Idiopathic calcinosis of the areola of the nipple

Idiopathic calcinosis cutis involving the breast is a rare condition. Previously reported cases were detected by mammography without specific cutaneous findings. We report a case of idiopathic calcinosis of the areola of the nipple in a 32-year-old Korean woman that has unique clinical features resembling scrotal calcinosis.     

自体疣包埋治疗尖锐湿疣疗效的Meta分析

目的：评价自体疣包埋对尖锐湿疣的治疗效果。方法：在Pubmed、《中国学术期刊网络出版总库》、《万方数据库》、《中文科技期刊数据库》中检索符合标准的关于自体疣包埋治疗尖锐湿疣的随机对照试验,应用Review Manager 5.3.5软件进行Meta分析。结果：共纳入10篇文献,入选文献发表偏倚较小,无明显异质性（P=0.25）。Meta分析结果显示,自体疣包埋联合CO2激光治疗对尖锐湿疣的治愈率显著高于单用CO2激光治疗,差异有统计学意义[Z=9.54,P<0.00001, RR=1.50,95%CI (1.38-1.63)]。结论：自体疣包埋联合CO2激光治疗治疗尖锐湿疣疗效优于单用CO2激光治疗。     

Functional properties of the surface of the vermilion border of the lips are distinct from those of the facial skin

BACKGROUND: The vermilion border of the lips (lip for short) is the only part on the face where the oral mucosa is persistently exposed to the outside. Despite its prominent presence on the face, constituting not only the target of cosmetics but also the site for various skin diseases, its functional properties remain almost unknown. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the functional properties of the vermilion border of the lips. METHODS: We studied the biophysical properties of the lip by comparing them with those of the cheek skin in 303 healthy Japanese females aged 21-80 years, in winter. We used a closed-chamber system to measure transepithelial water loss (TEWL) of the lip to avoid the effect of breathing. Moreover, we examined the effects of oral etretinate, a drug that definitely produces dry, scaly lips, on the lips of seven male patients aged 49-89 (average 67) years. RESULTS: TEWL was significantly almost three times as high on the lips as that on the cheek which is a site that shows far higher levels than do other body areas. TEWL decreased with age more remarkably on the lip than on the cheek. High-frequency conductance, a parameter for surface hydration state, was significantly lower on the lip than on the cheek. The mean values obtained were about one-third of those on the cheek, and no age-related changes were observed either on the lip or on the cheek. The superficial epithelial cells on the lip were parakeratotic and larger than those of the cheek skin. Furthermore, we detected a significant increase in TEWL on the lip as well as on the cheek of patients treated with oral etretinate. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the incomplete corneocyte formation of the lip surface is responsible for the poor barrier function and water-holding capacity.     

Measurement of the mechanical properties of the skin using the suction test

INTRODUCTION: The suction test is commonly used to study the mechanical properties of human skin in vivo. The unevenness of the stress fields complicates obtaining the intrinsic mechanical parameters of the skin in vivo because the values of the local stresses and deformations cannot be calculated directly from the displacements and forces applied by the test apparatus. In general, users only take into account the negative pressure applied and the elevation of the dome of skin drawn up in order to deduce the properties of the skin. This method has the major disadvantage of being dependent on the experimental conditions used: in particular, the size of the suction cup and the negative pressure applied. Here, we propose a full mechanical study of the test to provide rigorous results. We compare the frequently used geometric method (making the thin plate hypothesis), Timoshenko's method (which can take greater plate thicknesses into account) and finally various results obtained by the finite elements (FE) technique. METHODS: The suction test was modelled by FE with large displacements and large deformations both for orthotropic and isotropic plates. The results obtained in the elastic domain for various values of Young's modulus and of applied negative pressure were used as references and were compared with methods using analytical relationships. RESULTS: The geometric method generally used in the interpretation of suction tests gives results, which in certain configurations, are very different from those obtained by FE. The method of Timoshenko is suited to thick plates 'in contact' or embedded round the edge, the elevation of the dome and the tension and flexion stresss are analytically accessible through relationships involving four constants that are dependent on the limit conditions. Comparison with the FE results enabled the optimisation of the coefficients to adapt the relationships to the particular conditions of the suction trials. CONCLUSION: We showed the limits of the geometrical method and proposed a solution, which while remaining simple to use, gives results that are closer to reality both for the calculation of the modulus and for the determination of the state of the stresses obtained.     

