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Biomedical subjects

T Agner

Publications and source records attributed to T Agner.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Basal transepidermal water loss, skin thickness, skin blood flow and skin colour in relation to sodium-lauryl-sulphate-induced irritation in normal skin.

The influence of basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin thickness, blood flow and skin colour on susceptibility to sodium-lauryl-sulphate(SLS)-induced irritant contact dermatitis was studied in 70 healthy volunteers. SLS 0.5% was applied as a patch test. For assessment of basal values and skin response to SLS, bioengineering methods were used: TEWL was measured by an evaporimeter, skin thickness by ultrasound A-scan, blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry, and skin colour by a colorimeter, using the L*a*b* system of the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE). By use of multiple regression analysis, it was demonstrated that basal TEWL was substantially related to skin susceptibility to SLS, high basal TEWL predicting an increased susceptibility to SLS. Also increased light reflection from the skin, indicating a 'fair' skin, was found to be associated with increased susceptibility to SLS.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Susceptibility of atopic dermatitis patients to irritant dermatitis caused by sodium lauryl sulphate.

Basal transepidermal water loss, skin thickness, blood flow and skin colour were examined before and after exposure of 28 patients with atopic dermatitis and 28 healthy controls to sodium lauryl sulphate. Transepidermal water loss was measured with an evaporimeter, skin thickness by ultrasound A-scanning, blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry and skin colour by a chroma meter using the L*, a* and b* values, respectively. Patients with atopic dermatitis were found to have higher basal transepidermal water loss than controls (p less than 0.0001), and had an inclination towards an increased basal skin thickness (p = 0.056). No statistically significant differences were found with respect to basal blood flow or skin colour. The skin response to sodium lauryl sulphate was found to be statistically significantly increased in atopic patients compared with controls when evaluated by visual scoring and by increase in skin thickness, but not by increase in transepidermal water loss, blood flow or skin colour.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Sodium lauryl sulphate for irritant patch testing--a dose-response study using bioengineering methods for determination of skin irritation.

The dose-response relationship in patch testing with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) was studied. The irritant skin response was quantified by visual scoring as well as by the following noninvasive methods: measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by an evaporimeter, measurement of skin color by a colorimeter, measurement of superficial blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry, and measurement of edema in the skin by ultrasound A-scan. Twelve volunteers were patch tested with 0.12, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00% SLS, and the skin response was evaluated after 24 and 48 h, respectively. We found a statistically significant linear dose-response relationship between dose of SLS and skin response evaluated by measurement of TEWL, skin color, superficial blood flow, and edema. Statistical evaluation by regression analysis proved measurement of TEWL to be the method best suited overall for quantification in relation to patch testing with SLS, whereas colorimetry was found to be the least sensitive of the applied methods. Ultrasound A-scan was found to be a promising method for quantification of the inflammatory response, being consistently more sensitive than measurement of skin color.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Individual and instrumental variations in irritant patch-test reactions--clinical evaluation and quantification by bioengineering methods.

A major purpose of irritant patch testing is to differentiate between normal, delicate and less sensitive skin. To assess the usefulness of irritant patch testing, knowledge of variation in responses to identical patch tests is essential. In the present study inter- and intra-individual variation in irritant patch test reactions due to sodium lauryl sulphate and nonanoic acid is given when evaluated by traditional visual scoring as well as different non-invasive methods, i.e. measurement of transepidermal water loss, the hydration state of stratum corneum by electrical conductance, cutaneous blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry, and measurement of skin thickness by 20-MHz ultrasound A-scan. The intra-individual 'site-to-site' variation was considerably less than the inter-individual variation, which is essential to differentiate between persons with delicate and less sensitive skin. Methods used were relevant for this purpose except for the measurement of electrical conductance.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Multiple angiolipomata treated with intravenous infusions of lignocaine.

A 54-year-old woman with multiple tender angiolipomata was treated with intravenous infusions of lignocaine (5 mg/kg) in saline in a double-blind trial. The pain disappeared but reappeared gradually 3 weeks later. Central mechanisms may explain the mode of action of lignocaine. Infusions should be carried out during cardiac monitoring.

