The effect of corticosteroids on serum and cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide levels in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease characterized by perivascular infiltrates and demyelination of the white matter in the central nervous system. In this study, we compared the serum and cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide levels before and after methylprednisolone therapy, and during remission period, and investigated the relationship of nitric oxide to the activity of multiple sclerosis. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum nitric oxide levels were measured blind as nitrite plus nitrate, using the nitrate reductase and Griess reaction method in 20 patients with multiple sclerosis before and after corticosteroid therapy, and during remission period, and in 20 control subjects. Mean cerebrospinal fluid and serum nitric oxide levels were highest in the pretreatment group and lowest in the control group. There was no correlation with nitric oxide levels in these two groups. Although corticosteroid therapy did not have any great effect on Expanded Disability Status Scales, it led to a decrease in nitric oxide levels. The possible cause of this might be the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis by methylprednisolone, or a decrease in multiple sclerosis activity. We conclude that serum or cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide levels do not reflect the activity in multiple sclerosis.     

What Do Child Daycare Center Teachers Know About Atopic Dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common childhood inflammatory skin disorder. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the knowledge level of daycare center teachers about AD and related factors. Study subjects were 297 teachers (287 female, 10 male) from 20 randomly selected daycare centers in Istanbul. The knowledge level of teachers was assessed using a questionnaire with 21 questions about AD. The teachers were asked nine additional questions about demographic and other characteristics of the child care centers and about themselves. The mean age of the teachers was 26.4 ± 8.1 years (range 20–53 yrs). The mean score for the 21 questions was 71.4 ± 12.1 (68%) from a maximum of 105 points. The response rate of teachers rate for each question ranged from 54% to 90%. The completely true response rate for each question ranged from 3.0% to 66.7%. The knowledge level of the teachers was related to the number of children in the daycare center, but not to sex, age, education level, family history of atopy, teacher's monthly salary, location, or whether the daycare center was public or private. Although teachers in daycare centers have some knowledge about AD, widespread educational programs for teachers about AD may help to improve the understanding of the disease and the quality of life of affected children in daycare centers.