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Purpose: The classic fracture model, described by Bonnarens and Einhorn in 1984, enlists a blunt guillotine to generate a closed fracture in a pre-stabilized rodent femur. However, in less experienced hands, this technique yields considerable variability in fracture pattern and requires highly-specialized equipment. This study describes a reproducible and low-cost model of mouse fracture healing using an open femoral osteotomy., Methods: Femur fractures were produced in skeletally mature male and female mice using an open femoral osteotomy after intramedullary stabilization. Mice were recovered for up to 28 days prior to analysis with microradiographs, histomorphometry, a novel μCT methodology, and biomechanical torsion testing at weekly intervals., Results: Eight mice were excluded due to complications (8/193, 4.1%), including unacceptable fracture pattern (2/193, 1.0%). Microradiographs showed progression of the fracture site to mineralized callus by 14 days and remodelling 28 days after surgery. Histomorphometry from 14 to 28 days revealed decreased cartilage area and maintained bone area. μCT analysis demonstrated a reduction in mineral surface from 14 to 28 days, stable mineral volume, decreased strut number, and increased strut thickness. Torsion testing at 21 days showed that fractured femurs had 61% of the ultimate torque, 63% of the stiffness, and similar twist to failure when compared to unfractured contralateral femurs., Conclusions: The fracture model described herein, an open femoral osteotomy, demonstrated healing comparable to that reported using closed techniques. This simple model could be used in future research with improved reliability and reduced costs compared to the current options., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Background:   Hydroxyurea-induced dermatomyositis is a rare adverse reaction of long-term hydroxyurea therapy. It has been reported under different names; however, the exact classification and nomenclature of this eruption have been the subject of much debate, and a more precise term is still awaiting. Herein, we review the different aspects of this reaction and suggest a new term that might help to minimize the confusion about its nomenclature., Materials and Methods: We describe a 68-year-old woman who had been on long-term hydroxyurea therapy for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia for nine years. She presented with typical dermatomyositis-like lesions and many of the other mucocutaneous adverse effects of hydroxyurea., Results: Skin examination revealed typical Gottron's papules on the dorsa of the hands, atrophy, xerosis, acquired ichthyosis, photosensitivity, cutaneous, oral and nail hyperpigmentation, acral erythema, palmoplantar keratoderma, actinic keratoses, and leg ulcers. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of proximal muscle weakness. Cessation of hydroxyurea was associated with remarkable improvement of the skin lesions., Conclusion: Hydroxyurea-induced dermatomyositis is a rare drug-induced dermatomyositis characterized by skin lesions identical to classic dermatomyositis without clinical or laboratory evidence of myositis. We propose that the term hydroxyurea-induced amyopathic dermatomyositis that adequately describes the findings reported in this subset of patients would be more precise and specific., (© 2012 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Objective: Newborns are not routinely screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV), the leading infectious cause of developmental disability. Congenital CMV satisfies a number of criteria for inclusion in newborn screening, and screening potentially offers benefits. Screening could also introduce harms such as anxiety and unnecessary costs for the families of the substantial proportion of CMV-infected children who never develop CMV-related disabilities. Our objective was to assess attitudes toward newborn screening for CMV., Methods: We analyzed responses to 5 statements about CMV and newborn screening from 3922 participants in the 2009 HealthStyles survey, a national mail survey designed to include a group similar to the US population with respect to gender, age, race/ethnicity, income, and household size. Two-step cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters of parental attitudes., Results: The majority of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that they would want to have their newborn tested for CMV even if it was not performed routinely (84%), they had to pay $20 (87%), or CMV-related problems never developed (84%). Nearly half (47%) of them "would worry that the CMV test would lead to unneeded doctor visits and expenses," and 32% "think CMV problems are too rare to worry about." Three clusters of parent respondents were identified on the basis of their attitudes toward CMV screening: "strongly in favor" (31%), "moderately in favor" (49%), and "weakly opposed" (20%)., Conclusions: Among most parents, costs, worry, and anxiety associated with newborn screening for CMV would be acceptable. Although attitudes were generally favorable, a minority of the parents were weakly opposed to newborn screening for CMV.

Background: Estimating the annual number of births to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected women is essential for monitoring efforts to prevent perinatal HBV transmission. We describe a method for estimating births to HBV-infected women in 22 states during 2006., Methods: The number of births to HBV-infected women was calculated by (1) multiplying the number of US/Canadian-born mothers stratified by US race/ethnicity-specific HBV prevalence estimates, and (2) adding the number of foreign-born mothers stratified by their region of birth and multiplied by region-specific HBV prevalence estimates., Results: Of 2,359,912 births, an estimated 16,608 (0.7%) were to HBV-infected women. Foreign-born women, who represented 25.3% of all mothers, accounted for 80.6% of estimated HBV-infected mothers. Estimated foreign-born HBV-infected mothers were from Southeast Asia (31.2%), East Asia (21.2%), and Africa (13.8%). Non-Hispanic blacks represented 55.1% of US/Canadian-born HBV-infected mothers. Compared with a previous estimate, which considers foreign-born status only for Asian/Pacific Islander mothers, this method estimated an additional 3000 births to HBV-infected women., Conclusions: Incorporating maternal country of birth and region-specific HBV infection prevalence likely enhances estimation of births to HBV-infected women in the United States. According to our estimate, approximately 10,000 births to HBV-infected women were not identified by state and local health departments in 22 states.

Several novel 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-7,7-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-5-oxo-3-(substitutedphenyl)quinazoline derivatives (2-21) structurally similar to prazosin, were prepared using Mannich reaction of 3-(4-chlorophenylamino)-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenone (1) with different aromatic amines in the presence of formaline. The structures of the quinazoline derivatives were established using elemental and spectral analyses. Compounds 18, 20 and 21 were found to possess a high hypotensive effect through their expected α(1)-blocking activity like the clinically used drug prazosin but with advantageous of being did not cause reflex tachycardia and having prolonged duration of action when tested in adrenaline-induced hypertension in anaesthetized rats., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

New nonclassical acridines, quinolines, and quinazolines were prepared starting from cyclic β-diketones, namely dimedone, through application of Hantzsch addition, Michael addition, and Mannich reactions, respectively. The antimicrobial activity revealed that decahydroacridin-1,8-dione 2e bearing a 3-nitrophenyl group and hexahydroquinoline 4e having a 2,4-dichlorophenyl moiety were the most active compounds against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria based upon using the disc diffusion method. Cytotoxic activity studies for decahydroacridin-1,8-diones 2a-e against liver carcinoma cells (HepG(2)) using the MTT cell viability assay revealed that decahydroacridin-1,8-dione bearing a 4-methylphenyl moiety 2d showed a higher cytotoxic activity (IC(50) = 4.42 µg/mL) than the other derivatives.