Profiles of Neurological Outcome Prediction Among Intensivists

Background  

Advances in intensive care medicine have increased survival rates of patients with critical neurological conditions. The focus of prognostication for such patients is therefore shifting from predicting chances of survival to meaningful neurological recovery. This study assessed the variability in long-term outcome predictions among physicians and aimed to identify factors that may account for this variability.     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – vascular type (ecchymotic variant): cutaneous and dermatopathologic features

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – vascular type, the only lethal form, is rarely reported in dermatology literature. It is characterized by translucent, atrophic skin, easy bruising, arterial, intestinal and/or uterine fragility manifesting as varicose veins, aneurysms and vascular/visceral/uterine rupture. As its dermatopathologic features are not well elucidated, diagnosis is often made after a catastrophic complication or at autopsy. This 36 year-old non-consanguineous male had brown-black plaques with atrophy and frequent ulceration over legs and dorsal feet and tortuous varicose veins around ankles for the past 15 years. Perivenous skin was translucent and hypopigmented. He had multiple and ecchymotic keloids and small atrophic, pityriasis versicolor-like lesions over trunk. He did not have hypermobile/hyperextensible skin and joints and showed no systemic or investigative abnormality. Histopathologic features of atrophic lesion included blood extravasation in atrophic epidermis/dermis, focal clustering and dilatation of blood vessels, malformed vessel walls, abundant hemosiderin in the dermis and homogenously stained/whorled patterned collagen especially around blood vessels. Pathology of keloidal lesion showed new collagen and vascular fragility. These histopathologic features appear of diagnostic value especially in patients who have compatible clinical findings but cannot afford confirmation by biochemical testing for abnormal synthesis of type III procollagen or identification of mutations in the COL3A1 gene.     

The prevalence of chromium allergy in Denmark is currently increasing as a result of leather exposure

Background Chromium allergy has traditionally been caused by occupational skin contact with cement. In 1983, Danish legislation made the addition of ferrous sulphate compulsory in cement to reduce the water‐soluble chromium content to not more than 2 ppm. An effect from this intervention has previously been demonstrated among Danish construction workers. Objectives To investigate the development of chromium allergy among patients with dermatitis tested between 1985 and 2007 in Denmark. Furthermore, to determine causative exposures in patients with chromium allergy. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of patch test data was performed (n = 16 228) and charts from patients with chromium allergy were reviewed. Comparisons were made using a χ² test. Logistic regression analyses were used to test for associations. Results The prevalence of chromium allergy decreased significantly from 3·6% in 1985 to 1% in 1995 (P_trend < 0·001) but increased to 3·3% in 2007 (P_trend < 0·001). The frequency of clinically relevant cement exposure decreased significantly among patients with chromium allergy from 12·7% in 1989–1994 to 3·0% (P < 0·01) in 1995–2007, whereas the frequency of relevant leather exposure increased significantly from 24·1% during 1989–1994 to 45·5% during 1995–2007 (P < 0·02). Conclusions Chromium allergy is currently increasing in Denmark due to leather exposure.     

The effect of ethanol intake on tendon healing: a histological and biomechanical study in a rat model

Introduction  

Ethanol has a suppressive effect on inflammation and the immune system, but the effect of ethanol on tendon healing in vivo has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the histological and biomechanical effects of ethanol intake on tendon healing in a rat tendon injury model.     

Interaction of estrogen receptor‐α ligand binding domain with nuclear proteins of aging mouse brain

After the interaction of estrogen with the ligand binding domain (LBD) of mouse estrogen receptor‐α (mERα) and hormone‐responsive elements of target genes, many nuclear proteins are recruited to regulate the expression of specific genes. Because it is not known which brain proteins interact with LBD or whether these proteins vary with age and sex, we used pull‐down assay and far Western blotting to detect five nuclear proteins of 160, 140, 87, 60, and 46 kD in the mouse brain. These interacting proteins were identified as PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, BAF60, and ADA3, respectively. The level of PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, and BAF60 decreased drastically in old compared with adult male mice, whereas the ADA3 level showed no significant change. PELP1, PGC1α, and BAF60 levels were lower in old male compared with female mice. Thus we report the identification and interaction of five nuclear proteins with mERα‐LBD, indicating their role in estrogen signaling and brain functions during aging. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of gastric emptying in familial and sporadic Parkinson disease

ObjectiveTo assess for the presence of gastric dysmotility in familial and sporadic Parkinson disease (PD).Methods10 subjects with familial Parkinson disease (fPD), 35 subjects with sporadic Parkinson disease (sPD), and 15 controls, all from academic tertiary care movement disorders centers, were studied. fPD was defined as the presence of at least 2 affected individuals within 2–3 consecutive generations in a family. Molecular genetic analysis has not revealed, thus far, any known genomic abnormality in these families. Gastric emptying was assessed by dynamic abdominal scintigraphy over 92 min following ingestion of a solid meal containing 99mTc-labeled colloid of 40 MBq activity. The main outcome measures were gastric emptying half-time and radiotracer activity over the gastric area at 46 and at 92 min.ResultsGastric emptying time was delayed in 60% of subjects with PD. In comparison to mean t_1/2 of 38 ± 7 min in controls, mean t_1/2 was 58 ± 25 min in fPD (p = 0.02) and 46 ± 25 min in sPD (p = 0.10). Both fPD and sPD groups included subjects with delayed gastric emptying at an early stage of disease.ConclusionsPatients with fPD showed significantly delayed gastric emptying in comparison to normal age-matched individuals. Further studies of gastrointestinal dysfunction in PD, particularly fPD, are warranted.