Assessment of information and education about topical corticosteroids in dermatology outpatient departments: experience from Turkey

BACKGROUND: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used in dermatological practice. The aim of this study was to assess the baseline level of knowledge about topical steroids in a group of dermatology patients and to evaluate the impact of educational materials on patients' level of information. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was developed, and 126 patients who were prescribed topical steroids for several dermatologic diseases were asked mostly about side-effects of the drugs. Three different educational methods were used in parallel to the questionnaire: verbal (n = 42), written (n = 42) or verbal and written (n = 42). The same questions were asked again 1 or 2 weeks later. RESULTS: Only 7.1% of the study group mentioned that they were informed by doctors about the side-effects of topical steroids before they were administered. The baseline information scores about topical corticosteroids were higher in high school and college graduates and in those who noted side-effects or who were informed about side-effects before administration. A statistically significant difference was detected between pre- and posteducation scores of patients in the whole group and within the three groups of different educational methods (P < 0.001). Posteducation scores of the combined verbal- and written-educated group were higher than the written-educated group or the verbal-educated group. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that patient knowledge is enhanced by any kind of educational method, and particularly written information supported by verbal instructions given in dermatology outpatient departments. Moreover, we conclude that the 10-item questionnaire can be used in Turkey to assess patients' knowledge about topical corticosteroids.     

成人神经性厌食的门诊个别心理治疗

目的神经性厌食是一种患病率和死亡率很高的疾病.本研究旨在评价关于成人和大龄青年(＞16岁)神经性厌食的门诊心理治疗的随机对照试验(RCT)证据.方法检索的策略包括:电子检索Medline,EXTRAMED,EMbase,PSYCLIT,Current,Contents,Cochrane Controlled Trials Register和Depression and Anxiety Neurosis Cochrane Group(CCDAN),检索日期为2002年9月、手检<国际饮食紊乱杂志>(International Jouma of Eating Disorders)以及所能找到的一切相关的论文;联系在此领域发表论文的各研究负责人,请求他们提供未发表的研究信息.纳入门诊个别心理治疗的成人神经性厌食的RCT,神经性厌食的诊断标准为DSM-V或者国际类似的标准.文献质量评价按照CCDAN标准执行.选择了以下一些结局指标,患者的身体情况,患者对饮食紊乱严重程度的观点和态度,人际交往能力和一些常见精神症状的严重程度.结局指标为连续变量的资料用标准均数差进行分析,结局指标为二分变量的资料用相对危险度进行分析.结果检索结果仅纳入6个小样本的研究,包括了2个以青少年和儿童为研究对象的试验,未能进行资料累积分析.由于评定结果时未使用盲法,所以存在偏倚的可能性.2个研究的结果显示:特殊的心理治疗比其它常规疗法有效,但是无一种疗法比其它疗法的疗效更持久.1个以"进食忠告"作对照的试验,100%的研究对象未完成试验.结论从本评价来看,没有一种特殊的心理治疗方法值得推荐.为何使用常规的治疗方法或者单独的"进食忠告"被接受的程度如此低,目前尚不清楚.此领域迫切需要设计严谨的大样本试验.     

Chlorthalidone improves vertebral bone quality in genetic hypercalciuric stone‐forming rats

We have bred a strain of rats to maximize urine (u) calcium (Ca) excretion and model hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis. These genetic hypercalciuric stone‐forming (GHS) rats excrete more uCa than control Sprague‐Dawley rats, uniformly form kidney stones, and similar to patients, demonstrate lower bone mineral density. Clinically, thiazide diuretics reduce uCa and prevent stone formation; however, whether they benefit bone is not clear. We used GHS rats to test the hypothesis that the thiazide diuretic chlorthalidone (CTD) would have a favorable effect on bone density and quality. Twenty GHS rats received a fixed amount of a 1.2% Ca diet, and half also were fed CTD (4 to 5 mg/kg/d). Rats fed CTD had a marked reduction in uCa. The axial and appendicular skeletons were studied. An increase in trabecular mineralization was observed with CTD compared with controls. CTD also improved the architecture of trabecular bone. Using micro–computed tomography (µCT), trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness, and trabecular number were increased with CTD. A significant increase in trabecular thickness with CTD was confirmed by static histomorphometry. CTD also improved the connectivity of trabecular bone. Significant improvements in vertebral strength and stiffness were measured by vertebral compression. Conversely, a slight loss of bending strength was detected in the femoral diaphysis with CTD. Thus results obtained in hypercalciuric rats suggest that CTD can favorably influence vertebral fracture risk. CTD did not alter formation parameters, suggesting that the improved vertebral bone strength was due to decreased bone resorption and retention of bone structure. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research     

Novel use of cap-assisted enteroscopy for detection of colorectal tumor in a patient with incarcerated inguinal hernia

Multiple reports have documented unsuspected ingui-nal hernias which result in difficulties during the colo-noscopic examinations of patients. In most cases, the colonoscopy can be delayed until a surgical consult has further evaluated the inguinal hernia. This case report documents a patient who required a colonoscopy but surgical intervention for the detected inguinal hernia was not appropriate due to his co-morbid medical con-ditions. With the use of the combination of an entero-scope fitted with a cap and fluoroscopy, the inguinal hernia was able to be negotiated and the diagnosis of a cecal carcinoma was able to be confirmed.     

Expression of the multidrug resistance-associated P-glycoprotein (P- 170) in 59 cases of de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia: prognostic implications [see comments]

Immunocytochemical detection of the multidrug resistance (MDR)- associated membrane protein (P-170) was performed at time of diagnosis in a series of 36 children and 23 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using two monoclonal antibodies JSB1 and C219. Immunophenotypes were obtained in all cases and karyotypes were analyzed in 37 cases. Detection with JSB1 or with C219 led to similar results in terms of positive cells and cases, but the intensity of staining was higher with JSB1. In the populations studied, the rate of first complete remission differed between MDR-positive and MDR-negative in adult patients only (56% v 93%, respectively, P = .05). Of the 16 MDR-positive patients who had presented a first complete remission, 13 (81%) relapsed, compared with 13 of 35 (37%) MDR-negative (P = .008) patients. A higher rate of relapse among MDR-positive compared with MDR- negative patients was observed in adults and in children taken separately (adults 100% v 46%; children 73% v 32%, respectively). The survival rates (Kaplan-Meier method) were significantly higher in MDR- negative compared with MDR-positive populations as a whole (P = .002) and among children (P = .05) and adults (P = .03) taken separately. Event-free survival curves followed this trend. The percentage of second complete remission was very low in the MDR-positive group (15%) compared with 38% for the MDR-negative group. These results were shown by multivariate analysis to be independent of age, immunophenotypes, and karyotypes and clearly show the importance of MDR phenotype detection in ALL.     

Comparative study of gene expression during tooth eruption and orthodontic tooth movement in mice

Objective:  The aim of this study was to understand tooth eruption by comparing the gene expression during tooth eruption and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM).
Materials and methods:  Orthodontic force was applied on maxillary molars for 2, 4, 7 and 14 days to study tooth movement. Mice at PN 0, 7, 10, 15 and 21 were fixed to observe tooth eruption. Comparative study of two procedures was assessed by haematoxylin and eosin, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and in situ hybridization for matrix metalloproteinase ( Mmp ) 2 , 13 , bone sialoprotein ( Bsp ) and osteocalcin ( Ocn ).
Results:  Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and expression of Mmp2 , 13 were obviously detectable in the compression region during OTM. They were also identified in the occlusal and apical region of alveolar bone during tooth eruption. Strong expression of Bsp and Ocn was detectable at the tension side during OTM. These genes were also expressed in the inner lateral region of alveolar bone adjacent to the tooth, but absent in the inner surface of the occlusal and root apical regions during tooth eruption.
Conclusion:  The process of alveolar bone metabolism during developmental eruption and OTM shares the same mechanism. Internal force, as the orthodontic force for OTM, may be initiating factor for tooth eruption.