Poor association between allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin E levels, skin sensitivity and basophil degranulation: a study with recombinant birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 and an immunoglobulin E detection system measuring immunoglobulin E capable of binding to FcɛRI

BACKGROUND: Results from several studies indicate that the magnitude of immediate symptoms of type I allergy caused by allergen-induced cross-linking of high-affinity Fc epsilon receptors on effector cells (mast cells and basophils) is not always associated with allergen-specific IgE levels. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of results from intradermal skin testing, basophil histamine release and allergen-specific IgE, IgG1-4, IgA and IgM antibody levels in a clinical study performed in birch pollen-allergic patients (n = 18). METHODS: rBet v 1-specific IgEs were measured by quantitative CAP measurements and by using purified Fc epsilon RI-derived alpha-chain to quantify IgE capable of binding to effector cells. Bet v 1-specific IgG subclasses, IgA and IgM levels were measured by ELISA, and basophil histamine release was determined in whole blood samples. Intradermal skin testing was performed with the end-point titration method. RESULTS: Our study demonstrates on the molecular level that the concentrations of allergen-specific IgE antibodies capable of binding to Fc epsilon RI and biological sensitivities are not necessarily associated. A moderate association was found between cutaneous and basophil sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the quantitative discrepancies and limitations of the present diagnostic tools in allergy, even when using a single allergenic molecule. The quantity of allergen-specific serum IgE is only one component of far more complex cellular systems (i.e. basophil-based tests, skin tests) used as indirect diagnostic tests for IgE-mediated allergic sensitivity.     

The role of Self-Defined Race/Ethnicity in Population Structure Control

Population-based association studies are powerful tools for the genetic mapping of complex diseases. However, this method is sensitive to potential confounding by population structure. While statistical methods that use genetic markers to detect and control for population structure have been the focus of current literature, the utility of self-defined race/ethnicity in controlling for population structure has been controversial. In this study of 1334 individuals, who self-identified as either African American, European American or Hispanic, we demonstrated that when the true underlying genetic structure and the self-defined racial/ethnic groups were roughly in agreement with each other, the self-defined race/ethnicity information was useful in the control of population structure.     

头皮电烧伤骨外露带毛发皮瓣修复

目的：探讨头皮电烧伤骨外露用头皮扩张皮瓣移植修复的临床效果。方法：采用早期扩创,保留部分坏死骨质,用邻近头皮扩张使带毛发的头皮面积扩大后移植覆盖创面,电性失活骨质在血循环良好的皮瓣覆盖下,为周边及基底健康骨质生长起到支架作用,皮瓣扩张到一定面积后移植到裸露骨质上,使其得以修复。结果：在治疗的9例中,除1例皮瓣边缘在1．5cm×1．5cm坏死外,其余皮瓣全部成活,未发生感染坏死,创面均一次性封闭。结论：头皮电烧伤骨外露扩张后皮瓣带毛发修复,可缩短创面愈合时间,外形较好,易掌握,效果较为满意。     

Granulomatous jellyfish dermatitis

The induction of a granulomatous inflammation by jellyfish toxins is rare. More typically, acute toxic and urticarial reactions are seen. An 11-year-old boy developed a striated urticarial erythema on the left cheek after contact with a gelatinous mass while swimming in the sea in Croatia. After initial erosion, a striated induration developed in the area of contact. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous inflammation with some eosinophils. While topical steroid-based antiinflammatory and antibacterial therapy over several weeks was not effective, topical therapy with tacrolimus 0.1% for two two-week treatment periods led to healing of the skin changes with a slight scar. There was no clinical recurrence after 5 month of follow-up.     

