Smoothing the mosaic subclinical melanoderma by calcipotriol

BACKGROUND: The observation of photo-exposed skin under ultraviolet light reveals a mosaic pattern of varying intensity in epidermal melanization. Several patterns of mosaic subclinical melanoderma (MSM) have been described using a specially designed CCD camera and the ultraviolet light-enhanced visualization (ULEV) method. Vitamin D(3) and its analogues influence the biology of keratinocytes and melanocytes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of calcipotriol on MSM. METHODS: This randomized split-face study was conducted in 27 men to compare the effect of once daily applications of 5% calcipotriol cream or a moisturizing cream on the heterogeneity of facial MSM. Computerized image analysis of video images was used at 1-month intervals before and during a 2-month treatment, as well as during a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At both sites, the average melanin content of the epidermis showed no significant change over time. However, the mottled appearance was smoothened at the calcipotriol site, whereas it was increased at the site receiving the moisturizer. CONCLUSION: The decreased heterogeneity in MSM after calcipotriol applications suggests a control of the epidermal melanocyte unit by the vitamin D(3) derivative.     

慢性盆腔痛的腹腔镜诊治

目的 探讨腹腔镜在慢性盆腔痛(CPP)诊治中的应用。方法 对105例CPP患者行腹腔镜检查和治疗，术前均行B超检查。进行病例回顾性分析。结果 腹腔镜证实有病理改变者占95．24％。其中子宫内膜异位症56例，占53．33％，治疗有效率92．86％；慢性盆腔炎27例，占25．23％，治疗有效率88．89％：盆腔静脉瘀血症7例，占6．67％，治疗有效率57．14％；盆腔粘连10例，占9．52％，治疗有效率100．00％。术前B超发现病理改变并经腹腔镜证实者28例，占26．67％，准确率为28．00％。结论 腹腔镜能够明确CPP的病因，并能即时检测和治疗，可作为CPP诊治的常规和首选手段。     

Electrochemical polymerization of 3-phenylthiophene

Poly (3-phenylthiophene) (P3PhT) films have been electrochemically synthesized by direct oxidation of 3-phenylthiophene in the electrolyte of pure boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The oxidation potential of the monomer was measured to be 1.29 V (vs. SCE), and about 0.15 V lower than that measured in a neutral medium of acetonitrile. Free-standing P3PhT film with tensile strength of 32–40 MPa has been obtained for the first time. The morphology and the structure of the polymer film have been studied by scanning electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Raman spectral results demonstrated that the doping level of the P3PhT film increased with film thickness during electrochemical growth process.     

成纤维细胞生长因子23在血液透析患者磷和维生素D代谢中的作用

目的 探讨成纤维细胞生长因子23（FGF-23）在维持性血液透析（MHD）患者磷和维生素D代谢中的作用及相关调控机制。 方法 采用酶联免疫分析法（ELISA）对59例MHD患者（血透组）及20例健康志愿者（对照组）进行血清全段FGF-23测定，同时应用放免法测定血清1，25-二羟维生素D（1,25(OH)2VitD）水平。血透组患者测定血清白蛋白（Alb）、血红蛋白（Hb）、血肌酐（Scr）、尿素氮（BUN）、钙（Ca）、磷（P）及全段甲状旁腺激素（iPTH）等指标。 结果 血透组血清FGF-23水平明显高于对照组[（215.23±123.55）比（28.72±11.49） ng/L，P < 0.01]，而血清1,25(OH)2VitD水平明显低于对照组[（13.25±8.73）比（42.24±12.45） μg/L，P < 0.01]。Pearson相关分析显示，血透组血清FGF-23水平与血清P、Scr、Ca、iPTH及透析疗程时间呈正相关（P < 0.05）；与血清1,25(OH)2VitD水平和年龄呈负相关（P < 0.05）；而与性别、血压、血清Alb、Hb、BUN等指标无相关。多元回归分析显示，血清P、Ca、Scr、iPTH和1,25(OH)2VitD是影响血清FGF-23的主要变量，5者组成的模型解释了总变异的约62%（R2=0.623，P < 0.01）。 结论 MHD患者血清全段FGF-23水平明显增高，而1,25(OH)2VitD水平明显降低。FGF-23的调控是由复杂的多种因素共同作用的结果，血清P、Ca、Scr、iPTH和1,25(OH)2VitD是影响血清FGF-23水平的主要调控因子。     

Investigations into the C‐deuteriation of aryl alkyl ketones using urea as a pro‐base in the presence of a deuterium donor

