Acne fulminans successfully treated with cyclosporine and isotretinoin

A 15-year-old white male patient with severe acne flare was referred to our hospital. Diagnosis was acne vulgaris for the past 2 years, treated with topical antibiotics. Six months before the consultation, the lesions worsened and a diagnosis of acne conglobata was made. He was treated with isotretinoin 20 mg/day and prednisone 15 mg/day, but there was no clinical improvement. Isotretinoin dosage was increased to 30 mg/day, but 3 weeks later multiple reddish papulonodular and ulcerated lesions with hemorrhagic crusts suddenly developed on his face, neck, and trunk. The lesions were painful, and arthralgias and temperature up to 39°C were noted (Fig 1). Abnormal laboratory findings included elevated C-reactive protein levels (5 mg/dL; normal < 1 mg/dL) and leukocytosis (15,700 cells/mm3) with neutrophilia (68.8%). AF was diagnosed, and treatment with prednisone 60 mg/day and isotretinoin 20 mg/day was initially successful. Nevertheless progressive worsening was observed in the following weeks while prednisone was tapered and isotretinoin increased to 30 mg/day. He was treated with potassium permanganate baths and topical antibiotics. Oral cyclosporine 5 mg/kg/day plus isotretinoin 30 mg/day was initiated and systemic steroids were stopped. After a few weeks, the lesions improved, and 4 months later, cyclosporine was discontinued. A total dose of isotretinoin 100 mg/kg could be completed, and he presented an almost complete resolution of the inflammatory lesions with some residual scarring (Fig 2). No significant side effects or laboratory abnormalities were observed during treatment

Thermodynamics of zinc insertion in CuGaS2:Ti, used as a modulator agent in an intermediate-band photovoltaic material

An intermediate-bandphotovoltaicmaterial, which has an isolated metallic band located between the top of the valence band and bottom of the conduction band of some semiconductors, has been proposed as third generation solar cell to be used in photovoltaic applications. Density functional theory calculations of Zn in CuGaS2:Ti have previously shown that, the intermediate-band position can be modulated in proportion of Zn insertion in such a way that increasing Zn concentration can lead to aband-gap reduction, and an adjustment of the intermediate-band position. This could be interesting in the formation of an intermediate-bandmaterial, that has the maximum efficiency theoretically predicted for the intermediate-band solar cell. In this work, the energetics of several reaction schemes that could lead to the decomposition of the modulated intermediate-bandphotovoltaicmaterial, CuGaS2:Ti:Zn, is studied in order to assess the thermodynamic stability of this material. Calculations of the total free energy and disorder entropy have been taken into account, to get the reaction energy and free energy of the compound decomposition, which is found to be thermodynamically favorabl

T-cell allorecognition of donor glutathione S-transferase T1 in plasma cell-rich rejection

AIM: To investigate the role of glutathione S-transferase T1 donor-specific T lymphocytes in plasma cell-rich rejection of liver allografts. METHODS: The study group included 22 liver transplant patients. Among them, 18 patients were mismatched for the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) alleles (don+/rec-), and 4 were matched (don+/rec+). Seven of the mismatched patients produced anti-GSTT1 antibodies and developed plasma cell-rich rejection (former de novo immune hepatitis). For the detection of specific T lymphocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected and stored in liquid nitrogen. The memory T cell response was studied by adding to the cell cultures to a mix of 39 custom-made, 15-mer overlapping peptides, which covered the entire GSTT1 amino acid sequence. The specific cellular response to peptides was analyzed by flow cytometry using the markers CD8, CD4, IL-4 and IFNγ. RESULTS: Activation of CD8+ T cells with different peptides was observed exclusively in the group of patients with plasma-cell rich rejection (3 out of 7), with production of IL-4 and/or IFNγ at a rate of 1%-4.92% depending on the peptides. The CD4+ response was most common and not exclusive for patients with the disease, where 5 out of 7 showed percentages of activated cells from 1.24% to 31.34%. Additionally, two patients without the disease but with the mismatch had cells that became stimulated with some peptides (1.45%-5.18%). Highly unexpected was the finding of a double positive CD4+CD8low T cell population that showed the highest degree of activation with some of the peptides in 7 patients with the mismatch, in 4 patients with plasma cell-rich rejection and in 3 patients without the disease. Unfortunately, CD4+CD8low cells represent 1% of the total number of lymphocytes, and stimulation could not be analyzed in 9 patients due to the low number of gated cells. Cells from the 4 patients included as controls did not show activation with any of the peptides. CONCLUSION: Patients with GSTT1 mismatch can develop a specific T-cell response, but the potential role of this response in the pathogenesis of plasma cell-rich rejection is unknown

Phase transitions in Ising magnetic films and superlattices

Within the framework of mean field theory, we examine the phase transitions in Ising magnetic films and superlattices. By transfer matrix method, we derive two general nonlinear equations for phase transition temperatures of Ising magnetic films and superlattices, respectively. The equations can be applied to the films and superlattices with arbitrary exchange interaction constants and arbitrary layer number. Numerical results for phase transition temperatures as a function of exchange interaction constants are presented.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Solid State Communication

Metabolomics for Biomarkers of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Advances and Nutritional Intervention Trends

