Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution in facial vitiligo

Summary

Background

Vitiligo is one of the commonest pigmentary disorders characterized by destruction of melanocytes.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of topical bimatoprost ophthalmic solution in stable facial vitiligo.

Material and methods

Eight cases of stable facial vitiligo were treated with bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution once daily for 12 weeks. Photographic records were taken at 2 weeks follow-up along with dermoscopic (Polarized, 10×) evaluation.

Results

Four cases had excellent repigmentation, two cases had partial repigmentation and two cases had poor response.

Conclusion

Bimatoprost seems to be promising in treating stable vitiligo but large-scale studies are required.

Reply to Kenyon

Increases in asymptomatic early syphilis may be due to increases in repeat syphilis and not enhanced screening

Impact of Public Safety Policies on HIV Transmission Dynamics in Tijuana, Mexico

Abstract

Background

North Tijuana, Mexico, along the US border, is home to many individuals at high-risk for transmitting and acquiring HIV. Recently, policy shifts by local government impacted how these individuals were handled by authorities. Here we examined how this affected regional HIV transmission dynamics.

Methods

HIV pol sequences and associated demographic information were collected from eight research studies enrolling persons in Tijuana, and were used to infer viral transmission patterns and transmission clusters. To evaluate the impact of recent policy changes on HIV transmission dynamics, qualitative interviews were performed on a subset of recently infected individuals.

Results

288 unique HIV pol sequences were obtained from individuals in Tijuana between 2004-2016, including 46.4% from men-who-have-sex-with-men, 42.1% from individuals who reported transactional sex, and 27.8% from persons-who-inject-drugs (some individuals had >1 risk factor). 42.4% of sequences linked to at least one other sequence, forming 37 transmission clusters. Thirty-two individuals seroconverted during the observation period, including eight between April-July, 2016. Three of these individuals were putatively linked together. Qualitative interviews suggested that changes in policing led individuals to shift locations of residence and injection drug use, leading to increased risk taking (e.g., sharing needles).

Conclusions

Near-real time molecular epidemiologic analyses identified a cluster of linked transmissions temporally associated with policy shifts. Interviews suggested these shifts may have led to increased risk taking among individuals at high-risk for HIV acquisition. With all public policy shifts, downstream impacts need to be carefully considered, as even well-intentioned policies can have major public health consequences.

The Limits of Deterrence Theory in Cyberspace

Abstract

In this article, I analyse deterrence theory and argue that its applicability to cyberspace is limited and that these limits are not trivial. They are the consequence of fundamental differences between deterrence theory and the nature of cyber conflicts and cyberspace. The goals of this analysis are to identify the limits of deterrence theory in cyberspace, clear the ground of inadequate approaches to cyber deterrence, and define the conceptual space for a domain-specific theory of cyber deterrence, still to be developed.

„Was nach einem halben Jahr noch da ist, das bleibt“

Unterspritzungen, PDT und auflichtmikroskopische Videodokumentation

§ 6 Abs. 2 der Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ) ermöglicht die Abrechnung nicht in der GOÄ enthaltener Leistungen analog gleichwertig vorhandener Positionen. Nachdem in Teil 1 in Ausgabe 4/2017 allgemeine Aspekte der analogen Abrechnung erlÄutert wurden, schildert Teil 2 Beispiele von hÄufig verwendeten analogen Positionen.

Salbe erhält Status als Medizinprodukt

„Ich führe nur sehr selten eine einzelne Methode durch“

Telematik: Fristenverlängerung für ärzte

Das Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG) nimmt etwas Zeitdruck aus dem sanktionierten Rollout der Telematikinfrastruktur.

Das Facelift im Wandel

Sommer, Sonne, Solarium, Mimik und Rauchen addiert zum Lebensalter ergibt die zu behandelnde Hautproblematik. Zu viele UV-Strahlen beschleunigen den Alterungsprozess vor allem dort, wo die Haut am empfindlichsten ist. Gewichtsschwankungen und Ernährungsfehler verstärken die Problematik. Mit modernen Facelifttechniken werden die Proportionen des Gesichtes wiederhergestellt. Die Individualität eines Gesichtes sollte dabei gewahrt werden.

Barrierefunktion der Haut wiederherstellen

Antlitz bietet viele Ansichten

Die wachsende Zahl medial reproduzierter Gesichter verändert den Blick auf das Gesicht selbst wie den Umgang mit seinen Bildern. Es entstehen neue Praktiken, um es zu optimieren, inszenieren, erfassen und funktionalisieren. Solchen Phänomenen spürt das Deutsche Hygiene-Museum, Dresden, mit der Ausstellung „Das Gesicht" bis 25. Februar 2018 nach.

