The epidemiology of alopecia areata: a population-based cohort study in UK primary care.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of population-based information on the disease burden and management of alopecia areata (AA). OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of AA, focusing on incidence, demographics and patterns of healthcare utilization. METHODS: Population-based cohort study of 4·16 million adults and children, using UK electronic primary care records from the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) network database, 2009-2018. The incidence and point prevalence of AA were estimated. Variation in AA incidence by age, sex, deprivation, geographical distribution and ethnicity was examined. Patterns of healthcare utilization were evaluated in people with incident AA. RESULTS: The AA incidence rate was 0·26 per 1000 person-years. AA point prevalence in 2018 was 0·58% in adults. AA onset peaked at age 25-29 years for both sexes, although the peak was broader in females. People of nonwhite ethnicity were more likely to present with AA, especially those of Asian ethnicity [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 3·32 (95% confidence interval 3·11-3·55)]. Higher AA incidence was associated with social deprivation [IRR most vs. least deprived quintile 1·47 (1·37-1·59)] and urban living [IRR 1·23 (1·14-1·32)]. People of higher social deprivation were less likely to be referred for specialist dermatology review. CONCLUSIONS: By providing the first large-scale estimates of the incidence and point prevalence of AA, our study helps to understand the burden of AA on the population. Understanding the variation in AA onset between different population groups may give insight into the pathogenesis of AA and its management.

Stratum Corneum Sampling to Assess Bioequivalence between Topical Acyclovir Products.

PURPOSE: To examine the potential of stratum corneum (SC) sampling via tape-stripping in humans to assess bioequivalence of topical acyclovir drug products, and to explore the potential value of alternative metrics of local skin bioavailability calculable from SC sampling experiments. METHODS: Three acyclovir creams were considered in two separate studies in which drug amounts in the SC after uptake and clearance periods were measured and used to assess bioequivalence. In each study, a "reference" formulation (evaluated twice) was compared to the "test" in 10 subjects. Each application site was replicated to achieve greater statistical power with fewer volunteers. RESULTS: SC sampling revealed similarities and differences between products consistent with results from other surrogate bioequivalence measures, including dermal open-flow microperfusion experiments. Further analysis of the tape-stripping data permitted acyclovir flux into the viable skin to be deduced and drug concentration in that 'compartment' to be estimated. CONCLUSIONS: Acyclovir quantities determined in the SC, following a single-time point uptake and clearance protocol, can be judiciously used both to objectively compare product performance in vivo and to assess delivery of the active into skin tissue below the barrier, thereby permitting local concentrations at or near to the site of action to be determined.

Impaired skeletal muscle development and function in male, but not female, genomic androgen receptor knockout mice.

To identify mechanisms of anabolic androgen action in muscle, we generated male and female genomic androgen receptor (AR) knockout (ARKO) mice, and characterized muscle mass, contractile function, and gene expression. Muscle mass is decreased in ARKO males, but normal in ARKO females. The levator ani muscle, which fails to develop in normal females, is also absent in ARKO males. Force production is decreased from fast-twitch ARKO male muscle, and slow-twitch muscle has increased fatigue resistance. Microarray analysis shows up-regulation of genes encoding slow-twitch muscle contractile proteins. Real-time PCR confirms that expression of genes encoding polyamine biosynthetic enzymes, ornithine decarboxylase (Odc1), and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (Amd1), is reduced in ARKO muscle, suggesting androgens act through regulation of polyamine biosynthesis. Altered expression of regulators of myoblast progression from proliferation to terminal differentiation suggests androgens also promote muscle growth by maintaining myoblasts in the proliferate state and delaying differentiation (increased Cdkn1c and Igf2, decreased Itg1bp3). A similar pattern of gene expression is observed in orchidectomized male mice, during androgen withdrawal-dependent muscle atrophy. In conclusion, androgens are not required for peak muscle mass in females. In males, androgens act through the AR to regulate multiple gene pathways that control muscle mass, strength, and fatigue resistance.

A floxed allele of the androgen receptor gene causes hyperandrogenization in male mice.

