Removal of fecal indicator bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes in constructed wetlands

Abstract

Wastewater discharge evidently increased bacterial diversity in the receiving waterbodies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a constructed wetland in reducing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs). We determined the prevalence and attenuation of fecal indicator bacteria including Escherichia coli and enterococci, along with ARGs, and human-associated Bacteroidales (HF183) markers by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method. Three types of water samples (inlet, intermediate, and outlet) from a constructed wetland were collected once a month from May to December in 2013. The overall reduction of E. coli was 50.0% based on culture method. According to the qPCR result, the overall removal rate of E. coli was only 6.7%. Enterococci were found in 62.5% of the wetland samples. HF183 genetic marker was detected in all final effluent samples with concentration ranging from 1.8 to 4.22 log₁₀ gene copies (GC)/100 ml. Of the ARGs tested, erythromycin resistance genes (ermF) were detected in 79.2% of the wetland samples. The class 1 integrase (intI1) was detected in all water samples with concentration ranging from 0.83 to 5.54 log₁₀ GC/100 ml. The overall removal rates of enterococci, HF183, intI1, and ermF were 84.0%, 66.6%, 67.2%, and 13.1%, respectively.

http://bit.ly/2DBe9gK

Inferior pole breast reconstruction by TDAP flap in post-burn breast contracture

Abstract

Background

Post-burn breast deformities are not an uncommon condition after severe second-degree or third-degree burn and present as severe asymmetry of the breast as compared to the opposite side, displacement of nipple-areola complex, obliteration of inframammary fold, and reduced breast projection. Based on deformities especially for lower pole breast contracture, we propose a new classification to describe breast contracture. There is no tailor-made approach described to deal such deformities. Various options are available ranging from skin graft to different flaps. We present reconstruction by TDAP flap after the release of breast contracture grades I and II. This study aimed to classify the lower pole breast contracture according to its severity and to evaluate the outcome of TDAP flap reconstruction and augmentation of the lower pole of the breast in terms of symmetry and aesthesis.

Methods

This is a descriptive retrospective study of 10 patients with 15 post-burn contracted breast affecting the inferior pole of the breast and inframammary fold within a period of January 2012 to March 2016 in Kasralainy hospital, Cairo. All cases were evaluated according to flap vascularity, donor site morbidity, symmetry, and esthetic outcome.

Results

All flaps survived completely. Flap dimension ranged from 18 × 10 to 22 × 12 cm. The muscle sparing design had been used in three patients due to lack of reliable perforators. Patients were evaluated for their satisfaction, and all of them were satisfied.

Conclusions

It is essential to classify the grade of post-burn lower pole breast contracture according to the proposed classification. TDAP is a valuable option in case of grade I and II deformities only. For severe grade III breast contracture, more volume restoring procedure is advisable.

Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

http://bit.ly/2TMi7dA

Randomized, single‐blinded, crossover study of a novel wound dressing vs current clinical practice after percutaneous collagen induction therapy

Summary

Introduction

Skin rejuvenation procedures have become common with sophisticated technologies with reduced downtime and related risks. Recently, microneedling has been paired with radiofrequency to create Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling (FRFM) to induce neocollagenesis. Frequently, topical products are applied immediately after the needling. This procedure is known as percutaneous collagen induction therapy (PCIT). Postoperative topical wound care is critical for prompt rapid and safe healing, with moist wound healing deemed of primary importance for fast and correct scarring process. An ideal dressing enables a moist environment while reducing postprocedural inflammatory responses in the first stages of wound healing.

Objective

To evaluate whether an innovative silicone‐based wound dressing is superior than standard of care therapy in decreasing severity and duration of treatment‐site acute inflammatory reactions post PCIT.

Materials and Methods

Endymed PRO Intensif Handpiece (Endymed, Israel) was used for the full‐face FRFM procedure. Subjects (n = 20) applied treatment (Stratacel^®—Stratpharma SG, Switzerland) and control (Aquaphor^®—Beiersdorf Inc, USA) immediately after the procedure and daily; they were evaluated immediately postprocedure (baseline assessment), at 2, 3 and 7 days postprocedure. Digital and 3D pictures (Antera 3D Camera for Skin Analysis—Miravex, Ireland) were taken at each assessment.

Results

All patients healed properly without reporting adverse reactions to any of the studied products. Erythema at each study visit was significantly reduced with the use of the novel wound dressing (P < 0.001). A statistically significant difference in favor of the innovative wound dressing also emerged with respect to the patient‐rated product properties (P = 0.008), such as feel on skin, drying time and stickiness.

Conclusions

The novel wound dressing reduced signs of acute inflammation following PCIT when compared to standard of care, without reporting adverse events and resulting in a more favorable outcome from a patient perspective.

http://bit.ly/2N28jJS

Inhalation cancer risk estimation of source-specific personal exposure for particulate matter–bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on positive matrix factorization

Abstract

In previous studies, inhalation cancer risk was estimated using conventional risk assessment method, which was normally based on compound-specific analysis, and cannot provide substantial data for source-specific particulate matter concentrations and pollution control. In the present study, we applied an integrated risk analysis method, which was a synthetic combination of source apportionment receptor model and risk assessment method, to estimate cancer risks associated to individual PAHs coming from specific sources. Personal exposure particulate matter samples referring to an elderly panel were collected in a community of Tianjin, Northern China, in 2009, and 12 PAH compounds were measured using GC-MS. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to extract the potential sources and quantify the source contributions to the PAH mixture. Then, the lung cancer risk of each modeled source was estimated by summing up the cancer risks of all measured PAH species according to the extracted source profile. The final results indicated that the overall cancer risk was 1.12 × 10⁻⁵, with the largest contribution from gasoline vehicle emission (44.1%). Unlike other risk estimation studies, this study was successful in combining risk analysis and source apportionment approaches, which allow estimating the potential risk of all source types and provided suitable information to select prior control strategies and mitigate the main air pollution sources that contributing to health risks.

http://bit.ly/2SPVnfi

Can Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters Be Safely Placed in Patients with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy? A Retrospective Study of Almost 400,000 Catheter‐Days

