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.     

Hypointense transcerebral veins at T2*-weighted MRI: a marker of hemorrhagic transformation risk in patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.

Prediction of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients treated by intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is a challenging issue in acute stroke management. HT may be correlated with severe hypoperfusion. Signal changes may be observed at susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within large perfusion defects. A signal drop within cerebral veins at T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI may be expected in severe ischemia, and may indicate subsequent risk of HT. The authors prospectively searched for an abnormal visibility of transcerebral veins (AVV) within the ischemic area in patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke, before they were treated with intravenous rt-PA therapy. Any correlation between AVV and baseline clinical or MRI findings, or further HT, was noted. An AVV was present in 23 of 49 patients (obvious, n = 8; moderate, n = 15), and was supported by severe hemodynamic changes at baseline MRI. The AVV was correlated with the occurrence of parenchymal hematoma type 2 at computed tomography during the first week (r = 0.44, P = 0.002). Five of six type 2 parenchymal hematomas occurred in association with obvious AVV. At multiple regression analysis, two baseline MRI factors had an independent predictive value for HT risk during the first week: the AVV and the cerebral blood volume ratio (Nagelkerke R2 = 0.48).     

Infant feeding until the age of 4 months old in Seine-Maritime

This study reports infant feeding practices during the first 4 months of life. A representative sample of 10% of the births in the Seine-Maritime department formed the subject of a questionnaire cohort study carried on at home by public health institution for infants specialized nurses. Among 1,407 interviewed mothers, 52% had been thinking about their future child feeding before birth, essentially with their circles, especially their husbands. The type of feeding had been chosen before pregnancy in 64.3% of cases. Earlier choices resulted more often in breast-feeding. 46.2% of mothers tried to breast-feed their children, however 17% among them discontinued when back home. Carrying out breast-feeding (median duration 10 weeks) delayed the feeding diversification and was associated with a lower frequency of health difficulties in children.     

Acute peripheral arterial and graft occlusion: treatment with selective infusion of urokinase and lysyl plasminogen

Thirty-five patients hospitalized for recent angiographically documented arterial occlusion in the legs (27 femoropopliteal arteries and eight grafts) benefited from local fibrinolytic therapy delivered at the site of the occlusion with a 4- or 5-F catheter. This therapy combined a continuous urokinase (UK) infusion of 1,000 U/kg/hour and a lysyl plasminogen (LYS-PLG) infusion of 15 microkatals every 30 minutes. Angiographically confirmed lysis was obtained in 85% of the cases. Only 3% of the patients had major and 6% had minor groin hematomas. Only two patients had concentrations of fibrinogen as low as 100 mg/dl. Intravascular infusion of UK-LYS-PLG is as effective as streptokinase. Its excellent tolerance makes it a good alternative in the treatment of acute ischemia in the lower limbs.     

Fetal lumbar spine: measuring axial growth with US

Ultrasound (US) can be used to visualize vertebral segments, suggesting a quantitative means of studying vertebral column growth in utero and thus a means of detecting developmental abnormalities. US images of the lumbar spine were obtained in 128 clinically normal fetuses between the gestational age of 11 through 41 weeks. A large-aperture, dynamically focused US system capable of regional magnification was used. Average lumbar spacing was calculated from distance between centrums of at least four lumbar bodies. The average distance between lumbar centrums increased nearly linearly throughout the second and third trimesters (r2 = 0.98). Enhanced anatomic display implies new capabilities for recognizing developmental abnormalities antenatally.     

Clinical and laboratory features of type 1 diabetic children at the time of diagnosis.

The French incidence study has registered all new cases of Type 1 diabetic children under 20 years of age, from a population of 2.32 million, in an exhaustive and prospective manner. Three hundred and forty cases were identified between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1989, yielding a mean annual incidence rate 7.3 per 10(5). The lowest rate was observed in the youngest age group (0-4 yr: 4.1 per 10(5)) and the highest around pubertal development (10-14 yr: 11.5 per 10(5)). Details of the previous personal and family history, and the clinical and biological pictures of the disease at diagnosis were recorded. Almost 8 per cent of the children had a first-degree relative with Type 1 diabetes. Polyuria, weight loss, fatigue and abdominal pain were the most frequently reported symptoms, which were of median duration 4.4 months. Mean weight loss before diagnosis was 9.4 +/- 6.8 (+/- SD)% of body weight and was not significantly related to age. Ketonuria was detected in 83.8 per cent and acidosis (total CO2 less than or equal to 18 mmol l-1, if measured) in 48 per cent of the cases. Ketonuria and acidosis were significantly more frequent in the younger age group than in the rest of the group (p less than 0.001).     

A diagnostic algorithm for male genital oedema

Male genital oedema can be defined as swelling or the appearance of swelling of the scrotum and/or the penile shaft and prepuce. Despite the various causes of genital oedema reported in the published work, a concise approach to the evaluation and management has not been sufficiently addressed.