Vitamin A supplementation increases ratios of proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in pregnancy and lactation.

Vitamin A supplementation reduces child mortality in populations at risk of vitamin A deficiency and may also reduce maternal mortality. One possible explanation for this is that vitamin A deficiency is associated with altered immune function and cytokine dysregulation. Vitamin A deficiency in pregnancy may thus compound the pregnancy-associated bias of cellular immune responses towards Th-2-like responses and exacerbate susceptibility to intracellular pathogens. We assessed mitogen and antigen-induced cytokine responses during pregnancy and lactation in Ghanaian primigravidae receiving either vitamin A supplementation or placebo. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of weekly vitamin A supplementation in pregnant and lactating women. Pregnancy compared to postpartum was associated with a suppression of cytokine responses, in particular of the proinflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Mitogen-induced TNF-alpha responses were associated with a decreased risk of peripheral parasitaemia during pregnancy. Furthermore, vitamin A supplementation was significantly associated with an increased ratio of mitogen-induced proinflammatory cytokine (IFN-gamma) to anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. The results of this study indicate that suppression of proinflammatory type 1 immune responses and hence immunity to intracellular infections, resulting from the combined effects of pregnancy and vitamin A deficiency, might be ameliorated by vitamin A supplementation.

The efficacy of external ultrasound-assisted liposuction: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Use of high-intensity, high-frequency external ultrasound before liposuction has been reported to enhance the ease of fat extraction, increase the amount of fat extracted, and decrease patient discomfort during liposuction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of application of high-intensity continuous wave ultrasound to extremely low-intensity ultrasound (placebo) prior to tumescent liposuction. METHODS: A total of 19 patients (25 sites) completed the double-blind study. We used a split treatment area design so that each patient could serve as their own control. After tumesing the treatment area, a 3 W/cm2 continuous wave 1 MHz ultrasound was applied for 10 minutes. The placebo control was treated with 0.3 W/cm2 1 MHz for 10 minutes. Traditional tumescent liposuction followed ultrasound application. Doctors completed a visual analog scale rating the following: rate of extraction, degree of resistance to cannula movement, and color of fat. Patients also completed a questionnaire after the procedure and at 1 month postoperatively. Histologic samples of the fat treated with external ultrasound were taken from two patients. RESULTS: In 14 of 19 patients the doctors graded either no difference between treatment and control sides or found a better response on the nontreated side in rate of fat removal and resistance to cannula advancement giving a P value of .0096. Only 5 of 19 aspirates were graded as differing in redness between treatment and control sides. Four of these were more red on the control side and one was more red on the treatment side. Therefore 15 of 19 had no better result with treatment, giving a P value of .0022. Seven patients graded the sensation during suctioning and/or postoperative course as better on the control side, four graded these variables as better on the treatment side, four showed no difference between the two sides, and four had mixed results. This gives only 4 of the 19 patients showing any advantage in treatment with a P value of .0022. CONCLUSION: When the placebo effect is eliminated, there is no advantage to the application of external ultrasound prior to liposuction.

Long-term efficacy and safety of Jessner's solution and 35% trichloroacetic acid vs 5% fluorouracil in the treatment of widespread facial actinic keratoses.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the long-term efficacy of fluorouracil (FU) or chemical peels for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AK). Our earlier work examined the efficacy and safety of a medium-depth chemical peel compared with the standard regimen of topical FU in the treatment of widespread facial AK through 12 months. OBJECTIVES: To determine long-term efficacy of both treatments by extending our observations through 32 months. METHODS: Fifteen patients with severe facial actinic damage were treated on the left side with a single application of Jessner's solution and 35% trichloroacetic acid and on the right side with twice daily applications of 5% FU cream for 3 weeks. Parameters evaluated at 1, 6, 12, and 32 months included counts of visible AK, random skin biopsies from both treatment areas, development of intercurrent neoplasms, and surveys assessing sun exposure. RESULTS: Eight patients were available for reevaluation at 32 months. Both treatment sides showed a reduction in mean number of AK at 12 months followed by an increase in mean AK number between 12 and 32 months. Improvements in biopsies of clinically actinically damaged skin were seen in keratinocytic atypia, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and inflammation at all treatment times during the study with both treatments. Three squamous cell carcinomas developed in the patients after initial treatment; one developed on the side treated with the peel, and two developed on the side treated with fluorouracil. Surveys failed to demonstrate an association between sun exposure and clinical response. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, patient with widespread actinic keratoses treated with medium-depth chemical peel or with 5% FU should be reevaluated yearly or every 1.5 years for reappearance of AK and retreatment.

A comparison of the efficacy and safety of Jessner's solution and 35% trichloroacetic acid vs 5% fluorouracil in the treatment of widespread facial actinic keratoses.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: We compared the efficacy and safety of a medium-depth chemical peel with those of the standard regimen of topical fluorouracil in the treatment of widespread facial actinic keratoses (AK). Fifteen patients with severe facial actinic damage and similar numbers of AK on both sides of the face were treated on the left side with a single application of Jessner's solution and 35% trichloroacetic acid and on the right side with twice daily applications of 5% fluorouracil cream for 3 weeks. Evaluations were conducted before treatment and at 1, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Visible AK were counted, random skin biopsies performed, adverse effects monitored, and patients questioned about preference and perception of efficacy. RESULTS: Both treatments reduced the number of visible AK by 75% and produced equivalent reductions in keratinocyte atypia, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, and inflammation, with no significant alteration of preexisting solar elastosis and telangiectasia. Except for erythema that lasted 3 months in one patient, no untoward side effects were observed with the chemical peel. The majority of patients preferred the peel over fluorouracil because of the single application and less morbidity. CONCLUSION: The medium-depth peel induced by Jessner's solution and 35% trichloroacetic acid is a useful alternative therapeutic option for widespread facial AK, particularly for poorly compliant patients, because it equals fluorouracil in efficacy while being superior in terms of the convenience of a single application with little associated morbidity.

A spectrum of inflammatory metastasis to skin via lymphatics: three cases of carcinoma erysipeloides.

We report a case in which carcinoma erysipeloides was the first sign of the primary malignancy in a patient with a rare form of prostate carcinoma (mixed adenosquamous type) and two cases in which carcinoma erysipeloides was a marker of tumor recurrence in two patients with breast carcinoma. The value of recognizing the distinctive inflammatory manifestation of carcinoma erysipeloides and the significance of dermal lymphatic involvement in this form of skin metastasis are discussed.

Propagation of small bowel migrating motor complex activity fronts varies with anastomosis type.

Fasting small intestine motility (migrating motor complex or MMC) occurs in humans and dogs in four phases. Activity fronts during phase III consist of high amplitude contractions propagating aborally and are interrupted by transection of the small intestine. To study the effect of anastomosis type on MMC propagation six dogs underwent resection of a 15-cm segment of bowel 45 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz and single layer hand sewn end-to-end (EE) anastomosis. Single layer end-to-side (ES) or side-to-side (SS) anastomoses were hand sewn 15 cm distal to the transection in six other dogs. Eight force transducer strain gauges were placed at 10-cm intervals about each anastomosis. At least 7 days after operation, small bowel contractions were recorded in fasted animals, and recordings were visually inspected. Only 1 of 36 activity fronts propagated across the end-to-end anastomosis within 45 days of surgery. However, after 60 days 25 of 39 phase III activity fronts propagated. There was no propagation of MMC activity across the ES anastomosis and only 10% of activity fronts propagated across the SS anastomosis. We conclude phase III MMC activity front propagation is interrupted by small bowel transection. Propagation regenerates after EE anastomosis, but not after ES or after SS anastomoses, even after prolonged healing.