Double-Blind Method↗
PubMed1990

Colorimetric quantification of erythema--a comparison of two colorimeters (Lange Micro Color and Minolta Chroma Meter CR-200) with a clinical scoring scheme and laser-Doppler flowmetry.

Erythema elicited by the local irritant sodium lauryl sulphate was studied in comparison with unexposed skin. Colour coordinates of the CIE system were recorded using two commercially available colorimeters. With both colorimeters a positive movement of the alpha-axis (toward red, P less than 0.001) and a negative movement on the L-axis (toward dark, P less than 0.01) were registered. Technical and in-vivo experimentation showed the two pieces of equipment to be accurate. However, a simple conversion factor cannot be established. Both pieces of equipment correlated positively with clinical scoring of erythema and with measurement of cutaneous blood flow by laser-Doppler flowmetry. In conclusion, the two colorimeters appeared comparable. Colorimetry by the CIE system, which takes into account the non-linear colour perception of the human eye, was found useful with potential value in both experimental and clinical dermatology. The techniques appeared suitable for routine testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Irritant patch testing: penetration of sodium lauryl sulphate into human skin.

To clarify the sources of variation in irritant patch testing, variability in delivery of the test substance from the patch test system was studied. An in vitro model was used to study the penetration of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) from a patch test system into the skin. Different formulations of SLS applied to the skin for 24 h were studied (aqueous solution and gels), but irrespective of the vehicle used permeation of SLS into the recipient phase was poor. Results were compared to in vivo patch testing in 12 subjects. Approximately 70% of the applied SLS in aqueous solution was released from the patch test system. Release from gels was poorer. High concordance between the in vivo and the in vitro model was found. No correlation was found between the amount of SLS left in the filter disc and the strength of the clinical reaction in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Seasonal variation of skin resistance to irritants.

In order to investigate a possible seasonal variation in the skin response to irritants, 17 healthy volunteers were patch tested with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and nonanoic acid in the winter and summer. The response to these irritants was quantified by visual scoring, measurement of transepidermal water loss, measurement of electrical conductance indicating the hydration state of the superficial epidermis, measurement of blood flow by laser Doppler and measurement of oedema by ultrasound A-scan. Significantly stronger reactions to SLS were found during the winter than the summer as indicated by visual scoring and by measurements of transepidermal water loss, whereas no significant seasonal variation was found in the response to nonanoic acid. A decreased hydration state of the epidermis of unexposed skin was found during the winter, and we believe this to be responsible for the increased susceptibility to SLS during this season.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Transonychial water loss: relation to sex, age and nail-plate thickness.

The transonychial water loss (TOWL) was measured in 21 healthy volunteers with an evaporimeter, to establish the usefulness of this technique and study the influence of sex, age and nail-plate thickness. The median TOWL was 19.4 g/m2 h-1 and it decreased with increasing age (R = 0.51, P less than 0.018). The median transepidermal water loss (TEWLHAND) from the back of the hand was 16.0 g/m2 h-1 and from the dorsal side of the underarm (TEWLARM) it was 5.6 g/m2 h-1. The TEWLARM was significantly less than from any of the two other points studied (P less than 0.01), while there was no significant difference between the values obtained on the hand and the nail. TEWLARM had a median value of 6.4 g/m2 h-1 in men and 4.3 g/m2 h-1 in women (P less than 0.05) in this study. No significant correlation between nail-plate thickness, as measured by ultrasound 20 MHz A-scan, and TOWL was found. Measurements of TOWL are of interest and should be age-related. Further studies are needed to determine TOWL in various forms of nail pathology.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Thyroid disease in pustulosis palmoplantaris.

An increased frequency of thyroid autoantibodies has been reported in patients with palmar and plantar pustulosis (PPP). This study was undertaken to determine the frequency and type of thyroid disease in 32 patients with this disease compared with a control group. Thyroid disease was demonstrated in 53% of the patients with PPP as compared to 16% in the matched control group. Fourteen patients with PPP had an enlarged thyroid and in six there were thyroid autoantibodies. There appears to be an increased incidence of goitre and thyroid autoantibodies in PPP with a decrease in the level of the thyroid hormones.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1989

Quantification of the DMSO-response--a test for assessment of sensitive skin.

