Neuroprotective effect of epidermal growth factor in experimental acrylamide neuropathy: an electrophysiological approach.

The neuroprotective effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been documented in different contexts, but its potential benefits in peripheral neuropathies have been little studied. We investigated the neuroprotective action of EGF in experimental neuropathy induced by acrylamide (ACR). Mice and rats were treated chronically with acrylamide for 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Concurrently they received EGF in daily doses of 1 and 5 mg/kg in mice and 3 mg/kg in rats, or saline (PBS). ACR severely affected the neurological score, the muscle strength, and the muscle potential M, in mice, as well as F-waves (F-Wii), sensory potentials (SPii), and apomorphine-induced penile erection, in rats. EGF reduced the ACR effects in both species. A dose-dependent effect of EGF was manifested in the proportion of diseased animals at the end of treatments, as well as in the reduction of M amplitude throughout the treatment. F-Wii parameters were less protected by EGF than SP. The results show a protective effect of EGF in acrylamide-induced neuropathy and support previous studies concerning the neuroprotective action of this peptide.

Folliculitis decalvans: a multicentre review of 82 patients.

BACKGROUND: Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a rare neutrophilic scarring alopecia that represents a therapeutic challenge for dermatologists. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology, comorbidities, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and therapeutic options in a large series of patients with FD. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre review includes patients diagnosed with FD based on clinical and histopathologic findings. The clinical severity was determined by the maximum diameter of the largest alopecic patch (slight: <2 cm, moderate: 2-4.99 cm, severe: 5 cm or more). Response to therapy was assessed as improvement, worsening or stabilization depending on the clinical symptoms (pruritus and trichodynia), inflammatory signs (erythema, pustules and crusts) and the extension of the alopecic patch. RESULTS: Overall, 82 patients (52 males and 30 females) with a mean age of 35 years were included. No significant comorbidities were present. A family history was present in three males. Severe FD was observed in 17 patients (21%). The independent factors associated with severe FD after multivariate analysis were: onset of FD before 25 years of age and presence of pustules. Oral antibiotics (tetracyclines and the combination of clindamycin and rifampicin) improved 90% and 100% of the patients, with a mean duration of response of 4.6 and 7.2 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The onset of FD before 25 years of age and the presence of pustules within the alopecic patch were associated with severe FD. Tetracyclines and the combination of clindamycin and rifampicin were the most useful treatments.

[Treatment of moderate-severe psoriasis with etanercept in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection]. / Tratamiento de la psoriasis moderada-grave con etanercept en pacientes con infección crónica por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

Cutaneous and articular psoriasis usually have a more complicated course in patients chronically infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), not only for its particular presentation in these subjects, but also because of their modified immunological scenario and potential drugs interactions with antiretroviral therapy. Because of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) downregulation may improve the evolution of chronic infections, some authors support biological TNF blockers as an effective and safe therapeutical approach for the treatment of psoriasis in patients with HIV infection. We present the case of a man with cutaneous and articular psoriasis and chronic HIV infection who responded successfully to etanercept, and we make a review of the literature. There were no adverse events or changes in CD4+ lymphocyte and viral load all along the treatment.

Neuroprotective effect of epidermal growth factor plus growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 resembles hypothermia in experimental stroke.

BACKGROUND: Combined therapy with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) in stroke models has accumulated evidence of neuroprotective effects from several studies, but needs further support before clinical translation. Comparing EGF + GHRP-6 to hypothermia, a gold neuroprotection standard, may contribute to this purpose. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to compare the neuroprotective effects of a combined therapy based on EGF + GHRP-6 with hypothermia in animal models of (a) global ischemia representing myocardial infarction and (b) focal brain ischemia representing ischemic stroke. METHODS: (a) Global ischemia was induced in Mongolian gerbils by a 15-min occlusion of both carotid arteries, followed by reperfusion. (b) Focal brain ischemia was achieved by intracerebral injection of endothelin 1 in Wistar rats. In each experiment, three ischemic treatment groups - vehicle, EGF + GHRP-6, and hypothermia - were compared to each other and to a sham-operated control group. End points were survival, neurological scores, and infarct volume. RESULTS: (a) In global ischemia, neurological score at 48-72 h, infarct volume, and neuronal density of hippocampal CA1 zone in gerbils treated with EGF + GHRP-6 were similar to the hypothermia-treated group. (b) In focal ischemia, the neurologic score and infarct volume of rats receiving EGF + GHRP-6 were also similar to animals in the hypothermia group. DISCUSSION: With hypothermia being a good standard neuroprotectant reference, these results provide additional proof of principle for EGF and GHRP-6 co-administration as a potentially neuroprotective stroke therapy.

