Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome: oral and craniofacial phenotypes

Objective:  Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare early-onset accelerated senescence syndrome. In HGPS, a recently identified de novo dominant mutation of the lamin A gene ( LMNA ) produces abnormal lamin A, resulting in compromised nuclear membrane integrity. Clinical features include sclerotic skin, cardiovascular and bone abnormalities, and marked growth retardation. Craniofacial features include 'bird-like' facies, alopecia, craniofacial disproportion, and dental crowding. Our prospective study describes dental, oral soft tissue, and craniofacial bone features in HGPS.
Methods:  Fifteen patients with confirmed p.G608G LMNA mutation (1–17 years, seven males, eight females) received comprehensive oral evaluations. Anomalies of oral soft tissue, gnathic bones, and dentition were identified.
Results:  Radiographic findings included hypodontia ( n  = 7), dysmorphic teeth ( n  = 5), steep mandibular angles ( n  = 11), and thin basal bone ( n  = 11). Soft tissue findings included ogival palatal arch ( n  = 8), median sagittal palatal fissure ( n  = 7), and ankyloglossia ( n  = 7). Calculated dental ages (9 months to 11 years 2 months) were significantly lower than chronological ages (1 year 6 months to 17 years 8 months) ( P  = 0.002). Eleven children manifested a shorter mandibular body, anterior/posterior cranial base and ramus, but a larger gonial angle, compared to age/gender/race norms.
Conclusion:  Novel oral-craniofacial phenotypes and quantification of previously reported features are presented. Our findings expand the HGPS phenotype and provide additional insight into the complex pathogenesis of HGPS.     

Reliability and validity of ultrasonographic measurements of acromion-greater tuberosity distance in poststroke hemiplegia

Kumar P, Bradley M, Gray S, Swinkels A. Reliability and validity of ultrasonographic measurements of acromion-greater tuberosity distance in poststroke hemiplegia.

Objectives

The primary aim of this study was to assess the intrarater reliability of ultrasonographic measurements of acromion-greater tuberosity (AGT) distance in patients with stroke using portable ultrasound. A secondary aim was to determine the discriminant validity of the ultrasonographic technique by comparison of AGT distance measurements of stroke-affected and unaffected shoulders.

Design

Test–retest design.

Setting

Two local National Health Service hospitals in the South West of England.

Participants

Patients with first-time stroke (N=26; 16 men, 10 women; mean age ± SD, 71±10y) with 1-sided weakness who gave informed consent were recruited.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Portable diagnostic ultrasound was used to record measurements on day 1 and again within a fortnight. Bedside measurements were undertaken by a single physical therapist with patients seated upright in a standard hospital chair. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and standard errors of measurement were used to assess reliability. Minimum detectable change (MDC90) scores were used to estimate the magnitude of change that is likely to exceed measurement error. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess discriminant validity.

Results

Mean ± SD AGT distances on the stroke-affected side and unaffected side were 2.3±0.6cm and 1.9±0.3cm, respectively. ICC for within-day reliability was .98 for the affected shoulder and .95 for the unaffected shoulder. Corresponding values for between-day reliability were .94 and .76. The standard error of measurement for both affected and unaffected shoulders was less than 0.2cm. Within-day MDC90 for the affected shoulder and the unaffected shoulder was ±0.2cm and ±0.1cm, respectively. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant difference between mean AGT distance for the affected and unaffected shoulders.

Conclusions

Ultrasonographic measurement of AGT distance demonstrates both intrarater reliability and discriminant validity and has the potential to assess shoulder subluxation in patients with stroke. Research into interrater reliability and concurrent validity of ultrasonographic measurements of AGT distance in patients with stroke is required.     

Early morbidity encountered in the dietary‐related mouse model of Barrett's esophagus: a question of zinc?

Recently, a mouse model for Barrett's esophagus based on a zinc‐deficient diet supplemented with deoxycholic bile acids has been published. The aim of this study was to attempt to reproduce these data and extend them by employing genetically modified mice and intraperitoneal iron supplementation. The study design encompassed six experimental groups (wild type, Apc‐mutant and Smad4‐mutant mice, with or without iron injections), with all animals fed with the zinc‐deficient diet supplemented with deoxycholic bile acids. All treatments were started at 3–5 weeks of age (the majority [78%] at 5 weeks). Animals were scheduled for euthanasia at two distinct time points, namely at 3 and 6 months of age. All mice showed signs of considerable distress already 4 weeks after the start of the modified diets, and had to be euthanized before the first evaluation time point (mean age 9.3 weeks, range 5–15 weeks). No differences were observed between wild type and genetically modified mice, or between animals with or without iron supplementation. On histological examination, we could not detect any lesions (Barrett's esophagus‐like or tumors) other than esophagitis. In the currently presented experimental settings, we were not able to reproduce the mouse model according to which Barrett's‐like lesions could be detected in animals fed with the zinc‐deficient diet supplemented with deoxycholic bile acids.     

