UVA solarium versus UVB phototherapy of atopic dermatitis: a paired-comparison study

In a paired-comparison study, 21 patients suffering from atopic dermatitis were treated with fluorescent tubes radiating mainly ultraviolet A (UVA) on one half of the body and with tubes radiating mainly UVB on the other. Treatment was given three times a week for up to 8 weeks. Eight variables reflecting disease status were recorded and the sum of these comprised the total score. The total score and the overall evaluation score were better with UVA therapy (P less than 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). No statistically significant difference for the pruritus score was found. The reduction in extent of dermatitis, seen with both therapies, was more pronounced with UVA (P less than 0.05). Differences in the healing score were not statistically significant. Treatment with UVA resulted in healing or considerable improvement in 15 patients and 13 patients showed improvement when treated with UVB. A better result was found with UVA in 10 subjects and with UVB in two subjects. Equal results occurred with both UVA and UVB in nine of the patients although most preferred UVA treatment.     

The influence of the helmet respirator on peak flow rate in aluminum potroom

The efficiency of the Racal Airstream helmet respirator in improving peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) and symptoms (dyspnea, wheezing, and cough) in aluminum potroom workers with respiratory complaints was assessed in 19 workers. Peak expiratory flow readings and symptom recording from a 2-week working period with use of the respirator were compared with a period when the 3M 9906 disposable mask was used. The study was designed as a randomized, parallel, cross-over study with five or six daily measurements of PEFR and daily symptom recording. A significant number of workers (15) had a higher mean peak flow in the helmet period than in the nonhelmet period (p less than 0.01); symptoms did not improve significantly in the helmet period. Objective evidence of respiratory protection was observed for the group of workers as a whole, but the effect on symptoms as well as individual effect on peak flow was minor in the majority of the workers.     

The use of microfluorometry to study DNA in nasopharyngeal carcinomas: a possible prognostic tool?

A microfluorometric method was used to determine the nuclear DNA content in the nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) of 25 patients treated before 1983. Eleven patients are still alive with no evidence of disease (NED), while the rest died of their disease (DOD). All of the patients received a cycle of radiotherapy, while some also received chemotherapy or neck dissections. The neoplastic cells studied were taken from the original biopsy blocks, deparaffinized, isolated by enzymatic treatment and mechanical fragmentation, and then Feulgen-stained. The cytofluorometric measurement was carried out by a microphotometer equipped for fluorescence excitation and connected to a computer. This method allowed us to construct a histogram of the DNA content in the neoplastic cells. Different neoplastic classes were identified and represent the heteroclonality of the tumor, which can be expressed by the heteroclonality index (HCT). From the collected data it appears that the NED patients all had a low HTC (less than 1) and only 7 of the DOD patients had low HTCs (less than 1). Six of the DOD patients with a low HTC were in advanced stages of their tumor at the time of diagnosis, while the remaining patient did not complete his treatment. Our results show that the DNA analysis of the NPC cell population may offer a useful tool in predicting the biological behavior of this tumor and also improving its treatment.     

Digoxin-like factor in infants of diabetic mothers not receiving digoxin therapy

Serum digoxin-like factor was detected in infants of diabetic mothers who were insulin-dependent or diet controlled. No statistical difference was found between the serum digoxin-like factor levels of the infants of diabetic mothers and the controls.     

Stupor and affective state: alleviation of psychomotor disturbances by lorazepam and recurrence of symptoms after Ro 15-1788

In a single patient suffering from a major depressive episode with melancholia (DSM-III), both severe psychomotor symptoms, such as stupor and mutism, and mood disturbances could be abolished completely and promptly by administration of the benzodiazepine lorazepam. Remission of symptoms was entirely and immediately reversed by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. These drug effects were constantly reproducible. Possible mechanisms of action and the influence of GABAergic neurotransmission on affective and psychomotor state are discussed.     

Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa

Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index ([ATP + 0.5 ADP]/[ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality.