Improved surface coil imaging in MR: decoupling of the excitation and receiver coils

We obtained magnetic resonance images with good sensitivity and radio frequency (RF) uniformity using separate transmitter and receiver coils. The excitation, namely, the rotation of the magnetization vector into a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field, was done by applying a homogeneous RF magnetic field produced by a large saddle-shaped coil. Surface coils were used for detection only. Because two coils that operated on the same resonance frequency were used, a coupling problem developed. This problem, which involved inhomogeneity of the RF magnetic field caused by the large current induced in the surface coil during excitation, could only be solved by minimizing the mutual inductance or maximizing the impedance of the surface coil resonance circuit during excitation. We were able to solve this problem using an electronic detuning method.     

TLR9 bone marrow chimeric mice define a role for cerebral TNF in neuroprotection induced by CpG preconditioning

Systemic preconditioning with the TLR9 ligand CpG induces neuroprotection against brain ischemic injury through a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-dependent mechanism. It is unclear how systemic administration of CpG engages the brain to induce the protective phenotype. To address this, we created TLR9-deficient reciprocal bone marrow chimeric mice lacking TLR9 on either hematopoietic cells or radiation-resistant cells of nonhematopoietic origin. We report that wild-type mice reconstituted with TLR9-deficient hematopoietic cells failed to show neuroprotection after systemic CpG preconditioning. Further, while hematopoietic expression of TLR9 is required for CpG-induced neuroprotection it is not sufficient to restore protection to TLR9-deficient mice that are reconstituted with hematopoietic cells bearing TLR9. To determine whether the absence of protection was associated with TNF, we examined TNF levels in the systemic circulation and the brain. We found that although TNF is required for CpG preconditioning, systemic TNF levels did not correlate with the protective phenotype. However, induction of cerebral TNF mRNA required expression of TLR9 on both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells and correlated with neuroprotection. In accordance with these results, we show the therapeutic potential of intranasal CpG preconditioning, which induces brain TNF mRNA and robust neuroprotection with no concomitant increase in systemic levels of TNF.     

Correlations between Oxidative DNA Damage, Oxidative Stress and Coenzyme Q10 in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The correlation of coronary artery disease (CAD) with pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and oxidative DNA damage was investigated.Seventy-seven patients with CAD and 44 healthy individuals as control were included in this study. The comparative ratios of ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10, 8-hydroxy-2^''-deoxyguanosine/deoxyguanosine and the level of MDA measured by HPLC and the activities of GPX and SOD by colorimetric approach in blood samples obtained from patients with CAD were unraveled.8-OHdG/dG ratios, serum MDA level and GPX activity were found significantly elevated level in serum of CAD patients compared to control group. The SOD activity was observed in stable levels in CAD patients. Ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 ratio was significantly lower in patients with CAD than the controls.The positive correlation was observed between 8-OHdG/dG ratios in both MDA levels and GPX activity, while the significant negative correlation was seemed between the ratio of 8-OHdG/dG and ubiquinol-10/ ubiquinone-10 as well as MDA levels and ubiquinol-10/ ubiquinone-10 ratio.We conclude that, both the disruption of pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance and oxidative stress in DNA may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease.     

Sensitive skin evaluation in the Japanese population

Sensitive skin syndrome was first described in 1977; however, no robust study has been carried out to evaluate its prevalence in Japan. A national representative sample of the Japanese population over the age of 18 years was taken. Individuals were questioned by telephone and selected according to the quota method. When asked “Do you have a sensitive skin?”, 52.84% of men and 55.98% of women answered “rather sensitive” or “very sensitive”. There was no significant difference (P = 0.22) between the two sexes. The non‐response rate among respondents was zero, suggesting that the term “sensitive skin” held a meaning for the majority of the population. Concerning questions about the onset of a rash, tingling or irritation in the presence of various factors, such as emotional issues, cold, heat, sun, dry air, air‐conditioning, water, air pollution and temperature variations, respondents with rather sensitive or very sensitive skin responded “yes” more often than others: approximately three‐times more often for water (18.97%/6.15%), air pollution (39.29%/12.45%) and warm climatic conditions (29.74%/9.8%). To our knowledge, this epidemiological study is the first to focus on sensitive skin among Japanese people of this century. It is of particular interest for two reasons: (i) it was conducted on a representative sample of the Japanese population; and (ii) the methodology used was identical to that used for sensitive skin assessment studies conducted in Europe and the USA, making it possible to draw certain comparisons.     

Self-Coding of Fidelity as a Potential Active Ingredient of Consultation to Improve Clinicians’ Fidelity

A key goal for implementation science is the identification of evidence-based consultation protocols and the active ingredients within these protocols that drive clinician behavior change. The current study examined clinicians’ self-coding of fidelity as a potential active ingredient of consultation for the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention. It also examined two other potential predictors of clinician fidelity in response to consultation: dosage of consultation and working alliance. Twenty-nine clinicians (97% female, 62% White, M age?=?34 years) participated in a year of weekly fidelity-focused ABC consultation sessions, for which clinicians self-coded fidelity and received consultant feedback on both their coding and their fidelity. Data from the ABC fidelity measure were available for 1067 sessions coded by consultants, and clinicians’ self-coding accuracy was calculated from 1044 sessions coded by both clinicians and consultants. Alliance was measured with the Working Alliance Inventory—Trainee and Supervisor Versions. The study was observational, and fidelity and self-coding accuracy were modeled across time using hierarchical linear modeling. Clinicians’ ABC fidelity, as well as their self-coding accuracy, increased over the course of consultation. Clinicians’ self-coding accuracy predicted their initial fidelity and growth in fidelity. Working alliance was also linked to fidelity and self-coding accuracy. These results suggest that clinician self-coding should be further examined as an active ingredient of consultation. The study has important implications for the design of consultation procedures and fidelity assessments.

     

Relapsing eosinophilic perimyositis

Relapsing eosinophilic perimyositis is a rare entity. Only 11 cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a patient with relapsing myopathy, peripheral blood eosinophilia and cutaneous manifestations, who had histopathological features of eosinophilic perimysial inflammation. His disease responded to moderate doses of glucocorticosteroids, and pursued an apparently benign course. Serum levels of eosinophilic cationic protein correlate with disease activity, and may be helpful in monitoring treatment. The features of this case are compared with those of other hypereosinophilic syndromes. It appears to be part of the spectrum of eosinophilic myositis.     

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome: a study of 26 cases

We have studied 26 patients presenting with a symmetrical papular or papulovesicular acrolocated eruption of more than 10 days duration. Mean age at onset was 2 years (range 10 months to 5.75 years). Lymphadenopathy was noted in eight cases, and hepatomegaly in one case. In 12 cases, histopathology and direct immunofluorescence were non-contributory. Cytolytic hepatitis occurred in one case and was associated with HBs antigenemia. A history of recent immunization was given in two cases. There was serological evidence of recent Epstein-Barr virus infection in seven out of 13 cases tested. Coxsackie B viruses were isolated from three patients, and cytomegalovirus was probably associated with the syndrome in one case. We conclude that the Gianotti-Crosti syndrome is not rare in France, and that non-hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cases are more frequent than the classical HBV-associated papular acrodermatitis of childhood.     

Platelet membrane microparticles in blood bank fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate

Cryoprecipitate has been demonstrated to correct the bleeding abnormality of patients with some congenital (storage pool disease) and acquired (uremia) platelet abnormalities, but the reason for this effect is unknown. We found significant platelet contamination in plasma harvested to prepare fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate. The platelet membrane microparticles produced by freezing and thawing of the plasma were highly concentrated in cryoprecipitate and may contribute to its therapeutic effect.