We previously generated a conditional floxed mouse line to study androgen action, in which exon 3 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene is flanked by loxP sites, with the neomycin resistance gene present in intron 3. Deletion of exon 3 in global AR knockout mice causes androgen insensitivity syndrome, characterized by genotypic males lacking normal masculinization. We now report that male mice carrying the floxed allele (AR(lox)) have the reverse phenotype, termed hyperandrogenization. AR(lox) mice have increased mass of androgen-dependent tissues, including kidney, (P < 0.001), seminal vesicle (P < 0.001), levator ani muscle (P = 0.001), and heart (P < 0.05). Serum testosterone is not significantly different. Testis mass is normal, histology shows normal spermatogenesis, and AR(lox) males are fertile. AR(lox) males also have normal AR mRNA levels in kidney, brain, levator ani, liver, and testis. This study reaffirms the need to investigate the potential phenotypic effects of floxed alleles in the absence of cre in tissue-specific knockout studies. In addition, this androgen hypersensitivity model may be useful to further investigate the effects of subtle perturbations of androgen action in a range of androgen-responsive systems in the male.

Intermittent Fugu parathyroid hormone 1 (1-34) is an anabolic bone agent in young male rats and osteopenic ovariectomized rats.

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is currently the only treatment for osteoporosis that forms new bone. Previously we described a fish equivalent, Fugu parathyroid hormone 1 (fPth1) which has hPTH-like biological activity in vitro despite fPth1(1-34) sharing only 53% identity with hPTH(1-34). Here we demonstrate the in vivo actions of fPth1(1-34) on bone. In study 1, young male rats were injected intermittently for 30 days with fPth1 [30 microg-1,000 microg/kg body weight (b.w.), (30fPth1-1,000fPth1)] or hPTH [30 microg-100 microg/kg b.w. (30hPTH-100hPTH)]. In proximal tibiae at low doses, the fPth1 was positively correlated with trabecular bone volume/total volume (TbBV/TV) while hPTH increased TbBV/TV, trabecular thickness (TbTh) and trabecular number (TbN). 500fPth1 and 1000fPth1 increased TbBV/TV, TbTh, TbN, mineral apposition rate (MAR) and bone formation rate/bone surface (BFR/BS) with a concomitant decrease in osteoclast surface and number. In study 2 ovariectomized (OVX), osteopenic rats and sham operated (SHAM) rats were injected intermittently with 500 microg/kg b.w. of fPth1 (500fPth1) for 11 weeks. 500fPth1 treatment resulted in increased TbBV/TV (151%) and TbTh (96%) in the proximal tibiae due to increased bone formation as assessed by BFR/BS (490%) and MAR (131%). The effect was restoration of TbBV/TV to SHAM levels without any effect on bone resorption. 500fPth1 also increased TbBV/TV and TbTh in the vertebrae (L6) and cortical thickness in the mid-femora increasing bone strength at these sites. fPth1 was similarly effective in SHAM rats. Notwithstanding the low amino acid sequence homology with hPTH (1-34), we have clearly established the efficacy of fPth1 (1-34) as an anabolic bone agent.

Osteoblast deletion of exon 3 of the androgen receptor gene results in trabecular bone loss in adult male mice.

UNLABELLED: The mechanism of androgen action on bone was studied in male mice with the AR deleted in mature osteoblasts. These mice had decreased trabecular bone volume associated with a decrease in trabecular number, suggesting that androgens may act directly on osteoblasts to maintain trabecular bone. INTRODUCTION: Androgens modulate bone cell activity and are important for the maintenance of bone mass. However, the mechanisms by which they exert these actions on bone remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of androgens acting through the classical androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways (i.e., DNA-binding dependent pathways) in osteoblasts using male mice in which exon 3 of the AR gene was deleted specifically in mature osteoblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice with a floxed exon 3 of the AR gene were bred with Col 2.3-cre transgenic mice, in which Cre recombinase is expressed in mineralizing osteoblasts. The skeletal phenotype of mutant mice was assessed by histomorphometry and quantitative microCT at 6, 12, and 32 weeks of age (n=8 per group). Wildtype, hemizygous exon 3 floxed and hemizygous Col 2.3-cre male littermates were used as controls. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's posthoc test. RESULTS: microCT analysis of the fifth lumbar vertebral body showed that these mice had reduced trabecular bone volume (p<0.05) at 32 weeks of age compared with controls. This was associated with a decrease in trabecular number (p<0.01) at 12 and 32 weeks of age, suggesting increased bone resorption. These effects were accompanied by a reduction in connectivity density (p<0.01) and an increase in trabecular separation (p<0.01). A similar pattern of trabecular bone loss was observed in the distal femoral metaphysis at 32 weeks of age. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that inactivation of the DNA binding-dependent functions of the AR, specifically in mature osteoblasts in male mice, results in increased bone resorption and decreased structural integrity of the bone, leading to a reduction in trabecular bone volume at 32 weeks of age. These data provide evidence of a role for androgens in the maintenance of trabecular bone volume directly through DNA binding-dependent actions of the AR in mature osteoblasts.

