Differential modulation of transforming growth factor-beta by betamethasone-17- valerate and isotretinoin: corticosteroid decreases and isotretinoin increases the level of transforming growth factor-beta in suction blister fluid.

Retinoids and glucocorticoids are known to have a potential to modulate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). We investigated the effect of oral isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) on the expression of two distinct isoforms of TGF-beta, TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, in suction blister fluid and serum in acne patients. We also investigated the effect of topical glucocorticoid (betamethasone-17-valerate) and age on suction blister fluid TGF-beta1 in healthy volunteers.

Re-epithelialization rate and protein expression in the suction-induced wound model: comparison between intact blisters, open wounds and calcipotriol-pretreated open wounds.

We have investigated re-epithelialization following induction of suction blisters in humans in intact blisters, open wounds, i.e. blister roofs removed immediately after blister induction, and calcipotriol-pretreated open wounds.

Efficacy of the fixed 1.2% clindamycin phosphate, 0.025% tretinoin gel formulation (Velac) and a proprietary 0.025% tretinoin gel formulation (Aberela) in the topical control of facial acne.

Background: A formulation containing agents affecting the non-inflammatory as well as the inflammatory lesions of acne vulgaris at the same time would be efficient, probably showing a high efficacy and possibly a considerable shortening of the duration of treatment. One single formulation would simplify drug administration thereby enhancing patient compliance and possibly leading to improved therapeutic results. In two studies this seems to have been corroborated for the fixed clindamycin phosphate-tretinoin gel formulation.

Persistence of parvovirus B19 DNA in synovial membranes of young patients with and without chronic arthropathy.

Background: Human parvovirus B19 replicates in erythroid precursors of the bone marrow, and several diseases have been attributed to this virus including some cases of juvenile chronic arthropathy.

Methods: Tissue samples from children with juvenile arthritis and from healthy young adults with recent joint trauma were examined for B19 DNA by PCR. We also studied the timing of the parvovirus infection serologically.

Nail growth measurement employing nail indentation--an experimental follow-up study of nail growth in situ.

Nail growth was studied over 20 weeks in five healthy volunteers by indenting eight nails in each subject with a dental burr. The indentations were drilled in the middle part of the lunula with the proximal edge of the indentation 1 mm from the cuticle. Their volume was measured by filling them with an elastic two-component material immediately after indentation and 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks thereafter.

Effects of an inhaled steroid (budesonide) on skin collagen synthesis of asthma patients in vivo.

Skin atrophy has been observed after prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids. We therefore studied the effect of inhaled budesonide and nedocromil in patients with asthma on concentrations of procollagen propeptides in suction blister fluid reflecting skin collagen synthesis in vivo. Both types I and III procollagen propeptide concentrations decreased significantly after 6 wk of either 1,600 micro g/day (n=10) or 400 micro g/day (n=9) of inhaled budesonide but not in control subjects using inhaled nedocromil 16 mg/day (n=9).

Chronic UVB irradiation induces superoxide dismutase activity in human epidermis in vivo.

In order to study the effects of repeated UVB exposures on the epidermal antioxidant defence system, we obtained epidermis samples from male volunteers who were exposed to chronic UVB irradiation. Chronic UVB irradiation was shown to be accompanied by induction of epidermal superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in vivo, while the activities of the other antioxidant enzymes were not significantly changed. The repeated exposure of the epidermis to UVB irradiation was not accompanied by accumulation of products of lipid peroxidation reactions.

Serum markers of collagen synthesis and degradation in skin diseases. Altered levels in diseases with systemic manifestation and during systemic glucocorticoid treatment.

Serum concentrations of the markers of collagen synthesis and degradation, collagen I propeptide (PICP), collagen III propeptide (PIIINP) and the cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were measured in young male dermatological patients and in control subjects. No significant differences were noted between patients suffering from atopic eczema (n = 24), other eczemas (n = 11), acne (n = 8), psoriasis (n = 7) or tinea (n = 9) and the control subjects (n = 24). In the total study population representing patients with common skin diseases and control subjects there was a significant correlation between the serum concentrations of PICP and PIIINP and between the concentrations of PICP and ICTP.

Comparison of muscle-derived serum carbonic anhydrase III and myoglobin in dermatological patients: effects of isotretinoin treatment.

