Lymphoblastoid α-Interferon for Chronic Hepatitis C: A Randomized Controlled Study

Forty patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were included in an open randomized controlled trial of lymphoblastoid α-interferon (L-IFN) versus no treatment. Twenty patients entered each group, and features of therapy and control cases were similar. L-IFN was given in low doses (1.5-4.5 megaunits) for 1 yr. In 16 of 20 patients treated with L-IFN (80%), but in only one of 20 nontreated cases (0.5%; p < 0.001), aminotransferase activities became normal. In four patients there was a reactivation of the disease during treatment after 4, 5, 6, and 8 months with normal aminotransferase levels. A posttherapy reactivation of hepatitis was observed in four additional cases after 1, 1, 1, and 3 months of follow-up. The other eight patients (40%) continued with normal aminotransferase levels for 1.52 ± 0.74 (range, 1-2.1) yr after IFN doses were discontinued. In all treated patients except two nonresponders, but in only one of 20 nontreated cases ( p < 0.001), Knodell's histological activity index decreased. Procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide levels did not change significantly in nontreated and nonresponder patients, diminished slightly in patients with a transient response, and normalized in cases with a long-standing response, suggesting that this serum test may be a reliable marker for monitoring response to IFIN therapy in patients with CHC. Finally, L-IFN treatment induced significant increments in CD4/CD8 index, phytohemagglutinin-induced blastogenesis, and natural killer activity. This study shows that L-IFN diminish inflammatory and fibrogenic activity in most patients with CHC. In 40% of patients treated in this trial, a long-standing remission of the disease was observed.     

Congenital healed cleft lip

Congenital “healed” cleft lip (CHCL) is an unusual anomaly including a paramedian “scar” of the upper lip, which appears as if a typical cleft lip has been corrected in utero. The CHCL is frequently associated with an ipsilateral notch in the vermilion, and “collapsed” nostril. Twenty-five CHCL cases are presented, eighteen of which were an isolated malformation found among the 3,950,715 births examined in two similar birth defect registries: ECEMC in Spain and ECLAMC in Latin America. Like open cleft lip, of which it seems to be a variant, CHCL is most frequently seen among males (14/18 isolated cases), it preferentially affects the left side (10/18 cases), and it segregated together with cleft lip in one family. The five CHCL cases with other congenital anomalies included: two cases with hydrocephalus, two VACTERL associations, and one atypical oblique facial cleft infant with single umbilical artery. CHCL may result from a defective fusion of the frontonasal and maxillary processes (before week 7 of embryonic life), or from a spontaneously repaired open cleft lip, later on. In either way, these cases heal with a visible scar, and the pre-occurrence of CHCL in two families suggests a familial predisposition to this phenomenon. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Narrowband UVB therapy for vitiligo: does the repigmentation last?

BACKGROUND: Since 1997, a number of trials have shown promising results in treating generalized vitiligo with narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) both in adults and children. However, there is little knowledge concerning the duration and permanency of the treatment-induced repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: Our main objective was to perform a follow-up trial of successfully treated patients receiving narrowband UVB for generalized vitiligo. METHODS: We have investigated to what degree the treatment-induced repigmentation remains stable for up to 2 years post-treatment. We performed an initial open trial including 31 patients with generalized vitiligo. They received narrowband UVB thrice weekly for up to 12 months. Patients experiencing > 75% repigmentation were defined responders and were included in the follow-up trial. Responders were followed every 6 months for up to 2 years after cessation of treatment. We observed the pigmentation status and registered any changes indicating loss of pigmentation and relapse. RESULTS: Eleven of the 31 treated patients were included in the follow-up trial. Six patients had relapse and five patients had stable response 24 months after cessation of treatment. Four out of six relapses were within 6 months post-treatment. CONCLUSION: In our study population of 31 patients with generalized vitiligo, five patients (16%) experienced > 75% stable repigmentation 2 years after cessation of a treatment programme of up to 1 years narrowband UVB therapy.     

Ongoing pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection using cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa

We report two clinical pregnancies occurring after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using cryopreserved spermatozoa obtained from testicular biopsy, made in two different infertility situations in our clinic. The first patient showed a secretory azoospermia associated with elevated serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level and spermiogenesis maturation arrest. The second patient was affected by azoospermia resulting from bilateral epididymal obstruction. Spermatozoa present in the wet preparation of testicular biopsy made on the day of scrotal exploration were cryopreserved within the testicular tissue for both men. Intracytoplasmic injections were performed at a later date, using spermatozoa prepared from frozen-thawed tissues. In each case, three embryos were obtained and transferred in utero. The transfers resulted in a twin pregnancy for the first case, and in a singleton pregnancy for the second. Living foetuses were seen in the ultrasound scan at the 7th week and both pregnancies are proceeding to date beyond 30 weeks without complications.