Hypericin, the photoactive compound of Hypericum perforatum, is probably the most powerful photosensitizer found in nature. This compound has shown high potency in the photodynamic treatment of tumor cells. However, there is only limited knowledge regarding the photodynamic effect of hypericin on nonmelanoma skin cancer cells. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy with topical application of an extract of H. perforatum in actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and morbus Bowen (carcinoma in situ). The study was carried out on 34 patients--eight with actinic keratoses (AKs), 21 with BCC and five with Bowen's disease. The extract of H. perforatum was applied on the skin lesions under occlusion and that was followed by irradiation with 75 J cm(-2) of red light 2 h later. The treatment was performed weekly for 6 weeks on average. The percentage of complete clinical response was 50% for AKs, 28% in patients with superficial BCC and 40% in patients with Bowen's disease. There was only a partial remission seen in patients with nodular BCCs. A complete disappearance of tumor cells was found in the histologic preparation of 11% of patients with superficial BCCs and 80% in the patients with Bowen's disease. All patients complained of burning and pain sensations during irradiation. Although the results of this first clinical trial could be regarded as disappointing, there are still possibilities for improvement. Better preparation of the lesions, enhancement of hypericin delivery and other types of light exposure procedures could significantly improve the clinical outcomes of this relatively inexpensive treatment modality.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2007.00260.x | DOI Listing |
BMC Neurol
January 2025
Department for Physical Health and Aging, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Background: Childlessness, as well as having a high number of children, has been reported to be associated with an elevated risk of dementia compared to having 2-3 children. The mechanisms underlying these relationships are not well understood and may be mediated by different midlife risk factors. We examined the mediating role of various factors on the relationship between the number of children and dementia risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Cardiol
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; European Reference Network for Rare, Low Prevalence and Complex Diseases of the Heart (ERN GUARD-Heart), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Objectives: To prospectively evaluate clinical outcome and quality-of-life after surgical repair of ToF.
Methods: Single-centre, longitudinal cohort-study evaluating every decade 144 ToF patients who underwent surgical repair <15 years of age between 1968 and 1980.
Potassium channels regulate membrane potential, calcium flux, cellular activation and effector functions of adaptive and innate immune cells. The voltage-activated Kv1.3 channel is an important regulator of T cell-mediated autoimmunity and microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
January 2025
Healthy Skin Team, Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
Recent interest in the diverse ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that make up the skin microbiome has led to several studies investigating the microbiome in healthy skin and in a variety of dermatological conditions. An imbalance of the normal skin flora can cause some skin diseases, and current culture techniques are often unable to detect a microorganism to further our understanding of the clinical-microbiological correlates of disease and dysbiosis. Atopic dermatitis and rosacea are presentations that GPs often manage that may have an infective or microbiological component and can be challenging to treat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnostics (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Dermatology, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan.
High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) has been reported to be useful for the diagnosis of cutaneous diseases; however, its two-dimensional nature limits the value both in quantitative and qualitative evaluation. Three-dimensional (3D) visualization might help overcome the weakness of the currently existing HFUS. 3D-HFUS was newly developed and applied to various skin tumors and inflammatory hair diseases to assess its validity and advantages for dermatological use.
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