Delusions of parasitosis. A psychiatric disorder to be treated by dermatologists? An analysis of 33 patients

Delusions of parasitosis is a rare disorder in which patients have the false and fixed belief that they are infested by parasites. It is a psychiatric disorder, but patients usually present to a dermatologist and referral to a psychiatrist is almost always rejected. Treating a patient with delusions of parasitosis requires patience and tact. The neuroleptic pimozide is the treatment of choice, but a significant problem is convincing the patient to take the drug. We report a study of 33 patients (13 men and 20 women) with delusions of parasitosis. The mean age at onset was 56.9 years and the mean duration of symptoms before attending the department of dermatology was 1.3 years. Pimozide (Orap) was prescribed for 24 patients, but only 18 patients took it. Follow-up information was available for 18 patients: five had full remission, four were less symptomatic, five were unchanged and four had died of unrelated causes.     

Novel large apolipoprotein E-containing lipoproteins of density 1.006-1.060 g/ml in human cerebrospinal fluid

Although the critical role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) allelic variation in Alzheimer's disease and in the outcome of CNS injury is now recognized, the functions of apoE in the CNS remain obscure, particularly with regard to lipid metabolism. We used density gradient ultracentrifugation to identify apoE-containing lipoproteins in human CSF. CSF apoE lipoproteins, previously identified only in the 1.063-1.21 g/ml density range, were also demonstrated in the 1.006-1.060 g/ml density range. Plasma lipoproteins in this density range include low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subfraction 1 (HDL1). The novel CSF apoE lipoproteins are designated HDL1. No immunoreactive apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) or B could be identified in the CSF HDL1 fractions. Large lipoproteins 18.3 +/- 6.6 nm in diameter (mean +/- SD) in the HDL1 density range were demonstrated by electron microscopy. Following fast protein liquid chromatography of CSF at physiologic ionic strength, apoE was demonstrated in particles of average size greater than particles containing apoA-I. The largest lipoproteins separated by this technique contained apoE without apoA-I. Thus, the presence of large apoE-containing lipoproteins was confirmed without ultracentrifugation. Interconversion between the more abundant smaller apoE-HDL subfractions 2 and 3 and the novel larger apoE-HDL1 is postulated to mediate a role in cholesterol redistribution in brain.     

Pharmacokinetics of famotidine in patients with cystic fibrosis

Famotidine pharmacokinetics were studied in 13 patients with severe cystic fibrosis (CF) ranging from 10 to 47 years of age and 25 to 72 kg in weight. Patients were randomized to first receive famotidine either 20 mg intravenously or 40 mg orally. Twelve patients were crossed over to the alternate treatment. Repeated blood samples were obtained over 12 hours after intravenous and oral administration and urine was collected over 24 hours for quantitation of famotidine by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A compartment model-dependent approach was used to characterize the disposition of famotidine. From the intravenous data, the mean +/- standard deviation elimination half-life (t1/2) was 2.11 +/- 0.75 hours, the total clearance (Cl) was 0.79 +/- 0.41 L/kg/hr, the renal clearance was 0.57 +/- 0.26 L/kg/hr, the fraction eliminated unchanged in the urine was 83% +/- 16%, and the apparent volume of distribution (Vdss) was 1.33 +/- 0.53 L/kg. The bioavailability determined from comparison of intravenous and oral area under the curve data was 71% +/- 27%. Results of this study support an initial famotidine dose of 20 mg intravenously or 40 mg orally every 12 hours in patients with CF who are older than 9 years of age.     

