Deposits of immunoglobulins and complement in oral lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT – Deposits of immunoglobnlins were demonstrated at the basement membrane zone in oral lesions in 10 out of 11 patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), and in normal oral mucosa in one out of six patients with LE by means of an imniunofluorescence staining technique. The reported findings are in accordance with the findings in skin biopsies from cutaneous LE lesions. In cases of LE, difficult to diagnose clinically and histopathologically, the imniunofluorescence staining technique may be of value as a supplementary diagnostic tool.     

Effect of Zendium toothpaste on recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract – A Double-blind clinical trial with cross-over was conducted for a period of 12 months in 25 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The effect of the amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase containing Zendium toothpaste on the discomfort, number of exacerbations, duration of exacerbation, number of ulcers and number of days with pain caused by RAS was studied. The use of Zendium significantly reduced the sensation of discomfort from RAS as compared to the use of placebo toothpaste (0.025>p>0.01). However, the patients were unable to discriminate significantly between Zendium and placebo when asked to choose one of the toothpastes (0.10>p>0.05) and no significant differences were demonstrated as far as the above mentioned parameters of disease serverity were concerned. Therefore, it is concluded that the reducing effect of Zendium containing amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase on RAS is weak as compared to a similar toothpaste without these enzymes.     

Cromolyn DSG effects in hyperkinetic and psychotic children with allergies.

Preliminary findings of an open trial of cromolyn in hyperkinetic and psychotic children indicates that the medication is useful, safe and well tolerated. Further controlled studies are suggested to determine the efficacy and indications of cromolyn in child psychiatry. Positive findings could clarify the biochemical mechanisms of hyperkinesis.     

Recent developments in the use of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications

In this article the authors review recent research contributions to the knowledge regarding the role of antidepressant and anxiolytic medications in the treatment of child psychiatry disorders. For each of the two classes of drug, recent data regarding a range of indications are evaluated. In addition, general methodologic issues and future research priorities are discussed.     

Evidence that deletion at FCGR3B is a risk factor for systemic sclerosis

There is increasing evidence that gene copy number (CN) variation influences clinical phenotype. The low-affinity Fc receptor 3B (FCGR3B) located in the FCGR gene cluster is a CN polymorphic gene involved in the recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to sites of inflammation and their activation. Given the genetic overlap between systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis (SSc) and the strong evidence for FCGR3B CN in the pathology of SLE, we hypothesised that FCGR3B gene dosage influences susceptibility to SSc. We obtained FCGR3B deletion status in 777 European Caucasian cases and 1000 controls. There was an inverse relationship between FCGR3B CN and disease susceptibility. CN of 1 was a significant risk factor for SSc (OR=1.55 (1.13-2.14), P=0.007) relative to CN2. Although requiring replication, these results suggest that impaired immune complex clearance arising from FCGR3B deficiency contributes to the pathology of SSc, and FCGR3B CN variation is a common risk factor for systemic autoimmunity.     

Multileaf collimator tracking integrated with a novel x-ray imaging system and external surrogate monitoring

We have previously developed a tumour tracking system, which adapts the aperture of a Siemens 160 MLC to electromagnetically monitored target motion. In this study, we exploit the use of a novel linac-mounted kilovoltage x-ray imaging system for MLC tracking. The unique in-line geometry of the imaging system allows the detection of target motion perpendicular to the treatment beam (i.e. the directions usually featuring steep dose gradients). We utilized the imaging system either alone or in combination with an external surrogate monitoring system. We equipped a Siemens ARTISTE linac with two flat panel detectors, one directly underneath the linac head for motion monitoring and the other underneath the patient couch for geometric tracking accuracy assessments. A programmable phantom with an embedded metal marker reproduced three patient breathing traces. For MLC tracking based on x-ray imaging alone, marker position was detected at a frame rate of 7.1 Hz. For the combined external and internal motion monitoring system, a total of only 85 x-ray images were acquired prior to or in between the delivery of ten segments of an IMRT beam. External motion was monitored with a potentiometer. A correlation model between external and internal motion was established. The real-time component of the MLC tracking procedure then relied solely on the correlation model estimations of internal motion based on the external signal. Geometric tracking accuracies were 0.6 mm (1.1 mm) and 1.8 mm (1.6 mm) in directions perpendicular and parallel to the leaf travel direction for the x-ray-only (the combined external and internal) motion monitoring system in spite of a total system latency of ~0.62 s (~0.51 s). Dosimetric accuracy for a highly modulated IMRT beam--assessed through radiographic film dosimetry--improved substantially when tracking was applied, but depended strongly on the respective geometric tracking accuracy. In conclusion, we have for the first time integrated MLC tracking with x-ray imaging in the in-line geometry and demonstrated highly accurate respiratory motion tracking.     

How do different GLP-1 mimetics differ in their actions?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetics have been developed to overcome the pharmacokinetic limitations of GLP-1 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Their mechanisms of action and clinical effects appear particularly interesting because they target the main pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 receptor agonists are more powerful and are particularly advantageous by their weight loss-inducing capacity, whereas dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors exhibit a better tolerance profile. However, their ultimate role is still to be defined in the therapeutic strategy of type 2 diabetes.     

Characteristics of hepatitis B virus in Ghana: full length genome sequences indicate the endemicity of genotype E in West Africa

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes from A to H have distinct geographical distributions and have been shown to affect the clinical features as well as the course of the HBV infection. HBV genotype E has been found only in Africa. However, the complete genomes of this genotype, which were isolated mainly from West Africa, were available only for a few samples. In this study, five full-length genomes and seven other small S genes of HBV strains from Ghanaian blood donors were sequenced and investigated. Following phylogenetic analysis, all of the Ghanaian HBV strains were clustered closely in genotype E. All of the 12 small S genes showed the same characteristic of subtype ayw4. The complete genomes of the five Ghanaian strains showed marked similarity with each other and with the reported genotype E strains (96.7%-99.1%). Genotype E strains showed low intra-genotypic diversity (1.8%) and carried the conserved signature pattern in pre-S1 as well as in the full genome sequence. Of note, the finding of the G145R escape mutant in an unvaccinated Ghanaian blood donor might raise concern as to the ongoing nation-wide hepatitis B vaccination program in Ghana.