Polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans levels in piglet liver with various diseases

This study deals with the levels of toxic polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxin and furan congeners (PCDD/Fs) in the livers of piglets affected by infectious diseases using isotope dilution high‐resolution gas chromatography/high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). Seventeen toxic congeners in the liver samples infected with bacterial and viral diseases were compared. For porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) samples, the North American‐ and European‐type PRRS diseases were observed. This study shows that there are significantly different levels of PCDD/Fs, present, which vary according to the types of diseases as evidenced by our analysis of the piglet liver samples.     

Posttraumatic Hemidystonia Treated with Unilateral Globus Pallidus Interna Stimulation: Long‐Term Follow‐up and Radiologic Features

Objective: Hemidystonia is a unilateral clinical presentation of dystonia, and it is usually refractory to current methods of medical treatment. Recently, deep brain stimulation has given some hope of recovery to dystonic patients. Materials and Methods: A 30‐year‐old right‐handed man with no abnormal perinatal history or family history of movement disorders was admitted to our institution. The patient had suffered right‐sided dystonia for more than three years after severe head trauma sustained four years prior. Results: We performed a stereotactic implantation of an electrode into the left globus pallidus internus (GPi) and he showed excellent response to pallidal stimulation during long‐term follow‐up. Conclusions: We present a unique case of secondary posttraumatic hemidystonia treated with contralateral GPi stimulation with an excellent outcome. Pallidal stimulation can be a good treatment option for posttraumatic hemidystonia in selected cases.     

Sympathetic nervous system effects in the hands following a grade III postero-anterior rotatory mobilisation technique applied to T4: A randomised,placebo-controlled trial

Joint mobilisation to the T4 vertebra has been advocated as a treatment for T4 syndrome. To date no controlled studies have investigated the effects of thoracic spinal manual therapy (SMT) applied to T4 on sympathetic activity in the hands. This study investigated whether a grade III postero-anterior rotatory joint mobilisation technique applied to the T4 vertebra at a frequency of 0.5 Hz had demonstrably greater effects than a validated placebo intervention on skin conductance (SC) in the hands of healthy subjects.A power analysis calculation was performed and using a double blind, placebo-controlled, independent groups design, 36 healthy subjects (18–35 years) were randomly assigned to two groups (placebo intervention or treatment intervention). A BioPac unit recorded continuous SC measures before, during and after each experimental intervention. An exit questionnaire was used to validate the expectancy effects of the placebo intervention. Results demonstrated a significant difference between groups in SC in the right hand during the post-treatment rest period (F = 4.888, p = 0.034); with the treatment intervention being sympathoexcitatory in nature. A trend towards a significant difference between groups was also demonstrated in the left hand during the rest period (F = 4.072, p = 0.052).This study provides preliminary evidence that joint mobilisation applied to the T4 vertebra at a frequency of 0.5 Hz can produce sympathoexcitatory effects in the hand. Further research is recommended in a patient population.     

Acidification of stratum corneum prevents the progression from atopic dermatitis to respiratory allergy

The presence of congenitally impaired skin barrier followed by atopic dermatitis (AD) is an initial step in the atopic march. The maintenance of acidic pH in the stratum corneum (SC) has been suggested as a therapeutic or preventive strategy for barrier impairment caused by skin inflammation. To determine whether an AD murine model, flaky tail mice, with inherited filaggrin deficiency could develop airway inflammation by repeated topical application followed by nasal inhalation of house dust mite (HDM) antigen (defined as a novel “atopic march animal model”), and whether maintenance of an acidic SC environment by continuous application of acidic cream could interrupt the following atopic march. During the course of HDM treatment, acidic cream (pH2.8) or neutral cream (pH7.4) was applied to flaky tail mice twice daily. Repeated applications and inhalations of HDM to flaky tail mice induced AD skin lesions followed by respiratory allergies. Maintenance of SC acidity inhibited the occurrence of respiratory allergic inflammation as well as AD‐like skin lesions. Collectively, a novel atopic march model could be developed by repeated epicutaneous and nasal applications of HDM to flaky tail mice, and that the acidification of SC could prevent the atopic march from AD to respiratory allergy.     

Genital folliculo‐sebaceous cystic hamartoma: A claim of the stroma as a clue in the diagnosis of proliferations with follicular differentiation

Folliculo‐sebaceous hamartomas comprise a series of entities whose boundaries are imprecise. We present the clinical case of a folliculo‐sebaceous cystic hamartoma of genital localization where the diagnosis was established based on the epithelial proliferation, but mostly, on the characteristic stroma. Because this lesion lacked of the cystic component, we mention the most frequent differential diagnoses and review the literature of the few cases published on this infrequent localization.