Simplification of local therapy of psoriasis with 8-methoxypsoralen

Local 8-methoxypsoralen black-light treatment was carried out on sixty-two patients. For the first time, oil was employed as a preparation base in order to increase the transparency and so the effectiveness of irradiation. Also the need for a descaling pretreatment was avoided. In investigations still being carried out, 27.5% patients showed very good improvement, 48-4% good and 24-2% unsatisfactory results of treatment. In many cases, less than fifteen irradiation sessions were necessary for clinical healing. However, to obtain a uniform pigmentation, additional irradiation proved necessary.     

ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Høiby, N., Friis, B., Jensen, K., Koch, C, Møller, N.E., Støvring, S. and Szaff, M. (Statens Seruminstitut, Departments of Clinical Microbiology at Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital, and Paediatric Department TG, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark). Antimicrobial chemotherapy in cystic fibrosis patients. Acta Paediatr Scand 1982; suppl 301: 75-100. — Every effort should be undertaken to combat recurrent and chronic bacterial respiratory tract infections in patients with cystic fibrosis because infections are the main pathogenetic factors of lung damage in these patients. The principles and antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections in the Danish Cystic Fibrosis centre are outlined. The chemotherapy is based on microbiological diagnosis of secretions from the lower respiratory tract. S. aureus infections are efficiently treated with oral fusidic acid in combination with isoxazolyl penicillins or rifampicin in case of penicillin allergy or methicillin-resistant S. aureus. H. influenzae infections are treated efficiently with oral pivampicillin or amoxicillin or with erythromycin sometimes in combination with rifampicin in case of penicillin allergy or ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae . As a result of the efficient chemotherapy S. aureus and H. influenzae infections are now minor problems generally not related to prognosis of cystic fibrosis patients. Chronic P. aeruginosa infections are treated regularly four times per year with intravenous anti-pseudomonas β-lactam antibiotics in combination with tobramycin. P. aeruginosa is rarely permanently eradicated by this treatment, but significantly improved survival of the patients is obtained. The problems of resistant bacterial strains, allergy, and other side effects caused by the antibiotics are discussed.     

Behavior of Different Activity-Based Pacemakers During Treadmill Exercise Testing with Variable Slopes: A Comparison of Three Activity-Based Pacing Systems

A new generation of activity-based pacemakers incorporates an accelerometer sensitive to low frequency acceleration signals in the anteroposterior direction for sensing of bodily stress. The purpose of our investigation was to test a representative model of these new activity-based pacemakers (Relay) and compare it with current vibrationand housing pressure-sensing systems. We tested ten pacemaker patients with implanted Activitrax, Sensolog, and Relay systems during treadmill exercise testing with variable slopes. Devices from the three systems were also strapped externally to the chest of each patient and to ten normal test subjects in the control group. Exercise tests were conducted with changes of treadmill speed and/or treadmill slope. For comparable workloads during constant speed/variable slope and constant slope/variable speed, Relay had similar rate responses (difference not significant). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in rate adaptation attributable to the kind of treadmill exercise (change in treadmill speed or slopes) were observed in the housing pressure- and vibration-based pacemakers. Activity-based pacemakers with an acceleration sensor adapt pacing rates during treadmill exercises independent of treadmill speed or slope better than those controlled by a conventional housing pressure or vibration sensor.     

Dermatitis herpetiformis: immune complex detection with CIq and monoclonal rheumatoid factor

To determine the significance of circulating immune complexes in dermatitis herpetiformis, serum samples from thirty patients with active disease were tested by a CIq binding radioassay, while serum samples from twenty-one of these patients were tested by a monoclonal rheumatoid factor (mRF) inhibition radioassay. By direct immunofluorescence, all patients demonstrated typical IgA deposition in dermal papillae. Using the Ci q binding assay, only seven of forty-two serum samples had elevated Ci q binding activity, while by the mRF inhibition assay, thirteen of twenty-five samples had elevated immune complex levels. Nine of these latter thirteen positive serum samples, however, were minimally elevated. Thus, IgG and/or IgM containing immune complexes are infrequently present, or at very low levels, in sera of patients with active dermatitis herpetiformis.     

