Preliminary evaluation of vitiligo using in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is the most common pigmentary disorder with a global incidence from 0.1% to 2% in different geographical areas. Histopathology and histochemistry have shown the reduction of melanocytes in achromic patches, but microscopic changes of lesional and non-lesional skin are still not completely understood. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), based on the different light reflectance index of cutaneous structures, allowed in vivo, en face microscopic evaluation of superficial skin layers with a resolution similar to skin histology. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate RCM features of lesional and non-lesional skin of vitiligo patients. Moreover, re-pigmented areas were taken into consideration in order to evaluate melanocyte response to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients of different phototypes affected by active non-segmental vitiligo and 10 controls were enrolled in the study. In vivo skin imaging was done using a commercially available RCM (Lucid, Vivascope 1500. Re-pigmented areas from 6 to 16 patients (after UVB narrow-band therapy) were also examined. RESULTS: Vitiligo lesions showed the disappearance of the bright rings normally seen at the dermo-epidermal junction. Moreover, non-lesional skin of vitiligo patients showed unexpected changes as the presence of half-rings or scalloped border-like features of the bright papillary rings. In re-pigmented areas after UVB narrow band therapy, the presence of activated, dendritic melanocytes was seen. CONCLUSIONS: Considering our results, and following further studies, RCM clinical applications could be used in the therapeutic monitoring and evaluation of the evolution of vitiligo.     

A preliminary study of the changes in the direct-acting mutagenicities of several nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons after exposure under sunlight

Five commercially available nitropolyclyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH), namely, 4-nitrobiphenyl, 2-nitrofluorene, 9-nitroanthracene, 1-nitropyrene, and 2,7-dinitrofluorene, were exposed under restricted sunlight in the open air. The direct-acting mutagenicities of the samples after an exposure of 45 days were measured in order to compare them with those of the original samples in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium bioassay. It was found that the mutagenicities of some nitro-PAH do not change significantly while the mutagenicities of others increase or decrease after exposure. A preliminary study of nitro-PAH reaction products after exposure using GC, GC/MS, and FT-IR is also reported.     

Sideropenic Dysphagia综合征膜性蹼26例分析

目的 :研究SideropenicDysphagla (S -D)综合征膜性蹼产生的机制。方法 :回顾分析S -D综合征2 6例的临床资料。结果 :影像学检查显示膜性蹼在颈段食道前壁呈 2mm深的模样陷凹。血液学检查为缺铁性低血红蛋白性贫血改变。结论 :缺铁性贫血是S -D综合征的原因 ,铁剂治疗有效     

Deletion of aldose reductase leads to protection against cerebral ischemic injury.

Previously, we reported that transgenic mice overexpressing endothelin-1 in astrocytes showed more severe neurological deficits and increased infarct after transient focal ischemia. In those studies, we also observed increased level of aldose reductase (AR), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway, which has been implicated in osmotic and oxidative stress. To further understand the involvement of the polyol pathway, the mice with deletion of enzymes in the polyol pathway, AR, and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), which is the second enzyme in this pathway, were challenged with similar cerebral ischemic injury. Deletion of AR-protected animals from severe neurological deficits and large infarct, whereas similar protection was not observed in mice with SD deficiency. Most interestingly, AR(-/-) brains showed lowered expression of transferrin and transferrin receptor with less iron deposition and nitrotyrosine accumulation. The protection against oxidative stress in AR(-/-) brain was also associated with less poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 activation. Pharmacological inhibition of AR by Fidarestat also protected animals against cerebral ischemic injury. These findings are the first to show that AR contributes to iron- and transferrin-related oxidative stress associated with cerebral ischemic injury, suggesting that inhibition of AR but not SD may have therapeutic potential against cerebral ischemic injury.     

经皮椎体成形术治疗脊柱疾病

目的评价经皮椎体成形术治疗脊柱疾病的临床应用价值.方法 56例多发骨髓瘤、溶骨性脊柱转移瘤、骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折患者应用经皮椎体成形术后,分24 h、3个月两阶段评估患者疼痛、术后X线片检查结果、椎体高度等指标.结果术后止痛效果良好,尤以骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折患者的止痛效果最好.无严重并发症. 结论经皮椎体成形术对骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折等脊柱疾病的止痛、稳固椎体等效果明显,可以谨慎开展.     

Polymer strength and chain conformation

It is found that the expected maximum strength of polymers is not proportional to the number of polymer chains per unit area. Under uniaxial stressing only part of polymer chains, i.e., overstressed chains, contribute to the strength of the polymer. The number of overstressed chains obtained here for some polymers is consistent with the results of electron paramagnetic resonance and stress-Fourier-transform IR measurements: (a) Polymers with all-trans conformation of their chains have more overstressed chains than those with helix conformation; (b) in the case of polymers with helix conformation, those with smaller side groups have more overstressed chains. Under uniaxial stress, the polymer chains change their conformation from gauche to trans which results in a relief of stress. Polymer with helix conformation thus have less overstressed chains and, hence, lower strength than polymers with all-trans conformation.     

特素联合卡铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌28例临床研究

目的 评价特素（紫杉醇注射液）联合卡铂（伯尔定）方案治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）的疗效和不良反应.方法 收集我院2004年3月～2006年12月收治的Ⅲb～Ⅳ期的NSCLC患者28例,进行特素（紫杉醇注射液）联合卡铂（伯尔定）化疗.全部患者均有可测量的指标.给药方法：特素135～175mg/m2d1＋卡铂5mg·ml^-1·min^-1d2,静脉注射,28天为一周期.结果 全组总有效率50.0%,Ⅲb期有效率62.5%,Ⅳ期有效率45.0%.化疗副反应主要是骨髓抑制及消化道反应,其中Ⅲ～Ⅳ度分别为24.0%、10.7%.结论 特素联合卡铂治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌治疗有效,耐受性良好.