Prevalence of hypouricaemia and SLC22A12 mutations in healthy Korean subjects

Aim: Mutations in the SLC22A12 gene, which encodes a uric acid transporter, URAT1, are associated with renal hypouricaemia. This study was designed to measure serum uric acid (Sua) levels and allele frequencies of two common mutations in SLC22A12, W258X and R90H, in healthy Korean subjects. Methods: A total of 909 unrelated Korean adults (male : female, 1:1.23; mean age, 48.4 ± 11.0 years) were recruited among those who had taken a routine health check-up in a health centre in 2003. None of them had hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases or liver diseases. Genotyping for W258X and R90H was performed using the TaqMan method. Results: The prevalences of hyperuricaemia (Sua levels, >416 µmol/L) and hypouricaemia (Sua levels, <178 µmol/L) were 4.6% and 3.3%, respectively. A marked male preponderance in the hyperuricaemic group was noted, and the men revealed higher Sua than the women. The Sua showed a positive correlation with serum creatinine level and blood pressure. In the hypouricaemic group, the allele frequencies of W258X and R90H were 11.7% and 6.7%, respectively, and the proportion of subjects with one or both of the mutant alleles was 33.3%. Hyperuricaemic subjects never had either mutation. Conclusion: The W258X and/or R90H mutations in the SLC22A12 gene are one of the major factors responsible for hypouricaemia, and one-third of the hypouricaemic subjects had one or both of the mutant alleles.     

The Evaluation of Relevant Factors Influencing Skin Graft Changes in Color Over Time

BACKGROUND Objective studies evaluating the relevant factors that affect skin graft changes in color over time have yet to be published.
OBJECTIVE Therefore, the patterns of the grafted skin's color changes and the presence of relevant factors were analyzed statistically.
MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 107 skin grafts in 107 subjects. Using a chromameter, the colors of skin graft, the area adjacent to the recipient site, and the donor site were measured. The grafted skin's color changes and the color difference were analyzed with respect to several factors.
RESULTS Over time, the grafted skin became lighter, redness decreased, yellowness increased, and the color difference decreased. As the donor site was lighter, the grafted skin was lighter and less red. The grafted skin was lighter in females than in males. The skin graft type was not related to the lightness and the redness. The grafted skin was lightest in the upper arm and darkest in the lower leg. The grafted skin was lighter in Fitzpatrick Skin Type III, followed by Type IV and then Type V.
CONCLUSION The factors that affected the skin graft's lightness were time, the lightness of the donor, sex, the hand, the foot, and Fitzpatrick skin type.     

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in dental plaque samples and its association with early childhood caries

Background.  Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus are closely associated with the development of early childhood caries (ECC). Recently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) has been used for rapid and accurate quantification of these bacterial species.
Aim.  This study aims to detect quantitatively the levels of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in plaque samples by qRT-PCR, and to assess their association with the prevalence of ECC in Korean preschool children.
Design.  One hundred and five children (71 months old or younger) were examined and classified into three groups (caries-free, ECC, severe ECC). Dental plaque samples were collected and qRT-PCR was conducted using oligonucleotide primers specific for glucosyltransferase gene ( S. mutans-gtfB , S. sobrinus-gtfU ) and universal primer. Pearson's correlation test was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the dmfs (decayed, missing, or filled surfaces primary teeth) scores and the microbiological findings.
Results.  There was a significant difference between the levels of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in the plaque samples of the three groups ( P  < 0.05). The proportion of S. sobrinus to S. mutans showed strong correlation to the dmfs scores ( r  = 0.748, P  < 0.05).
Conclusions.  The qRT-PCR results of this study showed that children with ECC had higher level of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in their dental plaque samples. The children with higher ratio of S. sobrinus to S. mutans in their dental plaque showed higher incidence of ECC.     

Effect of dentinal tubule occlusion by dentifrice containing nano‐carbonate apatite

Summary This study evaluated the effects of the short‐term use of a dentifrice containing nano‐sized carbonate apatite (n‐CAP) on the occlusion of the dentinal tubules using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an image analyser in vitro. One hundred human dentine specimens were wet ground with a silicone carbide papers and etched with 6% citric acid for 1 min to allow complete opening of the dentinal tubule. Specimens showing complete opening tubules were used as the baseline. The specimens were divided randomly into five groups: G1: 0% n‐CAP, G2: 5% n‐CAP, G3: 10% n‐CAP, G4: 20% n‐CAP and G5: 10%strontium chloride (SrCl₂). Five specimens from each group were brushed by applying 50, 100, 250 and 500 strokes, respectively. All the specimens were evaluated by a SEM (×3000), and the degree of occlusion of the dentinal tubules was quantified using an image analyser. The results were analysed by one‐way anova and a Tukey’s test using the spss 12·0 statistical package program. The dentifrice containing 20% n‐CAP for 50 strokes, which indicated 2‐day use, showed the highest tubular occlusion than the other groups (P < 0·05). Moreover, this group showed 79·5% and 77·4% less open tubular area than the baseline and 0% n‐CAP group, respectively. The groups containing various concentrations of n‐CAP showed significant differences in the SrCl₂ group after tooth‐brushing for 500 strokes, which indicated 17‐day use. According to this examination of the short‐term use of desensitizing dentifrices in vitro, the dentifrice containing 20% n‐CAP was the most effective in occluding the dentinal tubules.     

A Novel Method for Sinus Node Modification and Phrenic Nerve Protection in Resistant Cases

This is a case report of inappropriate sinus tachycardia in a patient who had a previous unsuccessful endocardial ablation, which had been limited due to concerns of phrenic nerve injury. The patient required a repeat ablation that utilized a novel combined epicardial and endocardial approach for sinus node modification and simultaneous protection of the phrenic nerve via an epicardial balloon.     

Post‐steroid panniculitis in an adult

Post‐steroid panniculitis is known to be very rare and most of the reported cases have been in children after corticosteroid therapy. We present a case of post‐steroid panniculitis occurring in a 60‐year‐old man after massive, long‐term administration of corticosteroids for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Histopathological examination of a nodule revealed a patchy area of fat necrosis, several multinucleated giant cells containing needle‐shaped clefts. The lesions subsided completely in approximately 12 weeks without any treatment. We suggest that post‐steroid panniculitis is not confined to childhood but also occurs in adulthood.     

Midazolam dose for loss of response to verbal stimulation during the unilateral or bilateral spinal anesthesia

Background: We have conducted this study to investigate whether unilateral or bilateral spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine induces different sensitivity to intravenous (i.v.) midazolam for sedation.
Methods: Forty-two patients undergoing various elective unilateral lower extremity surgeries were allocated into two groups: (1) unilateral spinal anesthesia group (Group US, n =21; heavy bupivacaine 5 mg/ml, 9 mg) and (2) bilateral spinal anesthesia group (Group BS, n =21; heavy bupivacaine 5 mg/ml, 9 mg). One milligram of midazolam was injected i.v. at 30-s intervals until the patients did not respond to the hand grasp test beginning 15 min after spinal anesthesia. The concentration of plasma bupivacaine was evaluated every 15 min for the first 75 min after the start of the spinal anesthesia, and the bispectral index was monitored continuously.
Results: The mean venous plasma concentration of bupivacaine was not significantly different between Group US and BS. The dose of midazolam required to abolish responses to verbal commands was significantly lower in Group BS (mean 5.9±1.2 mg) vs. Group US (mean 9.0±1.4 mg).
Conclusions: A higher dosage of midazolam is required for loss of response to verbal stimulation during unilateral spinal anesthesia than during bilateral spinal anesthesia.