Sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water nasal inhalation and irrigation in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections: Clinical outcomes and predictive factors.

PURPOSE: Recurrent upper respiratory disorders (RURD) are among the most common problems diagnosed in pediatric otolaryngology practice. Although several preliminary studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of thermal water inhalations for RURD, inhalation of thermal water has not been included among validated management protocols. The effects of sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water nasal irrigations have been confirmed also in prospective, randomized studies. The main aim of this explorative, retrospective, observational study has been to compare the clinical outcome in pediatric patients with RURD treated with sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water inhalation versus combined inhalation and nasal irrigation. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-three pediatric patients with RURD were considered; 231 underwent thermal water inhalations (inhalation of hot humid air and aerosol) only, while 22 underwent nasal irrigations combined with inhalations. Subjective overall efficacy perception and treatment tolerability were scored as categorical variables (from 0 = no efficacy/worst tolerability to 3 = maximal efficacy/best tolerability). RESULTS: Nasal obstruction, sneezing, serous, mucous, and purulent rhinorrhea, cough, and snoring improved respectively in 80.2%, 72.9%, 79.0%, 93.8%, 92.3%, 64.8%, and 60.4% of patients referring these symptoms at presentation, respectively. No statistically significant differences between inhalations alone and combined inhalations and irrigations emerged. The median overall efficacy perception score was 2 while the median treatment tolerability score was 3. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation found that sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous water treatment was a well-tolerated therapeutic option for selected pediatric patients with RURD. These promising preliminary results should be confirmed in prospective, randomized, double-blind settings, also using minimally invasive but objective and quantitative evaluation methods.

Crusted scabies in a pediatric renal transplant recipient on immunosuppressants.

BACKGROUND: Crusted scabies (CS) is a rare, severe and highly contagious form of scabies, which has been reported in immunosuppressed patients. A high index of suspicion and awareness of CS is essential to treat this infestation. CASE: A 13-year-old boy presented with pruritic hyperkeratotic squamous plaques located on both inner wrists, the web spaces of both his hands and his feet, and the genital area of 12 months duration. He was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis at the age of 5 and received a kidney transplant at the age of 9. He has been on a maintenance dose of prednisone (5 mg/d) and mycophenolate mofetil (250 mg/d) for the past 2 years. He had a contact history with a school friend with similar lesions. A skin punch biopsy demonstrated the presence of multiple mites in the stratum corneum confirming the diagnosis of CS. Ivermectin, the recommended drug of choice for crusted scabies, is not available in South Africa. The patient was commenced on topical benzoyl benzoate lotion but discontinued its use because of intolerable irritation. We subsequently prescribed the daily application of topical 5% sulfur in petrolatum to which his pruritus subsided significantly after 2 weeks with resolution of all skin lesions at the end of 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: This case is the first documented report of CS in a pediatric renal transplant patient. Our management highlights that classic formularies of magistral drugs are still effective treatment options and can be used especially when standard therapies cannot be tolerated or when optimum treatments are not available.

Sulfur-containing amino acid supplementation to gilts from late pregnancy to lactation altered offspring's intestinal microbiota and plasma metabolites.

Maternal nutrition during late pregnancy and lactation is highly involved with the offspring's health status. The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different ratios of methionine and cysteine (Met/Cys: 46% Met, 51% Met, 56% Met, and 62% Met; maintained with 0.78% of total sulfur-containing amino acids; details in "Materials and methods") supplements in the sows' diet from late pregnancy to lactation on offspring's plasma metabolomics and intestinal microbiota. The results revealed that the level of serum albumin, calcium, iron, and magnesium was increased in the 51% Met group compared with the 46% Met, 56% Met, and 62% Met groups. Plasma metabolomics results indicated that the higher ratios of methionine and cysteine (0.51% Met, 0.56% Met, and 0.62% Met)-supplemented groups enriched the level of hippuric acid, retinoic acid, riboflavin, and δ-tocopherol than in the 46% Met group. Furthermore, the 51% Met-supplemented group had a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes compared with the other three groups (P < 0.05), while the 62% Met-supplemented group increased the abundance of Proteobacteria compared with the other three groups (P < 0.05) in piglets' intestine. These results indicated that a diet consisting with 51% Met is the optimum Met/Cys ratio from late pregnancy to lactation can maintain the offspring's health by improving the serum biochemical indicators and altering the plasma metabolomics profile and intestinal gut microbiota composition, but higher proportion of Met/Cys may increase the possible risk to offspring's health.

