Sensitive skin: correlation with skin surface microrelief appearance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sensitive skin is a condition associated with reduced tolerance to environmental factors and/or the application of topical products, such as cosmetics. Its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated and few data are available on its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate possible correlation between objective sensitivity and skin surface microrelief. METHODS: During an epidemiological survey conducted for a campaign promoted by International Society of Plastic Dermatology in Italy, 243 adult healthy subjects of both sexes with no evident dermatological disorder but positive to the lactic acid stinging test, were submitted to cyanoacrylate stratum corneum stripping from the volar forearm for the determination of the irregularity of the skin surface microrelief (irregularity skin index (ISI)). RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between intensity of symptoms in stingers and ISI (r(s)=-0.47; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitive skin is common in the healthy population. ISI can contribute towards the identification of subjects with sensitive skin and the development of more specific skin treatments for this prevalent condition.     

Effects of conjugated equine estrogens or raloxifene on lipid profile, coagulation and fibrinolysis factors in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and raloxifene on lipid profile and hemostasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A double-blind, randomized and parallel study was performed with 90 healthy postmenopausal women, aged 54 +/- 5 years, divided into three groups and submitted to daily therapy with either CEE 0.625 mg, raloxifene 60 mg or placebo for 4 months. The lipid profile, coagulation and fibrinolytic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: CEE increased the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from 49.0 to 56.8 mg/dl (p < 0.001), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) from 17.2 to 22.3 mg/dl (p < 0.001), and triglycerides from 86.0 to 111.7 mg/dl (p < 0.001), and decreased the levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 121.0 to 106.5 mg/dl (p < 0.001). The only significant effect of raloxifene was an increase in the levels of HDL-C from 46.0 to 47.8 mg/dl (p = 0.019). There was no significant reduction in LDL-C, from 115.5 to 110.2 mg/dl (p = 0.06), VLDL-C, from 21.7 to 20.0 mg/dl (p = 0.201), and triglycerides, from 108 to 100 mg/dl (p = 0.201). CEE decreased the levels of fibrinogen, from 370.5 to 326.8 g/l (p = 0.039) and the levels of antithrombin III, from 99.5 to 93.2% (p < 0.001). Raloxifene decreased the levels of fibrinogen, from 354.7 to 302.0 g/l (p = 0.009) and the levels of antithrombin III, from 102.4 to 98.5% (p = 0.039). CEE increased levels of protein C from 103.7 to 115.3 mg/l (p < 0.001) and raloxifene did not change the levels of protein C (107.9 to 105.1 mg/l; p = 0.158). CEE decreased the antigen levels of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) from 8.8 to 6.8 U/ml (p < 0.001), and of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) from 30.8 to 21.6 U/ml (p < 0.010), whereas raloxifene had no significant effect on either t-PA, from 9.6 to 9.2 U/ml (p = 0.235) or PAI-1 antigen levels, from 32.1 to 30.4 U/ml (p = 0.538). CONCLUSION Both CEE and raloxifene exert significant effects on the lipid and coagulation profile. CEE had a more significant effect on fibrinolysis than raloxifene. These effects may have a significant impact on the cardiovascular risk that needs to be confirmed in larger studies.     

Mutations in SOX2 cause anophthalmia-esophageal-genital (AEG) syndrome

Table 1     

Giant aneurysm of the pericallosal artery

A rare case of a giant aneurysm of the pericallosal artery, evaluated by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography, is reported, and the other 7 cases in the literature are reviewed. Giant aneurysms are exceptional in the distal segments of the anterior cerebral arteries, and may simulate a callosal tumor or hematoma on computed tomographic scan. The clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological findings of giant aneurysms of this location are discussed and the other reported cases are analyzed. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing and characterizing giant aneurysms is stressed.     

Short-term antibiotic prophylaxis in cholecystectomy

After describing the stages of surgical infection and the efficacy of short-term antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery, the paper reports a trial in which a single dose of Ceftriaxone was administered in 50 cases of cholecystectomy, with excellent results in terms of efficacy and tolerability.     

