Treatment of Acquired Bilateral Nevus of Ota-Like Macules (Hori''s Nevus) with a Combination of the 532 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Followed by the 1,064 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG Is More Effective: Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules (Hori's nevus) is a common dyschromatosis among Asian women. Q-switched lasers have been used successfully as a treatment modality. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of using the Q-switched 532 nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser followed by the 1,064 nm laser versus the Q-switched 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser alone in the treatment of Hori's nevus. METHODS: This is a prospective left-right comparative study. Ten women with bilateral Hori's nevus were recruited and treated with a combination of the Q-switched 532 and 1,064 nm Nd:YAG lasers on the right cheek and the Q-switched 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser alone on the left cheek. Only one laser treatment session was performed. The degree of pigmentation was objectively recorded with a mexameter. Subjective assessment was made by both patients and two blinded, nontreating dermatologists. RESULTS: At 6 months, there was a statistically significant difference (p = .009) of 35.10 points using objective mexameter measurements between the two sides, favoring the side treated with a combination of 532 and 1,064 nm laser treatment. Subjective grading by the patients and blinded dermatologists also confirmed that combination therapy was more successful after one treatment. Although combination treatment had a higher incidence of mild postinflammatory changes, this disappeared within 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent use of the Q-switched 532 nm Nd:YAG laser in combination with the 1,064 nm laser is more effective in pigment clearance than the Q-switched 1,064 nm Nd:YAG laser alone for Hori's nevi.     

Cyclosporin-A nephrotoxicity and acute cellular rejection in renal transplant recipients: correlation between radionuclide and histologic findings

Serial radionuclide studies using both Tc-99m DTPA (perfusion) and I-131 hippuran (tubular function) were correlated with histologic findings in 25 patients with renal transplants. These cases included 15 cases of cyclosporin-A nephrotoxicity (CsA-NT) and ten cases of acute cellular rejection that were retrospectively selected on the basis of biopsy findings and favorable clinical response to therapy specific for each of these conditions. The serial radionuclide studies enabled the correct diagnosis in 12 of 15 cases of CsA-NT and eight of ten cases of acute rejection. Posttherapy radionuclide studies, furthermore, demonstrated improvement consistent with clinical response. In all cases, the radionuclide results were available at least 24 hours before biopsy findings. These results indicate that serial radionuclide studies evaluating interval changes in both perfusion and tubular function are of significant value in the diagnosis and follow-up of CsA-NT and acute cellular rejection in transplant recipients. This initial experience suggests a sensitivity of 80%.     

Differential gene expression in cultured osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells from patients with Paget's disease of bone.

Paget's disease is a focal condition of bone. To study changes in cells within pagetic lesions, we cultured osteoblasts and stromal cells from 22 patients and compared gene expression in these cells to cells from healthy bone. We identified several differentially regulated genes, and we suggest that these changes could lead to the formation of the lesions. INTRODUCTION: Paget's disease is a focal condition of bone of unknown cause. Although it is regarded as primarily an osteoclast disorder, the tight coupling of the activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts suggests that the osteoblast could play a key role in its pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to identify possible changes in pagetic osteoblasts and stromal cells that might contribute to the development of pagetic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Candidate genes were identified based on known bone cell regulators, supplemented with microarray analysis. Gene expression was determined by real-time PCR in primary cultures of osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells from pagetic patients and control subjects. Concentrations of secreted proteins were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Dickkopf1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in both pagetic osteoblast and stromal cell cultures, and interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 were overexpressed in pagetic osteoblasts. These changes parallel recent findings in myeloma bone disease, which shares some clinical similarities with Paget's disease. Alkaline phosphatase was overexpressed, and bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin were underexpressed in pagetic osteoblasts, consistent with their circulating levels in pagetic patients. It is hypothesized that overexpression of Dickkopf1, IL-1, and IL-6 would result in stimulation of osteoclast proliferation and inhibition of osteoblast growth, leading to the development of the characteristic lytic bone lesions. By stimulating osteoblast differentiation, Dickkopf1 and IL-6 may also promote mineralization, leading to the conversion of lytic lesions to sclerotic. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dysregulated gene expression in pagetic osteoblasts could cause the changes in bone cell number and function characteristic of Paget's disease.     

