Therapeutic and experimental therapeutic studies on acupuncture and itch: review of the literature

Itch accompanies most inflammatory skin diseases but may occur as a solitary sensation in otherwise normal skin. Chronic itch often requires combined treatments but some cases remain therapy resistant. Complementary medicine is becoming increasingly popular among patients. Acupuncture is the oldest and most well‐studied alternative option with evidence‐based effect on pain. This article summarizes the rational for the use of acupuncture in treatment of itch and reviews therapeutic and experimental therapeutic studies on acupuncture and itch.     

Partial chimerism after T-cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in leukemic HLA-matched patients: a cytogenetic documentation

We evaluated serially by cytogenetics the blood and marrow chimerism of 38 leukemic recipients of HLA-matched bone marrow transplants (BMT) who were prepared by high doses of alkylating agents and fractionated total- body irradiation (2.2 Gy X 5). Donor or host mitoses were identified by examination of sex chromosomes in 32 patients or by evaluation of the polymorphism of other chromosomes after specific banding in six patients. Twenty-four patients were recipients of untreated BMT, and 14 were recipients of T-cell-depleted BMT. In the 24 patients who received untreated BMT, all showed successful engraftment, and only three had a transient mixed chimera. In the 14 recipients of T-cell-depleted BMTs, four rejected their grafts, and seven had mixed chimeras; these mixed chimeras were more frequent in blood lymphocytes than in marrow cells and could be detected up to 26 months after BMT. This high frequency of partial chimerism after T-cell-depleted BMT by comparison with a control group suggests that the donor's T cells play an important role in the eradication of host residual hematopoiesis after allogeneic BMT.     

Gingival crevicular fluid volume and periodontal parameters alterations after use of conventional and self-ligating brackets

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations on plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume after use of three different brackets types for 60 days. Setting Participants: The sample comprised 20 patients of both sexes aged 11–15 years (mean age: 13.3 years), with permanent dentition, adequate oral hygiene, and mild tooth crowding, overjet, and overbite. Methods: A conventional metallic bracket Gemini?, and two different brands of self-ligating brackets — In-Ovation^®R and SmartClip? — were bonded to the maxillary incisors and canines. PI, GI, GBI scores, and GCF volume were measured before and 30 and 60 days after bonding of the brackets. Data were analysed statistically using non-parametric tests coefficient at a 5% significance level. Results: There was no statistically significant correlation (P?>?0.05) between tooth crowding, overjet, and overbite and the PI, GI, GBI scores, and GCF volume before bonding, indicating no influence of malocclusion on the clinical parameters. Regardless of the bracket design, no statistically significant difference (P?>?0.05) was found for GI, GBI scores. PI and GCF volume showed a significant difference among the brackets in different periods. In pairwise comparisons a significant difference was observed when compared before with 60 days after bonding, for the teeth bonded with SmartClip? self-ligating bracket, (PI P?=?0.009; GCF volume P?=?0.001). Conclusion: There was an increase in PI score and GCF volume 60 days after bonding of SmartClip? self-ligating brackets, indicating the influence of bracket design on these clinical parameters.     

Characterization of the cholesterol crystallization-promoting low- density particle isolated from human bile

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Biliary concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein (CABG) contains cholesterol crystallization-promoting activity that is not accounted for by the pronucleators that have been characterized in this fraction. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the missing activity. METHODS: Biliary glycoprotein was isolated using concanavalin A-Sepharose. Promoting activity in CABG was purified using density gradient ultracentrifugation. RESULTS: Activity in CABG separated into two fractions at low (1.08) and high (1.29) density, which showed different crystallization kinetics in a model bile. The high-density fraction had a late onset time (49.2 +/- 17.8 hours) but a high crystal growth rate (13.4 +/- 5.2 micrograms. mL-1.h-1). The low- density fraction had a rapid onset time (33.9 +/- 20.9 hours) but a slower growth rate (6.5 +/- 3.8 micrograms.mL-1 .h-1). The high-density fraction was not further characterized in this study. The low-density fraction contained solid particles consisting of lipid and very little protein, and the activity was fully pronase resistant. Delipidation of the low-density fraction removed all activity. CONCLUSIONS: A potent pronase-resistant nucleation-promoting activity was activated from human bile and characterized. The low-density fraction may be responsible for the rapid nucleation in bile from typical patients with fast-nucleating gallstones. (Gastroenterology 1996 Jun;110(6):1936-44)     

Outcomes of prenatally diagnosed tetralogy of Fallot: Implications for valve-sparing repair versus transannular patch

OBJECTIVES:

To assess outcomes of prenatally diagnosed tetralogy of Fallot and determine factors associated with the choice to undergo a valve-sparing repair versus transannular patch, and the use of prostaglandins at birth.

METHODS:

All cases at The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario) with a fetal diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot from 1998 to 2006, were reviewed for demographic and fetal echocardiographic data to determine factors associated with the valve-sparing repair and need for perinatal support.

RESULTS:

Sixty-four fetuses met inclusion criteria (median gestational age 22 weeks) with 47 live births. Twenty-six underwent valve-sparing repair (median age 5.7 months) and 14 underwent transannular patch repair (median age 4.5 months). There were seven deaths before surgery and one post-transannular patch repair. One patient required a transannular patch repair after the initial valve-sparing repair. Twelve of 29 (41%) patients received prostaglandins at birth. Type of surgical repair, use of prostaglandins and postnatal death were among the outcomes investigated. The mean pulmonary valve (PV) z-score was −3.0±2.0 and the mean PV/aortic valve (AoV) ratio was 0.65±0.10. Lower PV z-score (P=0.04), smaller PV/AoV ratio (P=0.04) and the presence of nonantegrade arterial duct flow (P=0.02) were associated with prostaglandin use. A higher PV/AoV ratio was associated with valve-sparing repair (P=0.04). Fetal z-scores of the PV, AoV and right pulmonary artery at 29 to 32 weeks gestational age correlated with respective postnatal z-scores (P=0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Fetal echocardiographic variables were associated with the use of prostaglandins and valve-sparing repair in fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot, and at 29 weeks, correlated with postnatal valve diameters.