Dietary starch concentration alters reticular pH, hepatic copper concentration, and performance in lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows receiving added dietary sulfur and molybdenum.

To test the hypothesis that Cu metabolism in dairy cows is affected by dietary starch concentration and additional sulfur S and Mo, 60 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows that were [mean ± standard error (SE)] 33 ± 2.5 days postcalving and yielding 41 ± 0.9 kg of milk/d were fed 1 of 4 diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design experiment over a 14-wk period. The 4 diets had a Cu concentration of approximately 15 mg/kg of dry matter (DM), a grass silage-to-corn silage ratio of 1:1, a dietary starch concentration of either 150 g/kg of DM (low starch, LS) or 220 g/kg of DM (high starch, HS), and were either unsupplemented (-) or supplemented (+) with an additional 0.8 g of S/kg of DM and 4.4 mg of Mo/kg of DM. We found an effect of dietary starch concentration on mean reticular pH, which was 0.15 pH units lower in cows fed the high starch diets. The addition of S and Mo decreased intake by 1.8 kg of DM/d, an effect that was evident beginning in wk 1 of the study. Mean milk and fat yields were 37.0 and 1.51 kg/d, respectively, and were not affected by dietary treatment. We found an effect of dietary starch concentration on milk protein concentration, protein yield, and urea nitrogen, which were increased by 2.8 g/kg, 0.09 kg/d, and 2.1 mg/dL, respectively, in cows fed the high starch diets. We found no effect of dietary treatment on either cow live weight or body condition. Mean plasma Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations were 15.3, 42.1, and 14.4 µmol/L, respectively, and were not affected by dietary treatment. In contrast, we found an interaction between dietary starch concentration and Cu antagonists on plasma Mo, where feeding additional S and Mo increased plasma Mo to a greater extent when cows were offered the high versus low starch diet. We also found that increasing dietary starch concentration increased serum ceruloplasmin activity, but serum haptoglobin concentration was not affected by dietary treatment. The addition of S and Mo decreased hepatic Cu concentration, whereas in cows fed the higher dietary starch concentration, hepatic Cu concentration was increased over the period of our study. We concluded that increasing dietary starch concentration decreases rumen pH and increases milk protein yield and hepatic Cu concentration, whereas feeding additional S and Mo decreases intake and hepatic Cu concentration.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Dermoscopy for Scabies.

The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists' interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.

Late-gestation maternal dietary methyl donor and cofactor supplementation in sheep partially reverses protection against allergic sensitization by IUGR.

Perinatal exposures are associated with altered risks of childhood allergy. Human studies and our previous work suggest that restricted growth in utero (IUGR) is protective against allergic disease. The mechanisms are not clearly defined, but reduced fetal abundance and altered metabolism of methyl donors are hypothesized as possible underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we examined whether late-gestation maternal dietary methyl donor and cofactor supplementation of the placentally restricted (PR) sheep pregnancy would reverse allergic protection in progeny. Allergic outcomes were compared between progeny from control pregnancies (CON; n = 49), from PR pregnancies without intervention (PR; n = 28), and from PR pregnancies where the dam was fed a methyl donor plus cofactor supplement from day 120 of pregnancy until delivery (PR + Methyl; n = 25). Both PR and PR + Methyl progeny were smaller than CON; supplementation did not alter birth size. PR was protective against cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to ovalbumin (OVA; P < 0.01 in singletons). Cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to OVA in PR + Methyl progeny were intermediate to and not different from the responses of CON and PR sheep. Cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to house dust mites did not differ between treatments. In singleton progeny, upper dermal mast cell density was greater in PR + Methyl than in PR or CON (each P < 0.05). The differences in the cutaneous allergic response were not explained by treatment effects on circulating immune cells or antibodies. Our results suggest that mechanisms underlying in utero programming of allergic susceptibility by IUGR and methyl donor availability may differ and imply that late-gestation methyl donor supplementation may increase allergy risk.

