Skin problems after a tsunami

BACKGROUND: On December 26, 2004, the biggest earthquake for 40 years, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, triggered a tsunami that pounded the coastal areas of South Asia and East Africa. The effects of the tsunami on skin conditions have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of the tsunami on skin conditions by evaluating the skin problems of patients presenting at hospitals after the tsunami. METHODS: Between 5 and 25 January 2005, two dermatologists evaluated patients who complained of skin problems at an outpatient clinic and emergency room of a general hospital in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia. RESULTS: The total number of patients that presented during the study period was 235 (131 males and 104 females), and they had a total of 265 skin problems. In terms of age distribution, most subjects were in their fourth decade (23.0%), followed by the third (22.6%) and fifth decade (16.6%). The most prevalent skin problems were infections-infestations (32.5%), followed by eczemas (29.8%) and traumatic skin disorders (29.4%). In males, traumatic skin disorders were most common. The great majority of infection-infestation cases involved superficial fungal infections. Contact dermatitis accounted for three-quarters of eczema cases, and mainly involved the arms (40.0%) and legs (27.1%). The majority of traumatic skin disorders were lacerations, punctures and penetrations, and the feet (44.7%) and hands (18.8%) were most frequently affected. CONCLUSIONS: Unhygienic conditions, exposure to a hazardous environment and contact with various objects during and after the tsunami probably increased the prevalence of infections-infestations, traumatic skin disorders and contact dermatitis. To prevent these problems and associated secondary bacterial infections, health-related education and early medical management are required.     

Physiologic responses to heavy-resistance exercise with very short rest periods

Heavy-resistance exercise utilizing very short rest periods is commonly used by body builders to prepare for competition. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute responses of this type of heavy-resistance exercise protocol in competitive body builders (BB) and power lifters (PL). Nine male BB and eight PL were matched for age, size and experience. A ten-station heavy-resistance exercise protocol was used. Each subject performed three sets of 10 repetition maximum (RM) with 10-s rest between sets and alternated 30-s and 60-s rest periods between exercises. No differences were observed in total work between the groups, but BB used a significantly (P less than 0.05) higher percentage of their 1 RM in the bench press and leg press exercises. Heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and lactate levels were obtained during the exercise protocol; significant (P less than 0.05) increases were observed above rest for these variables. RPE was significantly correlated with lactate levels (r = 0.84). Plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, cortisol, and lactate levels significantly increased from pre- to 5 min post-exercise. Mean plasma volumes were reduced -16.6 (+/- 3.64)% and -20.6 (+/- 8.32)% following the exercise protocol for BB and PL, respectively. Significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in eosinophil counts were observed following exercise. No significant differences were observed between BB and PL for any of the physiologic responses measured. PL exhibited a higher incidence (100%) of clinical symptoms of dizziness and nausea compared to BB (11.1%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A longitudinal study of the effect of different social rearing conditions on cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine and biogenic amine metabolites in rhesus monkeys

The purpose of this study was to determine whether disruption of early social attachment alters the activity of brain biogenic amine systems in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Male rhesus monkey infants were deprived of maternal interaction, peer interaction, or both, during the first 22 months of life. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected under rigorously controlled conditions approximately every month and assayed for levels of norepinephrine (NE), its major metabolite, and the metabolites of dopamine and serotonin. Mother-Deprived infants had lower levels of CSF NE than Mother-Reared infants. Mother-Deprived infants also failed to develop the same pattern of intercorrelations between compounds and month-to-month stability in levels of neurotransmitter and metabolites in CSF as the Mother-Reared infants. Finally, there were changes in CSF NE levels associated with social separation and social group formation. The brain NE system appears to be sensitive to changes in the social environment. Its level of activity, as reflected in levels of NE in CSF, appears to depend on both the prevailing social environment and the prior rearing environment.     

The MTT assay for chemosensitivity testing of human tumors of the central nervous system

In this study we assessed the influence of patient- and drug-specific parameters in the short-term MTT-chemosensitivity assay in 150 primary cell cultures derived from human brain tumors. In 45 patients the MTT assay was directly compared with the CFA (Colony Forming Assay). Resistance was 10-20% higher in the MTT assay than in the CFA, but there was a good agreement in both assays, that more malignant gliomas had a higher in vitro chemosensitivity against ACNU and BCNU. Overall the results demonstrate, that there is no uniform correlation between the in vitro chemosensitivity and the histopathological classification of the tumors, which corresponds well to the clinical situation. On the basis of this study we suggest prospective clinical trials with the MTT assay in human brain tumors.     

Dose-response relationships and time course of the response to systemic beta adrenoreceptor agonists in infants with bronchopulmonary disease.

The lung function response to three doses of salbutamol 0.075 mg/kg given at 10 minute intervals by gastric tube was studied in 31 infants aged 2-22 months with bronchopulmonary disease (eight after the respiratory distress syndrome, 15 with wheezy bronchitis, and eight with cystic fibrosis). Lung function was measured by whole body plethysmography. Seven of 31 infants had normal lung function and 10 of the remaining 24 had an increase in thoracic gas volume (TGV), 10 an increase in airway resistance (Raw), and four an increase in both the TGV and Raw. The response of TGV and Raw to salbutamol was analysed by circular statistics, enabling analysis of coupled, directional data. Thirty minutes after administration of the first dose of salbutamol there was a reduction in TGV or Raw in 21 of the 24 infants, 11 showing a decrease in TGV ("volume responder") and 10 a fall in Raw ("flow responder"). These results indicate that in most infants with bronchopulmonary disease an improvement in lung function can be documented after systemic administration of beta agonists if both TGV and Raw are measured.     

Which treatment for whom for ADHD? Moderators of treatment response in the MTA

Using receiver operating characteristics, the authors examined outcome predictors (variables associated with outcome regardless of treatment) and moderators (variables identifying subgroups with differential treatment effectiveness) in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; MTA). Treatment response was determined using parent- and teacher-reported ADHD and oppositional defiant symptoms, with levels near or within the normal range indicating excellent response. Among 9 baseline child and family characteristics, none predicted but 3 moderated treatment response. In medication management and combined treatments, parental depressive symptoms and severity of child ADHD were associated with decreased rates of excellent response; when these 2 characteristics were present, below-average child IQ was an additional moderator. No predictors or moderators emerged for behavioral and community comparison treatments. The authors discuss conceptual and clinical implications of research on treatment moderators.     

IgE hidden in immune complexes with anti-IgE autoantibodies in children with asthma

Serum levels of IgE, anti-IgE autoantibodies (Abs), and IgE/IgG anti-IgE immune complexes (ICs) were measured in 110 children with asthma and 90 healthy control children. Significantly enhanced levels of IgE/anti-IgE IC were detected in children with asthma. However, only a weak correlation was found between anti-IgE auto-Ab serum levels and the degree of lung function abnormalities in children with asthma. However, children with asthma with low serum IgE levels had elevated IC serum levels of IgE/anti-IgE auto-Abs, suggesting that IgE might be hidden within these ICs and is therefore not measurable in vitro. The significant elevation of IgE/anti-IgE IC serum levels raises the question whether IgE within ICs is neutralized or might still be involved in immunologic mechanisms responsible for clinical symptoms of bronchial asthma.