Ablation of cutaneous lesions using an erbium:YAG laser

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of erbium:YAG laser in removal of cutaneous lesions.

STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected after removing 363 benign, pre‐malignant and malignant lesions in 27 patients at a dermatology and cosmetic laser surgery center.

RESULTS: All lesions were completely removed. Eight of 363 lesions recurred and the histological analysis showed complete removal of one malignant lesion with erbium:YAG laser ablation. There were no long term or permanent complications.

CONCLUSION: Erbium:YAG laser is safe and effective in removal of cutaneous lesions.     

Craniofacial and dental development in cardio‐facio‐cutaneous syndrome: the importance of Ras signaling homeostasis

Cardio‐facio‐cutaneous syndrome (CFC) is a RASopathy that is characterized by craniofacial, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, ocular, cardiac, and neurologic anomalies. CFC is caused by activating mutations in the Ras/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway that is downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling. RTK signaling is known to play a central role in craniofacial and dental development, but to date, no studies have systematically examined individuals with CFC to define key craniofacial and dental features. To fill this critical gap in our knowledge, we evaluated the craniofacial and dental phenotype of a large cohort (n = 32) of CFC individuals who attended the 2009 and 2011 CFC International Family Conferences. We quantified common craniofacial features in CFC which include macrocephaly, bitemporal narrowing, convex facial profile, and hypoplastic supraorbital ridges. In addition, there is a characteristic dental phenotype in CFC syndrome that includes malocclusion with open bite, posterior crossbite, and a high‐arched palate. This thorough evaluation of the craniofacial and dental phenotype in CFC individuals provides a step forward in our understanding of the role of RTK/MAPK signaling in human craniofacial development and will aid clinicians who treat patients with CFC.     

Glucocorticoids and lymphocytes. III. Effects of glucocorticoid administration on lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors

To determine the effects of glucocorticoid administration on the number of measured lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptor sites and the duration of such effects, seven normal volunteers were studied. Glucocorticoid receptor levels of the lymphocytes circulating in the blood of each volunteer were determined. Glucocorticoid was then administered in a regimen of a total of four doses of dexamethasone 4 mg p.o. every 6 hr. Determinations of the number of receptors were performed at 6 hr and at various subsequent times after the end of dexamethasone administration. When compared to baseline receptor numbers, six volunteers showed a decrease in receptor number after glucocorticoid administration (median maximum decrease 2,046 sites/cell). The fall in receptor number occurred rapidly, reaching a nadir within 30 hr from the end of glucocorticoid administration. The return of receptor number to baseline was more gradual, requiring from 3 to as long as 17 days in one subject. Our results suggest that in order to accurately interpret glucocorticoid receptor numbers in human lymphoid cells, glucocorticoid should not have been administered for 3 wk prior to determinations of receptor levels.     

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.     

中国汉族帕金森病人群 SLC18A2 基因 P387L 突变的遗传学分析

目的：SLC18A2基因的P387L突变在中国汉族散发性帕金森病人群的关联研究。方法：在931例汉族人群 中(包括455例散发性帕金森病患者和476例正常对照者)应用飞行时间质谱分析(matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization- time-of-fl ight mass spectrometry,MALDI-TOF MS)技术测定P387L基因型,并应用Sanger测序的方法对结果进一步验证。 同时采用病例-对照研究,探索该突变与散发性帕金森病的关联。结果：在本组931个研究个体中均未发现该突变位 点。结论：该突变位点在中国汉族人群中很罕见,可能并非中国汉族散发性帕金森病人群的致病突变位点,该突变 位点与帕金森病之间的关联尚需扩大样本及在其他种族人群中进行验证。     

白芍总苷治疗干燥综合征的研究进展

干燥综合征（SS）是一种慢性自身免疫性疾病,常侵犯泪腺、唾液腺等外分泌腺,同时还会造成肺、肾、消化和神经系统损害甚至累及全身器官。其病因复杂,发病机制目前尚未完全阐明。本病临床治疗为对症治疗,常用药物为免疫抑制剂,糖皮质激素等。白芍总苷辅助治疗本病可改善患者的外分泌腺功能,具有较好的临床疗效和安全性。本文从白芍总苷治疗SS的相关机制进行综述,以期为相关实验研究及临床提供更多的理论依据。     

Comparison of two screen-film combinations in contact and magnification mammography: detectability of microcalcifications

A new dual-screen, dual-emulsion-film combination that allows a decrease in radiation dose of approximately 66% was compared with a widely used single-screen, single-emulsion-film system in contact and magnification mammography. Clustered microcalcifications randomly superimposed on a breast phantom were detected, and the location and number of individual calcifications were determined by four observers. The detectability of calcifications, determined with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis area, was 0.92 for magnification and 0.82 for contact mammography with the single-emulsion-film system, compared with 0.84 and 0.72, respectively, with the dual-emulsion-film system. More clusters were correctly located and more individual calcifications were counted with magnification than with contact mammography. The dual-emulsion-film system with the magnification technique performs as well as the single-emulsion-film system with the contact technique, while retaining a decrease in required dose of approximately 40%.