Topical bioavailability of diclofenac from locally-acting, dermatological formulations.

Assessment of the bioavailability of topically applied drugs designed to act within or beneath the skin is a challenging objective. A number of different, but potentially complementary, techniques are under evaluation. The objective of this work was to evaluate in vitro skin penetration and stratum corneum tape-stripping in vivo as tools with which to measure topical diclofenac bioavailability from three approved and commercialized products (two gels and one solution). Drug uptake into, and its subsequent clearance from, the stratum corneum of human volunteers was used to estimate the input rate of diclofenac into the viable skin layers. This flux was compared to that measured across excised porcine skin in conventional diffusion cells. Both techniques clearly demonstrated (a) the superiority in terms of drug delivery from the solution, and (b) that the two gels performed similarly. There was qualitative and, importantly, quantitative agreement between the in vitro and in vivo measurements of drug flux into and beyond the viable skin. Evidence is therefore presented to support an in vivo - in vitro correlation between methods to assess topical drug bioavailability. The potential value of the stratum corneum tape-stripping technique to quantify drug delivery into (epi)dermal and subcutaneous tissue beneath the barrier is demonstrated.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D is expressed by macrophages in human atherosclerosis and colocalizes with oxidation epitopes.

BACKGROUND: Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) may play an important role in inflammation, because it can hydrolyze the GPI anchors of several inflammatory membrane proteins (eg, CD106, CD55, and CD59) and its hydrolytic products upregulate macrophage cytokine expression (eg, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Because of its potential regulatory role in inflammatory reactions, we hypothesized that GPI-PLD might be expressed in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry using human GPI-PLD-specific rabbit polyclonal antiserum was performed on a total of 83 nonatherosclerotic and atherosclerotic human coronary arteries from 23 patients. Macrophages, smooth muscle cells, apoA-I, and oxidation epitopes also were identified immunohistochemically. Cell-associated GPI-PLD was detected in 95% of atherosclerotic segments, primarily on a subset of macrophages. Extracellular GPI-PLD was present in only 30% of atherosclerotic segments and localized to regions with extracellular apoA-I. In contrast, GPI-PLD was not detected in nonatherosclerotic segments. Expression of GPI-PLD mRNA by human macrophages was confirmed in vitro by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction. Further studies demonstrated that GPI-PLD-positive plaque macrophages contained oxidation epitopes, suggesting a link between oxidant stress and GPI-PLD expression. This possibility was supported by studies in which exposure of a macrophage cell line to H2O2 led to a 50+/-3% increase in steady-state GPI-PLD mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results suggest that oxidative processes may regulate GPI-PLD expression and suggest a role for GPI-PLD in inflammation and in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Application of a new discreet form of Gauss' theorem for measuring volume.

