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Biomedical subjects

O P Salo

Publications and source records attributed to O P Salo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Suction blister fluid histamine in fixed drug eruption.

The histamine concentration was measured from suction blister fluid obtained from normal and lesional skin of 8 patients with fixed drug eruption (FDE) caused by phenazone salicylate and from that of 2 healthy control subjects. In blister fluid samples obtained before peroral challenge with phenazone salicylate, the histamine concentrations were below 5 nmol/l both in uninvolved skin and in sites of previous FDE lesion (sample 0). After challenge, samples were taken from the incipient reaction that was visible after an average of 155 min. Histamine levels were significantly elevated in the blister fluid of 2 out of 8 FDE lesions (200 and 640 nmol/l) but in none of the uninvolved skin (sample 1). Two hours later (sample 2) the histamine levels were elevated in both uninvolved (mean 51.4 nmol/l) and lesional skin (mean 168 nmol/l). After 24 h (sample 3) the corresponding mean value was 25.4 nmol/l for uninvolved skin and 108 nmol/l for lesional skin. The histamine values in the blister fluid from FDE lesions in samples 2 and 3 were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) than those in the control blisters of uninvolved skin. An elevation of histamine levels comparable to that in the uninvolved skin of FDE patients was seen in the 2 healthy control subjects studied. The present study provides direct evidence of early release of histamine from mast cells or basophils in FDE and suggests that histamine is one of the mediators of clinical symptoms of FDE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A simplified Boyden chamber assay for neutrophil chemotaxis based on quantitation of myeloperoxidase.

Cell locomotion and chemotaxis are usually assayed by the Boyden chamber technique, in which the response is measured by microscopical counting of the cells migrated into a micropore filter. We report a simplified Boyden chamber method which utilizes myeloperoxidase (MPO) specific to neutrophilic and monocytic leukocytes. The chamber is incubated for a period long enough for the neutrophils to migrate through the first of two superimposed filters. The cells entering the second filter are then lysed and the released MPO activity is quantitated. Random migration, chemokinesis, and chemotaxis measurements of neutrophils were compared by the enzymatic and the conventional cell count methods. There was good agreement between the two methods (0.84 less than r less than 0.98). The intraassay precision of the enzymatic and the cell count methods was equal; the coefficients of variation were 14 and 15%, respectively. The enzymatic method provides a more objective, reliable, and rapid modification of the Boyden chamber assay for analysis of neutrophil chemotaxis.

Caseins↗
PubMed1990

Immunotherapy of tree pollen allergy with a modified alginate conjugated birch pollen extract compared to an aluminium adsorbed extract.

The safety and efficacy of two birch pollen extracts, one chemically conjugated to alginate (Anjuvac) the other adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide (Alutard), were investigated in an open multicentre comparative study of 63 birch pollen allergic patients. Both extracts decreased the nasal symptoms during the birch pollen season. The changes in specific IgE and IgG were much the same in both treatment groups. The adverse reactions recorded were mild in both groups, but more frequent in the Anjuvac group, probably because of a more aggressive dose schedule though there were twice as many asthmatics in the Anjuvac group. The two investigated allergen extracts were useful alternatives for immunotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

DNA skin tests in patients with definite or suspected systemic lupus erythematosus and in dermatological control patients. A long-term follow-up study.

This study presents a long-term clinical and immunological follow-up of 62 patients during 1971 and 1973, tested intradermally with DNA derived from calf thymus. The DNA skin test is positive in almost all clear-cut cases of SLE. In addition, the DNA skin test was positive in 16 patients, but the criteria for SLE were not met at the time of testing. During the follow-up, 7 out of these 16 patients developed definite SLE, 2 developed subacute cutaneous LE and 3 developed ANA-negative SLE. This suggests that a positive DNA skin test may precede the development of SLE or some of its subtypes. All our SLE patients with skin test reactivity presented cutaneous disease manifestations suggesting that similar pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved in DNA tests and natural SLE skin lesions. Because the positive DNA skin test showed correlation with ANA, anti-DNA antibodies, cryoglobulins, lupus anticoagulant and depressed C3 and C4 values, humoral factors may be partly responsible. However, DNA skin test reactivity was also positive in ANA-negative SLE, suggesting that other mechanisms may also be involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Patch test reactions to inhalant allergens in atopic dermatitis.