Dietary Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids Are Associated with Higher Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity in Northern Chinese Adults, an Internet-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Elevation of plasma sulfur-containing amino acids (SAAs) is generally associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and unfavorable lipid profiles. It is not known how dietary SAAs relate to these associations in humans. METHODS: A convenient tool named internet-based dietary questionnaire for Chinese (IDQC) was used to estimate dietary SAAs intake. A total of 936 participants were randomly recruited and asked to complete the IDQC. Furthermore, 90 subjects were randomly selected to perform a subgroup study. The associations between dietary SAAs and prevalence of obesity, lipid profiles, and status of insulin resistance (IR), inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. RESULTS: Dietary total SAAs and cysteine of overweight/obese participants were significantly higher. Dietary total SAAs and cysteine were positively associated with BMI and waist circumference. Higher dietary total SAAs were associated with higher prevalence of overweight/obesity. Higher dietary total SAAs and cysteine also associated with higher serum triglyceride (total cholesterol), low density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, 2 h-postprandial glucose, and homeostasis model assessment of IR. In the subgroup study, positive associations between dietary SAAs and inflammation biomarkers were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary SAAs are associated with higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, unfavorable lipid profiles and status of IR, and inflammation.

Effects of feeding fresh cassava root with high-sulfur feed block on feed utilization, rumen fermentation, and blood metabolites in Thai native cattle.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of feeding fresh cassava root (CR) along with a feed block containing high was to sulfur (FBS) on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood thiocyanate concentration in Thai native beef cattle. Four Thai male native beef cattle, initial body weight (BW) of 130 + 20.0 kg, were used in this study. The experiments were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The main factors were supplemented fresh CR levels (1.0 and 1.5% BW) and across to a feed block supplemented with sulfur added 2% (FBS-2) and 4% (FBS-4). Intakes of rice straw, concentrate diets, and FBS were not affected by treatments. Intakes of CR, sulfur, and total intake were significantly altered by the FBS treatment. The apparent dry matter and organic matter digestibility coefficient were significantly higher in animals fed FBS-4 than in those fed FBS-2. The ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was not affected by treatment and ranged from 15.6 to 17.6 mg/dl. Populations of protozoa and fungal zoospores were similar across treatments, whereas the bacterial population was significantly different between sulfur levels in the feed block. Feeding CR with FBS did not change total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and VFA profiles except for the propionic acid concentration, which was higher in the group with CR supplementation at 1.5% BW. Cattle fed CR with FBS showed similar blood urea nitrogen concentration at various feeding times and overall. In contrast, CR supplementation at 1.5% BW with FBS-2 increased blood thiocyanate concentrations. Therefore, supplementation of FBS-2 was beneficial to Thai native beef cattle fed with 1.5% BW fresh CR as it improved digestibility and rumen fermentation presumed, because HCN from fresh cassava root was converted into thiocyanate, which is nontoxic to farm animals.

Effects of prepartum dietary cation-anion difference on aspects of peripartum mineral and energy metabolism and performance of multiparous Holstein cows.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of decreasing dietary cation-anion difference [DCAD; (Na+ + K+) - (Cl- + S2-)] of the prepartum diet on aspects of mineral metabolism, energy metabolism, and performance of peripartum dairy cows. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 89) were enrolled between 38 and 31 d before expected parturition and randomized to treatments in a completely randomized design (restricted to balance for previous 305-d mature equivalent milk production, parity, and body condition score) at 24 d before expected parturition. Treatments consisted of a low-K ration without anion supplementation [CON; n = 30, DCAD = +18.3 mEq/100 g of dry matter (DM)]; partial anion supplementation to a low-K ration (MED; n = 30, DCAD = +5.9 mEq/100 g of DM); and anion supplementation to a low-K ration to reach a targeted average urine pH between 5.5 and 6.0 (LOW; n = 29, DCAD = -7.4 mEq/100 g of DM). Cows were fed a common postpartum diet and data collected through 63 d in milk. Urine pH (CON = 8.22, MED = 7.89, and LOW = 5.96) was affected quadratically by decreasing prepartum DCAD. A linear relationship between urine pH and urine Ca:creatinine ratio was observed (r = -0.81). Plasma Ca concentrations in the postpartum period (d 0 to 14; CON = 2.16, MED = 2.19, and LOW = 2.27 mmol/L) were increased linearly with decreasing prepartum DCAD. A treatment by parity (second vs. third and greater) interaction for postpartum plasma Ca concentration suggested that older cows had the greatest response to the low DCAD diet and older cows fed LOW had decreased prevalence of hypocalcemia after calving. A quadratic effect of decreasing DCAD on prepartum DMI was observed (CON = 13.6, MED = 14.0, and LOW = 13.2 kg/d). Milk production in the first 3 wk postpartum was increased linearly with decreasing DCAD (CON = 40.8, MED = 42.4, and LOW = 43.9 kg/d) and DMI in this period also tended to linearly increase (CON = 20.2, MED = 20.9, and LOW = 21.3 kg/d). Overall, effects on intake and milk yield analyzed over wk 1 to 9 postpartum were not significant. This study demonstrates that feeding lower DCAD diets prepartum improves plasma Ca status in the immediate postpartum period and results in increased DMI and milk production in the 3 wk after parturition. Compared with no anion supplementation or lower levels of anion supplementation, greater improvements were observed with the lower DCAD feeding strategy, in which an average urine pH of 5.5 to 6.0 was targeted.