Volume measurements are useful in many branches of science and medicine. They are usually accomplished by acquiring a sequence of cross sectional images through the object using an appropriate scanning modality, for example x-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) or ultrasound (US). In the cases of CT and MR, a dividing cubes algorithm can be used to describe the surface as a triangle mesh. However, such algorithms are not suitable for US data, especially when the image sequence is multiplanar (as it usually is). This problem may be overcome by manually tracing regions of interest (ROIs) on the registered multiplanar images and connecting the points into a triangular mesh. In this paper we describe and evaluate a new discreet form of Gauss' theorem which enables the calculation of the volume of any enclosed surface described by a triangular mesh. The volume is calculated by summing the vector product of the centroid, area and normal of each surface triangle. The algorithm was tested on computer-generated objects, US-scanned balloons, livers and kidneys and CT-scanned clay rocks. The results, expressed as the mean percentage difference +/- one standard deviation were 1.2 +/- 2.3, 5.5 +/- 4.7, 3.0 +/- 3.2 and -1.2 +/- 3.2% for balloons, livers, kidneys and rocks respectively. The results compare favourably with other volume estimation methods such as planimetry and tetrahedral decomposition.

Pacemaker lead extraction in pacemaker endocarditis with lead vegetation: usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography.

While pacemaker endocarditis is rare, it is a complication that mandates removal of the permanent pacemaker system, including the electrode lead. Many modes of lead removal have been used. The choice of method is determined largely by lead type and chronicity (i.e., risk of substantial adhesions, hence, lead tip mobility). Patient selection has been based on general preoperative risk assessment. It is proposed that the presence of lead vegetation be considered in the decision-making process. Vegetation can be diagnosed by preoperative echocardiography, especially with clinical suspicion of embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography appears to be particularly sensitive. If vegetation is detected, open heart surgery should be strongly considered for lead removal as opposed to dilator sheath counter traction. The latter method risks shearing off the vegetation, which may result in septic--even massive--pulmonary embolus.

The role of the calcitonin receptor in protecting against induced hypercalcemia is mediated via its actions in osteoclasts to inhibit bone resorption.

Despite the therapeutic value of calcitonin in treating bone disease, a biological role of endogenous calcitonin is controversial. Having previously demonstrated that the CTR has a biological role in protecting against calcium stress using a global CTRKO mouse model, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the protection conferred by the CTR during induced hypercalcemia is mediated via CTR expression on osteoclasts. Mice were generated, in which the CTR was deleted specifically within osteoclasts (OCL-CTRKOs) and compared with mice in which the CTR was deleted globally (global CTRKOs). Significantly, peak serum calcium levels following induced hypercalcemia were >18% higher in global-CTRKOs and OCL-CTRKOs than controls (P<0.01) due to increased bone resorption (P<0.05). Peak serum calcium levels relative to controls were greater in global-CTRKO males than OCL-CTRKO males (P<0.001), which may, at least in part, be due to increased reabsorption of calcium in the kidney (P<0.01). Controls for all analyses were sex-matched littermates with normal CTR expression. In conclusion, the CTR protects against hypercalcemia predominantly via its inhibitory action on osteoclasts.

Calcitonin receptor plays a physiological role to protect against hypercalcemia in mice.

It is well established that calcitonin is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption; however, a physiological role for calcitonin acting through its cognate receptor, the calcitonin receptor (CTR), has not been identified. Data from previous genetically modified animal models have recognized a possible role for calcitonin and the CTR in controlling bone formation; however, interpretation of these data are complicated, in part because of their mixed genetic background. Therefore, to elucidate the physiological role of the CTR in calcium and bone metabolism, we generated a viable global CTR knockout (KO) mouse model using the Cre/loxP system, in which the CTR is globally deleted by >94% but <100%. Global CTRKOs displayed normal serum ultrafiltrable calcium levels and a mild increase in bone formation in males, showing that the CTR plays a modest physiological role in the regulation of bone and calcium homeostasis in the basal state in mice. Furthermore, the peak in serum total calcium after calcitriol [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)]-induced hypercalcemia was substantially greater in global CTRKOs compared with controls. These data provide strong evidence for a biological role of the CTR in regulating calcium homeostasis in states of calcium stress.

The syndrome of retroperitoneal hemorrhage and lumbar plexus neuropathy during anticoagulant therapy.

