Microtubule organization of unstimulated and stimulated adherent human neutrophils in Chediak-Higashi syndrome

The numbers and length of centriole-associated microtubules of two patients with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) were examined. Detergent- extracted whole-mount preparations of adherent cells were studied by stereo high-voltage electron microscopy. Under conditions of random migration, neutrophils from both patients had a microtubule organization similar to that of the control; microtubule numbers (28 +/- 3) and length (7.0 +/- 2.8 micron) were within normal range. When cells were treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), differences in the response of the two patients were noted. Neutrophils from patient No. 2 and the control showed a significant rise in numbers (38 +/- 5) and length (9.5 +/- 3.6 micron) of microtubules. In contrast, neutrophils from patient No. 1 were unresponsive to PMA treatment. Because vitamin C is used therapeutically in CHS patients and has been shown to correct microtubule-related cell function, neutrophils were exposed to ascorbic acid. A significant increase in microtubule numbers (35 +/- 6) was observed in cells from the control and patient No. 2 after ascorbate treatment; neutrophils from patient No. 1 showed no increase in microtubule numbers. While ascorbic acid did not affect microtubule length in the control cells, it caused a significant increase in microtubule length in neutrophils from both patients. Results suggest that adherent CHS neutrophils contain centriole-associated microtubules which are normal in number and length. However, differences between patients are observed regarding neutrophil responsiveness to stimuli which induce microtubule polymerization.     

Efficacy of long‐ and short pulse alexandrite lasers compared with an intense pulsed light source for epilation: a study on 532 sites in 389 patients

BACKGROUND: Undesirable hair growth presents a significant problem for many patients, and photoepilation has become a very popular procedure in aesthetic and cosmetic practice. Among the systems used are the long‐ and short‐pulsed alexandrite lasers (LP‐Alex, SP‐Alex) and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources. The present study retrospectively examined the outcome of these systems from the viewpoint of efficacy and side effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty‐nine patients (370 females and 19 males, mean age 36.4?yrs, skin types II–V) were admitted to the study, with a total of 532 treated sites. They were treated either with the LP‐Alex, SP‐Alex or IPL. Subjective evaluation and interview of the patients was held prior to every treatment session. Six to eight treatments were required with the alexandrite lasers, 2.4–2.8 months between treatments, and the IPL source required 8–9 treatments, 2–2.5 months apart.

RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between the LP‐ and SP‐Alex, or between both of them and the IPL source, although the period to regrowth was longer for the lasers. Erythema and oedema were more noticeable with the LP‐Alex, as were crusting and hyper‐ and hypopigmentation. Discomfort was greatest with the LP‐Alex and the IPL source. Hair induction at the borders of the treated area on the face and neck was seen only with the LP‐Alex, and correlated statistically significantly with any episode of severe erythema, crusting or hyperpigmentation.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between the LP‐, SP‐Alex and IPL photoepilation with regard to efficacy. Transient side effects were highest with the LP‐Alex, and least with the IPL system. In the LP‐Alex treated face and neck sites, 3.1% had hair induction in the borders of the treated areas.     

“Setting the scene in early childhood” – an MID approach for life

This article presents a discussion paper for both consideration and implementation of Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) principles by the general dental practitioner. It argues that if these concepts can be adopted in early childhood by both the community and the profession, “Teeth for Life” can become a reality for all. Oral Health promoting behaviours can be nurtured and supported from infancy and developed into everyday living practice for a lifetime thereby maintaining an optimal quality of life. MID techniques have become more refined and supported by scientific research in the recent times and should be considered an essential clinical guideline for the future disease management.     