Differences in hip axis and femoral neck length in premenopausal women of Polynesian, Asian and European origin

There are substantial inter-racial differences in hip fracture incidence. Studies in several different ethnic groups have suggested that differences in the length of the femoral neck may contribute to these. The present study assesses femoral neck and hip axis lengths in three ethnic groups in which it has not been documented previously (Chinese, Indians and Polynesians) and compares these values with those in Europeans. Lengths were measured from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of the proximal femur in normal premenopausal women (n=225). The Polynesian (1.65 m) and European (1.64 m) women were significantly taller than the two Asian groups (mean height in each, 1.58 m). There were also differences in mean body weight, the Polynesians being the heaviest (76 kg) and the Chinese the lightest (53 kg). Femoral neck lengths were (mean + SD) Chinese 61.5+4.4 mm, Indian 61.5+5.1 mm, Polynesian 68.2+4.3 mm and Europeans 66.0+4.8 mm. Hip axis lengths were Chinese 98.0+5.6 mm, Indian 94.5+5.2 mm, Polynesian 106.4 ± 5.3 mm and European 102.3+5.3 mm. Each of the other groups were significantly different from the Europeans for both variables and, in general, this remained so after height adjustment. These data suggest that shorter femoral necks are common to the major Asian racial groups. However, in contrast to all other ethnic groups studied, Polynesians have longer femoral necks than Europeans and their low incidence of hip fracture is not explicable, therefore, in terms of their femoral neck length. This suggests that either higher bone density or other more subtle differences in proximal femoral geometry must account for the low hip fracture incidence in Polynesians.     

Effective emetic control during conditioning of children for bone marrow transplantation using ondansetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist.

Preparation for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) uses the extremely emetogenic combination of chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI). Ondansetron is a selective 5-HT3 antagonist and has clear anti-emetic capabilities. The efficacy of the drug was assessed in 15 children (aged 2-17 years) who received high dose cyclophosphamide (on days -6 and -5) and TBI (days -3 to 0 inclusive). During days -6 to -4 when the emetic effect of cyclophosphamide would be most pronounced, 12 of the 15 patients (80%) had fewer than five emetic episodes during their worst 24-h period, 11 (73%) had fewer than three vomits whilst nine (60%) experienced no vomiting or retching. Eleven patients progressed to TBI and 10 (91%) had fewer than five emetic events in the worst 24-h period (days -3 to +2), six (55%) had no vomiting at all. Of 100 evaluable 'patient-days' 83 (83%) were without any vomiting or retching and a further 10 'patient-days' had only one or two emetic episodes. There were no significant side-effects noted and in particular no extrapyramidal reactions. Headaches and constipation, which have been seen in adult studies, were not reported by patient or parent on any of the study days and transient elevation of liver enzymes were noted in only two patients. Ondansetron has a major role in preparing patients for BMT.     

Use of the Pastorex aspergillus antigen latex agglutination test for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

AIMS--To evaluate the Pastorex aspergillus antigen latex agglutination test for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in patients undergoing liver or bone marrow transplantation. METHODS--Serum samples were taken at least twice weekly post-transplant and tested for Aspergillus antigen. Latex agglutination test results were compared with microbiological examination of respiratory, urine and bile specimens. Serum samples from liver transplant patients were also tested for antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus by counter immunoelectrophoresis. RESULTS--Eight of the 91 patients studied developed invasive aspergillosis. Positive latex agglutination tests were obtained in eight of 187 (4.3%) serum samples from four of these eight patients. The other four patients with invasive aspergillosis gave consistently negative latex agglutination tests. A positive latex agglutination test was the first indication of invasive aspergillosis in two patients; these patients were already on amphotericin B. Positive latex agglutination tests were the only evidence of invasive aspergillosis in one patient who subsequently died of the infection. False positive latex agglutination tests were obtained in five of 83 (6%) patients with no evidence of invasive aspergillosis and misleading positive cultures seen in nine of 83 (10.8%). No antibodies were detected in three of four liver transplant patients with invasive aspergillosis. Conversely, antibodies were detected in 63 of 262 (24%) serum samples from 43 liver transplant patients with no evidence of invasive aspergillosis; one of these patients had an antibody titre of 1:2 on four separate occasions. CONCLUSIONS--The Pastorex aspergillus antigen latex agglutination test, when used alone, lacks sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. A diagnosis was made in all patients with invasive aspergillosis when both culture and antigen tests were performed although using these criteria a false positive diagnosis would have been made in 13 of 83 (15.6%) patients. Microbiological and serial serological investigations for antigen should both be performed and the results considered in conjunction with radiological and clinical evidence.