A syndrome of retroperitoneal hemorrhage during anticoagulant therapy associated with nerve involvement in femoral nerve or lumbar plexus is described. Twenty-one cases were collected from the English-language literature, and five new cases were added for review and analysis. In these 26 cases spontaneous hemorrhage occurred under iliopsoas fascia in the retroperitoneal space. The clinical picture, involved nerves, laboratory findings of coagulation studies, anemia, and the outcome of these cases are summarized and discussed. Retroperitoneal space may contain a large quantity of internal hemorrhage. Irreversible damage of lumbar plexus or femoral nerve may result from entrapment of nerves in the hematoma. Laboratory coagulation studies may guide effective administration of anticoagulant therapy and minimize hemorrhagic complication, but they will not eliminate the risk of hemorrhage completely.

Quantitative measures of the palate using enhanced electropalatography.

Electropalatography (EPG) is a useful tool for investigating tongue dynamics in experimental phonetic research and speech therapy. However, data provided by EPG are a two-dimensional representation in which all absolute positional information is lost. This paper presents an enhanced EPG (eEPG) system which uses digitised palate shape data to display the tongue-palate contact pattern in three dimensions. The palate shapes are obtained using a colour-encoded structured light three-dimensional digitisation system. The three-dimensional palate shape is displayed on a Silicon Graphics workstation as a surface made up of polygons represented by a quadrilateral mesh. EPG contact patterns are superimposed on to the three-dimensional palate shape by displaying the relevant polygons in a different colour. By using this system, differences in shape between individual palates, apparent on visual inspection of the actual palates, are also apparent in the image on screen. Further, methods have been devised for computing absolute distances along paths lying on the palate surface. Combining this with calibrated palate shape data allows accurate measurements to be made between contact locations on the palate. These have been validated with manual measurements. In addition, vocal tract areas in the oral cavity have been estimated by using the absolute measurements on the palate for a given contact pattern, and assuming a flat tongue profile in the uncontacted area.

Femoral neuropathy after renal transplantation.

We report nine cases of neuropathy occurring after renal transplantation, seven of them femoral and two lateral femoral cutaneous. The average time of onset of symptoms is 2.2 days after surgery. Quadriceps weakness, hypoesthesia, and abnormal results of EMG and nerve conduction studies are common and occur on the same side as the operation. The symptoms usually resolve within weeks, but motor and sensory changes can persist. The lesion is thought to be secondary to compression caused by a hematoma at the operative site.

Transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase in osteoclasts.

To study the physiological control of osteoclasts, the bone resorbing cells, we generated transgenic mice carrying the Cre recombinase gene driven by either the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) or cathepsin K (Ctsk) promoters. TRAP-Cre and Ctsk-Cre transgenic mouse lines were characterized by breeding with LacZ ROSA 26 (R26R) reporter mice and immunohistochemistry for Cre recombinase. The Cre transgene was functional in all lines, with Cre-mediated recombination occurring primarily in the long bones, vertebrae, ribs, and calvaria. Histological analyses of the bones demonstrated that functional Cre protein was present in 1) osteoclasts (Ctsk-Cre); 2) osteoclasts, columnar proliferating, and hypertrophic chondrocytes (TRAP-Cre line 4); and 3) round proliferating chondrocytes (TRAP-Cre line 3). In conclusion, we generated transgenic mouse lines that will enable the deletion of floxed target genes in osteoclasts, which will be valuable tools for studying the regulation of osteoclast function.

Estimation of fetal lung volume using enhanced 3-dimensional ultrasound: a new method and first result.

OBJECTIVE: To measure fetal lung volume using a computer based, enhanced, 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging system. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: The Fetal Medicine Unit at Guys Hospital, London. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty healthy women with a singleton pregnancy between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation were scanned on one occasion during pregnancy using an ultrasound based 3-dimensional imaging system. All delivered at term with weights above the 10th centile for gestation. RESULTS: Total lung volume increased exponentially with gestational age. Right lung volume measured consistently greater than left lung volume. CONCLUSIONS: The use of this new enhanced 3-dimensional imaging system allows for estimations of fetal lung volume. Preliminary data confirm that fetal lung volume, measured by a computerised 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging system increased exponentially with gestational age. The use of this system has obvious application in the further study of lung growth in utero and possible clinical application in disease states where fetal lung growth may be impaired.