Immunomodulating treatment with low dose interleukin-4, interleukin-10 and interleukin-11 in psoriasis vulgaris.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting approximately 2-3 percent of the world population; it is characterised by hyperproliferation and hyperplasia of the superficial layers of the epidermis. Inappropriate signals released by the immune system determine an altered keratinocyte differentiation, resulting in the formation of desquamating, thickened, inflamed and erythematous plaques. The aim of this investigation was to study the pharmacological activity and safety of three low dose cytokines, Guna-Interleukin 4, Guna-Interleukin 10 and Guna-Interleukin 11 at the concentration of 10 fg/ml in patients affected by moderate to slight psoriasis vulgaris. The multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involved 48 patients who were enrolled and followed up according to a 8-month experimental project. All patients received, according to a cross-over model, either the experimental treatment or placebo, alternatively. Globally, in the 41 evaluated patients it was observed a PASI significant reduction (Friedman test: p=0.00960). The DLQI too decreased significantly in all subjects compared to baseline (Friedman test: p=0.00007). The safety of the treatment with three low dose cytokines administered simultaneously was proved; no adverse event was reported during the whole trial.

On laparoscopic photoplethysmography and pulse oximetry.

Here we comment on the paper entitled "A novel laparoscopic pulse oximeter device. An easy, efficient and cost-effective way of detecting arterial structures." authored by Theodosopoulos et al., and recently published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing.

The role of emulsion parameters in tramadol sustained-release from electrospun mats.

Tramadol is an analgesic usually prescribed for the management of pain, with a certain risk of addiction in chronic patients. The incorporation of tramadol in sustained-release systems results particularly attractive for the administration of accurate doses. In this work, emulsion electrospinning was used for the preparation of tramadol-loaded nanofibrous membranes based on poly(ε-caprolactone). Compositional and processing parameters were screened and evaluated in terms of the morphology of the resulting nanofibers, encapsulation efficiency and drug release in time. The polymer concentration, surfactant type and amount, and the homogenization rate used for the emulsions preparation were found to greatly affect the fluid stability and the resulting materials structure and functionality. The intrinsic features of the starting fluid studied in this work played a significant role for the modulation of tramadol release from nanofibrous matrices. The use of sodium dodecyl sulfate as surfactant with an optimal homogenization rate allowed the preparation of electrospun fibrous membranes with good encapsulation efficiency, a minimal burst release and a sustained delivery of tramadol in time.

Transmittance photoplethysmography with near-infrared laser diodes in intra-peritoneal organs.

Photoplethysmography and pulse oximetry are techniques based on optical principles, which are widely used in medical practice for non-invasive monitoring. There are some processes which may affect specific organs or parts without a significant repercussion on the information provided non-invasively. Here, we report on the preliminary results obtained by transmittance photoplethysmography in pig intra-peritoneal organs along a surgical intervention, using a measurement system based on two near-infrared laser diodes. Analysis of the signals recorded at 750 nm and 850 nm in the mesentery root, mesocolon, gastric wall and aorta artery has shown the affordability of performing in situ photoplethysmography for visceral perfusion evaluation.

Daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery.

AIM: To evaluate daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery in patients with cataract only and in patients with cataract and glaucoma. METHODS: 108 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 57 patients with cataract only (normal) and 51 with cataract and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). All patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) (manual technique with long wound), phacoemulsification (automated technique with short wound), or nucleus capture (manual technique with short wound). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by Goldmann tonometry in all patients every 2 hours for 12 hours before the operation and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 79 patients completed the 6 month examination. ECCE resulted in greater reductions in IOP than the other procedures (ECCE: 27% and 36% in normal patients and those with POAG, respectively; nucleus capture: 20% and 31%, respectively; phacoemulsification: 19% and 22%, respectively). The fluctuations in IOP before and after surgery were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery in normal patients reduces IOP but does not eliminate fluctuations which are directly proportional to the IOP value and result partly from circadian rhythms. This important finding might influence our approach to treatment of patients with glaucoma.