AbstractBackground.Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are central venous catheters (CVCs) that are commonly used in onco‐hematologic settings for chemotherapy administration. As there is insufficient evidence to recommend a specific CVC for chemotherapy administration, we aimed to ascertain PICC‐related adverse events (AEs) and identify independent predictors of PICC removal in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy.Materials and Methods.Information on adult patients with cancer with a PICC inserted for chemotherapy administration between September 2007 and December 2014 was extracted from six hospital databases. The primary outcome was PICC removal due to PICC‐related AEs (occlusion, infection, or symptomatic thrombosis). Independent predictors of PICC removal were identified using a multivariate Cox regression model.Results.Among the 2,477 included patients, 419 PICC‐related AEs (16.9%; 1.09 AEs per 1,000 PICC‐days) were reported. AEs increased when PICC was inserted at the brachial site (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.84) and with open systems (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.24–2.88) and decreased in older men (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49–0.81).Conclusion.Use of PICC for chemotherapy administration was associated with a low all‐AEs rate. The basilic vein was the safer site, and valved systems had fewer AEs than open systems. More research is needed to explore the interaction between AEs, sex, and age.Implications for Practice.These findings provide clinicians with evidence that peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are safe for chemotherapy administration. They also suggest that clinicians should limit the use of open systems when long chemotherapy regimens are scheduled. Moreover, alternatives to PICCs should be considered when administering chemotherapy to young men.

http://bit.ly/2I8xjA8

Sidedness Matters: Surrogate Biomarkers Prognosticate Colorectal Cancer upon Anatomic Location

AbstractBackground.Anatomic location of primary tumors across the colon correlate with survival in the metastatic setting, whereas left‐sided tumors may exhibit superior survival compared with right‐sided tumors. The Oncotype Recurrence Score (RS) assay is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies had indicated that without adjuvant chemotherapy, CDX2‐negative stage II CRC tumors are associated with a lower rate of disease‐free survival than CDX2‐positive stage II CRC tumors. We aimed to evaluate whether these two validated prognostic biomarkers may correlate with primary tumor location, and whether tumor location may reflect differential prognosis in stage II CRC.Materials and Methods.We retrospectively analyzed patients with T3 mismatch repair‐proficient (MMR‐P) stage II CRC for whom RS assay was performed. Pathological report was reviewed for exact primary tumor location and CDX2 immunostaining. RS and CDX2 expression were correlated with primary tumor location.Results.The analysis included 1,147 patients with MMR‐P stage II CRC (median age 69 years [range 29–93]). Tumor distribution across the colon was as follows: 46% (n = 551) were right‐sided and 54% (n = 596) were left‐sided. RS was higher in right‐sided tumors (p = .01). The RS results gradually decreased across the colon (cecum, highest score; sigmoid, lowest score; p = .04). Right‐sided tumors exhibited more CDX2‐negative tumors (p = .07).Conclusion.Our study indicates that right‐sided colorectal tumors may display worse prognosis compared with left‐sided tumors in MMR‐P stage II CRC. Primary tumor location may serve as a prognostic factor that should be taken into account for recurrence risk assessment and consideration of adjuvant treatment.Implications for Practice.Sidedness matters, even in stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). Using two previously established prognostic tools, the Oncotype DX assay and CDX2 expression, this study found that right‐sided tumors may display worse prognosis compared with left‐sided tumors in mismatch repair‐proficient stage II CRC. Therefore, primary tumor location should be taken into account for recurrence risk assessment and consideration of adjuvant treatment.

http://bit.ly/2E7Ed4H

A Case of Donor‐Transmitted Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer After Liver Transplantation: An Unwelcome Guest

AbstractCancer transmission with organ donation has been previously reported with a variety of malignancies and organ transplants. The risk of transmission through organ transplantation from donors with a history of previously treated malignancies has been addressed by guidelines from transplant societies. Herein, we report a case of a patient who developed lung cancer confined to the liver after liver transplantation with no known history of malignancy in the donor. The suspicion of donor origin arose after positron emission tomography‐computerized tomography scan showed metastatic lung cancer only involving the transplanted liver without a primary focus. Genetic analysis of the malignant cells confirmed donor origin of the cancer.

http://bit.ly/2I6XYgV

High IDO1 Expression Is Associated with Poor Outcome in Patients with Anal Cancer Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy

AbstractBackground.This study characterizes the tumor‐immune microenvironment in pretreatment, localized anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), including two markers that have not previously been studied in ASCC: indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I.Materials and Methods.Retrospective review identified 63 patients with ASCC receiving definitive chemoradiation between 2005 and 2016 with pretreatment tissue available. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8), programmed cell death protein 1, programmed death‐ligand 1, HLA class I, and IDO1. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations between outcomes and immune markers, controlling for clinical characteristics.Results.With a median follow‐up of 35 months, 3‐year overall survival was 78%. The only marker found to have a robust association with outcome was tumor IDO1. In general, the percentage of tumor cells expressing IDO1 was low (median 1%, interquartile range 0%–20%); however, patients with >50% of tumor cells expressing IDO1 had significantly worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 4.7, p = .007) as well as higher local recurrence (HR 8.6, p = .0005) and distant metastasis (HR 12.7, p = .0002). Tumors with >50% IDO1 were also more likely to have the lowest quartile of CD8 infiltrate (<40 per high‐power field, p = .024).Conclusion.ASCC has a diverse immune milieu. Although patients generally do well with standard therapy, IDO1 may serve as a prognostic indicator of poor outcome and could help identify a patient population that might benefit from IDO‐targeted therapies.Implications for Practice.After definitive chemoradiation, patients with locally advanced anal cancer may experience significant treatment morbidity and high risk of recurrence. The goal of the current study is to identify novel prognostic factors in the tumor‐immune microenvironment that predict for poor outcomes after definitive chemoradiation. This study characterizes the tumor‐immune microenvironment in pre‐treatment, localized anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), including two markers which have not previously been studied in ASCC: indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and HLA class I. With a median follow‐up of 3 years, this study demonstrated that high IDO1 expression is correlated with significantly worse 3‐year overall survival (88% vs. 25%). Whereas recent studies of IDO1 inhibitors have shown mixed results, this study suggests that patients with anal cancer with high IDO1 expression have dismal prognosis and may represent a patient population primed for response to targeted IDO1 inhibition.