Added dietary sulfur and molybdenum has a greater influence on hepatic copper concentration, intake, and performance in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows offered a grass silage-rather than corn silage-based diet.

To test the hypothesis that the metabolism of Cu in dairy cows is affected by basal forage and added S and Mo, 56 dairy cows that were 35 (standard error ± 2.2) days postcalving and yielding 38.9 kg of milk/d (standard error ± 0.91) were offered 1 of 4 diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design for a 14-wk period. The 4 diets contained approximately 20 mg of Cu/kg of dry matter (DM), and had a corn silage-to-grass silage ratio of 0.75:0.25 (C) or 0.25:0.75 (G) and were either unsupplemented (-) or supplemented (+) with an additional 2 g of S/kg of DM and 6.5 mg of Mo/kg of DM. We found an interaction between forage source and added S and Mo on DM intake, with cows offered G+ having a 2.1 kg of DM lower intake than those offered G-, but no effect on the corn silage-based diets. Mean milk yield was 38.9 kg/d and we observed an interaction between basal forage and added S and Mo, with yield being decreased in cows offered G+ but increased on C+. No effect of dietary treatment on milk composition or live weight was noted, but body condition was lower in cows fed added S and Mo irrespective of forage source. We found an interaction between forage source and added S and Mo on milk somatic cell count, which was higher in cows offered G+ compared with G-, but not in cows fed the corn silage-based diets, although all values were low (mean values of 1.72, 1.50, 1.39, and 1.67 log10/mL for C-, C+, G-, and G+, respectively). Mean plasma Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations were 13.8, 41.3, and 0.25 µmol/L, respectively, and were not affected by dietary treatment, whereas plasma Mo was 0.2 µmol/L higher in cows receiving added S and Mo. The addition of dietary S and Mo decreased liver Cu balance over the study period in cows fed either basal forage, but the decrease was considerably greater in cows receiving the grass silage-based diet. Similarly, hepatic Fe decreased more in cows receiving G than C when S and Mo were included in the diet. We concluded that added S and Mo reduces hepatic Cu reserves irrespective of basal forage source, but this decrease is considerably more pronounced in cows receiving grass silage- than corn silage-based rations and is associated with a decrease in intake and milk performance and an increase in milk somatic cell count.

Detention of copper by sulfur nanoparticles inhibits the proliferation of A375 malignant melanoma and MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Selective induction of cell death or growth inhibition of cancer cells is the future of chemotherapy. Clinical trials have found that cancer tissues are enriched with copper. Based on this finding, many copper-containing compounds and complexes have been designed to "copper" cancer cells using copper as bait. However, recent studies have demonstrated that copper boosts tumor development, and copper deprivation from serum was shown to effectively inhibit the promotion of cancer. Mechanistically, copper is an essential cofactor for mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular activating kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK), a central molecule in the BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway. Therefore, depleting copper from cancer cells by directly sequestering copper has a wider field for research and potential for combination therapy. Based on the affinity between sulfur and copper, we therefore designed sulfur nanoparticles (Nano-S) that detain copper, achieving tumor growth restriction. We found that spherical Nano-S could effectively bind copper and form a tighter surficial structure. Moreover, this Nano-S detention of copper effectively inhibited the proliferation of A375 melanoma and MCF-7 breast cancer cells with minimum toxicity to normal cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that Nano-S triggered inactivation of the MEK-ERK pathway followed by inhibition of the proliferation of the A375 and MCF-7 cells. In addition, lower Nano-S concentrations and shorter exposure stimulated the expression of a copper transporter as compensation, which further increased the cellular uptake and anticancer activities of cisplatin. Collectively, our results highlight the potential of Nano-S as an anticancer agent or adjuvant through its detention of copper.

