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Biomedical subjects

C N Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to C N Ellis.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

A psychocutaneous profile of psoriasis patients who are stress reactors. A study of 127 patients.

Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, cutaneous condition with a 1%-2% prevalence in the general population. About 40% of psoriatics report that psychosocial stress significantly exacerbates their condition. However, the clinical characteristics of the subgroup of psoriatic patients who are stress reactors have not been delineated. At a practical clinical level it is therefore difficult to implement specific psychosocial treatments among the psoriatic population. In this study, we compared the psychocutaneous characteristics of patients who reported that stress exacerbated their psoriasis, i.e., the high stress reactors (N = 64) to the subgroup who reported no significant association between stress and their psoriasis, i.e., the low stress reactors (N = 63). The high stress reactors had more disfiguring disease clinically (p less than 0.02); psychologically they tended to rely more upon the approval of others (p less than 0.05) and experienced more psoriasis-related daily stress (p less than 0.005). The high stress reactors also reported more flare-ups of their psoriasis during the 6 months prior to admission (p less than 0.05). We have shown that the high stress reactors can be clinically delineated from the low stress reactors. Certain psychosocial interventions will most likely decrease the morbidity associated with psoriasis among the high stress reactors, and may possibly even result in a decline in the number of major flare-ups of the psoriasis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Sulfasalazine: a potential psoriasis therapy?

In an open study, 32 patients with moderate to severe stable plaque psoriasis were treated with sulfasalazine, 3 gm daily for 8 weeks. Twenty-four patients completed the study, and 19 had modest to marked improvement or clearing. If confirmed by a double-blind study, sulfasalazine could become an alternative therapy in some patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Side-effect profile of acitretin therapy in psoriasis.

Acitretin, the principal and free acid metabolite of etretinate, was used to treat patients with stable, plaque-type psoriasis. For the first 8 weeks, 38 patients received placebo or acitretin, 10, 25, 50, or 75 mg daily, in a double-blind manner. After the double-blind phase, the patients were allowed to continue for a total of 6 months of acitretin therapy at an average dosage of 50 mg/day. When the patients flared after stopping therapy, an additional 6-month course of acitretin therapy was offered. Acitretin, which was as effective as etretinate, had to be given at a dosage of 50 mg/day or more to obtain a significant benefit. Side effects frequently occurred in patients receiving acitretin, 25 mg/day or more, but were generally mild and did not warrant discontinuation of therapy. They were similar to those of etretinate therapy; cheilitis, peeling of palms and soles, and alopecia occurred most frequently. The most common abnormal laboratory test results were elevations in serum triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, serum cholesterol and liver transaminase levels. Acitretin, in view of its much shorter half-life and similar efficacy and side-effect profile compared with etretinate, may be a preferable therapy for psoriasis, especially in women of childbearing age.

Acitretin↗
PubMed1989

Pruritus associated with nocturnal wakenings: organic or psychogenic?

Pruritus that interferes with sleep is generally diagnosed as having an organic rather than a psychogenic basis. We compared the dermatologic and psychosocial parameters of 79 inpatients with psoriasis with moderate to severe pururitus with (W group; n = 46) and without (NW group; n = 33) wakenings from sleep in association with pruritus. At the time of the patients' admission, compared with the NW group the W group had more severe depressive psychopathologic features (p less than 0.05); were possibly alcoholic, according to behavioral criteria for alcoholism (p less than 0.005); reported a higher daily alcohol consumption (p less than 0.05); and had symptoms suggestive of periodic movements in sleep, or nocturnal myoclonus (p less than 0.05), a sleep physiologic disorder. The two groups did not differ with respect to pruritus severity or other dermatologic parameters at the time of admission or during inpatient treatment. Contrary to the generally accepted criterion for the organicity of pruritus, psychiatric and possibly sleep pathologic factors rather than primary dermatologic factors determined the wakenings from sleep as a result of pruritus.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1989

Topical tretinoin therapy: its use in photoaged skin.

Tretinoin cream has been used extensively to reverse the changes of photoaging. It is the first topical therapy to undergo controlled clinical testing and proved to be efficacious. These results have been substantiated with photography, histopathologic examination, and skin surface replicas. The mechanism of action of retinoic acid is unknown, but it may bind to a specific receptor that alters the gene expression of the cell. Therapy is most successful when a liberal amount of tretinoin 0.1% cream is applied to the skin daily. Tretinoin cream has an excellent safety record; a local cutaneous hypervitaminosis A reaction is the only common problem.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1989

Mucocutaneous complications of intraarterial 5-bromodeoxyuridine and radiation.

5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR), a halopyrimidine thymidine analogue, is incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells and causes photoradiosensitization. Twenty-five patients with malignant astrocytomas were treated with continuous intracarotid BUDR radiosensitization and radiotherapy for 8 1/2 weeks. Unique dose-limiting mucocutaneous complications were encountered. Ipsilateral facial dermatitis with epilation of eyebrows and eyelashes, ocular irritation, and bilateral nail dystrophy developed in all patients. Less common reactions included oral ulceration in six patients, body exanthem on the trunk in five, and atypical erythema multiforme major in one.