[Rosacea]. / Rosácea.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease appearing in the central area of the face of middle-aged patients. It is characterized by flushing, permanent erythema, telangiectasia, papules, pustules, and the absence of comedones. Its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are not completely understood, although a number of hypotheses point to vascular abnormalities and infection by microorganisms such as Demodex folliculorum. Rosacea is classified into 4 subtypes, which determine the therapeutic approach based on skin care, topical antiinflammatory agents, topical and oral antibiotics and retinoids, and, in some instances, light-based therapy and surgery.

[Xerosis: a dysfunction of the epidermal barrier]. / Xerosis: una disfunción de la barrera epidérmica.

Xerosis or dry skin is a common skin disorder among the general population. It is characterized clinically by rough, scaly, and often itchy skin. This disorder is present in the course of some dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, although it can also occur in healthy individuals if a combination of certain etiologic factors is present. It is characterized pathophysiologically by a disrupted stratum corneum, dehydration, and impaired keratinocyte differentiation. Treatment of xerosis should seek to restore physiologic lipids in the epidermis and provide substances that facilitate epidermal differentiation.

Characterization of a virus isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with epidemic neuropathy.

A previously unknown disease, termed epidemic neuropathy (EN), occurred in Cuba between 1991 and 1993. When samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 45 patients with EN and 11 controls were inoculated into cultures of VERO cells, almost all (93%) of the samples from the cases of EN but only one (9%) of the control samples produced a slowly progressing cytopathological effect (CPE). Although the results of other studies indicated the presence of a picornavirus-like virus in CSF samples from EN cases, the CPE and other physico-chemical characteristics observed were not those expected of picorn-viruses. Several aetiological factors may have contributed to EN but at least one virus could have played a major role.

Expression of active human erythropoietin in the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice and rabbits.

Transgenic mice and rabbits were generated using a chimeric gene comprising the human erythropoietin (hEPO) cDNA under the 5' and 3' regulatory sequences of the rabbit whey acidic protein gene. Transgenic mice expressed hEPO at levels of 0.01 mg/l in the milk of lactating females showing that the genetic construct was functional. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with RNA from various tissues showed that this transgene was expressed mainly in the ovary and mammary gland. In rabbits, we demonstrated the germ line transmission of the transgene. The hEPO was obtained in the milk of lactating females at levels of up to 0.0003 mg/l. Although the expression levels were low, biologically active hEPO was obtained in the milk of transgenic rabbits without any apparent detrimental effect for the animals. In vitro, the specific activity of the rabbit-derived hEPO was higher than that reported for the natural hEPO, thus suggesting differences in the glycosylation pattern in at least part of the molecules secreted by the mammary gland of transgenic rabbits.

Expression of active human erythropoietin in the mammary gland of lactating transgenic mice and rabbits

Transgenic mice and rabbits were generated using a chimeric gene comprising the human erythropoietin (hEPO) cDNA under the 5' and 3' regulatory sequences of the rabbit whey acidic protein gene. Transgenic mice expressed hEPO at levels of 0.01 mg/l in the milk of lactating females showing that the genetic construct was functional. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with RNA from various tissues showed that this transgene was expressed mainly in the ovary and mammary gland. In rabbits, we demonstrated the germ line transmission of the transgene. The hEPO was obtained in the milk of lactating females at levels of up to 0.0003 mg/l. Although the expression levels were low, biologically active hEPO was obtained in the milk of transgenic rabbits without any apparent detrimental effect for the animals. In vitro, the specific activity of the rabbit-derived hEPO was higher than that reported for the natural hEPO, thus suggesting differences in the glycosylation pattern in at least part of the molecules secreted by the mammary gland of transgenic rabbits