Effects of Malaysian thermal spring water as adjunct therapy for mild to moderate acne vulgaris - a prospective, randomised, controlled, split face study.

INTRODUCTION: Acne is a common skin disease with a high psychosocial burden, affecting mostly adolescents and youth worldwide. Management of acne is often challenged by cutaneous side effects that leads to therapeutic intolerance, poor compliance and impaired efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre, evaluatorblinded, split-face, randomised study investigating the effects of thermal spring water (TSW) in improving efficacy and tolerability of standard acne therapy. Total of 31 participants with mild-to-moderate acne were recruited and subjected to TSW spray to one side of the face 4 times daily for 6 weeks in addition to standard therapy. The other side received standard therapy only. RESULTS: Six (19.4%) males and 25 (80.6%) female with mean age 25.1±6.13 participated, 15 (48.4%) had mild acne while 16 (51.6%) had moderate acne. Seven (22.6%) were on oral antibiotics, 25 (80.6%) used adapalene, 6 (19.4%) tretinoin and 21 (67.7%) benzoyl peroxide. Skin hydration improved and better on spring water treated side with mean difference12.41±30.31, p = 0.04 at the forehead, 39.52±65.14, p < 0.01 at the cheek and 42.172±71.71, p < 0.01 at the jaw at week 6. Participants also report significant reduction in dryness at the treated side at week 6, mean difference 0.93±0.10, p < 0.001. TEWL, sebum and pH were comparable on both sides with no significant differences. Tolerability towards standard therapy improved as early week 2 with reduction of stinging following application of topical therapy (mean difference 0.62±1.43, p = 0.03), increase in skin feeling good (-1.79±1.70, p < 0.001) and skin suppleness (0.62±1.43, p < 0.001). These improvements were significantly maintained till week 6. Cardiff acne disability index significantly improved at week 6 (p<0.001) despite no significant changes in Comprehensive Acne Severity Scale score before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: TSW may have a role as an adjunct to standard acne therapy by improving hydration, acne disability index and tolerability towards standard topical treatment.

Application Effectiveness of Segment IV Portal Vein Reconstruction for Early Postoperative Liver Function Recovery in Split Liver Transplantation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of portal vein reconstruction in segment IV of the liver on early postoperative liver function recovery in split liver transplantation. The clinical data of patients of right trilobe split liver transplantation in our center were analyzed and divided into two groups, including a group without portal vein reconstruction and a group with portal vein reconstruction. Clinical data of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), albumin (ALB), creatinine (Cr), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT), lactic acid (Lac), and international normalized ratio (INR) levels were analyzed. The technique of segment IV portal vein reconstruction is beneficial to the early postoperative recovery of liver function. Statistically, there was no significant effect of portal vein reconstruction in the IV segment of the liver on the recovery of liver function within 1 week after split liver transplantation. There was no significant difference in survival rate between the control group and reconstruction group over the 6 months follow-up period after surgery.

Visible-light excitable Eu3+-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregates with heterocyclic ligands for sensitive and fast recognition of hazardous ions.

Water-soluble luminescent lanthanide complexes that can be excited with visible light could enable rapid detection of toxic anions and cations in biological systems. Eu3+-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregates (EIHCA) can improve the stability, biocompatibility, efficiency, and light absorption of luminescent Eu3+ complexes. Visible-range excitation may avoid phototoxicity associated with overexposure to UV light in biological and ecological applications. In this work, we synthesized and characterized series of EIHCA complexes having three N-donor heterocyclic ligands: 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Dphen), 2,2': 6',2″-terpyridine (Tpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (Phen). These complexes possessed bright red fluorescence with a visible range excitation maximum. The photophysical properties of one formulation (we denote as EDL6) include fast quenching response (20 s) of the fluorescence, multi-selectivity, low limit of detection, and high quenching (Ksv) values, enabling selective, rapid and sensitive recognition of Cr2O72- and Fe3+ in aqueous solution. Furthermore, EDL6 exhibits cytocompatibility with mammalian cells that make these complexes promising biocompatible candidate as a safe replacement of organic fluorophores for fluorescence sensing applications. Thus, these new EIHCA complexes were successfully employed for the selective detection of hazardous materials in biological and aqueous environment samples.

Prevalence of hypertension in a low income settlement of Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of hypertension in a low-income community in Karachi. METHODS: Cross sectional survey, through multi-stage sampling of 857 adult subjects in 405 households was conducted between April and September 2002. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 26% (95% C.I. 23, 29), the prevalence among males (34%) was higher than females (24%). The mean age of participants was 35 +/- 14 years, the prevalence of hypertension increased with age. Proportionately there were more cases of hypertension among male participants over 35 years of age as compared to female participants of the same age (p < or = 0.001). Fifty-eight percent of hypertensives were unaware of their hypertension. None of the hypertensive subjects who were aware of their condition had blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg. Stratified analysis revealed significant risk factors for hypertension. Hypertension was 1.7 (OR 95% C.I. 1.14, 2.42) times more common among males then females. Males were 1.7 (OR 95% C.I. 1.06, 2.6) times less likely to have been aware of their hypertension status. Age analysis revealed that the prevalence of hypertension increased with age and hypertensive subjects were 5.6 (OR 95% C.I. 3.9, 8.1) times more likely to be over 35 years of age. CONCLUSION: There is a need to control hypertension and prevent its complications through effective community interventions. The survey results indicate high prevalence and poor control of hypertension in the community, but more research is required to understand the reasons behind this phenomena.