http://bit.ly/2E73TP3

STEP as a Useful Tool to Screen for Diabetes-Specific Health-Related Problems in Community-Based Geriatric Patients- An Exploratory Secondary Analysis of Cross-Sectional Data

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes
DOI: 10.1055/a-0803-0362

Background and Aims Comprehensive geriatric assessments are established tools for the identification of health problems in the elderly. So far, little is known about tailoring and targeting to facilitate their application. As a starting point for a tailored assessment of patients with diabetes, a highly prevalent health condition, we aimed to assess if the Standardized Assessment of Elderly People (STEP) is able to identify relevant differences in self-reported health problems between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Patients and Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study including 1007 adults (aged 65 and older) from 28 German general practices, evaluating the feasibility and usefulness of the self-administered STEP version. For this exploratory study we re-analysed the data and compared patients with and without diabetes. Results Out of 940 patients included in the secondary analysis, 248 (26.4%) had diabetes. Compared to non-diabetic patients, geriatric diabetic patients reported more often problems in activities of daily living, physical problems typically associated with diabetes such as urinary incontinence, visual impairment, mood disturbances, as well as the use of medical or social services. Most of our results were stable after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index. Conclusion We conclude that the self-administered version of the STEP tool may be used to screen for health problems typically associated with diabetes. Our results may guide the development of a tailored STEP-version specifically for diabetic patients. Further research might evaluate the adoption and usefulness of such a tool in every-day general practice.
[...]

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

http://bit.ly/2WTR561

Association of the PNPLA2, SCD1 and Leptin Expression with Fat Distribution in Liver and Adipose Tissue From Obese Subjects

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes
DOI: 10.1055/a-0829-6324

The expansion of adipose tissue is regulated by insulin and leptin through SREBP-1c, up-regulating lipogenesis in tissues by SCD1 enzyme, while ATGL enzyme is key in lipolysis. The research objective was to evaluate the expression of SREBF1, SCD1, PNPLA2, and LEP genes in hepatic-adipose tissue, and related them with the increment and distribution of fat depots of individuals without insulin resistance. Thirty-eight subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy with liver and adipose tissue biopsies (subcutaneous-omental) are included. Tissue gene expression was assessed by qPCR and biochemical parameters determined. Individuals are classified according to the body mass index, classified as lean (control group, n=12), overweight (n=11) and obesity (n=15). Abdominal adiposity was determined by anthropometric and histopathological study of the liver. Increased SCD1 expression in omental adipose tissue (p=0.005) and PNPLA2 in liver (p=0.01) were found in the obesity group. PNPLA2 decreased expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue was significant in individuals with abdominal adiposity (p=0.017). Anthropometric parameters positively correlated with liver PNPLA2 and the expression of liver PNPLA2 with serum leptin. SCD1 increased levels may represent lipid storage activity in omental adipose tissue. Liver PNPLA2 increased expression could function as a primary compensatory event of visceral fat deposits associated to the leptin hormone related to the increase of adipose tissue.
[...]

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

http://bit.ly/2RYNWOu

Phytoremediatory efficiency of Chrysopogon zizanioides in the treatment of landfill leachate: a case study

Abstract

A common approach for waste management is their disposal in landfills, which is usually associated with the production of dangerous gases and of liquid leachate. Due to its toxicity, polluted liquid negatively impacts on the environment with the possible contamination of large volumes of soil, groundwater, and surface water. Leachate remediation is therefore subject of intensive research, and phytoremediation has been achieving increasing interest in recent decades. We describe here the suitability of vetiver grass for the remediation of two leachates collected in urban landfills of northern Italy, characterized by different composition. Our objective was measuring the accumulation/tolerance potential of this species and the evapotranspiration ability in a pot experiment, to evaluate applicability of vetiver plants for the reduction and decontamination of landfill leachate. Plants were grown for 4 months in pots with a zeolite growth bed and watered with either tap water (control) or undiluted landfill leachate. Plant growth and fitness and elemental content in shoots and roots were evaluated at the end of the experiment. In these experimental conditions, the high bioaccumulation of metals highlights the suitability of this species for its employment in phytoremediation; however, vetiver growth under leachate treatment was strongly dependent on leachate composition, making a case-to-case evaluation of plant tolerance necessary before large-scale application.

http://bit.ly/2RY7Zwm

“We don’t really know what else we can do”: Parent experiences when adolescent distress persists after the Maudsley and family-based therapies for anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Background

Maudsley Family Therapy (MFT), and its manualised version, Family-Based Therapy (FBT), are the only well-established treatment interventions for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN), with treatment efficacy primarily measured by improvements in eating behaviours and weight restoration. A crucial component of this therapy is an intensive home-based refeeding intervention that requires a substantial commitment from parents for up to one year. While this treatment works to restore weight in a proportion of adolescents, very little is known about its impacts on family distress, relationships and identity, including in the 40% of families where the adolescent experiences ongoing eating disorder (ED) symptomatology and/or psychological distress during and post-treatment. Specifically, few studies have investigated the impacts of MFT/FBT treatment on family functioning or on how parents negotiate their identities, or who they understand themselves to be, in the context of this treatment intervention. This is a significant omission, given the substantive role assigned to parents to take responsibility for their child's eating restoration in the first treatment phase. This study seeks to address this gap through a qualitative exploration of parents' experiences of MFT/FBT, in cases where treatment was discontinued and/or their child continued to experience psychological distress post-treatment.

Methods

13 parents participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews that scaffolded between their experiences and ways they negotiated and sustained their identities as parents within the context of MFT/FBT for their child. Interview data was analysed through a framework of critical discursive analysis to generate themes centred on these parents' experiences and identity negotiation.

Results

Key findings are that MFT/FBT: (1) provided a map for therapy that initially relieved parents' anxieties for their child and facilitated improvements in family functioning; (2) inadequately addressed parental guilt and blame with a form of externalisation of the illness; (3) perpetuated parental guilt by raising anxiety about AN and allocating responsibility for refeeding their child in phase 1 of the treatment; and (4) when ceased, left these parents struggling with an uncertain future, and fears for the wellbeing of their children.