Anatomiekenntnisse ermöglichen individuelle Behandlungen

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Ärzte wollen bei Digital Healthcare Taktgeber werden

Obwohl sie beim Einsatz digitaler Anwendungen noch zögerlich sind, schreiben Ärzte der Digitalisierung einen hohen Nutzen für die Versorgung zu. Das zeigt eine aktuelle Umfrage. Hemmnisse sind bislang aber oft die Sorge um die Datensicherheit und fehlende finanzielle Mittel.

Nach der Wahl ist vor der Wahl ...!

Augen-Make-up schonend und wirkungsvoll entfernen

Software für Macs in der Praxis

War vor nicht langer Zeit Praxissoftware für den Mac von Apple eher die Ausnahme, kommt langsam Dynamik in den Markt. Immer mehr und vor allem junge Anbieter setzen auf das Apple-Betriebssystem.

Isotretinoin unter falschem Verdacht?

Wie groß ist die Gefahr, unter einer Therapie mit Isotretinoin Depressionen zu entwickeln, wirklich? Einer Metaanalyse aus Taiwan zufolge wird diese Nebenwirkung des Aknemedikaments möglicherweise überschätzt.

Fetttransplantate: Mit dem Bauchspeck die Brust aufbauen

Dank seiner spezifischen Eigenschaften ist autologes Fettgewebe in der rekonstruktiven und ästhetischen Chirurgie zunehmend im Einsatz. Doch noch immer feilen die Experten an der Optimierung der Methode.

PDT-Pflaster zur Behandlung von aktinischen Keratosen

Oft ist der Turnschuh schuld!

Hinter einem hartnäckigen Ekzem am Fuß steckt bei Kindern häufig eine Kontaktallergie. In einer Studie aus Spanien fanden sich als Auslöser vor allem „Chemie" im Schuhwerk, aber auch in Verbandsmaterial.

Pflege für trockene Füße

Was schön ist, zieht uns an

Amaranth seeds ( Amaranthus palmeri L.) as novel feedstock for biodiesel production by oleaginous yeast

Abstract

The potential of lipid accumulation by oleaginous yeast Cryptococcus vishniaccii grown on amaranth seed aqueous extract (AAE) media was assessed. Maximum cell biomass productivity of 104 mg/L/h, lipid productivity of 54 mg/L/h, and lipid content of 52.31% were recorded on AAE when carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio increased from 134 to 147 after removal of ammonia nitrogen. The lipid droplet (LD) size (2.32 ± 0.38 μm) was visualized by fluorescence microscopy using Nile red stain indicating maximum accumulated triacylglycerol (TAG) at C:N 147. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile obtained after transesterification of extracted lipid revealed the presence of palmitic acid (16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1), stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), and linoleic acid (18:2). Data showed the presence of high monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content (68.17%) depicting improved winter operating conditions of biodiesel. Various quality parameters of biodiesel were evaluated and compared to the American and European biodiesel standards specifications. Based on the lipid productivity, distribution of fatty acids, and evaluated properties obtained; the lipid accumulation by C. vishniaccii utilizing amaranth seeds as substrate could serve as a feasible feedstock for biodiesel production.

Performance evaluation of two Aspergillus spp. for the decolourization of reactive dyes by bioaccumulation and biosorption

Abstract

A biological method was adopted to decolourize textile dyes, which is an economic and eco-friendly technology for textile wastewater remediation. Two fungal strains, i.e. Aspergillus lentulus and Aspergillus fumigatus, were used to study the removal of low to high concentrations (25 to 2000 mg L⁻¹) of reactive remazol red, reactive blue and reactive yellow dyes by biosorption and bioaccumulation. The biosorption was successful only at the lower concentrations. A. lentulus was capable of removing 67–85% of reactive dyes during bioaccumulation mode of treatment at 500 mg L⁻¹ dye concentration with an increased biomass uptake capacity. To cope up with the high dye concentration of 2000 mg L⁻¹, a novel combined approach was successful in case of A. lentulus, where almost 76% removal of reactive remazol red dye was observed during bioaccumulation followed by biosorption. The scanning electron microscopy also showed the accumulation of dye on the surface of fungal mycelium. The results signify the application of such robust fungal strains for the removal of high concentration of dyes in the textile wastewaters.

