These findings indicate that celecoxib is an effective agent for the prevention of colorectal adenomas but, because of potential cardiovascular events, cannot be routinely recommended for this indication. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00005094 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

The use of 400 mg of celecoxib once daily significantly reduced the occurrence of colorectal adenomas within three years after polypectomy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00141193 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

The Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib Trial examined the efficacy and safety of the cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, for sporadic colorectal adenoma prevention in patients at high risk for colorectal cancer. The trial randomized 2,035 subjects to receive either placebo, celecoxib 200 mg twice daily, or celecoxib 400 mg twice daily. The primary study safety and efficacy analyses involved 3 years of treatment. The results showed significant antitumor effect but also indicated increased cardiovascular adverse events in patients treated with celecoxib compared with placebo. A total of 933 patients participated in an extension of the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib Trial, with a planned total treatment and surveillance duration of 5 years. Study medication was stopped early, resulting in a median treatment duration of 3.1 years for those with a year 5 colonoscopy. Patients treated on the placebo arm had a cumulative adenoma incidence of 68.4% over 5 years of observation. This figure was 59.0% (P < 0.0001) for those receiving low-dose celecoxib, and 60.1% (P < 0.0001) for those receiving high-dose celecoxib. The cumulative incidence of advanced adenomas over 5 years was 21.3% of those taking placebo, 12.5% (P < 0.0001) of those taking low dose celecoxib and 15.8% (P < 0.0001) of those taking high-dose celecoxib. Investigator reported treatment emergent adverse events were similar across all treatment groups for categories including renal and hypertensive events and gastrointestinal ulceration and hemorrhage events. For a category composed of cardiovascular and thrombotic events, the risk relative to placebo was 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.0, 2.5) for those using 200 mg twice daily celecoxib and 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.2, 3.1) for those using 400 mg twice daily celecoxib. Secondary analysis showed an interaction between a baseline history of atherosclerotic heart disease and study drug use with respect to cardiovascular and thrombotic adverse events (P = 0.004). These results confirm the inhibitory effect of celecoxib on colorectal adenoma formation, and provide additional safety data indicating an elevated risk for cardiovascular and thrombotic adverse events, particularly for patients with preexisting atherosclerotic heart disease.

Background: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of adverse skin reactions related to masks have been observed. Objective:To analyze the short-term effects of N95 respirators and medical masks, respectively, on skin physiological properties and to report adverse skin reactions caused by the equipment.Methods: This study used a randomized crossover design with repeated measurements. Twenty healthy Chinese volunteers were recruited. Skin parameters were measured on areas covered by the respective mask and on uncovered skin 2 and 4 hours after donning, 0.5 and 1 hour after doffing, including skin hydration, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), erythema, pH and sebum secretion.Adverse reactions were clinically assessed, and perceived discomfort and incompliance measured.Results: Skin hydration, TEWL and pH increased significantly after donning. Erythema values increased from baseline. Sebum secretion increased both on the covered and uncovered skin with equipment-wearing. There was no significant difference between the physiological values between the two types of equipment. More adverse reactions were reported following N95 mask use that following use of medical mask, and a higher score of discomfort and incompliance.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that skin biophysical characters changes owing to mask and respirator wearing. N95 respirators were associated with more skin reactions than medical masks.

No abstract

New fluorescent tetrazines have been prepared and their electrochemistry and fluorescence efficiency evaluated. The occurrence of fluorescence as well as the wavelength were found to be strongly dependent on the substituents, which have to be electronegative heteroatoms. This has been rationalized through a computational study that showed that the crucial factor is the nature of the HOMO, which determines the existence or not of fluorescence. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)

Background: Persistent infection following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a frustrating entity for the patient and rhinologist alike. Mupirocin nasal washes have been proposed as an efficacious treatment in such patients. Two small studies have reported excellent short‐term posttreatment outcomes; however, the long‐term microbiological outcomes following treatment are not known; likewise, the rate of mupirocin‐resistance following treatment has not been explored. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 61 patients with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)‐positive surgically‐recalcitrant CRS having undergone 0.05% mupirocin nasal rinse treatment, twice daily for 4 weeks. Specific outcomes reported included posttreatment culture results, time to first posttreatment S. aureus culture, and mupirocin‐sensitivity following treatment. Results: Of 57 patients meeting minimal posttreatment follow‐up criteria, 42 (73.7%) progressed to microbiological failure by subsequently cultured S. aureus. Mean time to first positive culture was 144 days. Of the 42 patients who progressed to microbiological relapse, full antibiotic sensitivity data was available for 41; of these, only 1 was found to subsequently harbor a mupirocin‐resistant strain of S. aureus, thus yielding a posttreatment resistance rate of 2.4%. Conclusion: Treatment with mupirocin nasal washes in S. aureus–positive, surgically recalcitrant CRS has a high microbiological failure rate, with 73.7% of patients subsequently re‐culturing S. aureus. Our current treatment regime of 0.05% nasal washes twice daily for 4 weeks is associated with a posttreatment resistance rate that is consistent with other studies of topical mupirocin use, suggesting that mupirocin washes are no more likely to induce resistance than nasal vestibule decolonization in the high‐risk medical or surgical patient. © 2011 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.

Activation of NF-kB and MAPK/activator protein 1 (AP-1) signaling pathways by receptor activator NF-kB ligand (RANKL) is essential for osteoclast activity. Targeting NF-kB and MAPK/AP-1 signaling to modulate osteoclast activity has been a promising strategy for osteoclast-related diseases. In this study we examined the effects of maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene acid that is widely present in dietary plants, on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, osteoclast function, and signaling pathways by in vitro and in vivo assay systems. In mouse bone marrow monocytes (BMMs) and RAW264.7 cells, MA inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in a dosedependent manner within nongrowth inhibitory concentration, and MA decreased osteoclastogenesis-related marker gene expression, including TRACP, MMP9, c-Src, CTR, and cathepsin K. Specifically, MA suppressed osteoclastogenesis and actin ring formation at early stage. In ovariectomized mice, administration of MA prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity. At molecular levels, MA abrogated the phosphorylation of MAPKs and AP-1 activity, inhibited the IkBa phosphorylation and degradation, blocked NF-kB/p65 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and DNA-binding activity by downregulating RANK expression and blocking RANK interaction with TRAF6. Together our data demonstrate that MA suppresses RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through NF-kB and MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathways and that MA is a promising agent in the treatment of osteoclast-related diseases such as osteoporosis. ß