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Biomedical subjects

R J Chalmers

Publications and source records attributed to R J Chalmers.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Abnormalities of serum type III procollagen aminoterminal peptide in methotrexate-treated psoriatic patients with normal liver histology do not correlate with hepatic ultrastructural changes.

In a previous study, it was shown that the serum levels of type III procollagen aminoterminal peptide (P3NP) were significantly greater in patients receiving methotrexate (MTX) treatment for psoriasis than in untreated control patients with psoriasis. Although levels were highest in patients with hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, serum P3NP concentrations in those patients with normal liver histology on light microscopy were also shown to be significantly higher than in controls. In the present study, liver biopsies from 22 such 'normal' patients were examined by electron microscopy, in order to determine whether P3NP levels correlated with ultrastructurally demonstrable fibrosis. Fibrosis in the perisinusoidal space of Disse was present in as many as 82% of biopsies. Although the prevalence of such fibrosis in psoriasis patients who have not received MTX is unknown, the high prevalence of Disse space fibrosis and of raised P3NP in MTX-treated patients suggests that MTX causes subtle liver damage in a majority of treated patients. However, we were unable to show a statistical correlation between P3NP and the degree of Disse space fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A quantitative immunohistochemical study of the expression of integrins by nerves in psoriatic and normal skin.

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of integrin expression by dermal nerves was made by an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method on snap-frozen biopsies from affected psoriatic skin, and skin from normal control subjects with no history of skin disease. Nerves expressed alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1 and beta 4 integrin subunits, and perineural sheaths in the mid-dermis also expressed these subunits, with the exception of alpha 2. There were more upper dermal nerve segments expressing alpha 1 integrin compared with other integrins both in controls and in psoriatic skin. The greater number of nerves expressing alpha 1 integrin compared with other integrins may be due to anatomical or functional differences between groups of nerves. There were significantly more nerves expressing alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6 and beta 4 integrins in psoriatic skin compared with control skin. This generalized increase may indicate a secondary trophic effect on all nerves rather than a specific increase in one type of nerve. However, the expression of alpha 2 integrin may be significant in the pathogenesis of the psoriatic plaque, in that it was barely detectable in the normal site-matched biopsies, but much greater in psoriatic plaques. The study of the expression of adhesion molecules by neurones in psoriasis offers a new avenue for investigation of the role of neuronal hypertrophy in the initiation and maintenance of psoriatic plaques.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The role of streptococcal infection in the initiation of guttate psoriasis.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: Although the association between streptococcal infection and guttate psoriasis is well known, to date there has been little information on whether only limited groups and/or serotypes of beta-hemolytic streptococci are involved. One hundred eleven patients with a sudden onset or deterioration of psoriasis were investigated for evidence of streptococcal infection. Of these patients, 34 had acute guttate psoriasis, 30 had a guttate flare of chronic psoriasis, 37 had chronic plaque psoriasis, and 10 had other types of psoriasis. RESULTS: Serologic evidence of recent streptococcal infection was present in 19 (58%) of 33 patients with acute guttate psoriasis compared with seven (26%) of 27 patients with guttate exacerbations of chronic psoriasis. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from 19 (17%) of all 111 patients (9 [26%] of 34 with acute guttate psoriasis, four [13%] of 30 with guttate exacerbations of chronic psoriasis, and five [14%] of 37 patients with chronic psoriasis) compared with seven (7%) of 101 of a control population of patients being seen for treatment of viral warts. Other beta-hemolytic streptococci were found with equal frequency in the study and control populations. Thirteen isolates of 10 different streptococcal serotypes were obtained from the 64 patients with guttate psoriasis. These serotypes were similar in distribution and prevalence to those present in the local community. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the strong association between prior infection with S pyogenes and guttate psoriasis but suggests that the ability to trigger guttate psoriasis is not serotype specific.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Chylous reflux into abdominal skin simulating lymphangioma circumscriptum in a patient with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia.

A 47-year-old man with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia developed chylous reflux into the skin of the right flank. The clinical appearance resembled lymphangioma circumscriptum with multiple dome-shaped vesicles filled with milky-white fluid which discharged on to surrounding skin. Backflow of chyle into the skin of the lower limb, perineum or external genitalia has been described as a rare finding in patients with primary lymphoedema but we believe this to be the first case involving the abdomen and the first case describing chylous reflux into the skin in a patient with intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Blister↗
PubMed1991

Predictable and unpredictable hazards of erythropoietic protoporphyria.

A female patient with a long history of erythropoietic protoporphyria developed progressive rapid derangement of hepatic function requiring urgent orthotopic liver transplantation. In the immediate post-operative period the patient developed unusual and serious complications, including a generalized axonal neuropathy, intestinal ulceration and a large second-degree phototoxic burn of the abdominal wall. Recovery was achieved only after prolonged intensive hospital care and rehabilitation. Attention is drawn to the need for protecting such patients from phototoxic injury during prolonged surgery and the importance of rapid transfer to a specialized unit at the earliest sign of hepatic failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Serum type III procollagen peptide, dynamic liver function tests and hepatic fibrosis in psoriatic patients receiving methotrexate.

The serum level of the aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (P3NP) was measured in 51 psoriatic patients on long-term, once weekly, low-dose methotrexate and in a control group of patients with extensive psoriasis who had never had systemic treatment. Serum P3NP levels were normal in all control patients, but were elevated in the majority of methotrexate-treated patients, even those with normal or non-specific liver histology. Although the highest P3NP values were found in the groups of patients with fibrosis and cirrhosis, isolated P3NP measurements did not discriminate between individuals with and without significant liver pathology. Neither standard nor dynamic liver function tests were able to identify patients with significant liver damage and in most cases results were in the normal range.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. A common and distinctive cause of phimosis in boys.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, a disease said to be rare in boys, was found in 14 of 100 prepubertal boys undergoing elective circumcision for disease of the foreskin. The clinical features of the disease, in particular the acquired scarring phimosis of the tip of the prepuce, were distinctive. Extragenital involvement was not found. Scarring phimosis in boys must be considered to be one of the most common manifestations of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

A double-blind study of superficial radiotherapy in chronic palmar eczema.

The effect of superficial radiotherapy as an adjunct to topical therapy in recalcitrant chronic symmetrical palmar eczema was assessed in fifteen patients by randomly allocating active treatment to one palm while the other, which received simulated therapy, served as a control. There was a significantly better response to active treatment at 1 month but this difference was no longer apparent at 3 and 6 months.

Adult↗