[Low-dose topical recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhu GM-CSF) therapy for chronic venous leg ulcers, 10-year follow-up].

Background: The treatment of leg ulcers is an enormous problem worldwide. Chronic venous ulceration affects 1% of the population and often has a protracted course. Recurrence rate is high, ranging up to 69% in the first year after healing.

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor applied locally in low doses enhances healing and prevents recurrence of chronic venous ulcers.

Background: Chronic venous leg ulcers have a major medical and economic impact on the elderly worldwide. Healing of the large ulcers (>10 cm2) occurs only in two-thirds of the patients and reulceration of healed ulcers recurs in one-third within 1 year. Because both healing and relapse rate influence greatly a patient's quality of life and the overall cost of treatment, every effort should be made to improve these two parameters.

[Gamma 1 heavy chain disease with immune vasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis].

We are reporting about a case of gamma heavy-chain disease (Franklin's disease) with immunovasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnosis was confirmed by the results of immunoelectrophoresis of the patient's serum and also by evidence of stimulated lymphocytes without light chain, but having gamma heavy-chain surface proteins. The immunofixation of the serum showed two protein bands of gamma heavy-chains with different loads.

[UV-B phototherapy in psoriasis].

67 patients, 41 with chronic plaque-psoriasis and 26 with acute eruptive or seborrhoic psoriasis, were treated in a stand-up unit equipped with UV-B fluorescent bulbs. 92 per cent of the latter group of patients showed satisfactory results (13 exposures, total UV-B dose: 464 mJ/cm2), whereas only 46 per cent of the patients with plaque psoriasis responded comparably (19 exposures, total UV-B dose: 994 mJ/cm2). A split comparison study of PUVA and UV-B on plaque-psoriasis revealed the superiority of PUVA in both initial treatment phase and duration of the remission.

Serum levels of 8-methoxypsoralen in two different drug preparations: correlation with photosensitivity and UV-A dose requirements for photochemotherapy.

In a quantitative study we have compared the serum levels, the time course and the photosensitizing capacity of a conventional crystalline 8-methoxypsoralen brand and an investigational liquid formula. Evidence is presented showing that the liquid preparation is superior to the crystalline form: it peaks earlier after ingestion, it produces higher and more constant degree of photosensitization, it is eliminated more rapidly from the blood, and it requires a lower UV-A dose for eliciting photosensitivity reactions aiming at a reduction of the total cumulative UV-A dose required for clearing psoriasis.