Pathophysiology and management of sensitive skin: position paper from the special interest group on sensitive skin of the International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI)

The special interest group on sensitive skin of the International Forum for the Study of Itch previously defined sensitive skin as a syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (stinging, burning, pain, pruritus and tingling sensations) in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations. This additional paper focuses on the pathophysiology and the management of sensitive skin. Sensitive skin is not an immunological disorder but is related to alterations of the skin nervous system. Skin barrier abnormalities are frequently associated, but there is no cause and direct relationship. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathophysiology of sensitive skin – as well as the inducing factors. Avoidance of possible triggering factors and the use of well-tolerated cosmetics, especially those containing inhibitors of unpleasant sensations, might be suggested for patients with sensitive skin. The role of psychosocial factors, such as stress or negative expectations, might be relevant for subgroups of patients. To date, there is no clinical trial supporting the use of topical or systemic drugs in sensitive skin. The published data are not sufficient to reach a consensus on sensitive skin management. In general, patients with sensitive skin require a personalized approach, taking into account various biomedical, neural and psychosocial factors affecting sensitive skin.     

试论加强国际合作与促进我国医学伦理学教育的发展

原北京医科大学(现为北京大学医学部)从20世纪90年代初开始,积极寻求与美国中华医学基金会的合作以促进医学伦理学的学科发展和国际化水平的提高。十几年来,北京大学医学部作为基地和依托极大地支持和引领了我国医学伦理学的教学改革与发展,增强了相关人员的医学伦理意识以及医学伦理学理论对实践的指导作用,促进了伦理学知识和能力的培训,提升了我国生物医学科研伦理的实力,奠定了医学伦理学继续教育的基础,使医学伦理学实现了系统性和跨越式的发展。     

Intravenous cidofovir treatment for recalcitrant warts in the setting of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome

Cidofovir is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with broad-spectrum activity against DNA viruses, including human papilloma virus (HPV). However, data on the efficacy of cidofovir in an immunosuppressive setting remain contradictory. We report for the first time on the promotion of the healing of recalcitrant warts in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome with intravenous cidofovir treatment.     

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS Ⅰ. EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF OPEN NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS BY QUALITATIVE ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ISOENZYME IN AMNIOTIC FLUID

The measurement of amniotic fluid (AF) acetylcholinesterase isoenzyme (AChEI) is a relatively new method for early diagnosis of open neural tube defects (NTDs). As quantitative methods are of unproven reliability at present, the authors used a high resolving power qualitative method-vertical slab polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis. The benefits of this technique are: simplicity of operation, accuracy, unsophisticated equipment, and easily available reagents. Combined results of 9 NTDs studies revealed that samples from early pregnancy gave more accurate results than those from late pregnancy.     

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-dependent recruitment of Ret into lipid rafts enhances signaling by partitioning Ret from proteasome-dependent degradation

The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) Ret is activated by the formation of a complex consisting of ligands such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and glycerophosphatidylinositol-anchored coreceptors termed GFRalphas. During activation, Ret translocates into lipid rafts, which is critical for functional responses to GDNF. We found that Ret was rapidly ubiquitinated and degraded in sympathetic neurons when activated with GDNF, but, unlike other RTKs that are trafficked to lysosomes for degradation, Ret was degraded predominantly by the proteasome. After GDNF stimulation, the majority of ubiquitinated Ret was located outside of lipid rafts and Ret was lost predominantly from nonraft membrane domains. Consistent with the predominance of Ret degradation outside of rafts, disruption of lipid rafts in neurons did not alter either the GDNF-dependent ubiquitination or degradation of Ret. GDNF-mediated survival of sympathetic neurons was inhibited by lipid raft depletion, and this inhibitory effect of raft disruption on GDNF-mediated survival was reversed if Ret degradation was blocked via proteasome inhibition. Therefore, lipid rafts sequester Ret away from the degradation machinery located in nonraft membrane domains, such as Cbl family E3 ligases, thereby sustaining Ret signaling.     

~(123)I-MIBG心肌显像预测依那普利对扩张型心肌病患者治疗效果的临床价值

目的探讨123I-MIBG心肌显像在治疗前预测依那普利对扩张型心肌病(DCM)患者治疗效果的临床价值。方法对24例DCM患者于依那普利治疗前行早期(20min)及延迟(3h)123I-MIBG心肌显像,采用心/上纵隔(H/M)比和心脏放射性洗脱率(WR)作为相对半定量计数分析,与超声心功能参数进行对比。根据123I-MI-BG心肌显像延迟相的H/M分为3组延迟H/M≥1.7为组Ⅰ,1.5<延迟H/M<1.7为组Ⅱ,延迟H/M≤1.5为组Ⅲ。组Ⅰ和组Ⅱ在平均治疗4.5个月后重复以上检查。结果治疗前3组间超声心功能参数比较均无统计学差异。治疗后组Ⅰ的左室射血分数(LVEF)和左室收缩末径(LVDs)明显改善,早期H/M和延迟H/M均明显改善(P<0.05),而WR无明显变化。治疗后组Ⅱ的延迟H/M明显改善(P<0.05),而早期H/M和WR均无明显变化,心功能参数也无改善。组Ⅰ和组Ⅱ患者均能耐受依那普利治疗,而组Ⅲ患者均不能耐受依那普利治疗。结论123I-MIBG心肌显像在治疗前预测依那普利对DCM患者的治疗效果方面有一定价值。