Penetration and distribution of three lipophilic probes in vitro in human skin focusing on the hair follicle.

Fluorescent model substances of increasing lipophilicity (Oregon Green) 488, Bodipy, FL C5 and Bodipy 564/570 C5) were selected to enable the visualization in the skin using confocal laser scanning microscopy. After measuring the penetration for 18 h, the nonfixed human scalp skin was imaged from the bottom parallel to the stratum corneum and in a cross-section view perpendicular to the skin surface. The images were evaluated by calculating relative accumulation values for different penetrants. The studies indicate that the penetrated amount is highest for Bodipy FL C5 (medium lipophilicity) and lowest for Bodipy 564/570 C5 (high lipophilicity) whereas Bodipy 564/570 C5 (high lipophilicity) reveals the highest relative accumulation in parts of the hair follicle compared to Oregon Green 488 (low lipophilicity). The addition of 30% (v/v) ethanol to the donor phase of substance with a low lipophilicity increases the follicular delivery. From our results we conclude that delivery to the hair follicle can be improved by increasing the drugs lipophilicity and optimizing the composition of the donor phase. However, no conclusion can be drawn about the actual route of transport to the hair follicle.     

Acute and chronic whiplash disorders--a review.

OBJECTIVE: This review examines acute and chronic whiplash-associated disorders to facilitate assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for further research and evidence-based practices. DESIGN: A review of the literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Whiplash-associated disorders account for a large proportion of the overall impairment and disability caused by traffic injuries. Rarely can a definite injury be determined in the acute (or chronic) phase. Crash-related factors have been identified, and several trauma mechanisms possibly causing different injuries have been described. Most whiplash trauma will not cause injury, and the majority of patients (92-95%) will return to work. Litigation is not a major factor. Cognitive impairments are not the same as brain injury. Variables such as pain intensity, restricted motion, neurological symptoms and signs, together with central nervous system symptoms can be used to predict a situation with risk of remaining complaints. Influences of other factors--the same as for other chronic pain conditions--also exist. Persistent/chronic pain is not merely acute pain that persists over time; changes occur at different levels of the pain transmission system. Chronic whiplash-associated disorders are associated with problems concerning social functioning, daily anxieties and satisfaction with different aspects of life. Adequate information, advice and pain medication together with active interventions might be more effective in the acute stage. Early multidisciplinary rehabilitation focusing on cognitive-behavioural changes might be of value. To develop specific treatment and rehabilitation, it is important to identify homogenous subgroups.     

Does antenatal identification of small-for-gestational age fetuses significantly improve their outcome?

OBJECTIVES: Most obstetric clinics have a program for the identification of small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses because of the increased risk of fetal complications that they present. We have a structured model for the identification and follow-up of SGA pregnancies. We aimed to determine whether the recognition of SGA antepartum improves fetal outcome. METHODS: All pregnancies at Malm? University Hospital from 1990 to 1998 (n = 26 968) were reviewed. SGA fetuses identified prior to delivery (n = 681) were compared with those not identified (n = 573). Also, all pregnancies with SGA fetuses were compared with those appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) (n = 24 585). The risk of serious fetal complications (hypoxic encephalopathy grade 2 or 3, intracranial hemorrhage, Apgar score <4 at 5 min, neonatal convulsions, umbilical pH <7.0, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, stillbirth, intrapartum or infant death) was assessed with cross-tabulation and logistic regression analysis, adjusted for gestational age and degree of SGA. RESULTS: When compared with SGA fetuses identified before delivery (54%), SGA fetuses not identified before delivery were characterized by a four-fold increased risk of adverse fetal outcome (odds ratio, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.5-6.8). Similarly, compared with AGA fetuses, SGA fetuses were associated with a four-fold increased risk of serious fetal complications. CONCLUSIONS: A structured antenatal surveillance program for fetuses identified as SGA results in a lower risk of adverse fetal outcome, compared with cases of SGA fetuses not identified antepartum.     

Novel mouse model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection mimicking cystic fibrosis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes a chronic infection in the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients by establishing an alginate-containing biofilm. The infection has been studied in several animal models; however, most of the models required artificial embedding of the bacteria. We present here a new pulmonary mouse model without artificial embedding. The model is based on a stable mucoid CF sputum isolate (NH57388A) with hyperproduction of alginate due to a deletion in mucA and functional N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum-sensing systems. Chronic lung infection could be established in both CF mice (Cftr(tmlUnc-/-)) and BALB/c mice, as reflected by the detection of a high number of P. aeruginosa organisms in the lung homogenates at 7 days postinfection and alginate biofilms, surrounded by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the alveoli. In comparison, both an AHL-producing nonmucoid revertant (NH57388C) from the mucoid isolate (NH57388A) and a nonmucoid isolate (NH57388B) deficient in AHL were almost cleared from the lungs of the mice. This model, in which P. aeruginosa is protected against the defense system of the lung by alginate, is similar to the clinical situation. Therefore, the mouse model provides an improved method for evaluating the interaction between mucoid P. aeruginosa, the host, and antibacterial therapy.     

Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes in Down''s syndrome: family studies

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes was measured in six children with Down's syndrome and in their parents to determine if COMT activity is related to a gene on chromosome 21. A gene dosage effect was a possible explanation of the COMT value in three of the children but not in the other three.     