脑缺氧是影响严重颅脑创伤患者短期预后的独立危险因素(英文)

Background:Brain hypoxia(BH)can aggravate outcome after severe traumatic brain injury(TBI).Whether BH or reduced brain oxygen(Pbto2)is an independent outcome predictor or a marker of disease severity is not fully elucidated.Objective To analyze the relationship between Pbto2,intracranial pressure(ICP),and cerebral perfusion pressure(CPP)and to examine whether BH correlates with worse outcome independently of ICP and CPP.Methods We studied103patients monitored     

多重PCR法检测金黄色葡萄球菌耐药基因及致病毒素基因

目的：了解金黄色葡萄球菌（简称金葡菌）耐药基因及所携带致病毒素基因PVL与TSST-1的特点。方法：应用多重PCR法检测mecA基因、TSST-1基因及Py￡基因。结果：84株金 葡球经多重PCR法对其mecA基因进行检测．检出率为58．3％（49／84）。PVL基因阳性菌株的分离率为23．8％（20／84）,州￡阳性的MRSA为13株（13／49,26．5％）,PyL阳性的MSSA为7株（7／35,20．O％）,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;未检出TSST-1基因。结论：金葡菌的耐药性呈上升趋势,且金葡菌可产生多种毒素,在分离金葡菌的同时,应加强其耐药基因及毒素基因的检测。     

成釉细胞瘤及牙源性角化囊肿中ICAM-1和VCAM-1的表达

目的探讨细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)和血管细胞黏附分子-1(VCAM-1)在成釉细胞瘤(AB)及牙源性角化囊肿(OKC)中的表达及其与AB、OKC病理学特征的关系。方法对38例AB、10例OKC、7例正常口腔黏膜(NOM)组织进行免疫组织化学SP法检测,结合病例病理特征进行分析。结果ICAM-1和VCAM-1在AB、OKC和NOM3组表达组间比较,具有显著统计学差异(P<0.05)。ICAM-1在AB中的阳性率达65.2%,显著高于NOM(14.3%),OKC(60.0%)与NOM未见显著统计学差异。VCAM-1在AB中的阳性血管数也显著高于OKC和NOM。ICAM-1和VCAM-1表达与AB的组织病理分型、年龄、性别和发生部位无明显相关性(P>0.05)。结论细胞黏附分子ICAM-1和VCAM-1与AB及OKC的发生、发展及细胞分化与增殖有关。     

The effects of topical corticosteroids and a coal tar preparation on dithranol-induced irritation in patients with psoriasis

Dithranol has been a mainstay in the treatment of psoriasis for more than 80 years. Although a safe approach, the irritation of the clinically uninvolved perilesional skin remains a major limitation of this treatment. Corticosteroids and coal tar solution have an anti-inflammatory potential. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical and cell-biological effects of two topical corticosteroids and a coal tar preparation on dithranol-irritated skin. During 4 consecutive days, 2% dithranol cream was applied to six uninvolved skin sites (3 cm in diameter) on the lower back of 9 patients with psoriasis. Dithranol was left on the skin for 1 h, subsequently removed with water and soap and the skin was dried with a towel. Subsequently, SITE 1 was treated with 0.05% clobetasol-17-propionate ointment (CP), SITE 2 with unguentum cetomacrogolis (vehicle 1), SITE 3 with 0.005% fluticasonpropionate ointment (FP), SITE 4 with 10% coal tar solution in lanettewax cream (CTS), SITE 5 was left untreated (control) and SITE 6 was treated with lanettewax cream (vehicle 2). Erythema, oedema and vesicle formation was scored every day. On day 5, punch biopsies were taken from the six sites. The expression of epidermal proliferation, differentiation and inflammation markers and the clinical irritation scores indicate that the application of a high potency corticosteroid (CP) is the best approach to minimise dithranol irritation, whereas CTS had virtually no effect on dithranol irritation during this 4-day experimental model.