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Background: The available treatments for refractory hyperkeratotic eczema are inadequate with frustrating results. We, therefore, incorporated Calcipotriol and Betamethasone Dipropionate (Daivobet®), and Viaminate into the mainstay treatment to improve the clinical symptoms. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Daivobet ® and Viaminate as a potential treatment alternative for refractory hyperkeratotic eczema. Patients and Methods: Between 2013 and 2015, 61 patients diagnosed with refractory hyperkeratotic eczema (RHE) who had shown inadequate response to conventional therapies were pooled from a single center. Besides, they were all treated with Daivobet ® , Viaminate, and an occlusive dressing mixture containing 5% salicylic acid ointment and 25% zinc oxide paste following inadequate response to conventional therapies (corticosteroids plus 25% zinc oxide paste and 5% salicylic acid ointment). Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) assessed baseline and outcome measures for the degree of hyperkeratinization (0-clear; 3-moderate; 4-severe). Results: Of the 61 patients, 49 (80.3%) patients presented with moderate RHE and 12 (19.7%) with severe RHE. After 24 weeks of treatment, the period for loss of keratinization was significantly lower in patients with moderate RHE (3.9± 1.9 weeks) than those with severe RHE (10.8± 1.0 weeks) with a P-value < 0.01. Furthermore, they required a significantly shorter total treatment duration (10.6 ± 4.3 weeks) than those with severe RHE (20.3± 3.6 weeks) with a P-value of < 0.01. However, there were no significant differences in post hoc analysis at week 36 with P-values of 0.46 and 1.00 for IGA and POEM, respectively. Conclusion: Our results showed that the incorporation of Viaminate and Daivobet® into mainstay treatment was effective and safe for the long-term management of RHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metatropic dysplasia (MD), is a rare skeletal dysplasia occurring predominantly in infants characterized by a distinctive long torso and short limbs; it is as a result of mutations in the TRPV4 gene. However, a clear distinction between various forms of skeletal dysplasias caused by the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) gene is difficult but could be achieved by a combination of gene sequencing, medical and radiological criteria. We hereby report a case of a 14‐month old girl who presented with an abnormal stature. The diagnosis of nonlethal MD was confirmed by X‐ray with dumbbell‐shaped long bones, platyspondyly, and delayed carpal ossification, as well as broadened pelvis with marginally widened ilia, epiphyseal plates, and slightly flattened acetabula. Furthermore, gene sequencing confirmed gene mutation on exon 15 of the TRPV4 gene with a heterozygous missense mutation (c.2396C > T), but no mutation was present in her parents. Our findings recorded metatropic dysplasia with the c.2396C > T mutation in the TRPV4 gene in China. This mutation caused changes in amino acid of TRPV4, which can induce growth retardation in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: NTrap® stone entrapment and extraction device (NTrap®) is a device used to extract and remove stones from the urinary tract and to minimize retrograde stone migration during ureterolithotripsy (URS). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NTrap® in URS.Methods: From Jan 2014 to June 2017, 148 patients underwent URS with the aid of NTrap® (Group A), and 209 patients underwent standard URS without any anti-retropulsion device (Group B). Their demographics, operation time, complications, stone migration rate, and stone-free rate (SFR) were recorded for comparison.Results: Compared with group B, Group A had a significantly shorter operative and lasering time (P = 0.003, P<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in overall complications, a decrease in mean hemoglobin, and length of stay (LOS) (P = 0.426, P = 0.097, P = 0.058, respectively). The incidence of stone migration was significantly lower in Group A than Group B (P = 0.035). The postoperative auxiliary procedure rate (in patients with stones retropulsion during the operation) was significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B (P = 0.024). The SFR was considerably higher in Group A than Group B (P = 0.009).Conclusion: URS, with the aid of NTrap®, is an effective and safe method for treating ureteric stones. It may prevent stones from retropulsion and shorten the operative time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The available treatments for refractory hyperkeratotic eczema are inadequate with frustrating results. We, therefore, incorporated Calcipotriol and Betamethasone Dipropionate (Daivobet ® ), and Viaminate into the mainstay treatment to improve the clinical symptoms. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Daivobet ® and Viaminate as a potential treatment alternative for refractory hyperkeratotic eczema., Patients and Methods: Between 2013 and 2015, 61 patients diagnosed with refractory hyperkeratotic eczema (RHE) who had shown inadequate response to conventional therapies were pooled from a single center. Besides, they were all treated with Daivobet ® , Viaminate, and an occlusive dressing mixture containing 5% salicylic acid ointment and 25% zinc oxide paste following inadequate response to conventional therapies (corticosteroids plus 25% zinc oxide paste and 5% salicylic acid ointment). Investigators Global Assessment (IGA) and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) assessed baseline and outcome measures for the degree of hyperkeratinization (0-clear; 3-moderate; 4-severe)., Results: Of the 61 patients, 49 (80.3%) patients presented with moderate RHE and 12 (19.7%) with severe RHE. After 24 weeks of treatment, the period for loss of keratinization was significantly lower in patients with moderate RHE (3.9±1.9 weeks) than those with severe RHE (10.8±1.0 weeks) with a P-value <0.01. Furthermore, they required a significantly shorter total treatment duration (10.6 ± 4.3 weeks) than those with severe RHE (20.3±3.6 weeks) with a P-value of <0.01. However, there were no significant differences in post hoc analysis at week 36 with P-values of 0.46 and 1.00 for IGA and POEM, respectively., Conclusion: Our results showed that the incorporation of Viaminate and Daivobet ® into mainstay treatment was effective and safe for the long-term management of RHE., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work., (© 2020 Nabatanzi et al.)

Purpose: NTrap® stone entrapment and extraction device (NTrap®) is a device used to extract and remove stones from the urinary tract and to minimize retrograde stone migration during ureterolithotripsy (URS). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NTrap® in URS., Methods: From Jan 2014 to June 2017, 148 patients underwent URS with the aid of NTrap® (Group A), and 209 patients underwent standard URS without any anti-retropulsion device (Group B). Their demographics, operation time, complications, stone migration rate, and stone-free rate (SFR) were recorded for comparison., Results: Compared with group B, Group A had a significantly shorter operative and lasering time (P = 0.003, P<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in overall complications, a decrease in mean hemoglobin, and length of stay (LOS) (P = 0.426, P = 0.097, P = 0.058, respectively). The incidence of stone migration was significantly lower in Group A than Group B (P = 0.035). The postoperative auxiliary procedure rate (in patients with stones retropulsion during the operation) was significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B (P = 0.024). The SFR was considerably higher in Group A than Group B (P = 0.009)., Conclusion: URS, with the aid of NTrap®, is an effective and safe method for treating ureteric stones. It may prevent stones from retropulsion and shorten the operative time.