Conclusions

The structure of MFT/FBT provided initial relief with some improvements in family communication patterns, however, when the adolescent experienced protracted ED symptoms and/or ongoing psychological distress post-treatment, these parents were left with uncertainty as to how to navigate their shifting roles and their child's ongoing struggles. This research highlights the need for treatments for adolescent AN that more comprehensively address both the adolescent and parents' psychological distress and also (re)build their senses of identity that have been challenged by AN and its effects.

http://bit.ly/2GCOc3Q

Different surface modifications combined with universal adhesives: the impact on the bonding properties of zirconia to composite resin cement

Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of plasma treatment and (universal adhesives) UAs on the bonding properties of zirconia.

Material and methods

Zirconia specimens (N = 744; n = 186/pretreatment) were prepared, highly polished, and pretreated: (i) plasma (oxygen plasma, 10s, 5 mm), (ii) airborne-particle abrasion (alumina, 50 μm, 0.05 MPa, 5 s, 10 mm), (iii) airborne-particle abrasion + plasma, and (iv) without pretreatment (highly polished surface). Surface roughness (R_a) and surface free energy (SFE) were measured (n = 6/pretreatment). Tensile bond strength (TBS) specimens (n = 180/pretreatment) were further divided (n = 18/conditioning): Clearfil Ceramic Primer (PCG), All-Bond Universal (ABU), Adhese Universal (AU), Clearfil Universal Bond (CUB), G-Premio Bond (GPB), Futurabond U (FBU), iBond Universal (IBU), One Coat 7 Universal (OCU), Scotchbond Universal (SBU), and no conditioning. PCG was luted with Panavia F2.0 and the remaining groups with DuoCem. After storage in distilled water (24 h; 37 °C) and thermocycling (5000×; 5 °C/55 °C), TBS was measured and fracture types (FTs) were determined. Data were analyzed using univariate ANOVA with a partial eta square (ƞ_P²), the Kruskal–Wallis H, the Mann–Whitney U, and the Chi² test (P < .05).

Results

Plasma treatment resulted in an increase of SFE but had no impact on R_a. Airborne-particle abrasion resulted in the highest R_a and a higher TBS when compared with plasma and non-treatment. SBU and AU obtained a higher TBS when compared with PCG. OCU, FBU, ABU, IBU, and GPB indicated comparable TBS to PCG. CUB revealed the lowest TBS.

Conclusions

Plasma treatment cannot substitute airborne-particle abrasion when bonding zirconia but MDP-containing adhesives are essential for successful clinical outcomes.

Clinical relevance

Airborne-particle abrasion with a low pressure (0.05 MPa) in combination with UAs promotes the clinical success of adhesively bonded zirconia restorations.

http://bit.ly/2SOhC5m

Szent-Györgyi Prize to honor NCI’s Steven A. Rosenberg

The 2019 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research will be awarded to NCI's Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., for his pioneering role in the development of immunotherapy.

http://bit.ly/2TNMHU4

Ponatinib in Advanced or Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Condition:   Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Intervention:   Drug: Ponatinib
Sponsors:   Antonio Fojo;   Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Not yet recruiting

http://bit.ly/2Ia7foi

Radiotherapy Plus Concurrent Nimotuzumab or Cisplatin in Stage II-III Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Conditions:   Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma;   Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms;   Nasopharyngeal Diseases;   Head and Neck Neoplasm
Interventions:   Drug: Nimotuzumab;   Drug: Cisplatin
Sponsors:   Sun Yat-sen University;   Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University;   Guangdong General Hospital;   First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University
Recruiting

http://bit.ly/2Go1ge2

Feasibility and Tolerance of Nivolumab Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in High Risk HPV Driven Oropharynx Cancer

Condition:   Oropharynx Cancer
Interventions:   Drug: Nivolumab;   Radiation: Chemoradiation
Sponsor:   UNICANCER
Not yet recruiting

http://bit.ly/2Ia764e

Role of Microbiome as a Biomarkers in Locoregionally-Advanced Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2

Condition:   Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Intervention:   Drug: MET-4
Sponsors:   University Health Network, Toronto;   NuBiyota
Not yet recruiting

http://bit.ly/2GpiFTq

A Single Dry Needling Session of the Obliquus Capitis Inferior for the Altered Sensorimotor Function in People With Neck Pain

Conditions:   Whiplash Syndrome;   Neck Pain
Interventions:   Other: dry needling;   Other: Sham needling
Sponsor:   University of Valencia
Recruiting

http://bit.ly/2Ia6XxI

Estimating the spatial distribution of environmental suitability for female lung cancer mortality in China based on a novel statistical method

Abstract

Lung cancer as one of the major causes of cancer mortality has been demonstrated to be closely related to the ambient atmospheric environment, but little has been done in the synthetic evaluation of the linkage between cancer mortality and combined impact of ambient air pollution and meteorological conditions. The present study determined the environmental suitability for female lung cancer mortality associated with air contaminants and meteorological variables. A novel fuzzy matter–element method was applied to identify the spatial distribution and regions for the environmental suitability for the female lung cancer mortality across China in 2013. The membership functions between the cancer mortality and 6 environmental factors, including PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, PM₁₀, the annual mean wind speed, and mean temperature, were generated and the weights of each of the environmental factors were established by the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model. We categorized the environmental suitability combined with GIS spatial analysis into three zones, including low-suitable, medium-suitable, and high-suitable region where the cancer mortality ranging from low to high rate was identified. These three zones were quantified by the MaxEnt model taking different air pollutants and meteorological variables into consideration. We identified that NO₂ was a most significant factor among the 6 environmental factors with the weight of 24.88%, followed by the annual mean wind speed, SO₂, and PM_2.5. The high-suitable area, mainly in the North China Plain which is a most heavily contaminated region by air pollution in China, covers 1.6195 million square kilometers, accounting for 17.85% of the total area investigated in this study. Identification of the impact of various environmental factors on cancer mortality in the different suitable area provides a scientific basis for the environmental management, risk assessment, and lung cancer control.