Over-the-counter treatments for acne and rosacea.

Acne and rosacea are common inflammatory processes historically classified in the same disease category, but evolving understanding of their disparate pathophysiology and exacerbating factors have generated an enormous armamentarium of therapeutic possibilities. Patients seek over-the-counter therapies first when managing cutaneous disease; therefore, this review defines ingredients considered to be effective over-the-counter acne and rosacea products, their mechanisms, and safe formulations, including botanical components, oral supplements, and other anecdotal options in this vast skin care domain.

Macroelemental composition of cadmium stressed lettuce plants grown under conditions of intensive sulphur nutrition.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is moderately sensitive to cadmium (Cd) and shows high accumulation of this metal. Thus, this species is considered to be a good model for both identifying determinants controlling Cd accumulation in plant tissues and for developing breeding strategies aimed at limiting the accumulation of this metal in edible tissues. Simultaneously, lettuce is characterised by medium requirements for sulphur (S) - a macronutrient whose role is associated not only with proper growth and development, but also with stress tolerance. The common use of NPK fertilizers without sulphates (S-SO4) together with the progressive process of reducing emissions of S compounds to the natural environment may lead to deficiency of this element in plants. The present study evaluated the changes in macronutrient content and accumulation in Cd-stressed lettuce 'Justyna' supplied with different S doses. Four concentrations of Cd (0, 0.0002, 0.02 or 0.04 mM) and three levels of S applied in the form of S-SO4 (2, 6 or 9 mM S) were used. Cd exposure impaired the macronutrient balance and accumulation in lettuce. Intensive S nutrition to some extent alleviated Cd-induced toxicity. High S doses, especially 6 mM S, partially improved macronutrient status and restored the macronutrient balance. In Cd-stressed plants supplemented with additional S, an increase in root and shoot biomass and in the content of N, K and Mg was found, without significant changes in the Ca content. Simultaneously, the P and S contents in the biomass of both above- and underground organs remained unchanged. In the leaves, as opposite to the roots, intensive S nutrition reduced the accumulation of Cd. However, the foliar Cd concentration still exceeded the acceptable limits established for consumption. All the obtained results concerning the content of macronutrients and their ratios were referred, inter alia, to the standards i.e. the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) norms.

Net requirements of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulphur for growth of non-descript breed hair lambs of different sex classes in the Brazilian semiarid conditions.

The aim of this study was to determine the net requirements of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and sulphur (S) for weight gain of non-descript breed hair lambs (NDBL) of different sex classes reared under Brazilian semiarid conditions. Sixty NDBL (20 intact males, 20 castrated males, and 20 females), with an average initial body weight of 18.1 ± 0.4 kg and average age of 5 months were used. The macromineral requirements were determined by the differences in body composition through comparative slaughter direct method. The animals were confined for 58 days, and the average fasting body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) of lambs fed ad libitum were 29.2 ± 0.6 and 0.19 ± 0.01 kg, respectively. The net requirements of macrominerals for gain of NDBL did not differ between sex classes (P > 0.05), and ranged from 1.83 to 1.46 g/day of Ca, 1.21 to 1.01 g/day of P, 37 to 30 mg/day of Mg, and 0.31 to 0.28 g/day of S, for lambs with an ADG of 0.200 kg and 15 or 30 kg of FBW, respectively (P < 0.05). The N to S net ratio reduced and increased, respectively, as the body weight and ADG increase. The net requirements of Ca, P, Mg, and S for gain of NDBL slaughtered young and at the same age did not differ between sex classes and decreased as the body weight increased. The net requirements for gain of Ca and P were similar to those recommended by NRC (2007).

Interactive effects of sulfur and chromium on antioxidative defense systems and BnMP1 gene expression in canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in Cr(VI) tolerance.