Results are reported on the regioselective C‐deuteriation of a series of enolates derived from the deprotonation of aryl alkyl ketones using dilithiated urea as the pro‐base in the presence of a suitable deuterium donor. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) compared with urine ketone monitoring reduces hospital visits in young people with T1DM: a randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening acute complication of Type 1 diabetes, may be preventable with frequent monitoring of glycaemia and ketosis along with timely supplemental insulin. This prospective, two-centre study assessed sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) monitoring compared with traditional urine ketone testing, aimed at averting emergency assessment and hospitalization. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three children, adolescents and young adults, aged 3-22 years, and their families received sick day education. Participants were randomized to receive either a blood glucose monitor that also measures blood 3-OHB (blood ketone group, n = 62) or a monitor plus urine ketone strips (urine ketone group, n = 61). All were encouraged to check glucose levels > or = 3 times daily and to check ketones during acute illness or stress, when glucose levels were consistently elevated (> or = 13.9 mmol/l on two consecutive readings), or when symptoms of DKA were present. Frequency of sick days, hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and hospitalization/emergency assessment were ascertained prospectively for 6 months. RESULTS: There were 578 sick days during 21,548 days of follow-up. Participants in the blood ketone group checked ketones significantly more during sick days (276 of 304 episodes, 90.8%) than participants in the urine ketone group (168 of 274 episodes, 61.3%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of hospitalization/emergency assessment was significantly lower in the blood ketone group (38/100 patient-years) compared with the urine ketone group (75/100 patient-years) (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Blood ketone monitoring during sick days appears acceptable to and preferred by young people with Type 1 diabetes. Routine implementation of blood 3-OHB monitoring for the management of sick days and impending DKA can potentially reduce hospitalization/emergency assessment compared with urine ketone testing and offers potential cost savings.     

Retroperitoneoscopic pre-transplant native kidney nephrectomy

AIMS: Laparoscopic nephrectomy has become a standardized procedure for removal of benign non-functioning kidneys. We present our experience of retroperitoneoscopic pre-transplant native kidneys nephrectomy. METHODS: Comparison of 40 patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopy with 40 open simple pre-transplant nephrectomy patients was done. RESULTS: Forty retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomies were done between June 2003 and April 2005. The mean operative time was similar in the two groups; however, the mean blood loss, postoperative analgesic requirement, complication rate, hospital stay and convalescence period were significantly less in the retroperitoneoscopic group. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy should be offered as the primary treatment modality to patients requiring pre-transplant native kidney nephrectomy, except in patients where it is contraindicated.     

Arsenic trioxide–loaded, microemulsion-enhanced cytotoxicity on MDAH 2774 ovarian carcinoma cell line

The antiproliferative effect of As(2)O(3)-loaded microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M) on human MDAH 2774 ovarian cancer cells was compared with a regular solution of the As(2)O(3). We used MDAH 2774 as model cell lines for ovarian cancer. The (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide) (XTT) and trypane blue dye exclusion tests were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Apoptotic effect of solutions was evaluated using cell death detection kit. Standard microemulsion formulation used in this experiment contains 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3). It was clearly demonstrated that As(2)O(3)-M had a significant cytotoxic effect on MDAH 2774 cell line, and the cytotoxic effect of As(2)O(3)-M was significantly higher than that of regular As(2)O(3) solutions. Even approximately 6000 times diluted microemulsion formulation loaded with 5 x 10(-6) M As(2)O(3) showed a cytotoxic effect. As a result, this diluted concentration (approximately 8 x 10(-10) M) was found to be approximately 6000 times more effective than regular As(2)O(3) solutions (5 x 10(-6) M). Moreover, this diluted concentration resulted in 1.5-fold enhancement of apoptosis. According to the in vitro cytotoxicity studies, we concluded that by incorporating As(2)O(3) into the microemulsion (As(2)O(3)-M), which is a new drug carrier system, it is possible to increase antiproliferative effect of regular As(2)O(3) on MDAH 2774 cells. Translating these results to in vivo conditions would open new windows in the treatment of ovarian cancer.     

Distribution of the exfoliative toxin D gene in clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates in France

Exfoliative toxin D (ETD) was identified recently as a new exfoliative toxin serotype. Like other exfoliative toxins, ETD induces intra-epidermal cleavage through the granular layer of the epidermis of neonatal mice. The distribution of ETD production was investigated in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from infected and colonised patients in France. The etd gene was found in 55 (10.5%) of 522 isolates tested. Isolates responsible for bullous impetigo and generalised staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome did not harbour etd, but etd was significantly more frequent in isolates causing cutaneous abscesses and furuncles. Most etd- and Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive strains belonged to the clone of community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus spreading currently throughout France.     

MAGE-A3抗原肽负载树突状细胞诱导乳腺癌患者免疫应答的研究

目的研究MAGE-A3抗原肽负载对乳腺癌患者树突状细胞(DC)的功能的影响,探讨其是否可以在体外诱导特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)应答.方法体外培养HLA-A2乳腺癌患者外周血来源的DC,并经孵育携带MAGE-A3抗原肽,用以刺激CTL,用3H-TdR渗入法检测抗原肽负载前后DC刺激同种淋巴细胞增殖能力(MLR),并用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测CTL对靶细胞的杀伤效应.结果DC:T为1:10时,单纯DC组刺激能力显著高于抗原肽负载组DC(DC-P)(P＜0.05),但当DC:T低于1:20时后DC-P组刺激能力显著强于单纯DC组(P＜0.05).DC-P组和单纯DC组所激发的CTL对细胞株MCF-7,Sk-Br-3,MDA-MB-435s的杀伤活性有显著性差异,而对细胞株Raji无显著性差异,DC-P组对细胞株MCF-7,Sk-Br-3,MDA-MB-435s的杀伤活性明显高于对细胞株Raji的杀伤活性.结论负载MAGE-A3抗原肽的DC在体外可以诱导乳腺癌患者特异性的CTL免疫应答,为临床以DC为基础的过继免疫治疗的应用提供理论基础.