Incidence of erythromelalgia: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota

Objective   To estimate the population-based incidence of erythromelalgia.
Background   Only one report describing the incidence of erythromelalgia has been published previously.
Study design   A population-based analysis of data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project.
Setting    Tertiary care medical centre in Olmsted County, Minnesota (a rural county in the south-eastern portion of the state).
Patients   Thirty-three residents of Olmsted County with a diagnosis of erythromelalgia during the study period.
Methods   Age- and sex-specific incidence rates of erythromelalgia were determined.
Intervention   None.
Main outcome   Population-based incidence rate.
Results   The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) was 1.3 (0.8–1.7) per 100 000 people per year. The incidence of primary and secondary erythromelalgia was 1.1 (0.7–1.5) and 0.2 (0.02–0.4) per 100 000 people per year, respectively. The age-adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) were 2.0 (1.2–2.7) per 100 000 women and 0.6 (0.1–1.1) per 100 000 men. The study was limited by the small sample size and potential variability in recognition of erythromelalgia.
Conclusion   The population-based incidence of erythromelalgia has increased with each decade in Olmsted County over the past three decades; overall incidence was 1.3 per 100 000 people per year, approximately 5 times higher than previously reported.     

反相HPLC法测定六味安消胶囊及大黄药材中大黄素的含量

目的:用反相HPLC法测定六味安消胶囊及大黄药材中大黄素的含量.方法:采用CLC-ODS C18色谱柱(5μm,4.6×150mm),流动相:甲醇-0.4%磷酸溶液(85∶15),检测波长:438nm,流速:1.2ml/min,柱温25℃.结果:大黄素的平均回收率为98.56%(RSD=2.61%,n=12),线性范围为0.0798～0.638μg(r=0.9999).结论:本法快速,准确,灵敏,简便易行.     

A shorter workday as a means of reducing the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the relation between daily workhours and the occurrence of neck-shoulder or back pain in physically demanding care work. METHODS: Unpublished data were obtained from three intervention projects in care institutions. The projects had been conducted independently in Oslo (46 participants, 175 referents before and 158 referents after the intervention), Helsingborg (60 participants, 89 referents) and Stockholm (41 participants, 22 referents) between 1995 and 1998. The intervention was a reduction of daily workhours from > or = 7 to 6 hours (or 30 hours weekly). Full-time salary was retained, and extra personnel were employed to compensate for the reduction in workhours. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires before and during the intervention periods, lasting from 12 to 22 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of neck-shoulder pain decreased from 40.9% to 25.6% in Oslo and from 57.1% to 39.1% in Helsingborg after 1.5 years with a 6-hour workday; for Stockholm the decrease was from 81.6% to 68.3% after 1 year. No decrease was observed in the reference groups. The prevalence of back pain did not show the same consistent pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The shortening of regular workdays from > or = 7 hours to 6 hours may considerably reduce the prevalence of neck-shoulder pain among persons with physically demanding care work. The potential health benefits should encourage intervention studies also in other occupations with increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.     

Compartmentalization of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in formyl- peptide stimulated neutrophils

The presence and physiologic role of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase) in human neutrophils was investigated by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Small quantities of G-kinase were found in the cytoskeletal-enriched fraction of neutrophil lysates as detected by Western blots using a polyclonal antibody raised against bovine aorta G-kinase. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated in adherent neutrophils that G-kinase was localized diffusely within the cytoplasm, at the microtubule organizing center, and in the euchromatin of the nucleus. Because cyclic GMP is implicated as a modulator of neutrophil chemotaxis, G-kinase localization was investigated in neutrophils activated with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). fMLP stimulated transient focal changes in G-kinase localization that coincided with transient changes in cell shape. G- kinase translocated over a period of 5 minutes from diffuse staining of the cytosol to filaments within the uropod of polarized cells (1 minute), to bundles of filaments associated with loss of cell polarity (2.5 minutes), and finally to more intense staining of the nuclear euchromatin (5 minutes). Optical sectioning of neutrophils by confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that G-kinase was restricted to specific sub-cellular compartments during cell activation. This transient localization of G-kinase was disrupted by cytoskeletal inhibitors and was augmented by 8-Br-cyclic GMP. These data provide evidence for the first time that G-kinase plays a physiologic role in human neutrophils, and support the concept of compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotides during neutrophil activation.