Alopecia↗
PubMed1989

Cyclosporine in dermatology.

Cyclosporine is a potent immunosuppressive agent with no appreciable effect on the bone marrow and a selective inhibitory effect on helper T cells. Oral cyclosporine was first used to prevent organ rejection but also has been reported to be effective in other disorders. In cutaneous diseases that respond to oral cyclosporine helper T cells appear to be involved in their pathogenesis. This article reviews the cutaneous diseases that have been treated with cyclosporine and its pharmacology and side effects. Two significant adverse side effects are renal dysfunction and hypertension, both of which are reversible when short-term low-dose (less than 5 mg/kg per day) oral cyclosporine is discontinued. Lymphoma is unlikely in an otherwise healthy patient who has received low-dose oral cyclosporine for limited periods. The use of oral cyclosporine in any patient should be carefully considered in terms of the risk/benefit ratio and needs to be carried out under close medical supervision. In view of the limited experience with cyclosporine in dermatology, whenever possible its use should be confined to formal clinical studies with established protocols and guidelines. Further controlled studies need to be performed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose cyclosporine in many dermatoses and its side-effect profile, particularly over the long term.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Malignant dermal cylindroma in a patient with multiple dermal cylindromas, trichoepitheliomas, and bilateral dermal analogue tumors of the parotid gland.

A malignant dermal cylindroma of the scalp arose from one of multiple long-standing dermal cylindromas in a 76-year-old man with coexisting trichoepitheliomas and bilateral dermal analogue tumors of the parotid gland. The histologic transition from a benign dermal cylindroma to an anaplastic keratinocytic neoplasm was readily apparent. The malignant dermal cylindroma is a rare neoplasm. To our knowledge, the constellation of benign and malignant dermal cylindromas, multiple trichoepitheliomas, and salivary gland neoplasms has not been previously reported.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

Psoriatic epidermal cells demonstrate increased numbers and function of non-Langerhans antigen-presenting cells.

The recent findings that the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CsA) improves psoriasis raises the possibility that cellular immune processes play a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We therefore investigated the phenotype and function of cells within psoriatic epidermis that can play a role in cellular immunologic reactivity. Double fluorescence microscopic studies with monoclonal antibodies of epidermal cells in suspension (EC) and of histologic sections demonstrated that involved psoriatic skin contained a significantly increased number of non-Langerhans cell T6-DR+ EC (4.9 + 2.1%) relative to uninvolved (0.3 +/- 0.1%), p less than 0.01. This non-Langerhans cell population was comprised of DR+ monocytes, DR+ activated T lymphocytes, a few DR+RFD1+ antigen-presenting cells (APC), and DR+ keratinocytes. Langerhans cell (LC) levels in EC suspension were not different between involved and uninvolved psoriatic epidermis. Functional studies demonstrated that involved psoriatic epidermal cells had an increased capacity to induce T-cell activation and proliferation relative to uninvolved EC (p less than 0.04). This increased APC activity was due to the non-LC T6-DR+HLe1+ APC population and not to DR+ keratinocytes. These results demonstrate that involved psoriatic epidermal cells contain both an increased number and function of antigen-presenting cells. The pathogenetic mechanisms in psoriasis may be related to ongoing cellular immune responses in the skin, and the effect of CsA may be mediated through a suppressive effect on the enhanced antigen-presenting cell activity.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1989

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of fish oil and low-dose UVB in the treatment of psoriasis.

Since eicosanoids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, less potent eicosanoid mediators derived from fish oil might improve psoriasis. Using a double-blind, randomized, parallel design, 18 patients with stable, plaque psoriasis received capsules of either fish oil or identical-appearing placebo olive oil for 15 weeks, with concomitant sub-erythemal UVB in weeks 3 to 11. At the conclusion of phototherapy, and 4 weeks later, patients in the fish oil group had a greater decrease in the total body surface area of psoriasis and more improvement compared to patients in the olive oil group. The improvement in the fish oil group was statistically significantly greater for all parameters compared to the change in the olive oil group. The apparent safety and general health-promoting features of fish oil could provide an ideal adjunctive therapy for psoriasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A morphometric and histologic study of the scalp in psoriasis. Paradoxical sebaceous gland atrophy and decreased hair shaft diameters without alopecia.

A histologic study was designed to evaluate the pilosebaceous unit of the scalp in nonpustular patch- and plaque-stage psoriasis. Punch biopsy specimens from involved and uninvolved areas of 28 patients were sectioned in a horizontal plane for qualitative and quantitative study. All samples were evaluated in a blind mode, and data were analyzed for statistical significance. There was no evidence for alopecia of any type. Sebaceous gland atrophy was a frequent concomitant in the psoriatic lesion, with probable down-sizing of the hair follicle and thinner hair shafts. Paradoxical sebaceous gland atrophy and down-sized hair follicles in psoriasis may be due to possible inhibiting effects of yet unidentified factors produced by the epidermal lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Cyclosporine in lamellar ichthyosis.