Methapyrilene hepatotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial disfunction and is prevented by the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil

Methapyrilene (MP) is an unusual hepatotoxin in that it causes periportal necrosis in rats. The mechanism of acute methapyrilene hepatotoxicity has, therefore, been investigated in cultured male rat hepatocytes. Addition of methapyrilene to rat hepatocytes resulted in a time- and dose-dependent loss in cell viability between 4 and 8 h of incubation as judged by cellular enzyme leakage. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitor metyrapone protected against methapyrilene-mediated toxicity suggesting that MP is metabolised by CYP for toxicity. The concentration-dependent protection from methapyrilene toxicity afforded by metyrapone correlated with an inhibition of microsomal CYP2C11-associated androstenedione 16alpha hydroxylase activity, and hepatocytes prepared from hypophysectomised rats (containing reduced levels of microsomal immunodetectable CYP2C11 and associated androstenedione 16alpha hydroxylase activity) showed resistance to the toxic effects of methapyrilene. These data suggest that the toxicity of methapyrilene is predominantly dependent on the CYP2C11 isoform. Treatment of hepatocytes with a toxic concentration of MP caused oxidative stress as indicated by increases in NADP+ levels within 2 h and cellular thiol oxidation as evidenced by a reduction--but not complete loss--in glutathione levels. Methapyrilene hepatotoxicity was associated with an early loss in mitochondrial function, as indicated by mitochondrial swelling and significant losses in cellular ATP within 2 h. Co-incubation of methapyrilene-treated hepatocytes with inhibitors of inner mitochondrial transition permeability pore opening--cyclosporin A or the thiol reductant dithiothreitol--abrogated cell death suggesting that pore opening and loss of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis play a significant role in methapyrilene-mediated cell death. Co-incubation of methapyrilene-treated hepatocytes with the phenylalkylamine calcium channel blocker verapamil--but not by treating cells in a nominally calcium-free medium--also abrogated cell death, suggesting that if Ca2+ is involved in cell killing then it is dependent on an intracellular Ca2+ pool. Pre-treatment of hepatocytes for 1 h with verapamil--to inhibit intracellular Ca2+ pool filling--increased the potency of verapamil protection against methapyrilene toxicity by approximately 100-fold. Taken together, these data indicate that methapyrilene intoxication leads to mitochondrial disfunction and suggest a critical role for a loss of mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in this model of hepatocyte death.     

Partners for two decades: AOA and the National High Blood Pressure Education Program

A case of a single molluscum contagiosum occurring on the surface of a preexisting soft fibroma in an adult patient is reported. The most common clinical form of this viral lesion is multiple grouping papules with a central umbilication and its histologic feature is characteristic. Previous cases of mollusca combining with other lesions have been rarely described. Our lesion was probably due to its localization on the soft fibroma, whose exophytic growing represented a favoring factor for trauma and the consequent occurrence of the viral disease.     

Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Modeling of Mechanical Behavior for Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Turfs

Several characterization methods have been developed to investigate the mechanical and structural properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs).Establishing analytical models at nanoscale to interpret these properties is complicated due to the nonuniformity and irregularity in quality of as-grown samples.In this paper,we propose a new methodology to investigate the correlation between indentation resistance of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) turfs,Raman spectra and the geometrical properties of the turf structure using adaptive neuro-fuzzy phenomenological modeling.This methodology yields a novel approach for modeling at the nanoscale by evaluating the effect of structural morphologies on nanomaterial properties using Raman spectroscopy.     

含钨化合物催化合成己二酸研究进展及其工业化应用的可行性

介绍了近年来含钨化合物催化合成己二酸的研究进展及其工业化应用的可行性。提出了对该类研究的一些看法和建议,并对今后己二酸合成的发展前景进行了展望。     

查耳酮-2-羟基苯甲酰腙的超声波合成与热稳定性

以查耳酮和2-羟基苯甲酰肼为原料,采用超声波合成查耳酮-2-羟基苯甲酰腙,研究反应时间、溶剂量、温度和摩尔比对收率的影响.结果表明,在超声波条件下,反应时间4.5h,溶剂量10mL,温度75℃和摩尔比1∶1.2较为适宜.通过元素分析、红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱对其结构进行了表征.热重分析表明标题化合物处于190.98℃以下时较为稳定.     

基于桥梁健康监测的传感器优化布设

为了利用尽可能少的传感器,来获取最可靠及最全面的桥梁健康状况信息,必须对传感器进行最优布设,从而实现对结构状态改变信息的最优采集.实验结果表明:本文所提出的方案能够迅速有效地从一个自由度复杂的结构模型中,选择出最优的传感器布设位置.