Plants suffer with combined stress of sulfur (S) deficiency and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in soils. There are a few reports on the interactive effects of S-deficiency and Cr(VI) stress. Therefore, the interactions between S nutrition and Cr(VI) stress were investigated in hydroponically grown canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in Cr(VI) tolerance. The relatively Cr(VI)-tolerant (NK Petrol) and Cr(VI)-susceptible (Sary) cultivars were grown in S-sufficient nutrient solution and then exposed to variable S concentrations [deficient (0 mM S, -S) and sufficient (1 mM S, +S)]. The seedlings were then exposed to 100 µM Cr(VI) for 3 days. S-deficiency (-S/-Cr) and combined stress (-S/+Cr) caused a significant decrease in growth parameters of Sary than NK Petrol (P < 0.05). In -S/+Cr treatment, Cr accumulation in Sary was significantly higher than NK Petrol. The higher level of Cr in Sary increased lipid peroxidation and decreased chlorophyll content. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and cysteine content were significantly higher in NK Petrol than in Sary under combined stress. The levels of ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly decreased by S deficiency. The expression level of metallothionein gene (BnMP1) in the tolerant NK Petrol was increased by -S/+Cr treatment. However, expression level of BnMP1 gene in the susceptible Sary was enhanced by +S/+Cr treatment. This result suggests metallothionein (MT) may be involved in Cr(VI) tolerance under S-deficient condition. In conclusion, S nutrition influenced Cr accumulation and enhanced tolerance caused by a positive effect on defense systems and gene expression.

Responses to betaine and inorganic sulphur of sheep in growth performance and fibre growth.

Sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA) are essential and usually the first limiting amino acids for growth, milk and wool production. The keratin fibre that grows from epidermal tissue is rich in SAA. The rate of fibre growth and its S content are influenced by the availability of SAA. Betaine is a dietary source for a labile methyl group and actively participates in methionine metabolism by donating methyl groups for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Ruminants are capable of synthesizing SAA from inorganic S sources, and most bacteria in the rumen can use inorganic S to meet their requirements for growth. The objective of this study was to examine whether betaine and an inorganic sulphur supplement could provide methyl groups and sulphur amino acids in a way that growth performance and wool production of ewes and lambs are improved. Treatments performed included betaine supplementation, sulphate supplementation and betaine plus sulphate supplementation with five replications for each treatment. The dry matter intake of the ewes was affected by betaine plus sulphate supplementation (p < 0.05). In the ewes, betaine plus sulphate supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the wool growth rate, wool yield, staple length and wool sulphur concentration, while decreasing wool wax and wool yellowness (p < 0.05). In the lambs, wool growth rate, wool yield, fibre diameter, staple length, staple strength, wool sulphur concentration, wool wax and fibre percentage did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. In the ewes, plasma methionine concentration increased (p < 0.05) with betaine plus sulphate treatment. No corresponding difference (p > 0.05) was observed in plasma methionine concentration in the lambs. It can be concluded that betaine plus sulphate supplementation has the potential to change wool characteristics in the ewes, while these compounds were without any effect on growth and wool production of the lambs. Combining the two supplements was advantageous.

Comparison of the effect of topical triamcinolone 0.1% cream with sulfur 2.0% cream in the treatment of patients with hand eczema: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hand eczema (HE) is a common and heterogeneous condition. It has a wide range of etiologies and clinical manifestations. In this study the efficacy of triamcinolone 0.1% cream and sulfur 2% creams was compared in treating patients with HE. METHODS: This randomized, triple-blind clinical trial was performed on 70 patients with HE (including 70 right and 70 left hands). In this study, two creams were used including triamcinolone 0.1% and sulfur 2.0%. Patients were treated with these creams twice a day (once in every 12 h) for 4 weeks. Follow-up was 4 weeks after treatment. Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), itching, dryness, burning sensation, and erythema scores were collected three times during the study and compared between treatment regimens. RESULTS: Findings showed that both triamcinolone (0.1%) and sulfur (2.0%) creams could significantly reduce the scores of HECSI, itching, dryness, burning sensation, and erythema, and the therapeutic effects lasted for at least 4 weeks after cessation of topical treatment. CONCLUSION: Topical sulfur cream (2.0%) is as effective as triamcinolone (0.1%) cream in treatment of HE without any prominent adverse reactions.

