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Allergy to sunscreen and leave-on facial products is not a likely causative mechanism in frontal fibrosing alopecia: perspective from contact allergy experts The pathogenesis of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is complicated and incompletely understood, and the cause for its increasing incidence over the last 10-15 years is unknown. FFA in some cases also affects the occipital scalp, where sunscreen is not usually applied.[1] Chemical sunscreen allergy is very uncommon. [Extracted from the article]

PurposeTo compare acute ocular complications of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) following treatment with high-dose human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with a historical cohort not treated with IVIG.MethodsRetrospective, historically controlled study. In all, 10 consecutive patients with TEN (treatment cohort) presenting between 1 July 2001 and 30 June 2002. Totally, 18 consecutive patients with TEN (historical cohort).SettingTan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. The treatment cohort received high-dose IVIG (2 g/kg body weight over 2 days). Patients' records were retrospectively reviewed for their demographic characteristics, causative drug, treatment, ocular involvement (if any, as assessed by an ophthamologist), and its severity. The historical cohort comprised patients coded with a diagnosis of TEN (ICD Code 695.1) between 1 July 1995 and 30 June 2001.ResultsNine (90%) of 10 patients treated with IVIG had ocular involvement. Phenytoin was the implicated drug in three (37.5%) patients. Of the nine patients, 1 died of septic shock. Of the eight survivors, IVIG was initiated immediately upon onset of TEN as all the patients were hospitalized by the time of onset of an exanthema. Acute ocular complications were mild in two (25%) (lid oedema or mild conjunctival injection), moderate in four (50%) (pseudomembranes) and severe in two (25%) (nonhealing epithelial defect with visual loss and symblepharon). In total, 10 (55.6%) of 18 patients in the historical cohort with TEN had acute ocular involvement. Two patients died. Ocular involvement in survivors was mild in five (62.5%) cases and moderate in three (37.5%), with no severe cases.ConclusionsIVIG did not appear to reduce the severity of visually significant ocular complications. Larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.Eye (2005) 19, 846–853. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701653; published online, 24 September 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella species (spp.) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common infectious pathogens in poultry. Antimicrobials are given either as growth promoters or as treatment, thereby increasing the possibility of the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We determined the prevalence of AMR for both pathogens isolated from broiler farms in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia from 2018–2019. A total of 384 cloacal swabs were collected, followed by bacterial isolation, confirmation, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. The overall prevalence of Salmonella spp. and E. coli were 6.5% and 51.8%, respectively. Salmonella spp. and E. coli displayed resistance towards the following antimicrobials: erythromycin (100% for both pathogens), chloramphenicol (76.2% and 84.5%, respectively), tetracycline (62% and 94.6%, respectively), ampicillin (47.7% and 87%, respectively), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (42.9% and 83.3%, respectively), ciprofloxacin (4.8% and 23.8%, respectively), nalidixic acid (9.6% and 60.7%, respectively), streptomycin (19% and 66%, respectively), kanamycin (28.6% and 57%, respectively), cephalothin (0% and 11%, respectively), and gentamicin (0% and 20.2%, respectively). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was recorded in 82% of Salmonella spp. and 100% of E. coli. These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of AMR in both pathogens in broiler farms on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. These findings could be attributed to the excessive use of antimicrobial agents by poultry farm owners. Enhanced control measures and a strong monitoring system should be urgently implemented in order to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Clinical data were gathered over five years (650 patient-years) for all 155 aortic valve replacement, 125 mitral valve replacement and 46 double valve replacement patients implanted with the Omniscience cardiac valve prosthesis at three North American medical cent es. Mean age was 56±12 years, 80% were preoperatively in NYHA class III or IV, and 57% had previous or concomitant cardiac surgery. Data were evaluated for the incidence of thromboembolic complications. During the late postoperative period, transient ischaemic episodes occurred in six patients (0·92% per patient-year). The five-year actuarial thrombus-free rate for serious thromboembolic complications (valve thrombosis or thromboembolism with residual effects) for aortic valve replacement patients is 96% and 95% for mitral valve replacement patients. For patients experiencing any transient or serious thromboembolic complication, 35% had a compromise of coumadin anticoagulation shortly before the thromboembolic event, 60% had a history of atrial fibrillation, and 76% a history of rheumatic heart disease. Statistically, these rates are significantly higher compared with the original valve population. The low incidence of thromboembolic complications over this five-year clinical study demonstrates a commendable degree of safety and performance for the Omniscience valve. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]