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Biomedical subjects

S Shuster

Publications and source records attributed to S Shuster.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Blood monocyte aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in psoriasis.

The activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in monocytes from 13 healthy control subjects and in 16 patients with discoid psoriasis was measured. The mean basal monocyte AHH activities of the control and psoriatic groups were 3.4 +/- 0.47 and 4.46 +/- 0.55 respectively (pmol 3-OHBP h-1 10(-6) cells). This difference was not significant. The mean induced monocyte AHH activities in the control and psoriatic groups were 56.4 +/- 10.8 and 77.8 +/- 16.0 pmol 3-OHBP h-1 10(-6) cells respectively but this difference was not significant. The mean induction ratios in the control and psoriatic groups were 16.5 +/- 1.8 and 20.4 +/- 3.6 respectively. Again, this difference was not significant. We conclude therefore, that monocyte aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity is not reduced in psoriasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Measurement of the response of psoriasis to short-term application of anthralin.

Thirty-six patients with psoriasis were treated with short-term application of anthralin in three studies. (I) In thirteen patients 2% anthralin was applied daily to lesions on one arm for 60 min; (2) in ten patients 4% anthralin was applied daily to lesions on one-half of the body for 30 min; (3) in thirteen patients 2% anthralin was applied daily to lesions on one-half of the body for 30 min and the strength was increased to 4% and then 8% at intervals of 3 or more days, according to tolerance. Comparison was made with the response to conventional daily treatment with 0.05% to 1% anthralin. Progress was compared clinically by days to clearing, by measurements of plaque thickness with Harpenden calipers, by the frequency and severity of burning, and by patient preference. There was no significant difference in the times to clinical clearance between short-term and conventional anthralin treatments and the rate of decrease of plaque thickness was likewise similar. There was an excellent correspondence between time to reach half plaque thickness and the time for each plaque to clear clinically. There was increased burning with all the short-term treatments but the patients still preferred it. We conclude that short-term treatment with anthralin is as effective as continuous application, but that the increased burning is likely to limit its usefulness.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1983

Indirect evidence that the action of cyproterone acetate on the skin is due to a metabolite.

Cyproterone acetate, applied as 1% solution in ethanol or isopropyl myristate, did not decrease the sebum excretion rate (SER) when applied to forehead skin of patients with acne, although SER is decreased when the drug is given systemically. The probable explanation is that cyproterone acetate owes its local action to a metabolite formed systemically. The present study shows this is unlikely to be the 17 beta-hydroxy cyproterone acetate.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1983

Characterization of the glucocorticoid receptor in rat skin.

Using an exchange assay to measure occupied and unoccupied binding sites the interaction between [3H]triamcinolone acetonide and rat skin cytosol proteins was studied. A binding site with a high affinity (dissociation constant = 7 x 10(-10) mol/l) and a low capacity (400-600 fmol/mg protein) for triamcinolone acetonide was detected. The binding was specific to corticosteroids; fluorinated steroids showed a higher affinity than natural steroids. Non-corticosteroids, with the exception of progesterone, had little or no affinity for the binding site. At 0 degrees C the second-order rate constant of association was 2.23 x 10(6) mol/l per min and the first-order rate constant of dissociation was 1.6 x 10(-4) per min. In the absence of dithiothreitol and molybdate the specific binding was rapidly abolished. The binding was also labile to heating and proteolytic enzymes. One day after adrenalectomy there was a significant increase in the number of assayable binding sites in the cytosol. The results are consistent with the binding protein being the physiological glucocorticoid receptor in rat skin.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1983

The effect of H1 and H2 receptor antagonists on the dermographic response.

The effect on dermographic wealing of an H1 and H2 receptor antagonist was studied separately and in combination. a double-blind protocol was used and dermographism was measured as the diameter of weal response to a measured force. Both H1 and H2 antagonists had a small but non-significant effect, but the combination of H1 plus H2 antagonist had an approximately additive effect which was significant. Although this indicates a role for H2 receptors in dermographism it does not establish the degree of involvement, nor whether H2 antagonists necessarily have any advantage over a potent H1 blocker alone in the treatment of dermographism.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Lack of effect of cimetidine in chronic-idiopathic urticaria.

The effect of an H1 and an H2 receptor blocker singly and in combination was studied in 20 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Both H1 receptor blockade alone and in combination with H2 receptor blockade produced a significant reduction in wealing and itch; there was no significant difference between these treatments. H2 blockade alone produced no significant reduction in wealing; there was a slight increase in itch, though not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Quantitative relationships between sensitizing dose of DNCB and reactivity in normal subjects.

We have developed quantitative methods which enable us to measure susceptibility to sensitization with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNBC) and the degree of responsiveness of groups, and to analyse factors affecting the afferent and efferent components of the response. Five groups of normal subjects (132 individuals) were sensitized with DNCB (1,000, 500, 250, 125 or 62.5 micrograms). One month later, each subject was challenged with 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 micrograms of DNCB on standard patch test felts. After 48 h the reaction at each challenge site was graded clinically and measured as diameter of induration and increase in skinfold thickness. The proportion of subjects sensitized increased with sensitizing dose; 8% were sensitized by 62.5 and 100% were sensitized by 500 micrograms or more. The 50% sensitizing dose (ED50) was calculated as 116 micrograms. Increase in skinfold thickness proved the best method of assessing response and was linearly related to log challenge dose. There was also a linear relationship between degree of sensitivity and log sensitizing dose so that, on average, each time sensitizing dose was halved, the challenge dose required to produce the same response increased 1.5-fold. These methods can be used to measure sensitizability of a population, the degree of sensitivity and the expression of reactivity. The technique will allow quantitative study of factors altering the induction or expression of such reactivity in disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Quantitation of sensitization and responsiveness to dinitrochlorobenzene in normal subjects.

Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) has been used widely to assess cell-mediated immunity in man. However, previous workers have evaluated response qualitatively and subjectively. Such methods cannot elucidate the quantitative relationships between stimulus and response essential to an understanding of the functional components of the system. We have developed quantitative techniques to explore the dose-response relationships of both afferent and efferent limbs of the response, and used this method to examine changes in reactivity to DNCB after exposure to UV radiation and in people with contact allergies.

Dermatitis, Contact↗
PubMed1982

Effect of oral 13-cis-retinoic acid on serum lipids.

Serum lipid concentrations were measured in eighteen patients with severe acne before, during and after treatment with 0.8 mg/kg 13-cis-retinoic acid for 3 months. Cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations increased and HDL-cholesterol concentrations fell significantly during therapy. There were significant abnormalities of liver function and small decreases in indices of thyroid function. These changes had reverted to normal by 1 month after treatment. The data suggest that use of the drug in acne is likely to be limited by its toxicity.

Acne Vulgaris↗