Peptic ulcer and Helicobacter pylori in patients with lichen planus

The aetiology of lichen planus is unknown, but it is often connected with infections. In recent years peptic ulcer disease has also been closely linked with an infectious agent, Helicobacter pylori. A case-control study was conducted in 78 patients with lichen planus to find out a previous history of peptic ulcer disease, using a questionnaire and a medical record review. Patients were also asked about family history in first- and second-degree relatives. Fifty-seven patients with other skin diseases were interviewed as controls. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with lichen planus was compared to that of 39 patients with other skin diseases and to the overall prevalence rates of H. pylori infection in Finland. Our findings are consistent with an approximately three-fold increased risk of peptic ulcer in patients with chronic/repeating lichen planus, when compared to the control patients (p = 0.04) and also to the overall peptic ulcer prevalence rates in Finland. Forty-one percent of the patients with chronic/repeating lichen planus had a first- or second-degree family member with a peptic ulcer, while the corresponding rate in the control group was only 12% (p=0.003). The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with chronic/repeating lichen planus and transient lichen planus was not significantly different from that in patients with other skin diseases.     

A single accidental exposure may result in a chemical burn, primary sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis

It is known from experimental studies that antigenic potency and the concentration of antigen determine whether exposure to an antigen will result in sensitization. A single accidental exposure to concentrated antigen may therefore induce primary sensitization. The purpose of this report was to collect clinical cases in which a single exposure had resulted in contact dermatitis suspected to be allergic. Only patients without previous relevant skin symptoms were included. Patch testing was used to demonstrate sensitization. 6 patients developed occupational allergic contact dermatitis from accidental exposure. Patch testing revealed allergy to diglycidylether of bisphenol A epoxy resin, poly functional aziridine hardener, methyl acrylate, phenol-formaldehyde resin, and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (Kathon LX), respectively. Furthermore, 2 patients developed allergic contact dermatitis from their first exposure to tear gas chemicals, namely omega-chloroacetophenone and ortho-chlorobenzylidene malonitrile. A single exposure can therefore induce both sensitization and subsequent allergic contact dermatitis without further exposure. The allergens described must be considered strong allergens. The skin should immediately be cleaned if an accidental splash with such an allergen has taken place.     

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%.