Ultraviolet filters and heat shock proteins: effects in Chironomus riparius by benzophenone-3 and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor

Abstract

Benzophenone-3 (BP3) and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) are common ultraviolet filters (UV filters), compounds considered as emergent contaminants, used in different products like plastics and personal care products. The levels of these compounds are rising in the wild, but the effects they have on invertebrates are poorly understood. Chironomus riparius is a benthic insect widely used in toxicology, and several studies have been previously performed in our laboratory to determine the effects these compounds have on this organism at the molecular level. We have shown that UV filters can alter the mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), one of the most studied heat shock proteins. Although these proteins are crucial for the survival of organisms, little data is available on the effects these emergent contaminants have on them, especially in invertebrates. Here, we analyzed the transcriptional activity of 12 genes covering the different groups of heat shock protein [Hsp10, Hsp17, Hsp21, Hsp22, Hsp23, Hsp24, Hsp27, Hsp34, Hsp40, Hsp60, Hsc70 (3), and Hsc70 (4)] in response to 0.1 and 1 mg/L concentrations of BP3 and 4MBC at 8 and 24 h. The results showed that some small Hsp (sHsp) genes were altered by these compounds, while the genes of proteins present in mitochondria, Hsp10 and Hsp60, did not change. sHsps are also involved in developmental processes, so the observed variations could be due to the endocrine disruption activity described for these compounds rather than to a stress response.

PD1 inhibitors and hair repigmentation: A desirable new side effect

Refractory pityriasis rubra pilaris treated with etanercept, adalimumab, or ustekinumab: A retrospective investigation

Abstract

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare, difficult to treat papulosquamous disorder that responds variably to retinoids and immunosuppression. Successful use of biologics for treating PRP has been described in the literature by case reports and a limited number of case series. To provide additional data, we retrospectively analyzed cases of PRP treated with biologics at our institution. We identified seven patients with a clear diagnosis of PRP treated with adalimumab, etanercept, and/or ustekinumab at our institution from January 1, 2014 to April 1, 2017. Six of seven patients had type I, adult acquired PRP, and one had type V atypical juvenile PRP. In response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibition, two patients had marked responses (>75% improvement in involved body surface area), while three patients failed to show any improvement on a TNF-α inhibitor. In two cases of PRP refractory to TNF-α inhibition, ustekinumab resulted in a partial response (<75% improvement) in one patient and no response in the other. Compared to other published data, our cohort was substantially more resistant to treatment with biologics, a finding which may provide valuable perspective for dermatologists managing refractory PRP in the future.

Effect of MRI on breast tissue expanders and recommendations for safe use

Ferromagnetic port-containing breast tissue expanders are currently labeled MRI-unsafe because of the presumption that magnets should not enter the machine. However, designating these devices as MRI-unsafe can lead to unnecessary procedures or suboptimal imaging choices. This study provides an ex vivo analysis of how breast tissue expanders behave when subjected to strong magnetic fields to determine which variables might affect clinical risk.

Toxicity studies of nanofabricated palladium against filariasis and malaria vectors

Abstract

The present study was carried out to establish the biofabrication of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using the plant leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia Miers and its toxicity studies on the larvae of filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say and malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi. The biofabricated PdNPs were characterized by using UV–visible spectrum, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDX and HRTEM. HRTEM confirmed the PdNPs were slightly agglomerated and spherical in shape and the average size was 16 nm. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis result revealed that the major constituent present in the T. cordifolia leaf extract is 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (31.79%) whereas the minor compounds are 1-hexadecanol (7.97%), 1-octadecanol (7.70%), 1-eicosanol (6.85%), behenic alcohol (5.36%), 1-tetradecene (6.22%), cyclotetradecane (6.23%), 1-hexadecene (7.97%), 1-octadecene (7.70%), 1-eicosene (6.85%), and 1-docosene (5.36%). T. cordifolia leaf extract exhibited the larvicidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus and A. subpictus with the values of LC₅₀ = 59.857 and 54.536 mg/L; LC₉₀ = 113.445 and 108.940 mg/L, respectively. The highest toxicity was observed in the biofabricated PdNPs against the fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus and A. subpictus with the values of LC₅₀ = 6.090 and 6.454 mg/L; LC₉₀ = 13.689 and 13.849 mg/L, respectively. Concerning non-target effects, Poecilia reticulata were exposed to PdNPs for 24 h and did not exhibit any noticeable toxicity. Overall, our findings strongly suggest that PdNPs is a perfect ecological and inexpensive approach for the control of filariasis and malaria vectors.