http://bit.ly/2GE8N7D

Spatial variation of heavy metals and uptake potential by Typha domingensis in a tropical reservoir in the midlands region, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Pollution of aquatic ecosystems with heavy metals is now of global concern due to their dangers to human health and persistence in the environment. An investigation on the spatial distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments and the bioaccumulation potential of heavy metals by plant parts (i.e. roots, stems and leaves) of aquatic macrophyte Typha domingensis (Pers.) Steud in a tropical reservoir was carried out. The results showed no difference in spatial distribution of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn) in water and sediments from the riverine to the dam wall. The concentration of heavy metals Fe, Cu, Cr and Zn in T. domingensis was of the order root > stem > leaves, but for Pb, Cd and Mn, it followed the order root > leaf > stem. The metal transfer between roots and shoots of T. domingensis followed the order Zn > Pb > Fe > Cu > Cd > Cr. The bio-concentration factor (BCF) was low (BCF < 1) for all the selected metals while the transfer factor (TF) varied among metals suggesting that T. domingensis is not an accumulator of the studied metals. The high concentration of heavy metals found in the water (0.7–16.14 mg L⁻¹) and sediments (43.6–569.18 mg kg⁻¹) present a potential risk to both ecological health and human health for the population living in the area. The results of metal concentration in water and sediments from this study are important as a baseline for future monitoring studies. Further studies on bioavailability of metals to other macrophytes and aquatic organisms are recommended.

http://bit.ly/2titH4v

Ionomic profile and arsenic speciation in Semisulcospira cancellata , a freshwater shellfish from a mine-impacted river in China

Abstract

Freshwater aquatic environment close to cities and industrial areas is more sensitive than marine environment. The freshwater shellfish Semisulcospira cancellate was introduced as a bioindicator to monitor the heavy metal contamination in the river through ionomic profiles and arsenic speciation. The shellfish samples were collected near four cities along the Xiang River in China. The concentrations of elements including Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, and Pb were determined using ICP-MS. Multivariate statistical analyses such as Pearson's correlation analysis and principle component analysis (PCA) were employed to identify the possible sources of the elements in the shellfish samples. Three principle components were extracted from the ionomic matrix and were associated with natural existence, biological pathways, and mining and smelting activities, respectively. The ionomic profiles of the shellfish samples were evaluated through hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) which was exhibited in the form of heatmap. The shellfish samples were categorized according to the sampling sites with different contamination levels. Six As species including arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), arsenobetaine (AsB), and arsenocholine (AsC) were separated and quantified using HPLC-ICP-MS. The concentrations of As(III) and As(V) were linearly increased with total As concentration increasing. However, the proportion of AsB was decreased with total As while the AsB concentration was irrelevant to total As.

http://bit.ly/2MZhYkr

Characterizations and mechanisms for synthesis of chitosan-coated Na–X zeolite from fly ash and As(V) adsorption study

Abstract

Solid waste fly ash with low aluminum of Yunnan Province in China was used as pristine material to prepared chitosan-coated Na–X zeolite, and the obtained composite material was employed as As(V) adsorbent. Then, the prepared materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and XPS. And the results suggested that the low aluminum fly ash was successfully convert into Na–X zeolite, and the mineralization between Si–OH of the obtained Na–X zeolite and C–OH of chitosan was the dominated mechanism for coated chitosan over the surface of Na–X zeolite. From the batch experiments of As(V) removal, it has been found that the coated chitosan could significantly improve As(V) performance of Na–X zeolite. The optimal working pH for removal As(V) by chitosan-coated Na–X zeolite was attained at pH 2.1 ± 0.1, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 63.23 mg/g. And the adsorption data at different interval time was excellent fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. From the analyze of XPS, the results suggested that As(V) uptake over adsorbent by the bond of As–N and As–O and the surface hydroxyl group of Al–OH and –NH₂ were involved in uptake As(V) from acid wastewater.

http://bit.ly/2SIQwwE

The impact of particulate matter on allergy risk among adults: integrated exposure assessment

Abstract

Exposure assessment is an important part in environmental epidemiology for determining the associations of environmental factors with health effects. One of the greatest challenges for personal exposure assessment is associated with peoples' mobility during the day and spatial and temporal dynamics of air pollution. In this study, the impact of PM₁₀ (particulate matter less than 10 μm) on allergy risk among adults was assessed using objective methods of exposure assessment. The primary objective of the present study was to estimate personal exposure to PM₁₀ based on individual daily movement patterns. Significant differences between the concentration of PM₁₀ in different microenvironments (MEs) and personal exposure to PM₁₀ were determined. Home exposure accounted for the largest part of PM₁₀ exposure. Thirty-five percent of PM₁₀ exposure was received in other non-home MEs. Allergy risk increased significantly with increasing exposure to PM₁₀. Adults exposed to the highest levels of PM₁₀ exposure had a twice-higher risk of allergies than adults exposed to the lowest levels of PM₁₀ exposure. The study results have practical relevance for exposure assessment to environmental factors and its impact on health effects.

http://bit.ly/2N2lIBE

Electro-transformation of mefenamic acid drug: a case study of kinetics, transformation products, and toxicity

Abstract

Poor removal of many pharmaceuticals and personal care products in sewage treatment plants leads to their discharge into the receiving waters, where they may cause negative effects for aquatic environment and organisms. In this study, electrochemical removal process has been used as alternative method for removal of mefenamic acid (MEF). For our knowledge, removal of MEF using electrochemical process has not been reported yet. Effects of initial concentration of mefenamic acid, sodium chloride (NaCl), and applied voltage were evaluated for improvement of the efficiency of electrochemical treatment process and to understand how much electric energy was consumed in this process. Removal percentage (R%) was ranged between 44 and 97%, depending on the operating parameters except for 0.1 g NaCl which was 9.1%. Consumption energy was 0.224 Wh/mg after 50 min at 2 mg/L of mefenamic acid, 0.5 g NaCl, and 5 V. High consumption energy (0.433 Wh/mg) was observed using high applied voltage of 7 V. Investigation and elucidation of the transformation products were provided by Bruker software dataAnalysis using liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry. Seven chlorinated and two non-chlorinated transformation products were investigated after 20 min of electrochemical treatment. However, all transformation products (TPs) were eliminated after 140 min. For the assessment of the toxicity, it was impacted by the formation of transformation products especially between 20 and 60 min then the inhibition percentage of E. coli bacteria was decreased after 80 min to be the lowest value.

http://bit.ly/2SIQtRu

Prostate cancer treated with irreversible electroporation: MRI-based volumetric analysis and oncological outcome

Publication date: Available online 12 February 2019

Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Author(s): Francesco Giganti, Armando Stabile, Simone Giona, José Marenco, Clement Orczyk, Caroline M. Moore, Clare Allen, Alex Kirkham, Mark Emberton, Shonit Punwani

Abstract

Background

To assess multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) characteristics in prostate cancer (PCa) before and after irreversible electroporation (IRE) and to investigate their correlation with the presence of post-operative recurrence of PCa.