To study whether inhalant allergens could induce eczematous reactions on normal skin of atopic patients we applied birch pollen and house dust mite antigens at 500 times the concentration used for prick testing as epicutaneous tests. Six out of 17 patients with atopic dermatitis in remission had positive delayed type reactions to birch pollen and three to house dust mite. Only one out of 13 atopic patients without history of atopic dermatitis but with seasonal allergic rhinitis had a positive patch test reaction to birch pollen and no patient had positive test reactions to house dust mite. No positive patch test reactions to birch pollen or house dust mite were seen in the ten healthy control subjects. In patients with positive test reactions biopsies from the test sites revealed epidermal spongiosis and vesiculation. Immunostaining of the epidermis revealed keratinocytes displaying both CD1 and HLA-DR. The present study suggests that inhalant allergens can exacerbate atopic dermatitis.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of acrivastine versus hydroxyzine and placebo in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.

A total of 21 patients with a diagnosis of chronic idiopathic urticaria were assessed in a fully randomized, double-blind, crossover study to investigate the efficacy of 8 mg acrivastine versus 20 mg hydroxyzine and placebo administered three times daily. Both acrivastine and hydroxyzine were found to be effective, and significantly better than placebo, in controlling signs and symptoms of urticaria. No significant differences were found between the active preparations. Hydroxyzine was associated with significantly more reports of drowsiness than was placebo.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Efficacy and tolerability of erythromycin acistrate and erythromycin stearate in acute skin infections of patients with atopic eczema.

The efficacy and tolerability of a new erythromycin derivative, erythromycin acistrate (EA), were compared with that of erythromycin stearate (ES) in 42 patients with infected atopic eczema. The dosage of EA was 400 mg tid and that of ES 500 mg tid. The duration of treatment ranged from five to 12 days. The patients were hospitalized and evaluated before treatment and on the last day in hospital. The infective pathogen was usually Staphylococcus aureus in both groups. Without local antibacterial treatment both drugs eradicated the bacteria in more than 60% of the cases. Gastrointestinal side effects were frequently reported with both drugs, more often in the ES- than in the EA-group, but the difference was only statistically significant (p less than 0.05) with respect to diarrhoea. One patient in each group discontinued treatment because of gastrointestinal side effects. No elevations in liver enzymes of clinical significance were reported in either group.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1988

Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone during and after the acute phase of dermatitis in children.

Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone was measured by a four-hour absorption test in 16 children during and after the acute phase of dermatitis. In the acute phase, after the application of 1% hydrocortisone cream the increment in plasma cortisol ranged from 47 to 961 nmol per liter (median 248 nmol/L). After the acute phase the increment was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower: range 18 to 241 nmol per liter (median 95 nmol/L). In addition to local effect, topical hydrocortisone therapy of childhood dermatitis is accompanied by a systemic effect that may be pronounced in the acute phase of disease. Convalescence is connected with a diminished systemic effect due to the restoration of the skin barrier to hydrocortisone.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone during exacerbation and remission of atopic dermatitis in adults.

Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone was studied in 18 young adults during and after the acute phase of atopic dermatitis using the direct hydrocortisone absorption test. In the acute phase the post-application increase in serum cortisol concentration ranged between 18 and 711 nmol/l (median 125 nmol/l). In remission the increase in serum cortisol ranged between 0 and 114 nmol/l (median 16 nmol/l), which was significantly lower than the rise in the acute phase. In the acute phase of dermatitis, topical hydrocortisone treatment has both a local and a systemic effect, due to percutaneous absorption.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Safe immunization of allergic children against measles, mumps, and rubella.

A series of 135 subjects (134 children and one adult) with documented or suspected systemic allergy were prick-tested before a measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination. Atopic eczema was documented in 68, asthma in 47, and cow's-milk allergy in 11 examinees; eight children were evaluated because of severe systemic reactions following diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, measles, or inactivated polio (Salk) vaccinations. In one child, there was only a suspicion of general allergy. The undiluted MMR prick test gave negative reactions in 126 cases (93%). The highest rate of nonreactivity was observed in those with atopic eczema (96%) and in children with asthma (91%) or cow's-milk allergy (82%). All examinees with systemic reactions after other vaccinations also had negative prick-test reactions. A total of 122 (95%) of the 129 examinees were eventually vaccinated with MMR. No untoward reactions developed, except mild generalized urticaria or fever in two vaccinees. We conclude that at least 95% of children with common forms of systemic allergy can be vaccinated safely with MMR and, in general, that allergic diseases should not interfere with execution of the vaccination programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Eczematous reactions in atopic patients caused by epicutaneous testing with inhalant allergens.