指背逆行筋膜岛状皮瓣的临床应用

目的探讨I期修复同指中、末节掌、背侧及指端缺损的方法。方法自1997年6月～2006年10月,对59例(63指)手指皮肤缺损的患者,采用指背逆行筋膜岛状皮瓣旋转30°～180°移转修复。结果除2例皮瓣远端部分坏死外,余均成活,经3～6个月随访,功能及外观良好。按TAM法评定,优41指,良18指,可4指,优良率达94%。结论该术式操作简单、疗程短、成功率高,皮瓣血运可靠,柔软耐磨。多指远端同时缺损的修复其优越性尤为明显。     

Laser induced autofluorescence studies of animal skin used in modeling of human cutaneous tissue spectroscopic measurements

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Laser-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy provides excellent possibilities for medical diagnostics of different tissue pathologies including cancer. However, to create the whole picture of pathological changes, investigators collect spectral information from patients in vivo or they study different tumor models to obtain objective information for fluorescent properties of every kind of healthy and diseased tissue. Therefore, it is very important to find the most appropriate, and close to the human skin, animal samples from the fluorescence point of view, which will allow the extrapolation of the animal data to human spectroscopic diagnostics. METHODS: In the present work, we examined the autofluorescence properties of different animal skin tissues, which are considered as the most common skin models. A nitrogen laser was used as an excitation source. Samples of healthy mouse, chicken and pig skin in vivo and/or ex vivo were studied and were compared with results obtained from investigations of healthy human skin in vivo. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Specific features of the recorded spectra are discussed and the possible origin of the obtained fluorescence signals is proposed. Quantitative evaluation of data extrapolation for each skin type is also depicted.     

岛状皮瓣修复瘢痕性睑外翻

目的探讨眼轮匝肌蒂颞部岛状皮瓣与颞浅动脉蒂反流轴型耳后岛状皮瓣在修复瘢痕性睑外翻中的应用,提高睑外翻矫正后所致皮肤缺损的美学修复效果。方法自1998年2月以来,对18例瘢痕性睑外翻,采用眼轮匝肌蒂颞部岛状皮瓣旋转180°移位修复13例,皮瓣最大面积2.7cm×3.6cm;采用颞浅动脉蒂反流轴型耳后岛状皮瓣经面部皮下隧道转移修复5例,皮瓣最大面积3.1cm×5.4cm。结果1例反流轴型耳后岛状皮瓣术后出现静脉回流障碍,经对症处理后仅皮瓣远端部分表皮坏死,Ⅱ期植皮后治愈,其余17例皮瓣完全成活。随访6个月,睑外翻矫正,皮瓣颜色、质地与眼周皮肤相近,供区瘢痕不明显。结论根据睑外翻程度,可制备颞部岛状皮瓣或耳后岛状皮瓣转移。前者适用于修复较小面积的皮肤缺损,后者适用于修复较大面积的皮肤缺损。     

刃厚皮片联合微型带真皮下血管网全厚皮片修复截瘫褥疮

目的：应用刃厚皮片联合微型真皮下血管网全厚皮片修复截瘫褥疮。方法：对6例截瘫褥疮，增强全身支持治疗，彻底清除褥疮的炎性肉芽组织及坏死组织后，采用刃厚皮片联合微型真皮下血管网全厚皮片修复．结果：5例Ⅰ期愈合，1例Ⅱ期愈合。结论：本法操作简单，愈合较快，具有一定的耐磨性，为进一步皮瓣修复奠定了基础，是修复难治性截瘫褥疮较理想的方法．     

胶原蛋白海绵在皮肤扩张术中的应用

目的：观察胶原蛋白海绵在皮肤扩张术中的临床应用效果。方法：选择40例（个）皮肤扩张器埋置和50例（个）皮肤扩张器取出及15例自身对照的病例组,应用胶原蛋白海绵术中贴敷于渗血创面,术后观察其吸收、止血效果。结果：术中渗血于2～10min内停止,病例组中无血肿发生,术后引流量明显减少,伤口愈合时间缩短。结论：在皮肤扩张术中胶原蛋白海绵是一种良好的生物止血材料。     

When work strain transcends psychological boundaries: an inquiry into the relationship between time pressure,irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints

Against the theoretical background of the effort–recovery model and the action regulation theory, the author presents a cross‐sectional questionnaire study testing hypotheses about the relationship between work‐related time pressure, cognitive and emotional irritation, work–family conflict and psychosomatic complaints. Subjects were 576 female home care nurses. Results of a path analysis show that the relation of time pressure and psychosomatic complaints is partially mediated by experiencing a work–family conflict; also the relation of time pressure and work–family conflict is partially mediated by cognitive and emotional irritation. It is argued that cognitive and emotional irritation are fruitful concepts for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between work stressors and the development of strain‐based work–family conflict. Implications for the prevention of work–family conflict are outlined. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.