Methods

MpMRI was performed in 30 men with PCa prior to treatment, after 10 days and at 6 months. An additional scan at 1 year was available for 18 men. Two radiologists assessed retrospectively the following parameters by planimetry: tumour volume, necrotic volume (early post-treatment scan) and residual fibrosis. Residual tumour/recurrence were defined as a suspicious area within the treatment field scored ≥ 4 on a 1-to-5 scale. Oncological outcome was also assessed.

Results

The median follow-up of the entire study was 16 months. Six men were undertreated and showed mpMRI recurrence after 6 months. At 1-year, three additional men had recurrence. Overall, four of these 9 men (44%) were retreated. The other five men did not receive any further treatment. Median time to re-treatment was 15 months. Median pre-treatment lesion volume was 0.65 cc, 0.66 cc and 0.43 cc on the different mpMRI sequences (T2, DWI and DCE). Median necrotic volume was 10.77 cc. Median overall residual fibrosis volume were 0.84 cc and 0.95 cc at 6-month and 1-year mpMRI. Pre-treatment, necrotic and residual fibrosis volumes were significantly different (p < 0.001). Pre-treatment tumour volumes on diffusion-weighted imaging and necrotic volumes were correlated (r = 0.18; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

MpMRI is able to visualise the IRE ablation effects in men with PCa. MpMRI-derived parameters - such as tumour, necrotic and fibrosis volumes - can be measured and are potentially useful for assessing efficacy in the medium term, as with other ablative techniques.

http://bit.ly/2Bxl5eS

Autophagy promotes aortic adventitial fibrosis via the IL-6/Jak1 signaling pathway in Takayasu's arteritis

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of Autoimmunity

Author(s): Rongyi Chen, Ying Sun, Xiaomeng Cui, Zongfei Ji, Xiufang Kong, Sifan Wu, Qingrong Huang, Xiaoming Dai, Si Zhang, Lili Ma, Lindi Jiang

Abstract

Background

Autophagy is a ubiquitous and evolutionarily conserved self-rescue process. Studies have shown that autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases; however, whether autophagy is associated with the pathogenesis of Takayasu's arteritis (TA), a large vessel idiopathic inflammatory disease characterized by vascular fibrosis, remains unclear. Moreover, although IL-6 is believed to be a direct target for TA treatment, anti-IL-6 treatment could not block TA-associated fibrosis in some cases, which impairs the aortic function of patients and can result in death. Thus, identify the mechanisms associated with TA is extremely important. Based on the relationship between autophagy and IL-6, we investigated the role of autophagy in the vascular fibrosis of TA induced by IL-6.

Methods

Autophagy proteins (LC3 and Atg3), IL-6, and markers of fibrosis (collagen 1 and α-SMA) were detected in tissues with TA lesions via immunochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot, respectively. Different stages of autophagy were analyzed by the specific inhibitors, 3-methyladenosine (early stage), hydroxychloroquine sulfate (late stage), and bafilomycin A1 (late stage). Autophagosomes were detected using electron microscopy and a viral-vector transfection assay. The fibrosis profiles induced by IL-6-dependent autophagy was assessed with an ELISA.

Results

The expression of autophagy, IL-6, and fibrosis markers were elevated and correlated with each other in the adventitia tissues of TA patients. Furthermore, exogenous IL-6/IL-6Rα could significantly increase autophagy and fibrosis in vitro. An autophagy inhibitor was found to significantly block both autophagy and fibrosis induced by IL-6. Finally, IL-6 was found to significantly promote autophagy-induced fibrosis through the activation of the Jak1 pathway.

Conclusions

IL-6-induced autophagy plays an important role in vascular fibrosis of TA. Targeting autophagy pathways might represent a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of TA.

http://bit.ly/2ByEoEs

Blood-brain barrier disruption and neuroinflammation as pathophysiological mechanisms of the diffuse manifestations of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Nancy P. Duarte Delgado, Gloria Vásquez, Blanca L. Ortiz-Reyes

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease that can involve nervous system commitment known as neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). The diagnostic of NPSLE is complex because the symptoms range from focal symptoms (e.g., strokes, thrombotic events) to diffuse disorders affecting cognition, mood and level of consciousness (e.g. acute confusional state, psychosis). Both type of manifestations of NPSLE differ in their pathological mechanisms. The focus of this review will be on the mechanisms that lead to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and to the neuroinflammation related with the diffuse manifestations of NPSLE.

http://bit.ly/2TGVK97

Conceptual, statistical and clinical interpretation of results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence of cervical HPV infection in women with SLE

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Autoimmunity Reviews

Author(s): Rama Jayaraj, Chellan Kumarasamy

http://bit.ly/2TGVIhv

Digital setting of postoperative planned occlusion using occlusal contact points on a dental cast model in digital maxillofacial surgery

Abstract

Objectives

This study analyzed the accuracy of digital occlusion settings for maxillofacial surgery simulation using occlusal contact points obtained from dental cast models.

Methods

Twenty-nine paired dental cast models of patients were used. The orthodontist set the dental cast for postoperative planned occlusion in the articulator. In the experimental group, a digital dental cast was placed in the occlusion state between the maxillary cast and the mandibular cast by the paired points matching method according to the more than four paired occlusal contact points. In the control group, the obtained digital dental cast data and occlusal lateral surface scan data were used to create maxillary and mandibular digital occlusions of the dental cast.