Abstract Metabolic characterization of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is crucial for the identification of individuals at risk for developing diabetes and T2DM-related vascular complications as well as for monitoring disease progression. The application of metabolomics to diabetes research may lead to the identification and discovery of diagnostic and prognostic T2DM biomarkers, in addition to elucidating disease pathways. In the present review, we summarize the distinct classes of metabolites that have been proposed as potential biomarkers for progressing stages of T2DM by metabolomic approaches. Several studies have demonstrated that the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids is considerably altered in prediabetes and continue to vary over the course of T2DM progression. The identification of intermediate metabolites involved in glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, lipolysis, and proteolysis have provided evidence of these metabolic dysfunctions. Finally, given the increasing worldwide incidence of T2DM and its related complications, research should focus on the impact of lifestyle factors, particularly diet, at the metabolomic level for better understanding and improved healthcare strategie

Species-specific responses to ocean acidification should account for local adaptation and adaptive plasticity

Global stressors, such as ocean acidification, constitute a rapidly emerging and significant problem for marine organisms, ecosystem functioning and services. The coastal ecosystems of the Humboldt Current System (HCS) off Chile harbour a broad physical–chemical latitudinal and temporal gradient with considerable patchiness in local oceanographic conditions. This heterogeneity may, in turn, modulate the specific tolerances of organisms to climate stress in species with populations distributed along this environmental gradient. Negative response ratios are observed in species models (mussels, gastropods and planktonic copepods) exposed to changes in the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) far from the average and extreme pCO2 levels experienced in their native habitats. This variability in response between populations reveals the potential role of local adaptation and/or adaptive phenotypic plasticity in increasing resilience of species to environmental change. The growing use of standard ocean acidification scenarios and treatment levels in experimental protocols brings with it a danger that inter-population differences are confounded by the varying environmental conditions naturally experienced by different populations. Here, we propose the use of a simple index taking into account the natural pCO2 variability, for a better interpretation of the potential consequences of ocean acidification on species inhabiting variable coastal ecosystems. Using scenarios that take into account the natural variability will allow understanding of the limits to plasticity across organismal traits, populations and species

Comparative study of the functional properties of lupin, green pea, fava bean, hemp, and buckwheat flours as affected by pH

Acknowledgments This work is part of the Strategic Research 2011–2016 and is funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

MAPA NUTRICIO Y RIESGO DE TRANSTORNOS DE LA CONDUCTA ALIMENTARIA EN ADOLESCENTES DE LA CIUDAD DE QUERETARO, QRO., MÉXICO

La información sobre el estado nutricio de los adolescentes en México es escasa, los pocos estudios existentes se han hecho en muestras muy pequeñas, por lo que no se pueden hacer extrapolaciones, y no existen estudios sobre la composición corporal y la prevalencia de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, problemas que van en aumento. Se determinao el estado nutricio (desnutrición, bajo peso, sobrepeso y obesidad) por medio del índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la composición corporal, y conocer el riesgo de presentar trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (anorexia, bulimia) por medio de un cuestionario sobre actitudes alimentarias (Eating Attitude Test-EAT) en adolescentes de secundaria y preparatoria o equivalentes. Se hizo un estudio transversal con muestreo estratificado en 1 232 adolescentes de entre 12 y 19 años de edad en escuelas secundarias y preparatorias, públicas y privadas de la Ciudad de Querétaro,México. Las escuelas incluidas en el estudio fueron seleccionadas al azar de cada uno de los dos estratos establecidos, escuela pública o escuela privada, los grupos a muestrear dentro de cada escuela también fueron seleccionados de manera aleatoria, y aunque se intentó hacer una selección de los alumnos dentro decada grupo, la mayoría de los Directores determinaron que se muestrearan a todos los alumnos en los salones seleccionados. A cada adolescente se les tomó peso, talla, composición corporal por impedancia bioeléctrica, y se les aplicó la encuesta de actitudes alimentarías (EAT). Del total de adolescentes estudiados,460 fueron hombres y 772 mujeres. La prevalencia de desnutrición fue del 13%, la de bajo peso del 15%, la de sobrepeso 13% y la de obesidad el 5%. La desnutrición severa fue mayor en hombres que en mujeres. Las escuelas privadas presentan mayor desnutrición leve que las públicas, y las públicas mayor sobrepeso y obesidad que las privadas. La desnutrición y el bajo peso fueron más frecuentes en sujetos de 12 a 14 años, y la obesidad en adolescentes de 18 a 19 años. La composición corporal mostró un porcentaje alto de grasa (72%), un porcentaje bajo de músculo (67%) y un porcentaje bajo de agua corporal (71.6%). El porcentaje de individuos con alto riesgo-alto de presentar trastornos de la conducta alimentaria fue del 0.3%, mayor en mujeres de escuelas públicas, y un 4.3% tuvo riesgo moderado. Se presentó mayor desnutrición y bajo peso (27%) que sobrepeso y obesidad 18%. La composición corporal prevalece en grasa (72%). Existe un alto riesgo de presentar trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en un 0.3% y con un riesgo moderado 4%.Palabras clave: Estado nutricio, composición corporal, trastornos de la conducta alimentaria.Nutritional status, body composition, eating disorder