Temporal lobe dual pathology in malignant migrating partial seizures in infancy.

A child had the characteristic clinical and EEG pattern of migrating partial seizures in infancy with left temporal lobe atrophy, hippocampal sclerosis and cortical-subcortical blurring.Seizures were drug-resistant, with recurring episodes of status epilepticus. The child developed microcephaly with arrest of psychomotor development. Focal brain lesions, in the context of migrating partial seizures, have not been previously reported.[Published with video sequences].     

Characterization of nephropathy induced by immunization with high molecular weight dextran

Background. Injection of DEAE dextran into Lewis rats can produce proteinuria and has been reported as a model of IgA nephropathy. Methods. Cationic diethyl aminoethyl (DEAE) dextran of molecular weight 500 KDa was injected into male Lewis rats. After a pre-immunization period of 3 weeks, the animals were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=14) received daily i.v. injections of 3.5 mg of antigen, group 2 (n=14) was injected with 1.5 mg three times per week for a total period of 6 weeks. I.v. treatment was initiated with gradually increasing doses of DEAE dextran in both groups for 1 week, after which the maintenance dose was reached. Results. We observed the appearance of proteinuria in a nephrotic range after 5 weeks of i.v. injections in group 1 (urinary excretion: 332±83 mg/24 h, controls: 53±14 mg/24 h). In group 2, the proteinuria was almost equal to protein excretion of healthy rats of the same weight (67±20 mg/24 h). The serum and urine creatinine were normal. By light microscopy of kidney biopsies, the presence of focal and segmental proliferation of mesangial cells after 6 weeks of i.v. injections was identified. Immunohistochemistry revealed no deposition of IgA, IgM, IgG, or C3. Using anti-ED1 antibodies, there was no evidence of interstitial infiltration of monocytes/macrophages after 6 weeks of i.v. injections. Staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) did not show the presence of proliferating cells either in glomeruli or in the interstitium. Staining with FITC-WGA lectin revealed focal and segmental loss of the negative charge in the capillary wall. By electron microscopy there was deposition of dextran in the basal membrane and segmental and focal damage of the podocyte foot processes. As the chemokine RANTES may be involved in glomerular injury, we examined the kidneys of proteinuric and non-proteinuric rats for the presence of RANTES. By indirect immunofluorescence only the proteinuric rats showed RANTES deposition in mesangium. Conclusions. Injection of rats with DEAE dextran leads to dose-dependent proteinuria without deposition of immune complexes but with podocyte damage. This is associated with local expression of the chemokine RANTES which may play a role in proteinuria of glomerular disease.     

Infrared analysis of the mineral and matrix in bones of osteonectin-null mice and their wildtype controls.

Osteonectin function in bone was investigated by infrared analysis of bones from osteonectin-null (KO) and wildtype mice (four each at 11, 17, and 36 weeks). An increase in mineral content and crystallinity in newly formed KO bone and collagen maturity at all sites was found using FTIR microspectroscopy and imaging; consistent with osteonectin's postulated role in regulating bone formation and remodeling. Mineral and matrix properties of tibias of osteonectin-null mice and their age- and background-matched wildtype controls were compared using Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) and infrared imaging (FTIRI) at 10- and 7-mm spatial resolution, respectively. The bones came from animals that were 11, 17, and 36 weeks of age. Individual FTIRM spectra were acquired from 20 x 20 microm areas, whereas 4096 simultaneous FTIRI spectra were acquired from 400 x 400 microm areas. The FTIRM data for mineral-to-matrix, mineral crystallinity, and collagen maturity were highly correlated with the FTIRI data in similar regions. In general, the osteonectin-null mice bones had higher mineral contents and greater crystallinity (crystal size and perfection) than the age-matched wildtype controls. Specifically, the mineral content of the newly forming periosteal bone was increased in the osteonectin-null mice; the crystallinity of the cortical bone was decreased in all but the oldest animals, relative to the wildtype. The most significant finding, however, was increased collagen maturity in both the cortical and trabecular bone of the osteonectin-null mice. These spectroscopic data are consistent with a mechanism of decreased bone formation and remodeling.