Results

Significantly greater error occurred when occlusion was set based on paired points matched by occlusal contact points than when direct intraoral scanning was used.

Conclusions

This paired points matching method may be considered an alternative in cases in which superimposition using occlusal surfaces or the external surface of dental cast models is difficult in the clinical setting. However, the occlusal surface-based method for digital dental casts is recommended for digital planned occlusion in maxillofacial simulation.

http://bit.ly/2I8Oz8H

Converging sources of evidence and theory integration in working memory: A commentary on Morey, Rhodes, and Cowan (2019)

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Robert H. Logie

Abstract

Morey et al. (2019) offer a critique of the dominance of the multiple component framework of working memory in the interpretation of patterns of impairment and sparing in individuals with focal brain damage associated with specific impairments of immediate, serial-ordered verbal recall. They argue that the lack of pure cases of verbal short-term memory impairments, that recognition performance is higher than recall in such patients, that digits are remembered better than other verbal material, and that problems with replicability in patient studies undermine this traditional theoretical interpretation of the impairments from which these patients suffer. They further speculate that an alternative theoretical framework for working memory, incorporating embedded processes and perception-action links offers a more plausible account of the data from these patients. This commentary points to a range of errors and misconceptions in the arguments presented, notably that such patients are not as rare as suggested, that their recognition is actually no better than their recall, that digits offer substantial advantages for memory, and that results have been shown to be replicable between and within individuals. It is proposed that attempts to integrate more recent theoretical developments in working memory with those shown previously to be highly successful in accounting for impairments in these patients, and for generating hypotheses and accounts across a wide range of contexts may be a more fruitful approach to advancing understanding of cognition in the healthy and damaged brain.

http://bit.ly/2TLCO9h

Radiochemotherapy combined with NK cell transfer followed by second-line PD-1 inhibition in a patient with NSCLC stage IIIb inducing long-term tumor control: a case study

Abstract

Background

Membrane heat shock protein 70 (mHsp70) is indicative of high-risk tumors and serves as a tumor-specific target for natural killer (NK) cells stimulated with Hsp70 peptide (TKD) and Interleukin(IL)-2. Radiochemotherapy (RCT), mHsp70-targeting NK cells, and programmed death(PD)-1 inhibition were combined to improve the efficacy of tumor-specific immune cells in a non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patient.

Patient

Following simultaneous RCT (64.8 Gy), a patient with inoperable NSCLC (cT4, cN3, cM0, stage IIIb) was treated with 4 cycles of autologous ex vivo TKD/IL-2-activated NK cells and the PD-1 antibody nivolumab as a second-line therapy. Blood samples were taken for immunophenotyping during the course of therapy.

Results

Adoptive transfer of ex vivo TKD/IL-2-activated NK cells after RCT combined with PD-1 blockade is well tolerated and results in superior overall survival (OS). No viable tumor cells but a massive immune cell infiltration in fibrotic tissue was detected after therapy. Neither tumor progression nor distant metastases were detectable by CT scanning 33 months after diagnosis. Therapy response was associated with significantly increased CD3⁻/NKG2D⁺/CD94⁺ NK cell counts, elevated CD8⁺ to CD4⁺ T cell and CD3⁻/CD56^bright to CD3⁻/CD56^dim NK cell ratios, and significantly reduced regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood.

Conclusion

A combined therapy consisting of RCT, mHsp70-targeting NK cells, and PD-1 antibody inhibition is well tolerated, induces anti-tumor immunity, and results in long-term tumor control in one patient with advanced NSCLC. Further, randomized studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of this combination therapy.

http://bit.ly/2TKvxa1

The humic acid influenced the behavior and reactivity of Ni/Fe nanoparticles in the removal of deca-brominated diphenyl ether from aqueous solution

Abstract

The removal of contaminants by iron-based nanomaterials was inevitably affected by the natural organic matter (NOM), which is one of the most abundant material on earth and exists in natural waters. This study was performed to investigate the main influence of humic acid (HA, representing NOM) on the behavior and reactivity of Ni/Fe nanoparticles in the removal of deca-brominated diphenyl ether (BDE209). Generally, the inhibitory effect of HA on the removal of BDE209 by Ni/Fe showed greater significance with an increase of HA concentration. The zeta potential and sedimentation experiments showed that the HA enhanced the dispersion and stabilization of Ni/Fe particles; however, the removal of BDE209 was found to be inhibited. Moreover, the corrosion capacity of the Ni/Fe nanoparticles showed a positive correlation with the effect of HA on the reactivity of Ni/Fe nanoparticles. Meanwhile, typical quinone compounds in HA had an adverse effect on the removal of BDE209. Additionally, the competitive adsorption experiments and characterization illustrated that the adsorption of HA by Ni/Fe nanoparticles was superior to BDE209. Overall, it was proposed that the corrosion of Ni/Fe was reduced as the contact between the nanoparticles and H₂O was hindered due to the surface of Ni/Fe was occupied by the adsorbed HA, and thus inhibited the reactivity of Ni/Fe nanoparticles in the removal of BDE209.

http://bit.ly/2Bzhz3s

Promotional effect of Mn modification on DeNO x performance of Fe/nickel foam catalyst at low temperature

Abstract

Manganese (Mn)-modified ferric oxide/nickel foam (Fe/Ni) catalysts were prepared using Ni as a carrier, Fe and Mn as active components to study NH₃–SCR of NO_x at low temperature. The effects of different Fe loads and Mn-modified Fe/Ni catalysts on the DeNO_x activity were investigated. Results show that when the amount of Fe is 10%, Fe/Ni catalyst has the highest NO_x conversion. For the Mn-modified Fe/Ni catalysts, the NO_x conversions firstly increase and then decrease with the Mn loading amount increasing. 3MnFe/Ni catalyst shows high NO_x conversions, which reach 98.4–100% at 120–240 °C. The characterization analyses reveal that Mn-modified Fe/Ni catalysts increase the FeO_x dispersion on Ni surface, improve significantly the valence ratio of the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺, the content of lattice oxygen which promotes the catalyst storage and exchange oxygen capacity at low temperature, and the number of Brønsted active acid sites on the catalyst surface, and enhance the low-temperature redox capacity. These factors remarkably increase the NO_x conversions at low temperature. Especially, 3Mn10Fe/Ni catalyst not only has excellent DeNO_x activity but also has better water resistance. However, the anti-SO₂ poisoning performance needs to be improved. To further analyze the reason why different catalysts show different DeNO_x performance, the reaction kinetics was also explored.

http://bit.ly/2MZZ90k

Retrospective single-center study evaluating clinical and dermoscopic features of longitudinal melanonychia, ABCDEF criteria, and risk of malignancy

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Dayoung Ko, Clara Oromendia, Richard Scher, Shari R. Lipner

Background

Longitudinal melanonychia (LM) is a common finding in clinical practice; however, it has a broad differential diagnosis, including subungual melanoma (SUM), which can be difficult to distinguish clinically from benign conditions.

