Topically Applied Therapies for the Treatment of Skin Disease: Past, Present, and Future.

The purpose of this review is to summarize essential biological, pharmaceutical, and clinical aspects in the field of topically applied medicines that may help scientists when trying to develop new topical medicines. After a brief history of topical drug delivery, a review of the structure and function of the skin and routes of drug absorption and their limitations is provided. The most prevalent diseases and current topical treatment approaches are then detailed, the organization of which reflects the key disease categories of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, microbial infections, skin cancers, and genetic skin diseases.

Lot verification practices in Ontario clinical chemistry laboratories - Results of a patterns-of-practice survey.

Objectives: Verifying new reagent or calibrator lots is crucial for maintaining consistent test performance. The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) conducted a patterns-of-practice survey and follow-up case study to collect information on lot verification practices in Ontario.

Methods: The survey had 17 multiple-choice questions and was distributed to 183 licensed laboratories.

Post-exercise Cold Water Immersion Does Not Improve Subsequent 4-km Cycling Time-Trial Compared With Passive and Active Recovery in Normothermia.

We investigated whether a brief cold water immersion between two cycling time trials (TT) improves the performance of the latter compared with passive and active recovery in normothermic conditions (~20°C). In 10 active participants (4 women) completed two 4-km TT (Ex1 and Ex2, each preceded by a 12 min moderate-intensity warm-up) separated by a 15 min recovery period consisting of: (a) passive rest (PAS) or (b) 5 min cold water immersion at 8°C (CWI-5). In , 13 different active males completed the same Ex1 and Ex2 bouts separated by a 15 min recovery consisting of: (a) PAS, (b) 10 min cold water immersion at 8°C (CWI-10) or (c) 15 min of moderate-intensity active recovery (ACT).

False negative antigen tests in dogs infected with heartworm and placed on macrocyclic lactone preventives.

Background: Dogs with chronic inflammation, including those with heartworm being managed with macrocyclic lactones and doxycycline (slow kill, SK), may develop immune complexes that block detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen on commercial tests.

Methods: To determine if SK could result in development of false-negative antigen tests, we collected serum samples from dogs that had been diagnosed with heartworm by antigen detection, with or without confirmation by detection of D. immitis microfilariae, placed on monthly macrocyclic lactones and doxycycline, and that later tested negative on an antigen test, and then tested them for antigen of D.

Role of a quality management system in improving patient safety - laboratory aspects.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe how implementation of a quality management system (QMS) based on ISO 15189 enhances patient safety.

Design And Methods: A literature review showed that several European hospitals implemented a QMS based on ISO 9001 and assessed the impact on patient safety. An Internet search showed that problems affecting patient safety have occurred in a number of laboratories across Canada.

iDXA, Prodigy, and DPXL dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry whole-body scans: a cross-calibration study.

Purpose: Total body fat, lean, and bone mineral content (BMC) in addition to regional fat and lean mass values for arms, legs, and trunk were compared across a pencil-beam (Lunar DPXL) and 2 fan-beam (GE Lunar Prodigy and GE Lunar iDXA) dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) systems.

Methods: Subjects were a multiethnic sample of 99 healthy adult males (47%) and females (mean+/-SD: age, 46.3+/-16.

Independent association of insulin resistance with larger amounts of intermuscular adipose tissue and a greater acute insulin response to glucose in African American than in white nondiabetic women.

Background: African Americans (AAs) have a higher prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes than do whites. Higher insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia have been reported in adult AAs than in whites. Differences in adipose tissue and its distribution may account for these findings.

Four commonly used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanners do not identically classify subjects for osteopenia or osteoporosis by T-score in four bone regions BIz11.5.

We investigated whether four commonly used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanners (DPX, DPX-L,and Prodigy by GE Lunar, and Delphi-A by Hologic) could classify identical subjects as osteopenic or osteoporotic using the T-score for bone mineral density in four regions of interest: PA spine (L1-L4), femur (total), forearm (total),and 33% radius in 77 adults (38 females) free of treatment for bone metabolic disease (age range 20-81 yr). There were no significant differences between T-score means for posterior-anterior spine by DPX, DPX-L, and Prodigy, but they were higher than the mean T-score by Delphi-A (p < 0.05).

A randomised controlled trial of biopsy forceps and cannula aspiration for transcervical chorionic villus sampling.

Objective: This trial compared two instruments for transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Regional university prenatal diagnosis and treatment centre.

IFCC handbook on Master Program in clinical laboratory sciences.

This document summarizes the steps in development of a new IFCC Master Program and outlines some of the ways the IFCC would assist in setting up such a regional Program. This is intended to be of assistance to those who wish to embark on such an endeavour.

Analytical evaluation of hemoglobin A(1c) dual kit assay on Bio-Rad Variant II: an automated HPLC hemoglobin analyzer for the management of diabetic patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the analytical performance of the Bio-Rad Variant II HbA(1c) dual kit assay.

Design And Methods: Precision, carryover, linearity and analytical range were investigated. 139 patients' HbA(1c) results analyzed by the Variant II were compared to the Variant I method.

Outcome validation of the Beckman Coulter access analyzer in a second-trimester Down syndrome serum screening application.

Background: Mid-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) are 30% lower and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is twofold higher in Down syndrome pregnancies compared with unaffected pregnancies. In maternal serum screening, patient-specific risks are calculated using published gaussian frequency distribution parameters for these three markers obtained with previously available immunoassays. New immunoassays must generate similar distribution parameters if the accuracy of assigned risks and overall performance of prenatal screening are to be maintained.