Erythema nodosum secondary to aromatase inhibitor use in breast cancer patients: case reports and review of the literature

Aromatase inhibitors (AI’s) are increasingly being incorporated in the treatment strategy for hormone receptor positive breast cancer either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, biologics in both the adjuvant and metastatic setting [1]. They markedly suppress plasma estrogen levels by inhibiting or inactivating aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of estrogens from androgenic substrates [1]. Currently, the three selective aromatase inhibitors that are available are anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane which reduce circulating estrogen to 1 to 10% of pretreatment levels [2]. For advanced breast cancer, aromatase inhibitors appear to be at a minimum, equivalent and perhaps even better than tamoxifen in the first line setting [3, 4]. In primary breast cancer, adjuvant therapy with anastrozole or letrozole appears to be superior to tamoxifen in reducing the risk of relapse [5, 6]. Common adverse effects associated with AI’s include arthralgias (21%), myalgias (12%), other musculoskeletal disorders (28%) and an up to 60% increased risk of bone fracture [7, 8]. However, anastrozole, exemestane and letrozole are associated with significantly fewer endometrial cancers, as well as venous and arterial vascular events, when compared with tamoxifen [9, 10]. Very rarely letrozole and anastrozole can cause a skin rash; the frequency of its occurrence has not been quantified^. However, exemestane has not been reported to cause a skin rash [11]. To date, erythema nodosum (EN) has not been reported as a dermatologic side effect of AI’s. Here, we report three cases of EN which developed in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on AI’s.     

Comparative study of the ocular irritation potential of various alkyl polyglucoside surfactants

In the present work, we assessed the relationship between alkyl carbon chain length and ocular irritation potentials using the hen’s egg test–chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) and bovine corneal opacity and permeability (BCOP) assays using 5 commercial alkyl polyglucoside surfactants with different compositions of alkyl chain lengths (C₆–C₁₆). With HET-CAM, there was a good correlation between the proportion of C₁₀ alkyl polyglucoside and the eye irritation potential Q score (r²?=?0.912, p?=?.011). There were no significant differences between the proportion of C₁₀ alkyl polyglucoside and corneal opacity in BCOP assays; however, there was a relatively high positive correlation between the proportion of C₁₀ alkyl carbon chain lengths and corneal permeability (r²?=?0.736, p?=?.063).     

Nervous control of photophores in luminescent fishes

Functional studies of the autonomic innervation in the photophores of luminescent fishes are scarce. The majority of studies have involved either the stimulation of isolated photophores or the modulatory effects of adrenaline-induced light emission. The fish skin is a highly complex organ that performs a wide variety of physiological processes and receives extensive nervous innervations. The latter includes autonomic nerve fibers of spinal sympathetic origin having a secretomotor function. More recent evidence indicates that neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers, such as those that express tachykinin and its NK1 receptor, neuropeptide Y, or nitric oxide, may also play an important role in the nervous control of photophores. There is no anatomical evidence that shows that nNOS positive (nitrergic) neurons form a population distinct from the secretomotor neurons with perikarya in the sympathetic ganglia. The distribution and function of the nitrergic nerves in the luminous cells, however, is less clear. It is likely that the chemical properties of the sympathetic postganglionic neurons in the ganglia of luminescent fishes are target-specific, such as observed in mammals.     

自体脂肪移植联合A型肉毒毒素注射在面部年轻化中的应用效果

探讨自体脂肪移植联合A型肉毒毒素注射在面部年轻化中的应用效果。方法 选择2020年 5月-2023年5月西安顺美医疗美容门诊部收治的80例面部年轻化患者为研究对象，以治疗方案不同分为对 照组和研究组，各40例。对照组给予自体脂肪移植，研究组则联合A型肉毒毒素注射，比较两组临床疗 效、面部轮廓参数、皮肤状况及自信程度、治疗满意度。结果 研究组治疗总有效率为92.50%，高于对照 组的72.50%（P ＜0.05）；研究组治疗后面部轮廓参数改善情况优于对照组（P ＜0.05）；研究组治疗后皮 肤状况、BES分数均优于对照组（P ＜0.05）；研究组满意度为95.00%，高于对照组的75.00%（P ＜0.05）。 结论 在面部年轻化中联合应用自体脂肪移植与A型肉毒毒素注射，可有效改善面部轮廓及皮肤状况，治 疗效果及患者满意度高，具有较高的临床应用价值。     

XH-超高频皮肤整形手术仪的临床应用

目的：寻找一种治疗各种良性皮肤赘生物及色素性病变安全简单有效的方法。方法：用ＸＨ－超高频皮肤整形手术仪，可使皮肤病变组织产生完全气化及精细分层之特点治疗各种良性皮肤赘生物及色素性病变。结果：所有病例均获成功、效果良好。结论：ＸＨ－超高频皮肤整形手术仪可治疗各种良性皮肤赘生物及色素性病变。     

