Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum最新文献

Transdermal absorption of tacalcitol from the ointment containing 2 micrograms/g was studied using hairless rat and human skin. In the animal experiments, a non-negligible amount of tacalcitol was absorbed transdermally, whereas in the case of human skin, this compound was hardly absorbed at all. A placebo-controlled double-blind right/left comparison confirmed that this ointment is effective and safe for the treatment of psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is characterized by an abnormal proliferation and increased turnover of keratinocytes, the presence of acute and chronic inflammatory cells and microangiopathic changes. Endothelins are a family of peptides which have been investigated especially for their effects on the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have demonstrated their involvement also in human skin.

Aim of the study: We evaluated the Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels in psoriatic patients, as endothelin-1 can be produced in vitro by keratinocytes and can stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts as well as modify the skin microcirculation dynamics.

Patients and methods: We studied 30 patients: 10 affected with psoriasis (PASI from 5 to 10), 10 affected with cardiovascular diseases and 10 healthy controls. The Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels were evaluated by radio-immunoassay procedure.

Results: A significant increase in Endothelin-1 and 2 plasma levels was observed in the psoriatic patients, in comparison with the controls.

Conclusions: Our data seem to suggest a possible relationship between psoriasis and increased plasma level of endothelin-1 and 2, though the possible role played in the pathogenesis of psoriasis needs further studies.

Sixty-six patients with psoriatic arthropathy were subdivided into nine groups on the basis of the presence of peripheral arthritis, axial disease whether or not fulfilling the New York criteria for ankylosing spondylitis both associated and not associated with peripheral arthropathy and bilateral or monolateral lateral sacro-iliitis. Only the group with axial disease sacroiliitis+spondylitis) without peripheral arthritis and not fulfilling the NY criteria showed a truly increased B27 prevalence. However, in this atypical group, only 2 patients had a true ankylosing pattern-like spondylitis. On the other hand, in the group with axial disease fulfilling the NY criteria, only one of 9 patients was B27+. We conclude that B27 is not a true marker of axial involvement in psoriatic arthropathy.

Video-microscopy is a video-imaging system which permits direct visualization of the skin surface and capillaries, by using a microscope attached to a camera, a video-recorder and a printer. This technique provides information on the morphology of capillaries in vivo and has been used both for research into normal skin microcirculation and as a clinical method to detect capillary changes in psoriasis and other skin diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology of capillaries in psoriatic plaques before and after treatment with tacalcitol, a new topical vitamin D3 analogue. Clinical evaluation was made after 3 and 6 weeks of therapy. After 3 weeks a reduction in erythema and scaling was noted; and areas in which capillaries were less tortuous became evident. After 6 weeks, capillaries were less dilated and tortuous in the whole plaque and had lost the large and tortuous appearance of active psoriasis.

The superficial portion of the stratum corneum (SC), which is always under the influence of various exogenous factors, easily develops firm and brittle skin surface changes, whenever its hydration state is reduced or whenever there is any functionally deficient area of pathological SC that is unable to retain enough water even in the usual ambient conditions. In contrast, the deeper portion of the SC, which is always well hydrated because of its structural closeness to fully water-saturated viable epidermis, does not pose any serious problems as long as the skin is normal. Based on in vivo and in vitro measurements we have established that high-frequency conductance is a non-invasive technique which measures the hydration state of the superficial portion of the SC, the crucial part determining the physical properties of the skin surface.

Skin impedance is high due to high resistance of stratum corneum and varies dramatically by the condition of measurement and circumference inside and outside the human body. This paper describes the measurement method of electrical skin impedance, model of skin impedance, and the applications of skin impedance such as skin moisturization measurement.

The aim of this study was to compare, by stratification, subgroups of hairdressers. Three groups were considered: Group I (102 persons) consisted of hairdressers reporting skin affection at the time of completing an earlier mailed questionnaire (point prevalence). Group II reported exanthema prior to completing, while group III reported not having had exanthema at all (51 and 50 persons, respectively). No significant difference was found between these groups with regard to age and duration in work. The mean number of months since start of disease was significantly higher for group I (64 (range: 0.5-552)) than group II (7 (range: 0.6-38)). The frequency of atopic dermatitis was 12.7% (C.I: 6.3-19.2) in group I, compared with 3.9% (C.I: 0.0-9.2) in group II and none in group III. This difference between groups was significant. A significantly higher extent of sick leave was found in group I, compared to group II.

Intercellular lipids of the stratum corneum are involved in permeability barrier integrity and function. In psoriasis, desquamation and permeability barrier homeostasis are modified; these observations are consistent with an alteration in stratum corneum lipid production. Therefore, in the present study, we determined and compared the total content of the three main intercellular lipids in psoriatic scales and normal human stratum corneum. Our results showed that the relative free fatty acid content decreased remarkably (46%) in psoriatic scales, compared with normal human stratum corneum. This decrease may reflect a general state of emergency of keratinocytes, in which free fatty acids can be employed.