Panniculitis–an unusual cutaneous manifestation of systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune systemic disease characterized by small vessel involvement that leads to tissue ischemia and fibroblast stimulation resulting in accumulation of collagen (fibrosis) in the skin and internal organs. Lipomembranous panniculitis is a peculiar type of fat necrosis and has been reported with clinical conditions, commonly with peripheral vascular diseases. We describe a case of a 43‐year‐old woman with SSc manifestations, who presented with black scaly skin plaques, associated with thickening of the subcutaneous fat tissue, on the lateral surface of her thighs, her calves, gluteal area and lower abdomen. Biopsy revealed lipomembranous panniculitis. Lipomembranous changes have been seen in connective tissue disorders such as lupus profundus, morphea, systemic sclerosis and panniculitis associated with dermatomyositis, but rarely in thighs, calves, gluteal area and lower abdomen. Almeida MSTM, Lima SCB, Carvalho LL, Almeida JVM, Santos LG, Rolim JRA, Rocha TE. Panniculitis–An unusual cutaneous manifestation of systemic sclerosis.     

Haplotype association of calpain 10 gene variants with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an Irish sample

Background  

Calpain 10 (CAPN10) gene may contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).     

加替沙星无菌检查方法的建立与标准操作探讨

目的:建立加替沙星原料及制剂无菌检查法及标准操作方法。方法:按2005年版中国药典无菌检查法验证实验的有关要求,通过接种阳性代表菌株,对薄膜过滤、添加中和剂等去除加替沙星抗菌活性的实验方法和条件进行验证,逐步建立加替沙星原料及制剂无菌检查的标准操作方法。结果:在对加替沙星不同原料及制剂样品适当的处理基础上,采用薄膜过滤法,以0.1%蛋白胨水溶液作为冲洗液,约每滤筒300 mL 的冲洗量,每筒培养基中加入0.1 mol·L~(-1)硫酸锰溶液3 mL 可去除加替沙星对细菌的抑菌作用。结论:加替沙星具有较强的抑菌活性,通过适当的样品处理、薄膜过滤法和添加硫酸锰溶液作为重金属络合剂,去除加替沙星抑菌活性,可对解决喹诺酮类抗生素无菌检查问题起到较好的参考作用。     

In vitro metabolic characterization, phenotyping, and kinetic studies of 9cUAB30, a retinoid X receptor-specific retinoid.

The present study was conducted to compare the in vitro phase I and phase II metabolic profiles of (2E,4E,6Z,8E)-8-(3',4'-dihydro-1'(2'H)-naphthalen-1'-ylidene)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (9cUAB30) in human, rat, and dog microsomes and to characterize and identify the associated metabolic kinetics and specific isozymes from human liver microsomes (HLM) responsible for metabolism, respectively. Data from these experiments revealed that nine (M1-M9) phase I metabolites along with a single glucuronide conjugate were observed across the species investigated. With the exception of glucuronidation, no evidence of metabolism was detected for phase II enzymes (data not shown). Significant differences between species with regard to metabolic profile, stability, and gender were noted. For the eight phase I metabolites detected in HLM, the specific isozymes responsible for the biotransformations were CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19, with minor contributions from CYP1A2 and CYP2B6. For the glucuronide conjugate, UGT1A9 was the major catalyzing enzyme, with a minor contribution from UGT1A3. Kinetic analysis of eight of the detected metabolites indicated that four seemed to follow classical hyperbolic kinetics, whereas the remaining four showed evidence of either autoactivation or substrate inhibition.     

保健食品微生物限度检查的方法学验证

目的:确认对保健食品进行微生物限度检查时,昕采用的细菌、霉菌及酵母菌计数和控制菌检查方法是否适合于该保健食品的微生物限度检查。方法:按2005年版中国药典微生物限度检查法及方法学验证实验要求,对21种保健食品进行了方法学验证。结果:10个品种(血尔口服液、金舒通胶囊、事轻松胶囊、梦玉胶囊等)分别对金黄色葡萄球菌和枯草芽孢杆菌有明显的抑菌作用,阳性对照菌回收率均低于70%。结论:保健食品采用 GB/T4789-2003食品卫生微生物学检查法进行检查时,其检验结果可能不够科学,建议参照2005年版中国药典要求,通过方法验证实验建立合理的检验方法。     

Selenium status of New Zealand infants fed either a selenium supplemented or a standard formula

Objective: New Zealand soils are deficient in the essential micronutrient, selenium. New Zealand infants have low selenium levels at birth and experience a further decline if fed cows milk based formula. This study examined the selenium status of infants fed with a new commercially available selenium supplemented formula.
Methodology Forty-four newborn infants, whose mothers wished to formula feed, were randomized in an open controlled trial to be fed a commercially available selenium supplemented cows milk formula (containing 17 μg Se/L) or an unsupplemented formula (containing 4.6 μg Se/L). Cord, 1 and 3 month blood samples were obtained for selenium status (plasma and red cell selenium and glutathione peroxidase) and thyroid function.
Results Mean plasma selenium and glutathione peroxidase values were significantly higher in supplemented than unsupplemented infants at 1 month (unpaired t -tests; P <0.0001 and P = 0.001 respectively) and 3 months ( P <0.0001 and P = 0.0005). Analysis within treatment groups between time points (paired t -tests) showed that selenium supplementation prevented the fall in plasma selenium from birth to 1 month seen in unsupplemented infants and was associated with a rise in levels between 1 and 3 months ( P = 0.002).
Conclusions Supplementing cows milk formula with selenium to replicate the levels found in breast milk is nutritionally sound. Feeding from a few days of age with a formula containing 17 μg Se/L in infants with low selenium status at birth is sufficient to cause a rise to 80% of adult levels at 3 months of age.     

31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of the effect of hypoxemia on neonatal status epilepticus

Prolonged neonatal seizures are often accompanied or exacerbated by hypoxemia. To determine the effects of hypoxemia on neonatal status epilepticus, we determined cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic state in groups of neonatal dogs subjected to hypoxia, to seizures during normoxia, or to seizures during hypoxia. The compensatory increase in cerebral blood flow was greatest in animals subjected to seizures during normoxia and somewhat less pronounced in animals made hypoxic. However, blood flow failed to increase in forebrain structures when animals were subjected to the combination of seizures and hypoxia. Accordingly, levels of adenosine triphosphate in forebrain (measured both by in vitro enzymatic analysis and by in vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) were depleted to the greatest degree in animals who were seizing while hypoxic. In addition, brain glucose was significantly reduced only in the seizure-hypoxia group. Systemic factors such as hypoxemia may play a critical role in the disruption of cerebral energy balance during neonatal status epilepticus.     

Occult bacteremia in children with simple febrile seizures

The controversy surrounding the diagnostic workup for simple febrile seizures has centered around the lumbar puncture. This focus has obscured the potential importance of other tests. A retrospective study was performed to determine the frequency of occult bacteremia in simple febrile seizures. In a pediatric emergency department, we identified 115 cases of simple febrile seizures in children treated as outpatients. Blood cultures were performed in 93 (81%) of 115 patients; five (5.4%) were positive. Children were less likely to have blood cultures performed if they were older than 24 months or had a medical history of simple febrile seizures. However, neither age nor history of febrile seizures affected the risk of bacteremia. These data suggest that patients with simple febrile seizures are at approximately the same risk for bacteremia as children with fever alone. Patients with simple febrile seizures should be treated in the same manner as other patients of the same age with regard to the performance of blood cultures.