In an open trial, five patients with lamellar ichthyosis showed no response to four weeks of treatment with oral cyclosporine (cyclosporine A) (6 mg/kg/d). Histologic examination of lamellar ichthyosis revealed hyperkeratosis; psoriasiform acanthosis; dilated, tortuous capillaries; and a slight perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Immunofluorescence studies revealed, in the epidermis, normal numbers of T6+DR+ Langerhans' cells and an absence of T cells and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. In the papillary dermis, there were prominent capillaries as detected by staining with anti-factor VIII-related antigen. The endothelial cells also expressed large amounts of HLA-DR and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, suggesting that they were activated. Only occasional Langerhans' cells were found in the dermis. Histologic and immunofluorescence findings were unchanged with cyclosporine therapy. The effects of cyclosporine on lamellar ichthyosis are contrasted with those reported for psoriasis. Since lamellar ichthyosis and psoriasis share similar features of epidermal hyperproliferation and the presence of activated, dilated, tortuous vessels, but differ in the lack of immunologic cellular activity, their contrasting response to cyclosporine suggests that the target of the action of cyclosporine is the immune system rather than the keratinocyte or the endothelium. However, other factors may have to be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Therapy of dermatologic disease with cyclosporin A.

Cyclosporin A is a potent immunosuppressive drug with almost a decade of clinical use. Due to its lack of bone marrow toxicity, it has assumed a leading role in organ transplant surgery. Likewise, it has shown remarkable efficacy in psoriasis and has shown potential usefulness in other dermatologic diseases, most of which are thought to have an autoimmune T-cell-mediated pathogenesis. There are many other inflammatory skin conditions in which T lymphocytes represent a majority of the cellular infiltrates, and theoretically such disorders may be responsive to CsA. Diseases such as lichen planus, allergic contact dermatitis, photoallergy, and vitiligo are potential areas of further study. The potential use of topical and intralesional CsA also warrants further clinical evaluation. There are reports of topical CsA showing effectiveness for alopecia areata and nickel contact sensitivity. Griffiths et al. treated six psoriatic patients with 2% CsA ointment twice daily for 4 weeks. The response to placebo or CsA at the end of the study was similar in all patients. Notably, there was no measured systemic absorption and no change in blood pressure or renal function. We had similar unimpressive results in several patients treated with a 10% solution of CsA; minimal to no response was seen. Of great benefit would be an effective topical preparation without systemic absorption or toxicity. Future studies will need to carefully evaluate the vehicle used and the strength of topical CsA employed. The role of CsA in dermatologic disease still needs much investigation, both at the clinical and basic science levels. The studies to date show dramatic and exciting results. Indeed, CsA may well represent a major advance in the understanding and treatment of psoriasis. However, the decision to use CsA for nonfatal diseases such as psoriasis will require a careful balance between efficacy and toxicity. If long-term side effects can be avoided or kept within reasonably safe, acceptable limits, CsA holds great promise for the treatment of psoriasis. It may at times be used as an acute intervention, with a relatively large, initial dose for a short period of time to quickly clear severe psoriasis. This could be followed by either a reduction to a lower and safer maintenance dose or a program of other treatments. Cyclosporin A may also prove useful alone in very low doses or in combination therapy, as with UVB or PUVA. Optimal dosing protocols are currently under investigation.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1989

Topical tretinoin and photoaged skin.

Topical tretinoin has been proposed for the treatment of photoaged skin in recent years. In both open and double-blind trials, it has been successful in reversing some of the histologically and clinically apparent changes of photoaging. Many patients will experience a dermatitis due to retinoids during therapy, but are usually able to tolerate the treatment. Although clinical improvement may be modest, most patients are pleased with the result. We have found that optimal improvement is achieved by using tretinoin 0.1 percent cream to the limit of tolerance. By carefully instructing the patient on the application of the medication, the occurrence of initial dermatitis with therapy, and the type of improvement to expect, compliance with and tolerance of tretinoin therapy are greatly enhanced.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1989

The content of tumor DNA as an indicator of prognosis in patients with T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 carcinoma of the breast.

To determine if the flow cytometric measurement of the content of the tumor DNA could provide prognostic information in T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 carcinoma of the breast, we isolated nuclei from paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 128 consecutive patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy and were found to have a T1 or T2N0M0 carcinoma of the breast. The content of DNA of the nuclei was determined by flow cytometry. Although the average tumor size was not significantly different, 17 of 56 patients with aneuploid tumors died of cancer compared with 2 of 72 with euploid tumors. The 10-year overall actuarial survival rate of the euploid and aneuploid groups was 72% and 67%, respectively (p less than 0.02). A hazards model of the data shows that the DNA content of the tumor is the most significant indicator of prognosis, with a 2.25-fold increased risk of death for patients with aneuploid tumors. These data show that the tumor DNA content can be used to identify a group of patients with T1 or T2N0M0 carcinoma of the breast with the same prognosis as a group of patients without carcinoma of the breast that would be unlikely to benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