Are there age and racial differences to methyl nicotinate-induced vasodilatation in human skin?

Preliminary experiments have been performed to determine whether there are age and racial differences in the response of human skin to the topically applied vasodilator methyl nicotinate. With the use of a constant stimulus (a 15-second exposure to a 100 mM aqueous solution of drug), the subsequent time-course of the vasodilatation response was followed noninvasively and objectively with the optical technics of laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and photoplethysmography (PPG). Three groups of subjects were considered: young white subjects (20 to 30 years of age), elderly white subjects (63 to 80 years old), and young black subjects (20 to 30 years old).

The human gastrointestinal secretory immune system in health and disease.

The main function of secretory IgA is to exert immune exclusion; that is, by intimate cooperation with innate non-specific defence mechanisms, it dampens down penetration of soluble antigens and inhibits epithelial colonisation of bacteria and viruses. Secretory IgM may exert a similar protective function in the gut as its local synthesis sometimes is markedly increased, especially in selective IgA deficiency. IgG should not be considered a secretory immunoglobulin because its external translocation depends on passive intercellular diffusion.

Characterization of mononuclear cells in sarcoid skin lesions using monoclonal antibodies.

Epithelioid cells, giant cells and mononuclear cells in cryostat sections of lesional skin from 5 patients with chronic cutaneous sarcoidosis were characterized using an indirect immunofluorescence test with monoclonal antibodies. OKM1 (monocyte) antibody stained both epithelioid cells and giant cells as well as some cells in the periphery of the granulomas. OKM1 which reacts with most monocytes in peripheral blood, did not react with tissue macrophages in sections of normal skin, liver, spleen and kidney.

Interferon in suction blister fluid from psoriatic lesions.

Interferon (IFN) (at least 16 units/ml) was demonstrated in suction blister fluid obtained from lesional skin in nine of thirteen patients with psoriasis vulgaris and in two patients with allergic contact dermatitis, but not in blister fluid from unaffected skin. IFN was detected in only three of the sera from the patients with psoriasis. The difference in results between the blister fluid and the sera from these patients was statistically significant (P less than 0.

Intercomparison of Nordic exposure secondary standards for soft roentgen rays.

An intercomparison of exposure secondary standards for soft roentgen rays in use in the Nordic countries is reported. One of the standards was used as a reference standard against which all the other standards were calibrated. The statistical uncertainty in the calibrations was estimated to be 0.

Ultrastructural demonstration of Fc gamma-receptors in sarcoid skin lesions.

Immune complexes of horseradish peroxidase oxidase (HRP) and rabbit IgG antibodies to HRP were used to study the Fc gamma-receptors in granulomas of cutaneous sarcoidosis. Cryostat sections of skin biopsies were incubated with HRP-anti-HRP, and the peroxidase activity was demonstrated with 3,3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and H2O2. Most cells in the granulomas, both epithelioid and giant cells, were stained.

Demonstration of Ia-like antigens on T lymphocytes in lesions of psoriasis, lichen planus and discoid lupus erythematosus.

A combined indirect immunofluorescence technique with a murine monoclonal antibody against human Ia-like antigens (OKIal) and an IgG F(ab')2 preparation of a rabbit anti-T lymphocyte serum was used to study Ia-like antigens on T lymphocytes in skin lesions of psoriasis, lichen planus and discoid lupus erythematosus. The majority of the T lymphocytes in the various skin lesions expressed Ia-like antigens. T lymphocytes expressing Ia-like antigens were also demonstrated in the dermis and the epidermis in sections of unaffected skin, although of a markedly lower proportion than in affected skin.

Factors mediating the binding of immune complexes to cryostat sections of psoriatic lesions.

Sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit IgG, or complexes of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and rabbit IgG antibodies to HRP bound to cryostat sections of psoriatic and other skin lesions (lichen planus, discoid lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and mycosis fungoides). Immune complexes with reduced and alkylated IgG (RA-IgG) reacted with preparations of soluble rheumatoid factors (RF) and with sections of RF-coated sheep erythrocytes equally well as did untreated IgG. However, RA-IgG did not react with sections containing FcR-positive cells.

Subpopulations of mononuclear cells in lesions of psoriasis, lichen planus and discoid lupus erythematosus studied using monoclonal antibodies.

Mononuclear cells in skin lesions were characterized using an indirect immunofluorescence test with monoclonal antibodies. Most cells in the dermal infiltrates were stained with OKT3 (pan T cell) antibodies and with OKT4 (helper/inducer T cell) antibodies. Fewer cells were stained with OKT8 (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) antibodies.

In situ characterization and counting of mononuclear cells in lesions of different clinical forms of psoriasis.

