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Biomedical subjects

J O'Driscoll

Publications and source records attributed to J O'Driscoll.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Oestrogen receptor beta is the predominant oestrogen receptor in human scalp skin.

Oestrogens play a major role in non-classic target tissues in both sexes, yet there have been few studies on estrogens and skin. Recently a second oestrogen receptor (ERbeta) has been discovered. Therefore, we have compared the expression of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), beta (ERbeta), the androgen receptor (AR) and a cell proliferation marker in male and female non-balding scalp skin. ERbeta was the major steroid receptor expressed in human skin. It was highly expressed in epidermis, blood vessels and dermal fibroblasts, in contrast to ERalpha and AR. In the hair follicle, ERbeta expression was localized to nuclei of outer root sheath, epithelial matrix and dermal papilla cells, in contrast to ERalpha, and the AR, which was only expressed in dermal papilla cells. Serial sections also showed strong nuclear expression of ERbeta in the cells of the bulge, while neither ERalpha nor AR was expressed. In the sebaceous gland, ERbeta was expressed in both basal and partially differentiated sebocytes. ERalpha exhibited a similar pattern of expression, while the AR was expressed in the basal and very early differentiated sebocytes. There was no obvious difference in the expression of either oestrogen receptor in male or female skin. The wide distribution of ERbeta in human skin suggests that oestrogens may play an important role in the maintenance of skin and in the regulation of the pilosebaceous unit, and provides further evidence for oestrogen action in non-classic target tissues. The differential expression of ERalpha, ERbeta and AR in human skin suggests that the mechanisms by which steroid hormones mediate their effects may be more complex than previously thought.

Aged↗

The effects of concurrent atorvastatin therapy on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous midazolam.

Midazolam is a commonly used anaesthetic agent and is metabolised by the 3A4 isoform of the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. Atorvastatin is also metabolised by cytochrome P450 3A4 and, in vitro, atorvastatin inhibits the cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated metabolism of mexazolam. We hypothesised that concurrent administration of atorvastatin and midazolam would result in altered midazolam pharmacokinetics. Fourteen patients scheduled to undergo general anaesthesia for elective surgery were recruited in a matched pair design to receive intravenous midazolam (0.15 mg.kg-1). Of these patients, seven were taking long-term atorvastatin. Atorvastatin patients demonstrated a greater area under the curve (889.4 (standard deviation 388.6) ng-h.ml-1) vs. control patients (629.1 (standard deviation 197.2) ng-h.ml-1) (p < 0.05). Patients taking atorvastatin also demonstrated a decreased clearance (0.18 (standard deviation 0.08) l-kg. h-1) vs. control patients (0.27 (standard deviation 0.08) l-kg.h-1) (p < 0.05). This study suggests that chronically administered atorvastatin decreases the clearance of intravenously administered midazolam.

Aged↗

A recurrent mutation in the loricrin gene underlies the ichthyotic variant of Vohwinkel syndrome.

Vohwinkel syndrome (VS) is a family of genodermatoses which exhibits extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Here, we studied a pedigree originating from the UK with typical features of the ichthyotic variant of VS and identified a recurrent insertion mutation in the loricrin gene resulting in a mutant polypeptide with an unusual C terminus. Functional studies in transgenic mice have shown that the accumulation of mutant loricrin in the nucleus appears to interfere with the later stages of epidermal differentiation, thereby explaining the clinical manifestations of ichthyosis, keratoderma and pseudoainhum. Our findings extend the body of evidence implicating mutations in the loricrin gene as the underlying cause of VS.

Female↗

Bowlers' grip.

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Dermatitis, Allergic Contact↗

Modulation of abnormalities in renal haemodynamics and vasoactive mediators by nifedipine in patients with psoriasis on low-dose cyclosporin.

Ten patients with psoriasis received a 3-month course of cyclosporin (2.5 mg/kg/day) followed by a 3-month washout period, before commencing a 3-month course of cyclosporin and nifedipine SR 20 mg b.d. Serial haemodynamic and biochemical measurements were performed before, during, and after treatment. Total renal blood flow (RBF) was measured following an intravenous injection of [99mTc]-DTPA based on a renographic analysis of the first-pass effect in the kidneys, and GFR was estimated from the subsequent clearance of this radiotracer. A significant individual change in RBF or GFR was taken as 25% and 20% respectively. Simultaneous assays of the circulating vasoactive mediators renin, aldosterone, angiotensin II, and atrial natriuretic peptide were performed. Two patients withdrew from the study because they could not tolerate nifedipine, leaving eight for complete analysis. The significant reductions in RBF and GFR which occurred on cyclosporin alone (P < 0.05; ANOVA) did not occur with added nifedipine. Four months after this second course, RBF and GFR had recovered. The response to nifedipine was, however, variable and unpredictable. Of the four patients to show a significant decline in GFR on cyclosporin alone, only two showed a significant improvement on the combined therapy. Of the six patients who showed a significant decline in RBF on cyclosporin alone, only four showed benefit from the added nifedipine. Nifedipine suppresses the increase in blood pressure which occurred on cyclosporin alone. The circulating concentration of angiotensin II was significantly less on cyclosporin and nifedipine than on cyclosporin alone (P < 0.05; Student's t test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Salmonella osteomyelitis in aplastic anaemia after antilymphocytic globulin and steroid treatment.

A 22 year-old patient with severe aplastic anaemia responded to antilymphocytic globulin but developed recurrent fever despite treatment with steroids and then antibacterial, antifungal, and antituberculous drugs. There was progression, with severe joint pains and immobility associated with radiological evidence of a symmetrical destructive process. A bone marrow specimen showed no evidence of malignancy, and cultures of blood, urine, and stool were negative but enriched broth cultures of an open biopsy specimen of the humeral head grew Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4. Treatment with ciprofloxacin resulted in considerable symptomatic improvement: a total of 12 months of treatment is planned. Salmonella osteomyelitis, particularly with this unusual pattern of disease, has not previously been described in aplastic anaemia.

Adult↗

Human amnion in the management of chronic ulceration of the lower limb: a clinico-pathologic study.

This study shows that unmodified human amnion can make a useful contribution to the management of venous ulceration. By suppressing infection, and, by providing a healthy granulating surface, it significantly reduces the pre-skin graft preparation time, when compared with a conventional method of treatment. However, it does not seem to significantly influence the prospects of graft take, or of long term graft survival, in this comparison. A reversion towards normal of local vasculature, as characterized by vessel wall thinning and widening of the lumen, appears to be a significant tissue change induced by amnion treatment. Such a change may have considerable relevance in any analysis of the basis of the therapeutic efficacy of amnion.

Aged↗