The serum levels of muscle-specific serum carbonic anhydrase III (S-CAIII) and myoglobin (S-Myo) were analyzed in various male dermatological patients of the same age. The mean levels of S-CAIII and S-Myo were essentially similar in patients with acne, psoriasis vulgaris, atopic eczema and tinea, suggesting that common dermatological diseases do not affect the serum levels of the muscle markers. Increased levels of S-CAIII, which is specific for skeletal muscle cells, were found in the acne patients who had been treated with isotretinoin.

Sweating response to moderate thermal stress in atopic dermatitis.

The local sweating response to thermal stress (mean ambient temperature 33 degrees C) was assessed under resting conditions on the non-eczematous back skin of 26 young men with atopic dermatitis (AD) and in 22 non-atopic controls with other dermatoses. The baseline (transepidermal) water loss was separately determined at room temperature (mean 23.6 degrees C) to calculate the pure sweat loss.

A new method to measure type I and III collagen synthesis in human skin in vivo: demonstration of decreased collagen synthesis after topical glucocorticoid treatment.

Collagen is synthesized as procollagen and large extra domains known as propeptides are cleaved off enzymatically. In the present study we have measured the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III collagen (PIIINP) in blister fluids of human skin. High concentrations of PICP were found in the spontaneous blisters of patients with bullous pemphigoid, erysipelas, or erythema multiforme.

Systemic glucocorticoid treatment decreases serum concentrations of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen.

The effect of systemic glucocorticoid treatment on collagen synthesis in patients with various dermatoses was studied by measuring the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in serum. Changes in the propeptide concentrations were compared with those of osteocalcin, which reflects osteoblastic activity, and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), which reflects osteoclastic activity. The treatment caused significant decreases in levels of PICP, PIIINP and osteocalcin of 38, 34 and 49%, respectively (P less than 0.

Lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and their isoenzymes in pleural effusions.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LD; EC 1.1.1.

In-vivo effects of solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in human epidermis.

The effects of solar-simulated UV-irradiation on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the amount of diene conjugation were studied in human epidermis in vivo. A single dose of UV-irradiation was found to result in a transient reduction in superoxide dismutase activity and this was followed by increased amounts of conjugated diene double bonds, an index for oxidative stress. This suggests that in-vivo exposure of human epidermis to solar-simulated UV-irradiation causes changes in the enzymic antioxidant defence system which, in turn, are accompanied by increased level of oxidative stress.

Baseline water loss and cholinergic sweat stimulation in atopic dermatitis: a gravimetric measurement of local skin water loss.

The sweat gland function in atopic dermatitis (AD) and in respiratory atopy is a matter of controversy. We examined the baseline water loss and local sweating response in non-eczematous back skin of 146 young men: pure AD, AD with rhinitis/asthma, rhinitis/asthma alone, non-atopic dermatosis and non-atopic healthy. All AD subjects were further divided into the subgroups AD dry and AD normal skin.

Laser Doppler vasomotion among patients with post-thrombotic venous insufficiency: effect of intermittent pneumatic compression.

Laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) was used to measure skin blood flux and its vasomotion, i.e. rhythmical variations in nineteen patients with post-thrombotic venous insufficiency, and in eight healthy control subjects before and after a single intermittent pneumatic compression treatment session.

Local cholinergic sweat stimulation in atopic dermatitis. An evaporimetric study.

In atopic dermatitis the nature of potential sweating disturbances is still obscure. Using an evaporimeter, local sweating response to a supra-threshold concentration of methacholine and baseline water loss were measured from non-eczematous back skin of 167 young males in five main groups (pure atopic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis with rhinitis/asthma, rhinitis/asthma, non-atopic dermatosis, and non-atopic healthy). Subjects with atopic dermatitis were further divided into two subgroups: dry-looking and normal-looking back skin.

Epidermis is the origin of high creatine kinase levels in skin blister fluid.

Creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme, CK-BB, known as the brain fraction, is not normally present in serum but predominates in several normal and malignant tissues and body fluids. We recently reported increased CK-BB levels in suction blister fluid. In the present study the cellular origin of the enzyme in skin was studied from homogenates of blister top epidermis and blister base dermis as well as from homogenates of split skin dermatome shavings and isolated keratinocytes.

The BB-isoenzyme is a major component of creatine kinase in skin blister fluid.

We measured levels of creatine kinase and its three isoenzymes in serum and blister fluid from 16 healthy volunteers. The BB-isoenzyme was found to be the predominant form in blister fluid while only the MM isoenzyme was found in serum. The levels of BB-isoenzyme in blister fluid decreased as the blisters aged.