Acute electroencephalographic effects from repeated olfactory administration of homeopathic remedies in individuals with self-reported chemical sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Homeopaths report that individuals with heightened self-reported environmental chemical intolerance (CI) exhibit increased reactivity to homeopathic remedies. Persons high in CI sensitize their electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha responses to repeated intermittent chemical exposures. PRIMARY STUDY OBJECTIVE: The present feasibility study explored interactions between CI and one of two specific homeopathic remedies over time (Sulphur or Pulsatilla nigricans [Pulsatilla]). DESIGN: This study used a two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled repeated measures design. Intervention Participants underwent a series of three once-weekly sessions during which they repeatedly sniffed one remedy (6c, 12c, 30c; one potency per week) matched to their Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ) type and two solvent controls (distilled water and a waterethanol [95%] solution). Within sessions, remedies and control solvents were administered via 2-second sniffs (eight sniffs of each of four different succussion levels per potency, in randomized order). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were college student volunteers (N = 96, ages 18-30, both sexes), screened for good health and relatively elevated Sulphur or Pulsatilla symptom pattern scores on the Homeopathic Constitutional Type Questionnaire (CTQ). Participants also completed a validated trait CI scale. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Average 19-lead relative EEG alpha power (alpha 1 8-10 Hz; alpha 2 10-12 Hz). RESULTS: Trait CI interacted significantly with time factors for each remedy (both over visit weeks and over sniff cycles during sessions). The patterns were nonlinear and differed between the two remedies. Individuals high in CI showed greater variability over time in remedy EEG alpha effects than did those low in CI. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that CI, with an underlying susceptibility to time-dependent sensitization and oscillatory responses, could contribute to nonlinear dose-response patterns and inconsistent reproducibility of homeopathic clinical care and research.

Effect of inorganic or organic copper fed without or with added sulfur and molybdenum on the performance, indicators of copper status, and hepatic mRNA in dairy cows.

The effect of inorganic (INORG) or organic (ORG) Cu, fed without (-) or with (+) additional S and Mo on Cu status and performance was examined using 56 early lactation dairy cows in a 2×2 factorial study design. Supplementary Cu was added as either CuSO4 or BioplexCu (Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY) to provide an additional 10mg of Cu/kg of dry matter (DM), with S added at 1.5g/kg of DM and Mo at 6.8mg/kg of DM to reduce Cu bioavailability. The basal ration was composed of corn and grass silages (2:1 respectively, DM basis) and straight feeds. Cows commenced the study at wk 7 of lactation and remained on treatment for 16 wk. An interaction existed between Cu source and added S and Mo on DM intake, with cows offered INORG- Cu having an increased intake compared with those offered INORG+ or ORG- Cu. Milk yield averaged 35.4kg/d, and was 5% higher with milk fat content 6% lower in cows fed INORG compared with ORG Cu, but milk fat yield, energy-corrected milk yield, and milk protein content did not differ between treatments. A trend existed for cows to have a higher body weight gain when offered ORG compared with INORG Cu. Cows fed diets containing INORG Cu had a higher milk concentration of C17:0 and C18:3n-3 compared with those fed diets containing ORG Cu. Cows fed added S and Mo had a lower milk concentration of C17:0 and C18:0 compared with those that were not supplemented. No effect was observed of dietary treatment on plasma Cu concentration, which averaged 13.1 µmol/L, except during wk 12 when cows receiving added S and Mo had a lower concentration. No effect was observed of Cu source on mean plasma Mo concentrations, but during wk 16 cows offered INORG Cu had a higher concentration than those offered ORG Cu. Hepatic Cu levels decreased by approximately 0.9mg/kg of DM per day when fed additional S and Mo, but no effect of Cu source was observed. A trend existed for hepatic ATPase, Cu++ transporting, beta polypeptide (ATP7B) to be upregulated in cows when fed S and Mo along with ORG but not INORG Cu. In conclusion, the inclusion of an ORG compared with an INORG source of Cu reduced milk yield but increased milk fat concentration and body weight gain, with no effect on energy-corrected milk yield. Little effect was observed of dietary Cu supply on plasma mineral concentration, liver mRNA abundance, or milk fatty acid profile, whereas the addition of S and Mo reduced hepatic Cu concentrations.