Preparation and characterization of triclosan nanoparticles intended to be used for the treatment of acne

This work focuses on the preparation and characterization of nanoparticles containing triclosan. Additionally, in vitro percutaneous permeation of triclosan through pig ear skin was performed, and comparisons were made with two commercial formulations: An o/w emulsion and a solution, intended for the treatment of acne. The nanoparticle suspensions were prepared by the emulsification-diffusion by solvent displacement method, using Eudragit® E 100 as polymer. All batches showed a size smaller than 300 nm and a positive Zeta potential, high enough (20-40 mV) to ensure a good physical stability. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies suggested that triclosan was molecularly dispersed in the nanoparticle batches containing up to 31% of triclosan, with good encapsulation efficiency (95.9%). The results of the in vitro permeation studies showed the following order for the permeability coefficients: Solution > cream ≈ nanoparticles; while for the amount retained in the skin, the order was as follows: cream > nanoparticles ≈ solution. Nanoparticles, being free of surfactants or other potentially irritant agents, can be a good option for the delivery of triclosan to the skin, representing a good alternative for the treatment of acne.     

老年糖尿病患者康复治疗中发生严重皮肤感染38例分析

目的 探讨老年糖尿病患者康复过程中严重皮肤感染发病机制、临床表现及常见致病菌。方法 回顾性分析38例皮肤损伤原因、感染好发部位及常见致病菌，分析入院时生化指标。结果 皮肤损伤多因护理不当和保护知识缺乏，感染多发生在足部，其次是背部及臀部；病原菌多为条件致病菌，以金黄色葡萄球菌最多见；其中高血糖、高纤维蛋白原、低白蛋白血症及贫血为独立危险因素。结论 老年糖尿病患者康复治疗过程中易发生皮肤感染，对糖尿病患者教育及护理是预防严重皮肤感染的关键。     

Umbilical restoration in abdominal dermolipectomy: A simple double-Y, double-M technique

The authors present a simple technique for restoration of the umbilicus in abdominal dermolipectomy. This procedure is represented by a double-Y cutaneous incision on the abdominal skin and by a double-M cutaneous incision on the umbilical skin. This technique restores a neoumbilicus with multiple small skin flaps and conceals the periumbilical scar at the bottom of the umbilicus. Different designs and figures are proposed to explain the procedure.     

Händedesinfektion im Krankenhaus – Nutzen und Risiken

The WHO regards hand hygiene as an essential tool for the prevention of noso‐comial infections. The hygienic hand disinfection has a superior antimicrobial efficacy compared to hand washing and should be performed as the treatment of choice before and after a variety of activities at the point of patient care. Washing hands should be preferred when the hands are visibly soiled. Skin irritation is quite common among healthcare workers and is mainly caused by water, soap and long lasting occlusion. Compliance with hand disinfection in clinical practice is often low. Measures to improve compliance include training, provision of hand rubs where they are needed, and the responsibility of doctors to set a good example. Improved compliance in hand hygiene and targeted use of alcohol‐based hand rubs can reduce the nosocomial infection rate by up to 40 %. The benefit of hand disinfection is therefore much larger than possible risks.     

Stability of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone: Effects of pH,Temperature, Pig Skin,and Enzyme Inhibitors

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the stability of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) as a function of solution pH, temperature, and pig skin with and without enzyme inhibitors. LHRH, incubated with a 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 2.5–8.1), pig skin, and pig skin with enzyme inhibitors, was analyzed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The solution's pH affected the rate constants of LHRH, following apparent first-order kinetics. Maximum stability was achieved at pH 6.05. Therefore, the effect of various temperatures (i.e., 65, 75, 80, and 90°C) was studied on the stability of LHRH at pH 6.05. The activation energy for the overall reaction was 23.4 kcal/mol at pH 6.05. The shelf-life of LHRH at 25°C and pH 6.05, calculated using the Arrhenius equation, was approximately 4 years. The rate constant of LHRH in the skin (area: 9 cm²; thickness: 0.5 mm) was 0.167 hr^?1. Out of three inhibitors (i.e., aprotinin, bestatin, and leupeptin), bestatin had the best stabilizing effect on the degradation of LHRH by the skin. The rate constant of LHRH in the presence of bestatin was 0.082 hr^?1. Sixty percent of LHRH was found to be degraded in the skin within 5 hr in the absence of enzyme inhibitors, whereas only 33% of LHRH was degraded in the presence of bestatin (an aminopeptidase inhibitor).