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Biomedical subjects

G Burg

Publications and source records attributed to G Burg.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Experimentally induced chronic irritant contact dermatitis to evaluate the efficacy of protective creams in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Widely accepted in vivo models to evaluate the efficacy of protective creams (PCs) are still missing. OBJECTIVE: The effect of petrolatum's ability to protect against irritation was tested in a repetitive irritation test to optimize the concentration of irritants against which PCs are tested and to evaluate the necessary cumulative application time. METHODS: On 20 healthy volunteers, the irritants (sodium lauryl sulfate 5% vs 10%, sodium hydroxide 0.5% vs 1%, lactic acid 20% vs 30%, and toluene undiluted) were applied daily for 2 weeks on the ventral forearms after 30 minutes of pretreatment with petrolatum. The irritant cutaneous reactions were quantified by erythema score, transepidermal water loss, and chromametry. RESULTS: For petrolatum, a significant protective effect was obtained against irritation by sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and toluene in different degrees. Less efficacy was observed against lactic acid. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that a 1-week period of cumulative irritation is enough to evaluate the efficacy of PCs against most irritants, even if lower concentrations of irritants are used.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Systemic therapy of metastatic melanoma].

Therapy of metastatic melanoma still remains difficult. All therapeutic strategies have to consider the individual patient's condition and number and localisation of the metastases. Solitary metastases in lung, CNS, soft tissues and lymph nodes have to be removed by surgery. Multiple metastases are treated with a systemic chemoimmunotherpy. Promising approaches use interleukin-2, interferons, DTIC, temozolamide, vindesine and cisplatin. Radiotherapy is the treatment of first choice for bone and CNS metastases. These therapeutic strategies have improved the prognosis of metastatic melanoma. Additional multi-center trials and experimental approaches will help to reach the goal of a curative systemic therapy for metastatic melanoma.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

[Vaccination therapy of malignant melanoma].

There is no cure for advanced melanoma. Chemo- or chemo-immunotherapy may lead to tumor regression in a minority of patients. New perspectives for treatment derive from recent efforts to develop vaccination strategies for melanoma. Insights into the immunobiology of this disease combined with the characterization of tumor specific peptide epitopes as well as appreciation of the crucial role of dendritic cells for the induction of anti-tumor immunity are beginning to be translated into the every day clinical practice.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1999

Combination treatment with extracorporeal photopheresis, interferon alfa and interleukin-2 in a patient with the Sézary syndrome.

Extracorporeal photopheresis is generally accepted as standard therapy for the leukaemic and erythrodermic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the Sézary syndrome (SS). Because of the limited efficacy in some patients with SS, combination therapy is often necessary. We report a new combination therapy for an intensively treated 62-year-old woman with advanced SS (T4N1BM1, stage IVb). Previous treatment with PUVA, retinoids alone and in combination with photopheresis, chlorambucil, and chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone failed and were associated with significant side-effects. Six cycles of combination therapy with extracorporeal photopheresis, low-dose interferon alfa and interleukin-2 resulted in fading of the erythroderma and in a decrease of Sézary cells in the white blood cell count. The CD4/CD8 ratio decreased from 66 to 6 and the proportion of CD4 + CD7 - cells from 47% to 11%. Only mild side-effects such as influenza-like symptoms, fever and nausea were observed. Two months after this therapy, the patient developed enlarged lymph nodes without erythroderma, and died 1 year later from the lymphoma. Combination therapy with extracorporeal photopheresis, interferon alfa and interleukin-2 might be useful in selected patients with SS.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1999

Periarteritis nodosa presenting as a breast lesion: report of a case and review of the literature.

We describe a 34-year-old woman with periarteritis nodosa (PAN) presenting as a breast lesion. Localized involvement of the breast is an unusual manifestation of PAN. To date, 10 cases have been reported: all were in women with an age range of 45-78 years (mean 63). In most cases, breast lesions were an isolated finding, and the prognosis was favourable, setting them apart from the more common form of systemic PAN. The case presented is unusual in that vasculitis developed in the postpartum period, and was associated with cutaneous PAN-like lesions elsewhere on the body, and digital artery occlusion. The most important differential diagnoses of PAN of the breast are infectious mastitis, mammary malignancy and other forms of idiopathic vasculitides of the breast, e.g. giant cell arteritis and Wegener granulomatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Dendritic cells: role in skin diseases and therapeutic applications.

Dendritic cells have entered the centre stage of applied immunological research. Dermatologists knew for quite some time about the extraordinary capacity of these cells to induce immune responses. Recent progress in using these cells as potent adjuvant for the treatment of human cancer has inaugurated an unprecedented wave of publications about the role of these cells for the pathogenesis and treatment of various types of cancers and infectious diseases. This short review attempts to follow some of the origins of dendritic cell research with special regard to dermatology and gives a perspective on newer developments such as the use of dendritic cells to induce antigen-specific tolerance.

Cancer Vaccines↗
PubMed1999

Mutation analysis of the MEN1 tumour suppressor gene in malignant melanoma.