荷EL4肿瘤小鼠模型的建立及美法仑抑瘤作用免疫机制的探讨

目的:建立荷小鼠淋巴瘤EL4的野生型C57BL/6小鼠及其裸鼠模型,探讨美法仑(melphalan)抑瘤作用的免疫机制。方法:给正常野生型C57BL/6小鼠皮下接种小鼠淋巴瘤EL4细胞,建立荷EL4肿瘤的小鼠模型。于野生型C57BL/6小鼠皮下接种瘤细胞后12d,经腹腔给荷瘤小鼠单次注射不同剂量的美法仑,找出美法仑可发挥最大的抑瘤作用,并能致使肿瘤消退、不再复发的最小使用剂量。然后再给野生型C57BL/6小鼠及其裸鼠(遗传背景相同)皮下同时接种小鼠淋巴瘤EL4细胞建立两种荷瘤小鼠模型。同样于接种瘤细胞后12d,经腹腔给两种荷瘤小鼠模型均注射可使野生型C57BL/6小鼠肿瘤消退、不再复发的最低剂量的美法仑,以正常野生型C57BL/6小鼠为对照,观察在T淋巴细胞缺陷的裸鼠体内美法仑的抑瘤作用。结果:注射7.5mg/kg美法仑治疗后,免疫功能正常的野生型C57BL/6荷瘤小鼠的肿瘤消退;而荷瘤C57BL/6裸鼠的肿瘤仍继续生长。结论:单一剂量的美法仑对荷淋巴瘤EL4小鼠具有明显的治疗作用,其作用的发挥需要T淋巴细胞的参与,可能与T细胞的杀伤作用有关。     

Appearance and Persistence of Antibodies Against Different Virus Components After Regular Measles Infections

Different measles virus-specific antibody activities in acute, early (11 to 40 days after rash) and late (4 to 20 years postinfection) convalescent sera and gamma globulin were determined. Early immunoglobulin G antibodies gave a poor neutralization, which was increased 10- to 60-fold by addition of anti-gamma globulin.There was a high degree of correlation between titers of hemolysis-inhibiting (HLI) and hemagglutinating-inhibiting (HI) antibodies. However, in one out of fifteen late convalescent sera an HLI antibody titer of 640 in the presence of titer of only 20 in HI tests with Tween 80-either-treated antigen was found. Similar findings were made with sera from two patients with multiple sclerosis included in a parallel study. A somewhat higher titer of HI antibodies was demonstrable in these three sera when untreated material was used as antigen. These findings are interpreted in the following way. Antibodies against the hemagglutinin can block not only virus-specific agglutination but also lysis of red cells. In contrast, antibodies against the hemolysin, besides blocking the biological activity of this component, carry only a slight HI activity. This HI activity can be detected only by use of antigen preparations containing hemagglutinin-associated hemolysin.Complement-fixation (CF) and immunodiffusion tests (the latter were carried out with antigen preparations treated with 0.25% sodium dodecyl sulfate) demonstrated that, in almost all cases, antibodies against nucleocapsid structures dominated quantitatively among antibodies appearing in connection with and persisting after regular measles infections. Generally, only low titers of antibodies reacting with purified small particle hemagglutinin (HA; 10 to 14S) or additional structural or nonstructural components were identified in CF and immunodiffusion tests.     

Exercise but not Prostanoids Enhance Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and other Proliferative Agents in Human Skeletal Muscle Interstitium

In the present study we examined whether exercise and prostanoids have an effect on the muscle interstitial concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and on the proliferative effect of muscle interstitial fluid. Dialysate from resting and exercising human skeletal muscle, obtained either during control conditions or during cyclooxygenase inhibition, was examined for its content of VEGF and for its effect on endothelial cell proliferation. Microdialysis probes with high (960 kDa) and low (5 kDa) molecular-mass cut-off membranes were placed in the vastus lateralis muscle of healthy young males. The subjects performed one-legged knee extensions (20 W). The concentration of VEGF in the 960 kDa dialysate was greater (   P < 0.05  ) during exercise compared to at rest (67 ± 28 vs. 230 ± 22 pg ml⁻¹). The rate of endothelial cell proliferation was 2.7-fold higher (   P < 0.05  ) with the 960 kDa dialysate from resting muscle than with perfusate and was 5.8-fold higher (   P < 0.05  ) than the perfusate value with dialysate from exercising muscle. VEGF was not enhanced with exercise in the 5 kDa dialysate, yet the exercise dialysate induced a 1.9-fold higher (   P < 0.05  ) proliferation than the resting dialysate. Cyclooxygenase inhibition did not affect the VEGF concentration or the proliferating effect of the dialysates (   P > 0.05  ). This study demonstrates for the first time that VEGF is present in the interstitium of human skeletal muscle and that exercise enhances the interstitial concentration of VEGF and of other, as yet unidentified, angiogenic compounds. Products of cyclooxygenase do not appear to have an effect on the release of VEGF or other proliferative agents in human skeletal muscle.     

Treatment feasibility of a digital tool for brief self-help behavioural therapy for insomnia (FastAsleep)

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is efficacious and recommended for insomnia, but availability is scarce. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia self-help interventions could increase availability, especially if unguided. Optimizing cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia methods and system user-friendliness, we developed a short, digital, self-help programme—FastAsleep—based on the behavioural components of sleep restriction and stimulus control. This study investigated its feasibility and preliminary effects. Thirty media-recruited participants with moderate to severe insomnia were assessed via telephone before using FastAsleep for 4 weeks, and were interviewed afterwards. Self-ratings with web questionnaires were conducted at screening, pre-, mid- and post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were feasibility (credibility, adherence, system user-friendliness and adverse effects), and secondary outcomes were changes in symptom severity (insomnia, depression and anxiety). Adherence was generally high, participants' feasibility ratings were favourable, and adverse effects matched previously reported levels for cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Symptoms of insomnia decreased after the treatment period (Hedge's g = 1.79, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–2.39), as did symptoms of depression and anxiety. FastAsleep can be considered feasible and promising for alleviating insomnia symptoms among patients fit for self-care. Future controlled trials are needed to establish the efficacy of FastAsleep and its suitability in a stepped care model.