Objective

To identify clinical and dermoscopic features that distinguish histopathologically diagnosed SUM from benign LM and to evaluate the validity of the ABCDEF criteria among patients on whom a biopsy was performed.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent nail matrix biopsy for LM at a single center from January 2011 to November 2017.

Results

A total of 84 cases in which biopsy was performed (8 cases of SUM and 76 benign) were included in the analysis. The patients with SUM were younger (P = .011), had their melanonychia longer (P = .017), and presented with a wider band (P = .002) and greater width percentage (P < .001) than patients with benign LM did. The number of ABCDEF criteria met did not differ between the groups.

Limitations

Retrospective single-center study; patients who did not undergo biopsy could not be studied.

Conclusions

In the cases of LM in which biopsy was performed, SUM usually presented with a wider band and greater width percentage than benign LM did. The number of ABCDEF criteria met was not different between the groups. Because many of the clinical and dermoscopic signs were less consistent, biopsy should be performed in cases with any concerning band, especially in those with width percentage higher than 40%.

http://bit.ly/2GBLdbO

Are there distinct clinical and pathological features distinguishing Idiopathic from Drug-Induced Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus? A European retrospective multicenter study

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Federica Guicciardi, Laura Atzori, Angelo Valerio Marzano, Simona Tavecchio, Giampiero Girolomoni, Chiara Colato, Axel Patrice Villani, Jean Kanitakis, Christina Mitteldorf, Rosanna Satta, Bernard Cribier, Laurence Gusdorf, Maria Teresa Rossi, Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, Isabel Bielsa, Maria Teresa Fernandez-Figueras, Werner Kempf, Giorgio Filosa, Luca Pilloni, Franco Rongioletti

Abstract

Background

Clinical and pathological criteria to distinguish drug-induced subacute lupus erythematosus (DI-SCLE) from idiopathic (I-SCLE) are controversial.

Objective

Aim of the survey was a retrospective analysis of a consistent number of iatrogenous and idiopathic SCLE cases, by means of clinical and histopathological investigation.

Methods

Eleven European University Dermatology Units collected all diagnosed cases from January 2000 to December 2016. Board certified dermatopathologists reviewed the histopathologic specimens. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test, exact test of goodness-of-fit, Fisher's test, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel for repeated measures.

Results

Out of 232 patients, 67 (29%) belonged to the DI-SCLE group. Patients with DI-SCLE were significantly older and complained more systemic symptoms than those with I-SCLE. No statistical differences were found for presentation pattern or serology, while histopathology showed for I-SCLE a significant association of mucin deposition (p=0, 000083) and direct immunofluorescence positivity for granular IgM, C3 deposits on the basement membrane zone (p=0, 0041), and of leukocytoclastic vasculitis (p=0, 0018) for DI-SCLE.

Limitations

This is a retrospective study.

Conclusion

An integrated clinical and immunopathological evaluation is useful to differentiate I-SCLE from DI-SCLE. Older age at onset and more frequent systemic symptoms characterize DI-SCLE. Mucin deposition and immunofluorescence findings are found in I-SCLE, while leukocytoclastic vasculitis in DI-SCLE.

http://bit.ly/2trb3HT

Cross cultural validation of a short-form of the Vitiligo Impact Patient scale (VIPs)

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Khaled Ezzedine, Maggi Ahmed, Andrea Tovar-Garza, Carla Hajj, Maxine Whitton, Amit Pandya, Saad Altalhab, Julien Seneschal, John Harris, Charles Taieb

Abstract

Background

there is a lack for short forms questionnaire evaluating the burden of Vitiligo according to skin phototype

Objective

To develop and validate a 12-item short-form of the Vitiligo Impact Patient Scale (VIPs) that takes into account skin phototype.

Methods

Multicentric, prospective, cross-sectionnal study conducted in France (Créteil and Bordeaux) and the US (Worcester, Massachusetts and Dallas, Texas).

Results

In total, 891 patients completed the questionnaire. Of these, 509 patients belonged to the French development sample, i.e. 313 with dark skin (DS) (phototype IV to VI) and 196 with fair skin (FS) (phototype I to III). The American validation sample comprised 382 patients, i.e. 113 DS and 269 FS. There was a very high correlation between VIPs-FS and its 12-item short form, VIPs-12-FS, in both the development and validation samples (respectively rho=0.96, pvalue <0.0001 and rho=0.98, pvalue <0.0001). Similarly, the correlations between VIPs-DS and the short form, VIPs-12-DS, in both the development and validation samples were very high (respectively rho=0.95, pvalue <0.0001 and rho=0.96, pvalue <0.0001).

Limitations

Responsiveness of the 12-item short forms should be confirmed

Conclusions

These data enabled the development and validation of 12-item short forms of the VIPs questionnaires for fair (VIPs-12-FS) and dark (VIPs-12-DS) skin.

http://bit.ly/2GAGS8I

Skin Biopsy: A Better Way to Mark the Skin before Punch Biopsy Procedures

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Abdulaziz S. Alroujayee

http://bit.ly/2tfRNgj

The impact of environmental UV exposure on the clinical course of Mycosis Fungoides

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2019

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Author(s): Christin B. DeStefano, Sameer Desale, Stephen J. Fernandez, Aarthi G. Shenoy

http://bit.ly/2GAGJlG

Acute unilateral red eye in a patient with psoriasis

http://bit.ly/2Du4IQu