Burning mouth syndrome as a trigeminal small fibre neuropathy: Increased heat and capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in nerve fibres correlates with pain score.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is often an idiopathic chronic and intractable pain condition, affecting 1.5-5.5% of middle-aged and elderly women. We have studied the heat and capsaicin receptor TRPV1, and its regulator nerve growth factor (NGF), in BMS. Patients with BMS (n=10) and controls (n=10) were assessed for baseline and post-topical capsaicin pain scores, and their tongue biopsies immunostained for TRPV1, NGF, and structural nerve markers neurofilament and peripherin. Nerve fibres penetrating the epithelium were less abundant in BMS (p<0.0001), indicating a small fibre neuropathy. TRPV1-positive fibres were overall significantly increased in BMS (p=0.0011), as were NGF fibres (p<0.0001) and basal epithelial cell NGF staining (p<0.0147). There was a significant correlation between the baseline pain score and TRPV1 (p=0.0143) and NGF fibres (p=0.0252). A significant correlation was observed between baseline and post-capsaicin pain (p=0.0006). Selective TRPV1 and NGF blockers may provide a new therapy for BMS.     

慢性肾脏病非透析患者脑钠素与动脉粥样硬化及心功能的关系

目的 研究脑钠素（BNP）与慢性肾脏病（CKD）非透析患者动脉粥样硬化及心功能不全的关系。 方法 采用双抗夹心免疫荧光法检测203例CKD非透析患者与16例高血压患者对照组全血BNP水平，分析其与颈动脉超声结果、心脏彩超结果及既往心血管疾病史的关系。 结果 CKD非透析患者BNP水平与对照组相比显著升高[M（范围）：54.40(15.10～ 173.00) ng/L比9.35(7.35～15.00) ng/L，P < 0.01]。Spearman相关分析显示CKD患者BNP与颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT）、左室心肌重量指数（LVMI）等呈正相关。存在颈动脉斑块、左室肥厚或既往发生过心血管事件的患者血BNP水平显著增高。多元回归分析显示LVMI、既往心血管事件均是影响BNP水平的独立因素。 结论 CKD非透析患者BNP水平和动脉粥样硬化性疾病、左室肥厚及心功能不全相关，提示BNP水平可作为一项评价CKD非透析患者心功能及动脉粥样硬化的敏感生物学指标。     

Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

A mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa (ABMK), has been reported to possess antimutagenic and antitumor effects. Here, we investigate the beneficial effects of ABMK consumption on immunological status and qualities of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. One hundred cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancer patients were treated either with carboplatin (300 mg / m(2)) plus VP16 (etoposide, 100 mg / m(2)) or with carboplatin (300 mg / m(2)) plus taxol (175 mg / m(2)) every 3 weeks for at least three cycles with or without oral consumption of ABMK. We observed that natural killer cell activity was significantly higher in ABMK-treated group (ANOVA, n = 39, P < 0.002) as compared with nontreated placebo group (n = 61). However, no significant difference in lymphokine-activated killer and monocyte activities was observed in a manner similar to the count of specific immune cell populations between ABMK-treated and nontreated groups. However, chemotherapy-associated side effects such as appetite, alopecia, emotional stability, and general weakness were all improved by ABMK treatment. Taken together, this suggests that ABMK treatment might be beneficial for gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.     

004Topical Zinc Oxide for Open Pilonidal Wounds

Extended healing time and lack of documented effective treatments of sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease create substantial problems. Locally applied zinc oxide has been reported to promote wound healing. We have compared topical zinc oxide (3%) with placebo meshes for pilonidal wounds healing by secondary intention in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled multicenter trial. Sixty‐four consecutive patients, 53 males, aged between 18 and 60 years (median 26 years) with excised pilonidal wounds were centrally randomized to local zinc oxide (30 mg/g, n = 33) or to placebo (n = 31) mesh treatment. Patients were followed with strict recording of beneficial and harmful effects. The median healing times were 54 days (42–71 days, interquartile range, n = 33) for the zinc group and 62 days (55–82 days, n = 31) for the placebo group. This difference was not statistically different (p = 0.32). Based on Cox regression analysis initial wound volume influenced healing negatively (p = 0.016) while smoking (p = 0.011) was associated with faster wound healing. Significantly (p < 0.01) more placebo (n = 12) than zinc oxide‐treated patients (n = 3) needed antibiotics postoperatively. Although topical zinc oxide increased (p < 0.001) wound fluid zinc levels (1830 ± 405 μM, mean ± SEM) compared with placebo (3.1 ± 1.6 μM) serum‐zinc levels did not differ significantly between the zinc (13.5 ± 0.4 μM) and placebo (12.8 ± 0.4 μm) groups on postoperative day 7. No adverse events were recorded. Topical zinc oxide treatment did not accelerate time to closure of open pilonidal wounds but was associated with reduced antibiotic usage.