Fibroblasts induce the assembly of the macromolecules of the basement membrane

The mechanism regulating the deposition of basement membrane components (BMCs) in a polymeric structure at the junction with the connective tissues is not yet understood. Cultures and cocultures of epithelial BMC-producing cells (L2 or PER cells) and fibroblasts were prepared in several experimental conditions and the organization of BMCs was studied by immunofluorescence. The pattern of BMCs in pure cultures of L2 or pulmonary epithelial rat (PER) cells consisted of intra- and extracellular granular deposits. At very high density, the cell contours were also underlined by a disrupted network of BMC deposits. A different fibrillar plexus--containing laminin, collagen type IV, and heparan-sulfate proteoglycan resistant to deoxycholate treatment and distant from the cell membrane--was observed in cocultures of L2 or PER cells with fibroblasts. Fibrils of fibronectin and/or collagen type I were most often dissociated from this plexus of BMCs. Similar results were obtained by adding a conditioned medium of L2 or PER cells to confluent fibroblasts, even when the cells were killed. Pure laminin also bound to the fibroblast layer. A coated film of fibronectin or polymeric collagen type I was unable to bind BMC provided by a conditioned medium. It is suggested that molecule(s) synthesized by fibroblasts and deposited in the pericellular matrix are involved in the assembly of BMCs.     

拔除上颌智齿对下颌智齿冠周炎发病率的影响

目的调查参加国庆60周年阅兵训练的470名武警官兵智齿冠周炎发病情况,并探讨预防性拔除上颌智齿是否能减少下颌智齿冠周炎的发病,为部队口腔卫生卫勤提供参考。方法通过对有智齿阻生情况的146人进行口腔检查和问卷调查,对下颌有智齿并有对牙合智齿的战士68人随机分成干预组（预防性拔除下颌智齿的对[牙合]智齿34人）和对照组（不予拔除）。观察拔除下颌阻生智齿的对牙台智齿发生冠周炎发病率情况。结果下颌智齿发生阻生的几率较大（82．9％）,上颌智齿正位萌出几率较大（44．4％）;训练前4个月内智齿冠周炎的发病率为11．0％（16／146）,明显低于训练期间[22．6％（33／146）,P〈0．05]。干预组冠周炎的发病率为8．8％（3／34）,显著低于对照组[29．4％（10／34）,P〈0．05]。其中干预组中冠周炎症状严重者1人（33．3％）,显著低于对照组[6人（60．0％）,P〈0．05]。结论参阅训练中的武警官兵智齿冠周炎发病率高。在拔除下颌阻生齿的对骀呀后,有效降低了智齿冠周炎的发病率,可作为部队卫勤预防智齿冠周炎的方法。     

阿维A治疗重症银屑病临床疗效与安全性评价

目的　评价阿维A治疗重症银屑病的临床疗效与安全性。方法　24例重症银屑病患者采用阿维A治疗,剂量为 20~50mg/d,平均疗程 4~8周。结果　治疗重症银屑病有效率为 79. 2%,其中斑块状寻常性银屑病、红皮病型银屑病、泛发性脓疱型银屑病、掌跖脓疱病有效率分别为 62. 5%, 75. 0%, 100%, 88. 9%;且阿维A治疗剂量与副作用间有相关性。结论　阿维A治疗重症银屑病临床疗效显著,长时间于临床监测下服用阿维A未出现严重的毒副作用。