Pseudocystic pilomatricoma: A new variant and review of the literature

A classic pilomatricoma, which usually presents with an asymptomatic, solitary, firm, subcutaneous nodule in the head, neck, or extremities of the paediatric population, is easily diagnosed based on its characteristic clinical and histopathological features. However, its variants often pose particular diagnostic challenges to clinicians due to their rarity and diverse clinicopathological features. We present a new pseudocystic variant, manifesting as solid lesions floating in a fluid‐filled sac.     

A cut above the rest: Trimming as a painless depilatory

Shaving and other modes of epilation can cause undue anxiety, pain, or skin irritation in children. Here, we present hair trimming as a safe, painless, and cost‐effective alternative for patients with unwanted hair which may be performed indefinitely or until the child is old enough to direct management. In select cases, removing unwanted hair using this technique may facilitate dermatologic surveillance.     

Hair shaft miRNA‐221 levels as a new tumor marker of malignant melanoma

miRNA‐221 (miR‐221) is known to be abnormally expressed in many human cancers. The serum levels of miR‐221 have been reported as a tumor marker for malignant melanoma (MM). We hypothesized that the hair shaft miR‐221 levels may be increased in patients with MM. We therefore assessed the possibility that hair shaft miR‐221 levels could be a marker for MM. The hair shaft miR‐221 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM than controls. The rates of increased hair shaft miR‐221 levels above the cut‐off value were comparable to those of serum 5‐S‐CD, which is a tumor marker commonly used for MM. Measurements of the hair shaft miR‐221 levels could have potential clinical value in the detection of MM. This is the first report investigating the hair shaft levels of an miRNA in patients with MM. Our investigations offer new insight into the relationship between miR‐221 and MM, and may provide a new, non‐invasive way to screen for melanoma.     

水分去除的方法及其在药物合成中的应用

化学药合成过程中水分残留不利于反应的进行,还影响药物及制剂的稳定性、理化性质、溶出及药理作用等,因此水分几乎是大多数药物合成中的必测项目,通过有效除水严格控制反应体系中水分的含量至关重要。本文综述了水分的存在形式,常见除水剂和脱水剂的种类、作用原理与除水能力,以及在药物合成的应用,为药物合成反应中水分的去除提供参考。     

腰椎间盘突出症疗效不佳的临床观察

目的 分析腰椎间盘突出症手术疗效不佳的原因，探讨提高疗效的方法。方法 随访本院1993-2003年腰椎间盘突出症行后路髓核摘除术病例236例，对术后腰腿痛症状未缓解或症状消失后再复发者复查X片、CT或MRI了解病因。结果手术疗效不佳者25例。疗效不佳的主要原因为残留髓核再突出、术后脊柱不稳倾向增加、对侧隐窝狭窄认识不足、神经根损伤、极外侧型椎问盘突出漏切、感染、术后椎管内瘢痕黏连等。全椎板切除术较椎板问开窗术更易发生椎管内瘢痕黏连（P＜0．01）。结论首次手术时应尽可能取净髓核组织，对动力位摄片发现有椎问不稳倾向者行后外侧植骨或椎体问植骨融合，常规探查并妥善处理侧隐窝，牵拉神经根时间不应过长且用力轻柔。行腰椎间盘CT和MRI扫描时，应注意包括椎间盘相邻上下椎体的1／3部，以防止遗漏极外侧型椎问盘突出，尽量采用椎板间开窗术式以减少脊柱创伤，术中间断冲洗，术毕持续负压引流，以减少术后黏连，术中应严格无菌操作。     

Critical study of hair growth analysis with computer-assisted methods

BACKGROUND: Computer-assisted image analysis has been proposed for human hair growth studies. METHODS: The performances of Trichoscan, a commercially available automated system combining epiluminiscence microscopy with digital image analysis, developed for office-based hair growth measurements, have been evaluated comparatively on the same skin sites using standardized photographic equipment and calibrated processing for contrast-enhanced phototrichogram (CE-PTG) analysis. This reference method has been validated with scalp biopsies and histological examination of serial sectioning. RESULTS: Besides edge effects, hair fibres escaped the Trichoscan analysis for various reasons including, but not limited to, thickness, pigmentation, closeness and crossing. CONCLUSION: Most of these problems have been identified in the late 1980s and remain largely unsolved by the processing software that was evaluated in 2004. Therefore claims promoting the Trichoscan method for accurate hair measurements in clinical trials on scalp and body hair are not supported by the present investigation. The speed at which the analysis is performed is outweighed by the errors in signal detection. Therefore we suggest that improvements must be clearly documented before Trichoscan is established for quantified diagnostic purposes and detailed hair cycle monitoring during hair trials.