Content - Volume 76, Issue 6

Abnormal expression of cell adhesion molecules and related proteins has been observed in various carcinoma cells. We compared expression patterns of desmosomal cadherins, E-cadherin, and cytoplasmic plaque proteins of four different human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and in vivo squamous cell carcinoma cells with those of normal human keratinocytes. Unlike normal human keratinocytes, the squ ...

Recent studies have suggested that cytokines play a critical role in the pathophysiology of alopecia areata; however, no information is available regarding the difference in cytokine profiles in these patients. Serum levels of cytokines, including interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6, were measured using radioimmunoassay ...

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of leukotriene B4, a potent pro-inflammatory compound. The purpose of this study was to determine the capacity of antiinflammatory and anti-proliferative compounds to regulate the levels and activity of leukotriene A4 hydrolase in cultured human keratinocytes. The content of leukotriene A4 hydrolase was determined by Western blot analysi ...

Pigmentation, stratum corneum and viable epidermis are considered to be the main factors protecting against ultraviolet radiation. We quantitatively investigated the degree of photoprotection provided by these structures in vitiligo and adjacent normally pigmented skin. In 14 patients 61 MED tests were performed in vitiligo and adjacent normally pigmented skin using a solar simulator. The thicknes ...

Present investigations regarding the pathogenesis of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) are focusing on microvascular changes. The aim of our investigation was to examine the correlation between the thickness of pericapillary type IV collagen depositions, basal membrane alterations and transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) in CVI-patients. Histochemical and immunohistochemical investigation of the ...

Psoriasis is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, inflammation and increased biosynthesis of various cytokines. The inhibitory effect of pentoxifylline on some cell functions has been reported widely. This property of pentoxifylline prompted an investigation of its possible role in controlling psoriasis. In the in vitro study normal human keratinocytes proliferation was determined and for ...

Plasma endothelin levels were studied in 71 patients suffering from severe psoriasis. The psoriatics were treated either with topical therapy alone (n = 18) or with cyclosporin A (n = 26), methotrexate (n = 21), or with hydroxyurea, acitretin or ranitidin (n = 6) with or without topical therapy. The psoriatics had a significantly higher average plasma endothelin than 40 healthy controls. The patie ...

The antimycotic activity of fluconazole against the filamentous form of Pityrosporum ovale was studied in vitro. P. ovale was grown on human stratum corneum in vitro with and without the addition of different concentrations of fluconazole. In control cultures hyphae were produced in 25% of the cells compared to only 4% after exposure to fluconazole 1 microgram/ml. In control cultures 16% of the fu ...

Rough skin ("dry skin") is characteristic of atopy and thought to be a pre-stage of atopic eczema. Atopic eczema frequently deteriorates in winter, which may be related to low air humidity during the heating period. We have assessed skin roughness before and after decreasing air humidity to 30% in a climatic chamber. Replicas of clinically non-inflamed and not scaling skin from 10 patients with at ...

To reduce the incidence of irritant contact dermatitis, the development of screening methods to identify subjects with increased susceptibility to irritants is essential. In a pilot study on the comparison between two quick, non-invasive irritancy tests (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with the time-consuming patch testing with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), no correlation bet ...

We report on a 44-year-old patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria who could effectively control his photosensitivity for 22 years with oral carotinoids. The clinical course of his disorder was complicated by liver involvement, initially expressed as marginally raised serum transaminase levels for several years. Terminal hepatic failure with fatal outcome developed 22 years after manifestation ...

Five hundred and thirty families with at least 1 child who had been referred to a dermatologist with atopic dermatitis were interviewed in an effort to determine whether factors such as the age of the mother when a child is born and/or birth rank can contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis. The families interviewed had a total of 1,084 children, or an average of 2 children per family. S ...

A study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of single q-switched ruby laser exposure to erase actinic lentigo. A peeling fluid containing glycolic acid designed to treat lentigines was evaluated comparatively. Ten female patients presenting with actinic lentigines on the forearms and dorsal aspects of their hands were treated with the q-switched ruby laser on the right side. Single ruby las ...

Early onset (< age 40 years) psoriasis has been reported to be more readily triggered by environmental factors such as stress, in contrast to late onset (> or = age 40 years) psoriasis. We examined whether certain psychopathologic factors differentiated the psoriasis patient with early onset versus late onset disease. One hundred and thirty-seven psoriasis inpatients completed a battery of psychos ...

The association of stress with psoriatic skin and joint symptoms was studied in 38 patients with psoriasis by dividing the patients into low-stress and high-stress groups based on their answers to four questionnaires (General health questionnaire, Somatization questionnaire, Depression questionnaire, and Life change questionnaire), measuring minor psychiatric disorder, psychosomatic reactivity, de ...

The efficacy of tap water iontophoresis in treating palmoplantar hyperhidrosis has been sufficiently documented and has led to its extensive use in clinical practice. In order to test the efficacy of this treatment modality in cases of dyshidrotic hand eczema, 20 patients were treated with tap water iontophoresis in addition to two-sided steroid-free topical therapy in a randomized half-side-study ...

We report a follow-up for 3-18 years of 24 patients with the non-infiltrated patch and infiltrated plaque stage of mycosis fungoides, treated with psoralen photochemotherapy (PUVA) and on resistant infiltration or development of tumours also with fractionated radiation therapy. All patients with patch and limited plaques showed complete remission after initial PUVA therapy. Half of the patients wi ...

n-Docosanol has been shown to have antiviral activity. To demonstrate the efficacy of n-docosanol 10% cream in the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis, a randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study was undertaken in 63 patients. In a crossover extension, 22 of the patients used the alternative treatment for a further episode. A total of 98 episodes were evaluated. Applica ...

The prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa has been found to be higher among patients attending an STD clinic than in an unselected general population sample. The aetiology of hidradenitis in unknown, but an association with chlamydial infections has been suggested for perineal lesions. Our aim was to describe the history of STD, STD risk factors and possible current STD in patients with hidradeni ...

To examine the merits of nail surgery, we studied the surgical investigation, treatment and the outcome of 78 consecutive patients with nail pathology in the context of their complaint. A diagnosis was reached in 74/78 patients. Thirty-six out of seventy-eight (46%) of patients had tumours, 17/78 (22%) had a dermatosis, 21/78 (27%) had infection or trauma and 4/78 (5%) remained undiagnosed. The pr ...

The burning mouth syndrome is characterized by an unpleasant sensation of burning in the oral cavity, without clinical signs. Causal factors may be psychogenic, systemic or local. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of contact allergy in the pathogenesis of burning mouth syndrome. Fifteen patients with burning mouth syndrome were studied through anamnesis and laboratory analysis ...

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