Polymorphism of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) Gene Polymorphism in Shanghai population:Occupational and Non-occupational Bladder Cancer Patient Groups

INTRODUCTION Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs, EC 2.3.1.5) are involved in the detoxification of aromatic amines and hydrazine[1]. NAT2 polymorphism affects individual抯 acetylation ability for these substances[2]. Individuals can be phenotyped for th…     

The Interactive Toxicity of CHCl3 and BrCCl3 in Precision-Cut Rat Liver Slices

The interactive toxicity of two nontoxic concentrations of chloroform(CHCl₃and bromotricchloromethane (BrCCl₃ was examined in precision-cutrat liver slices. Liver slices were prepared from male Sprague-Dawleyrats (220–250 g) pretreated with phenobarbital for 4 days.Toxicants were administered 1 hr apart. Intracellular K⁺ levelswere similar to untreated controls in slices treated with 0.2mM CHCl₃ or 0.125 µ1 (0.25 mg, 1.26 µmol) BrCCl₃alone, indicating that these concentrations were nontoxic. However,addition of both toxicants, irrespective of order, resultedin a time-dependent loss of intracellular K⁺ which was significantat 9 hr following administration. This was interpreted as evidenceof synergistic toxicity. Cytochrome P450 loss was significantas early as 3 hr following exposure to BrCCl₃ alone or whenadded with CHCl₃ This loss may be attributed to BrCCl₃ suicideinactivation of cytochrome P450. Centrilobular hepatocytes maybe more susceptible to the interactive toxicity of CHCl₃ andBrCCl₃ Activity of enzymes found predominantly in this areawas significantly decreased in slices exposed to both toxicantsrelative to controls. Conversely, activity of enzymes foundpredominantly in the periportal region was similar to that ofuntreated and treated controls. Inter active toxicity of BrCCl₃and CHCl₃ was not a consequence of increased lipid peroxidationor depletion of slice glutathione content. Further studies needto be conducted to elucidate the mechanisms mediating the interactivetoxicity of BrCCl₃ and CHCl₃.     

Social and cultural preconditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and factors associated with the strength of AA

In 1986, AA activities (a minimum of five groups) typically occurred in non-socialist, non-Islamic countries with a GNP per capita above US$ 1000. From 1965 to 1986, the share of English speaking and Scandinavian countries of all AA groups diminished, and the share of Central and Southern European, and particularly of Latin America, increased. Correlation analysis of countries fulfilling the typical preconditions of AA indicates changes in the relationships of AA to social background factors. In 1965, AA was strongest in the wealthiest countries, but no such correlation was observed in 1986. The rate of growth of AA has been higher in Roman Catholic countries. Wine consumption is negatively and beer consumption positively correlated to the strength of AA. Cross-sectional strength of AA is not related to spirits consumption, but its rate of growth has been higher in countries where spirits are consumed. The first wave of diffusion brought AA to the Anglo-Saxon and Protestant world. The second wave covered American and European Catholic countries, and bridgeheads have been established in newly industrialized nations. Still, AA remains a phenomenon of developed and wealthy societies.     

A New Multisensor Pacing System Using Stroke Volume, Respiratory Rate, Mixed Venous Oxygen Saturation, And Temperature, Right Atrial Pressure, Right Ventricular Pressure, And dP/dt

A new multisensor pacing device using respiratory rate (RR), stroke volume fSV), oxygen saturation (SO2), temperature (T), right atrial pressure (RAPJ, right ventricular pressure (RVPJ and right ventricular dP/dt, has been developed. It consists of a 7F multisensor catheter and an external pacing unit. It allows simultaneous recording of the input signals and the corresponding data can be compared among the different parameters under identical conditions. Furthermore, several parameters can be combined in such a way as to form a new combination better suitable for rate responsive pacing. The response of each parameter to exercise was studied in 12 healthy volunteers (mean age:28 years). Exercise testing was carried out using a bicycle ergometer, with workloads up to 200 W. The dynamic characteristics, response and sensitivity to changes of workloads of each parameter were analyzed and compared to one another. SO₂ proved to be a quick responding parameter (<10 sec) with higher sensitivity in the low exercise range (<75 WJ, T, on the other hand, responded slowly (>30 sec) to exercise changes and had the highest sensitivity in the exercise range beyond 75 W. RR displayed a slow response (>30 sec) and an adequate sensitivity was only found in the upper exercise range (>100 W). SV reacted rapidly to workload changes (<10 sec) but showed poor sensitivity at all exercise levels. RAP, RVP and dP/dt displayed quick responses and constantly good sensitivity throughout the workload range. Furthermore, respiratory rate was easily-derived from the RAP curve. Special algorithms were developed for each parameter so that pacing rate would reproduce sinus rate behavior. We found that SO₂ and all pressure parameter imitated sinus rate response quite well. When using parameter combinations, SO₂ and T proved to be superior. Five patients (mean age 68 years) with third degree AV-block were stimulated temporarily using this system. Compared to fixed rate stimulation [VVI 70], exercise performance improved, using SO₂ as the input parameter for rate response, by 25% to 50%.