The ethogram of Euplotes crassus (ciliata, hypotrichida): I. The wild type.

The behavior of Euplotes crassus has been studied qualitatively and quantitatively in an attempt of throwing new light onto the problem of the relationships occurring among motor behavior, systematic position and evolutionary strategies of the ciliated protozoa. It was found that both single and paired Euplotes creep along piecewise pathways whose geometric elements (arcs, segments, angles) have been measured. E. crassus performs different delicate maneuvers to shift from one element of its trajectory to the next: beyond the Continuous Trajectory Change, the Smooth Trajectory Change and the Rough Trajectory Change, described elsewhere for other ciliates, three different kinds of Side-Stepping Reaction were recognized and carefully described. The average velocity is 850 µm/sec during creeping and 800 µm/sec during swimming. Finally, also the mating behavior has been analyzed and the successive steps leading to pair formation thoroughly described. The data are compared with those already available for different species.

Psychological systems questionnaire: a decision-relevant patient screening test designed for on-line administration.

Developments in the field of computerized psychological assessment are reviewed. It is pointed out that the on-line computer medium differs radically from the traditional paper-and-pencil medium for psychological testing. This new medium calls for new types of instruments that are psychometrically well designed. The construction of one such instrument, the Psychological Systems Questionnaire, is described. The advantages of this approach are discussed.

A study of mental status and anamnestic factors related to the decision for inpatient or outpatient treatment.

Reviewed previous studies of the determinants of disposition decision-making. Experimental flaws in these studies are indicated. A study of the intake decision process and its relationship to mental status and anamnestic variables obtained during the intake examination is presented (N = 523). Results suggest that diagnoses of psychosis and personality disorder are rleated to inpatient care, while the diagnosis of neurosis is related to outpatient care. In addition, depressed/suicidal symptomatology is found to be related to inpatient treatment, while a previous history of either sexual maladjustment or stubbornness/retardation is found to be related to outpatient care. Results are discussed in terms of universal and local criteria that are involved in intake decision-making.

MMPI scale clinical correlates for adolescent inpatients.

This study examined descriptive correlates of single-scale, high-point elevations for Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales D, Hy, Pd, Sc, and Ma in a sample of 112 adolescent inpatients undergoing psychiatric treatment. Clinical descriptors were collected for subjects based on their psychometric self-reports and on ratings and evaluations of these patients by parents, nursing staff, and individual psychotherapists. Subjects were assigned to a high-point category based on their highest, single clinical scale elevation, with the restrictions that such elevations be greater than or equal to T-score values of 65 and that high-point groups contain a minimum of 10 subjects. Clinical descriptors for subjects in each high-point group were compared to descriptors for all remaining subjects by means of chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques. Findings were interpreted in terms of their general consistency with descriptors derived for these MMPI scales in the adult literature.

MMPI special scale clinical correlates for adolescent inpatients.

Little research has focused on the clinical correlates of adolescents' Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) special scale responses. We investigated the clinical correlates of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC), Anxiety (A), Repression (R), and Ego Strength (Es) scales, based on self-reported data from 68 inpatient adolescents and ratings by their nursing staff and individual therapists. Parametric and nonparametric analyses revealed patterns of clinically relevant descriptors for these scales in a manner largely consistent with findings derived from studies of adult respondents. Results are discussed in terms of implications for interpretation of each of these special scales and in relation to a general approach to understanding adolescents' MMPI profiles.

The reliability of diagnoses by technician computer, and algorithm.

Described a computer-assisted system for intake assessment. Previous evaluation studies are reviewed. Two experiments (N = 30; N = 35) are reported that compared the reliability of a diagnostic procedure that involves technicians, a structured interview schedule, and a computerized diagnostic program with diagnoses made by clinicians. Results show that the computer-assisted technician approach is as reliable as the conventional method.