Cardiovascular manifestations of Kawasaki disease Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, experience 1974-1981

ABSTRACT. A review was undertaken of all patients with Kawasaki disease admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital. Their cardiovascular manifestations were reviewed and found to be similar to those reported overseas. The series totalled 21 patients, including five who developed cardiac failure. There were three deaths. Treatment varied but was mainly supportive though low dose aspirin has increasingly been used.     

Induction of mixed-function oxidases in mouse liver by psoralens

8-methoxypsoralen, the most widely used psoralen in photochemotherapy, was shown to induce mixed-function oxidases. Induction of mixed-function oxidases in mouse liver was examined after mice were given a single dose of one of three psoralens. 8-methoxypsoralen clearly induced p-nitro-anisole-O-demethylase and slightly induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. Psoralen and 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen failed to induce either enzyme. These results represent the first enzyme induction studies on these clinically useful compounds. The studies may have relevance in understanding the clinical differences in skin photosensitizing activity and photochemotherapeutic effectiveness of the compounds in such diseases as psoriasis and vitiligo.     

CHEMOTHERAPY OF PSORIASIS: TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

ABSTRACT: The hunt for an effective, easier to administer, more acceptable therapeutic modality for extensive chronic psoriasis continues. The chemotherapy of psoriasis is reviewed in 246 patients from 1964 to 1974 treated with methotrexate, 92 patients from 1971 to 1974 with hydroxyurea, and 36 patients from 1972 to 1974 with azaribine. Currently, the available chemotherapy agents are the least palatable and desirable form of treatment. Methotrexate continues to be the most predictable, effective and hast expensive. The use of photo-chemotherapy may prove to be more effective, less toxic, and more practical until a more specific and effective etiologically directed form of therapy becomes available.     

Incidence of virus-specific antibodies and autoantibodies in sera of patients with warts

Sera from fifty-two patients with warts and control subjects, the majority of whom were age and sex matched, were tested for antiviral antibody, anticellular antibody against wart cells, fibrillar anticellular antibody and smooth muscle antibody (SMA). There was a higher prevalence of the autoantibodies in patients with warts as compared to control subjects. There was no correlation between the presence of virus-specific antibodies and the autoantibodies.