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Recombinant fluorescent E. coli cells were encapsulated in sol−gel derived silicate films. Green and red fluorescent proteins expression by recombinant E. coli strains within the silicate film were studied. The effect of the preparation protocol on the viability of the encapsulated cells and their ability to express the fluorescent proteins in response to genotoxicity stress were evaluated. Confocal microscopy studies revealed a homogeneous distribution of the recombinant cells within the silicate film. We further showed by confocal microscopy studies that the encapsulated cells do not divide within the silicate film. Further, dynamic green fluorescent protein expression studies of a single encapsulated cell were carried out for the first time. No contamination of the surroundings by the encapsulated cells or contamination of the encapsulated culture by the surrounding population of bacteria was observed. The implications of these observations for dual sensing and multistep biosynthesis and biodegradation are discussed.

The authors compared the effects of doxycycline and tetracycline hydrochloride on subjective symptoms in ocular rosacea. Twenty-four patients with symptomatic ocular rosacea were prospectively treated with doxycycline 100 mg/day (group 1, n=16) or tetracycline hydrochloride 1g/day (group 2, n=8). The dosages of each drug were gradually tapered and discontinued according to symptomatic response. Patients were followed from six weeks to three years. In group 1, 15 patients (94%) had symptomatic improvement (12 patients were asymptomatic and three symptomatically improved), and two patients (13%) had gastrointestinal tract (GIT) complications followed by discontinuation of medication. In group 2, seven of the eight patients (87%) were asymptomatic and one patient (13%) had symptomatic improvement; three patients discontinued the use of tetracycline as a result of GIT complaints.This study indicates that both tetracycline hydrochloride and doxycycline can control the symptoms of ocular rosacea.

Article abstract—We report a new neurocutaneous syndrome of apparent autosomal recessive inheritance consisting of early-childhood-onset palmoplantar keratoderma followed in adulthood by progressive tetrapyramidal syndrome and cognitive impairment. Of the four affected siblings, two were available for evaluation. Investigation disclosed cerebral white-matter involvement on MRI and arylsulfatase A pseudodeficiency carrier state, which was also identified in clinically unaffected family members. Since skin biopsies showed dermal connective tissue abnormalities, we studied collagens I, III, and VI biosynthesis. Northern blotting of RNA extracted from cultured skin fibroblasts revealed an increased steady-state messenger RNA (mRNA) level of crl(VI) collagen, whereas no differences were detected for proa 1(1), procwl(III), and tropoelastin mRNAs. The skin content of collagen and total protein was higher in the patients than in controls. We suggest that an extracellular matrix abnormality may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.