During the initiation and progression of malignant melanoma a series of genetic events accumulate, including alterations of chromosome 11q. Recently, an important tumour suppressor gene, the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene, has been mapped on 11q13 and has been cloned. To assess whether the MEN1 region is involved in tumour initiation and progression, we analysed 23 primary cutaneous melanomas and 17 metastases for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) using two informative polymorphic markers closely linked to the MEN1 gene (PYGM and D11S449). To search for mutations within the gene, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed using 13 primer sets with designed intronic sequences to amplify the MEN1 coding sequence exons 2 to 10. None of the cases showed LOH at the MEN1 gene locus. By SSCP analysis, no aberrant bands were identified on exons 3 to 10. Analysis of exon 2 revealed the presence of aberrant bands in two of the analysed melanomas. Sequencing analysis revealed a genetic polymorphism at S145S (AGC-->ACT) in both sections. None of the cases analysed showed MEN1 gene mutations. This study represents the first genetic analysis of the MEN1 gene in sporadic melanomas. Our data demonstrate no evidence of deletion or mutation of the MEN1 gene in primary or metastatic melanoma. Therefore, MEN1 gene alterations appear not to be associated with tumorigenesis of malignant melanoma. The MEN1 gene appears to be a highly specific tumour suppressor gene only involving tumours within the spectrum of MEN1 disease.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in familial Kaposi's sarcoma.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in various epidemiological forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Since familial KS cases are exceedingly rare and the occurrence of familial KS in siblings has thought to depend rather on genetic factors than on a viral factor, familial KS has not been investigated for the presence of HHV-8. To investigate whether HHV-8 is present also in this rare form of KS, we examined tumor biopsies of 2 siblings with familial KS for the presence of HHV-8 specific DNA sequences by a nested PCR protocol. HHV-8 DNA sequences could be detected in KS specimens of both patients. Sequence analysis revealed an identical DNA sequence of HHV-8 in KS tissue of both siblings, but the sequence in our cases differs in one base pair at position 67 from the previously published HHV-8 KS330Bam fragment. The findings indicate that besides the yet poorly defined genetical factors involved in the pathogenesis of KS, HHV-8 may act as a cofactor also in familial KS. In addition, our data demonstrate that HHV-8 is found in all epidemiological forms of KS, including the rarely occurring familial KS. Familial KS may act as a further model to study the interaction of an oncogenic virus with genetic host factors in the context of a neoplastic disorder.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Micrographic surgery ('slow Mohs') in cutaneous sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: Micrographic surgery (MS) results in very low local recurrence rates in all sorts of skin tumours that grow by extensive subclinical infiltration. Therefore, MS should prove useful in the treatment of cutaneous sarcomas. OBJECTIVE: To treat cutaneous sarcoma with MS in order to minimize local recurrence rates. METHODS: We treated 5 cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and 5 cases of cutaneous sarcomas of different origin (atypical fibroxanthoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant peripheral nerve tumour) with micrographic surgery using paraffin-embedded sections. In primary cutaneous sarcomas, tumour extensions were readily detected in HE sections. In recurrent tumours, special stains were needed to distinguish tumour extensions from scar tissue. RESULTS: All patients were treated successfully and have remained free of local recurrences as of yet. Solitary pulmonary metastasis occurred in 1 patient with high-grade malignant peripheral nerve tumour. CONCLUSION: MS is an excellent procedure to minimize local recurrence in cutaneous sarcomas. Cutaneous sarcomas with low metastatic potential can be cured with MS.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mycosis fungoides with mucinosis follicularis in childhood.

Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) usually observed in mid to late adulthood. It occurs only rarely during childhood. Follicular mucinosis is a chronic dermatosis involving the sebaceous glands and outer root sheaths. It is normally differentiated into a juvenile benign form and an adult form possibly associated with mycosis fungoides. We report a 12-year-old boy who presented with an 8-month history of erythematous mucinous plaques on the scalp. Three months later, he developed erythematous patches and plaques on his whole body, accompanied by cervical lymphadenopathy. A biopsy showed follicular mucinosis and epidermotropism of the lymphocytic infiltrate. Immunophenotyping and a PCR clonality test were consistent with CTCL. The patient received PUVA treatment and local steroids, resulting in partial remission. Mycosis fungoides should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic, scaling dermatoses in childhood. Moreover, follicular mucinosis in childhood can be associated with mycosis fungoides.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Immunomodulators in the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous lymphoma involves clonal proliferation of immunocompetent cells. Immunointerventional strategies are a rational approach to the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma given the pathophysiological aspects of the disease. OBJECTIVE: Immunomodulatory therapies in cutaneous lymphoma are reviewed, including interferons, interleukin-2, cyclosporin A, monoclonal antibodies, autologous bone marrow transplantation, fusion toxins, thymopentin and extracorporeal photopheresis as well as recently reported methods such as vaccination therapy, mycophenolate, and new retinoids. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: Cutaneous lymphoma is sensitive to immunointerventions. This approach should be used in early stages of the disease when it is more susceptible and benefits better from immunomodulatory treatment modalities.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1999

Approach to lymphoproliferative infiltrates of the skin. The difficult lesions.

Primary cutaneous lymphomas (CLs) are the second most common group of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) account for 60% to 65% of all primary CLs, whereas 20% to 25% of CLs are of B-cell origin. Besides the most common and well-known forms of CL, such as mycosis fungoides and follicular B-cell lymphomas, there are some rare and unusual variants of CL that represent about 10% of lymphoproliferative skin infiltrates. Discussed in detail are T- and B-cell pseudolymphomas as simulators of CL, the group of parapsoriasis and early mycosis fungoides, circumscribed CTCL, such as pagetoid reticulosis and syringolymphoid hyperplasia, granulomatous variants of CTCL, the group of primary CD30+ CTCL and the controversies in the classification and some rare, but distinct cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. The final diagnosis in CL is based on a constellation of clinical, histopathologic, and molecular-biologic criteria.

Humans↗