Mononuclear cells in the dermis were characterized and counted in cryostat sections of lesional skin from 34 patients with various clinical forms of psoriasis. T lymphocytes were detected with F(ab')2 preparation of rabbit IgG against human T lymphocytes and acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity as histochemical marker. The ANAE method was also used for the detection of macrophages.

Lack of sensitivity of measurements of Vd/Vt at rest and during exercise in detection of hemodynamically significant pulmonary vascular abnormalities in collagen vascular disease.

Wasted ventilation fraction (Vd/Vt) normally declines substantially during exercise in persons without lung disease. Failure of Vd/Vt to decrease during exercise has been reported to be one of the earliest abnormalities in patients with dyspnea caused by pulmonary vaso-occlusive disease, suggesting that measurement of Vd/Vt at rest and during exercise are useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary vascular disorders. We studied pulmonary hemodynamic and Vd/Vt responses to exercise in 11 patients in the supine position with suspected pulmonary vascular involvement caused by progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or recurrent pulmonary emboli, 10 of whom had dyspnea at rest and/or on exertion.

Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole in patients with enteric disease compared to normal volunteers.

Tablets of 500 mg metronidazole were given to 24 patients with intestinal diseases and to 10 healthy volunteers. The diagnoses included coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, jejunoileal shunt, ileostomy, and Crohn's disease. Both normal subjects and patients exhibited considerable variation in serum metronidazole concentrations.

Relapse of duodenal ulcer after treatment with trimipramine/antacids or cimetidine/antacids.

Ninety-three patients with duodenal ulcer were treated with trimipramine, 25 mg at night; cimetidine, 400 mg at night; or cimetidine, 1000 mg/day. In addition, all patients were given 20 ml antacids 1 and 3 h after meals. The healing rates after 6 weeks' treatment were 86%, 85%, and 100% in the three groups, respectively (differences not significant).

Cimetidine treatment of recurrent ulcer after proximal gastric vagotomy.

Twenty-one patients with endoscopically confirmed recurrent ulceration after proximal gastric vagotomy entered an open trial of treatment with cimetidine, 1.0 g/day. Twenty patients completed 6 weeks' treatment, and repeat endoscopy showed ulcer healing in 18 of 20 patients.

In situ identification of mononuclear cells in cutaneous infiltrates in discoid lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis and secondary syphilis.

The inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltrates observed in lesional skin from patients with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), sarcoidosis, and secondary syphilis have been characterized in situ. Immunological markers (human T lymphocyte antigens and receptors for sheep erythrocytes, C3b, C3d and Fc gamma) were studied by using immunofluorescence tests with IgG F (ab')2 preparation of anti-T lymphocyte serum, hemadsorption with tissue sections, and tests with soluble immune complexes of peroxidase. In DLE, T lymphocytes were the dominant cell type.

Treatment of duodenal ulcer with antacids in combination with trimipramine or cimetidine.

Ninetyfive patients with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcer were randomly allocated in a double blind manner to 3 different treatments. Thirtyfive patients were treated with trimipramine 25 mg nocte, 32 patients with cimetidine 400 mg nocte and 26 patients with cimetidine 200 mg 3 times a day and 400 mg nocte (standard dose). In addition all patients got intensive antacid treatment with LinkR, 20 ml 1 and 3 hours after meals.

Blood flow in sequential vein grafts.

In 69 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting for complete coronary revascularization, blood flow was measured in 140 grafts with 243 distal anastomoses (3.52 bypasses/patient). Total blood flow in single grafts and double and triple sequential grafts did not differ significantly, although mean distal flow decreased successively with single (85 cc/min), double (51 cc/min), and triple (32 cc/min) sequential grafts.

Small airways in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS).

Obstructive disease involving peripheral airways has been noted in diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease, including sarcoidosis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. The possibility of obstruction of small airways in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) has been suggested by widespread bronchiolectasis and peribronchial fibrosis noted at necropsy. We performed pulmonary function studies in 39 subjects (22 nonsmokers and 17 smokers) with PSS, most of whom had functional evidence of interstitial pulmonary involvement (increased static recoil pressure and reduced diffusing capacity).

A new method of preparing insects for scanning electron microscopy.

Acidified 2,2-dimethoxypropane (DMP), used as an alternative to regular fixation and dehydration methods for insects, was found to be the only successful means of preparing the sugarbeet root maggot larva, Tetanops myopaeformis (Röder) (Diptera:Otitidae), for the scanning electron microscope. No morphological changes were evident when DMP treated sugarbeet root maggot adults were compared to fresh (unfixed) adults and glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide fixed adults. The method has been used with success on several gropus of insects.

A study of Sézary cells in peripheral blood and skin lesions.

A patient with Sézary syndrome is presented. By phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy Sézary cells were demonstrated in peripheral blood and in skin tissue. Investigation of atypical mononuclear cells seen in the peripheral blood showed that these cells lack receptors for sheep erythrocytes.