Dermoscopic features of hidroacanthoma simplex: Usefulness in distinguishing it from Bowen's disease and seborrheic keratosis

Hidroacanthoma simplex (HAS) is a rare benign eccrine adnexal tumor. HAS is sometimes clinically or pathologically misdiagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease; BD), seborrheic keratosis (SK) or other adnexal tumor. To date, there has never been a report focusing on dermoscopic features to distinguish HAS from BD and SK. We found the following dermoscopic findings to be characteristic of HAS: fine black dots/globules (75% of cases) and fine scales arranged annularly (100% of cases). In contrast, glomerular vessels, which are typically observed in BD, were not seen in any of the four cases. Cerebriform appearance and milia‐like cysts, which are typically observed in SK, were also not seen in any of the four cases. The existence of “scattered fine black dots/globules” and “fine scales arranged annularly”, and the absence of the glomerular vessels, may contribute to precise diagnosis of HAS. Even though HAS resembles BD or SK clinically, it can be distinguished from these by the characteristic dermoscopic features.     

杜元灏教授针刺治疗失眠经验

失眠是由各种原因导致的入睡困难和(或)睡眠维持困难的睡眠障碍,主要特征是睡眠感不满意,属于中医学"不得眠""不寐"范畴。传统多从心、肝、胆、脾、胃、肾论治该病,杜元灏教授认为脏腑机能失调,气血不和,阳不能入阴,阴不能涵阳,神不守舍而致失眠。重视"脑为元神之腑"的理论,且因督脉入络脑,夹脊穴为五脏六腑之气转输、流注之处,杜教授多强调从脑、督脉以及夹脊穴论治失眠,为针刺治疗失眠提供新思路。     

Disparate exposure to physically demanding working conditions in France

BackgroundOur study was aimed at examining disparate exposure to physically demanding working conditions in France, a key objective being to identify the types of employees/jobs requiring high-priority preventive actions.MethodsWe analyzed the data from the 2017 French nationwide cross-sectional survey (SUMER) on occupational hazards to which French employees in various sectors were subjected. The prevalence of several types of physically demanding working conditions (lifting of heavy loads, awkward body postures, vibrations, noise, and extreme temperatures) was explored. Potential associations of individual and job characteristics with these factors of hardship at work were studied by multivariate logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 48% of employees were exposed to at least one physically demanding working condition and 24.8% were exposed to multiple constraints. While managers and intellectual professionals were exposed relatively infrequently to physical constraints, blue-collar workers experienced the highest frequency of exposure. On the one hand, the role of company size depended on the factor of hardship at work considered; on the other hand, employees in large-scale companies were generally less exposed. As expected, employees in the construction industry were the most exposed to physical constraints; that said, our results also show that some activities in the services sector (e.g., personal care, administrative and support services) were quite significantly affected by a wide array of physically demanding working conditions.ConclusionNotwithstanding the establishment in France of Plans de Santé au travail (preventive workplace health and safety plans), occupational risks were found to be high, and above all, they were unevenly distributed among the various socio-professional categories, and strongly contributed to social inequalities in health. Our results identify the types of publics to be designated as high-priority targets for preventive measures aimed at reducing the adverse impacts of physically demanding working conditions and the incidence of associated musculoskeletal disorders.     

Antimicrobial activities of novel bipyridine compounds produced by a new strain of Saccharothrix isolated from Saharan soil

The actinobacterium strain ABH26 closely related to Saccharothrix xinjiangensis, isolated from an Algerian Saharan soil sample, exhibited highly antagonist activity against Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi. Its ability to produce antimicrobial compounds was investigated using several solid culture media. The highest antimicrobial activity was obtained on Bennett medium. The antibiotics secreted by strain ABH26 on Bennett medium were extracted by methanol and purified by reverse-phase HPLC using a C18 column. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined after spectroscopic (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY and ¹H-¹³C HMBC spectra), and spectrometric (mass spectrum) analyses. Two new cyanogriside antibiotics named cyanogriside I (1) and cyanogriside J (2), were characterized along with three known caerulomycins, caerulomycin A (3), caerulomycin F (4) and caerulomycinonitrile (5). This is the first report of cyanogrisides and caerulomycins production by a member of the Saccharothrix genus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these antibiotics were determined against pathogenic microorganisms.     

新冠肺炎疫情下艾灸防治帕金森病的临床应用分析＊

帕金森病（Parkinson''s disease，PD）是仅次于阿尔茨海默病的世界第二大神经系统退行性疾病，随着老龄化社会的到来，PD患病率呈明显上升趋势。全球爆发的新型冠状病毒肺炎（简称新冠肺炎）是一种急性传染性疾病，严重威胁人们的身体健康和生命安全。PD患者大多为老年人且合并有基础疾病，体质普遍较弱，是新冠肺炎的易感人群，一旦染病则发展为重症的风险很高。中医艾灸疗法在治疗PD及防治疫病方面发挥了很好的辅助治疗效果。通督扶阳灸法联合强壮穴艾灸治疗，既可以帮助PD患者改善临床症状，延缓病情进展，又可以提高机体免疫功能，增强抗病能力而防治新冠肺炎。     

Prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment among diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging results

IntroductionWe estimated the prevalence and correlates of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among middle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos.MethodsMiddle-aged and older diverse Hispanics/Latinos enrolled (n = 6377; 50–86 years) in this multisite prospective cohort study were evaluated for MCI using the National Institute on Aging–Alzheimer's Association diagnostic criteria.ResultsThe overall MCI prevalence was 9.8%, which varied between Hispanic/Latino groups. Older age, high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and elevated depressive symptoms were significant correlates of MCI prevalence. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) and APOE2 were not significantly associated with MCI.DiscussionMCI prevalence varied among Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, but not as widely as reported in the previous studies. CVD risk and depressive symptoms were associated with increased MCI, whereas APOE4 was not, suggesting alternative etiologies for MCI among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. Our findings suggest that mitigating CVD risk factors may offer important pathways to understanding and reducing MCI and possibly dementia among diverse Hispanics/Latinos.     

Anton’s syndrome due to a giant anterior fossa meningioma. The problem of routine use of advanced diagnostic imaging in psychiatric care

Summary We present a case of blindness and Anton’s syndrome in a psychiatric patient with late diagnosis of a giant frontal meningioma. The criteria for advanced diagnostic imaging in the psychiatric population are discussed. We conclude that MR or CT scan is indicated in psychiatric in-patients who fail to improve with standard psychiatric treatment. This strategy should be submitted to a cost-benefit analysis.