.89, 95% CI: 1.31~18.27), and between the targetoid pattern and patch size >2 cm (p=0.028; OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.10~5.68) were statistically significant.ConclusionTreatment modalities and patch size are the factors affecting hair regrowth patterns in AA patches.     

Class ii major histocompatibility complex gene sequences in rheumatoid arthritis. The third diversity regions of both DRβ1 genes in two DR1, DRw10–positive individuals specify the same inferred amino acid sequence as the DRβ1 and DRβ2 Genes of a DR4 (Dw14) haplotype

The DR1 and DRw10β₁, chain genes were isolated from each of 2 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who were heterozygous for these class II major histocompatibility complex specificities. The sequences of the DR1β₁ chains from both patients were identical, differing from previously reported DRβ₁ chains of individuals without RA by 2 amino acid substitutions, at positions 85 (Val-Ala) and 86 (Gly-Val), and by a silent mutation at the last nucleotide of codon 78 (C–T), resulting in the loss of a Pst I restriction endonuclease site. Identical DRw10β₁, chain genes were found in both patients. These were shown to encode the epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody 109d6. This antibody also recognizes an epitope on the DRw53β₂ chain of the DR4 haplotype. The third diversity regions of the DR1β (amino acids 67–74) and the DRw10β₁ chains (amino acids 67–73) were identical, respectively, with those of the DR4 (Dw14) β₁, and β₂ chains, raising the possibility that in these patients, the third diversity regions of the two DRβ₁, chain genes present in trans are conformationally equivalent to the cis-encoded third diversity regions of the DR4 (Dw14), DRβ₁, and β₂ chains. The nucleotide sequences of the DQβ complementary DNA clones were identical to that of the DQw1β chain, and no DRβ₂ complementary DNA clones were identified.     

Efficacy and Safety of Pregabalin for Muscle Cramps in Liver Cirrhosis: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundMuscle cramp is possibly related to peripheral nerve hyperexcitability (PNH), and one of the most debilitating symptoms frequently encountered in patients with liver cirrhosis. We investigated whether pregabalin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analogue, can suppress neuronal excitability and reduce muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which study participants with cirrhosis from a single tertiary center were enrolled. Primary endpoint was the relative change in cramp frequency from the run-in to standard dose treatment phase (4 weeks per each). Secondary endpoints included the responder rate, and the changes in cramp frequency during sleep, pain intensity, health-related quality of life (Liver Disease Quality of Life Instrument, Short Form-36) and electrophysiological measures of PNH.ResultsThis study was terminated early because of insufficient accrual. 80% (n = 56) of the target number of participants (n = 70) were randomized to pregabalin (n = 29) or placebo (n = 27). Median baseline frequency of muscle cramps (interquartile range) was 5.8 (3.5–10) per week in the pregabalin group and 6.5 (4.0–10) in the placebo group (P = 0.970). The primary analysis showed a significant reduction in cramp frequency with pregabalin compared to placebo (−36% vs. 4.5% for the percentage change, P = 0.010). Secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups. Adverse effects with pregabalin were mainly dizziness and lethargy.ConclusionWith multiple problems emerging from premature termination in mind, the results suggested an acceptable safety profile and favorable effect of pregabalin in reducing muscle cramps compared to placebo in cirrhotic patients.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01271660","term_id":"NCT01271660"}}NCT01271660     

Population pharmacokinetics of vactosertib,a new TGF-β receptor type Ι inhibitor,in patients with advanced solid tumors

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology - Vactosertib, a novel inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β type Ι receptor, is under development for the treatment of various cancers. The...     

Clinical and Genetic Characterization of Autosomal Recessive Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 16 (SCAR16) in Taiwan

The Cerebellum - Mutations in STUB1 have been identified to cause autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia type 16 (SCAR16), also named as Gordon Holmes syndrome, which is characterized by...     

Correction to: The PET Sandwich: Using Serial FDG-PET Scans with Interval Burst Suppression to Assess Ictal Components of Disease

Neurocritical Care - In the original article, Figure&nbsp;5 has incorrect EEG images and the corrected version is shown below.     

Excavating the Personal Genome: The Good Biocitizen in the Age of Precision Health

The rise of genomic technologies has catalyzed shifts in the health care landscape through the commercialization of genome sequencing and testing services in the genomics marketplace. The development of consumer genomics into a growing array of information technologies aimed at collecting, curating, and broadly sharing personal data and biological materials reconstitutes the meaning of health and reframes patients into biocitizens. In this context, the good biocitizen is expected to assume personal responsibility for health through consumption of genomic information and acquiescence to public and private efforts at data surveillance and aggregation. These shifts raise fundamental questions about how competing interests of the public, the state, and corporate entities will be reconciled and what trade-offs are demanded for the promise of precision health.     

Human breast milk exosomes attenuate intestinal damage

Pediatric Surgery International - Human breast milk (HBM), which contains an abundant supply of exosomes, is known to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Preterm infants are commonly given...