To determine whether inhalant allergens could induce eczematous lesions we studied 17 patients with atopic eczema (with or without allergic rhinitis), 13 patients with allergic rhinitis without atopic eczema and 10 healthy control subjects. The allergens, birch pollen (Betula verrucosa) and house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus), were applied in aluminium chambers for 48 h on clinically normal skin. In 17 patients with atopic eczema, six epicutaneous test reactions of the delayed type to birch pollen and three to house dust mite were seen at 48 or 72 h. In 13 patients with allergic rhinitis without eczema there was one delayed reaction to birch pollen and none to house dust mite. No delayed type test reactions to either allergen were seen in the controls. Biopsies of the positive test sites revealed an eczematous reaction with epidermal spongiosis and microvesiculation. Immunostaining of cryostat sections showed dermal cell infiltrates consisting of mainly T lymphocytes (ratio of T4:T8, 2-6:I) and to a lesser degree Langerhans and indeterminate T6+ cells. 50-90% of the cells were Ia+. The numbers of basophils and mast cells did not exceed 10-15%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Effect of percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone on adrenocortical responsiveness in infants with severe skin disease.

Percutaneous absorption of hydrocortisone was studied in 18 children (aged from 6 weeks to 14 1/2 years) with atopic or seborrhoeic dermatitis, by measuring their serum cortisol before and after application of 1% hydrocortisone cream. Endogenous secretion of cortisol was suppressed with dexamethasone. A 24 h absorption test was performed on nine children. In six, percutaneous absorption was detected. The highest serum cortisol level was reached within the first 6 h. A 4 h absorption test was developed on the basis of the 24 h test. This short absorption test was performed on nine children, and in eight of them absorption of hydrocortisone was detected. The rise of serum cortisol ranged from 98 to 2669 nmol/l. The 2 h ACTH test was performed to evaluate the effect of previous treatment with topical glucocorticoids. Suppressed adrenocortical function was found in five of 13 children, and was associated significantly with high post-application serum cortisol levels. This occurred more often in infants with a severe skin disorder than in older children or in those with mild or moderate skin disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Cimetidine increases the plasma concentration of hydroxyzine.

The combination of hydroxyzine and cimetidine is reported to be more effective than hydroxyzine alone in chronic urticaria. The plasma concentration of hydroxyzine was studied in seven patients treated both with the hydroxyzine 25 mg t.i.d. and the combinations of hydroxyzine 25 mg and cimetidine 200 mg t.i.d. Hydroxyzine plasma concentrations were definitely higher during the combination treatment than during hydroxyzine alone. This may explain the effectiveness of the combination treatment.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1986

Milk causes a rapid urticarial reaction on the skin of children with atopic dermatitis and milk allergy.

Open skin challenge test with whole milk and its large and small molecular fractions was performed on intact skin of children with atopic dermatitis and suspicion of milk allergy. Of the 51 children challenged with milk 35 reacted within minutes with contact urticaria. The large molecular (m.w. greater than 10,000 d) fraction gave an urticarial reaction as often as whole milk, whereas the small molecular fraction gave only a few positive reactions. These were obviously caused by alpha-lactalbumin which was present only in small amounts in the small molecular fraction. These findings indicate that immediate contact allergy to relevant food allergens can be very common in children with atopic dermatitis and that the large molecular antigens readily penetrate children's skin.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Clinical and light- and electron-microscopic observations during etretinate therapy.

Three patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) were treated with etretinate for 9-13 months. The patients had lesions characteristic of EV, including flat warts, common genital warts, pityriasis-versicolor-like lesions and malignant changes such as actinic keratosis and Bowenoid cancer in situ. During etretinate treatment, some flattening of the warts was observed in all three patients, and the lesions on the chest and back became less red and scaling. However, none of the lesions disappeared completely, and when the treatment was discontinued, the lesions relapsed. No malignant changes were detected during the period of therapy. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of typical large, clear cells containing viral particles in the upper epidermis. Etretinate therapy induced the same type of fine-structural changes as those seen in keratinization disorders and genodermatoses. The clear cells and virus particles persisted throughout the treatment period. More long-term, controlled studies are necessary to make possible an estimate of the curative and cancer-inhibitory effect of etretinate treatment in patients with EV.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Tear histamine during allergic conjunctivitis challenge.

Tear histamine was measured in 14 patients with allergic conjunctivitis during a challenge test performed at a symptom-free point in time. The allergen challenge caused a rapid increase in the amount of tear histamine in only two-thirds of the patients, but there was a clinical reaction in all. The increase in the tear histamine content occurred in both the challenged and contralateral non-challenged eye, and the increase was also equally high in both. It is probable that the histamine release in the challenged eye takes place in the conjunctiva, whereas in the contralateral eye it is possibly induced by some sympathetic mechanism in the lacrimal gland.

Adolescent↗