The DMSO-test has been suggested as a means of assessing skin sensitivity. When DMSO is applied to the skin a whealing response is provoked, and the magnitude of the response depends on the susceptibility of the individual. In this study clinical grading, along with transepidermal water loss measurement (TEWL), electrical conductance, laser Doppler flowmetry and ultrasound skin thickness measurement have been used for quantification of the DMSO-response. It is concluded that TEWL measurement, electrical conductance and ultrasound skin thickness measurement are all suitable methods for quantifying the DMSO-response, while laser Doppler flowmetry, due to interference from oedema formation, should not be used for this purpose. The ultrasound technique was quick and simple to handle as compared to the other bioengineering methods. The DMSO-test is an interesting and realistic possibility as a test for skin sensitivity and, with new bioengineering methods, the separate phenomena comprising the response can be evaluated and quantified, improving the objectivity of the test.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Skin reactions to irritants assessed by non-invasive bioengineering methods.

Pathophysiological components of irritant contact dermatitis caused by 3 chemically-different irritants were investigated. 20 healthy volunteers were patch tested with sodium lauryl sulphate, nonanoic acid and hydrochloric acid on the flexor side of the upper arm. The skin response was evaluated after 24, 48 and 96 h by visual scoring and measured by the following bioengineering methods: transepidermal water loss measurement, electrical conductance for measurement of skin hydration, laser Doppler flowmetry for measurement of cutaneous blood flow and 20 MHz ultrasound A-scan for measurement of skin thickness. In spite of homogeneous inflammatory responses, significant differences in the severity of the injury to the skin barrier function caused by the different irritants were found. Also significant differences between irritants were found in the time course of development of maximum irritant reactions. Bioengineering methods indicating inflammatory responses (measurement of blood flow and skin thickness) were helpful in quantifying the irritant response in general, while bioengineering methods indicating epidermal damage (measurement of TEWL and electrical conductance) were helpful in classifying the individual irritants.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Different skin irritation abilities of different qualities of sodium lauryl sulphate.

A marked variation in the concentration of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) used for irritant patch testing is found in the literature, but is hitherto unexplained. In the present study, 2 different qualities of SLS were tested clinically on healthy volunteers. The skin responses were evaluated by visual scoring as well as by non-invasive measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), blood flow and oedema. A significant difference in the skin response to the 2 qualities was found both clinically and by non-invasive methods used for quantitation. 5 different qualities of SLS were investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Marked discrepancies in the quantity of C12 carbon chains in the products were found, offering an explanation for the proven difference in the clinical response. It is concluded that only SLS qualities of high purity should be used for irritant patch testing, and that both the quality and the purity of SLS should be stated.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Androgens and estrogens in postmenopausal insulin-treated diabetic women.

Diabetic women may have an increased risk of developing endometrial carcinoma. Ovarian and adrenal activity seem to be factors in the genesis of this cancer. We have measured serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free and bound fractions of estrogens and androgens, and gonadotropins in 20 consecutive postmenopausal insulin-treated diabetic women and 16 normal postmenopausal women. The diabetics were nonketoacidotic, without nephropathy and without proliferative retinopathy. The groups were comparable regarding age and percent ideal body weight. The diabetic group had significantly increased serum levels of estrone (P less than 0.001), estrone sulfate (P less than 0.05), 17 beta-estradiol (P less than 0.02), and SHBG (P less than 0.001). Levels of testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate tended to be higher (not significantly) in the diabetics. FSH and LH levels were similar in the two groups, while serum PRL was significantly lower in the diabetic group (P less than 0.02). The hormonal changes in the diabetics were not related to control of the diabetes. We conclude that total estrogen levels are increased in postmenopausal women with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus. High SHBG levels in these patients tend to keep the free fractions of sex hormones within normal limits.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Levels of alpha-subunits of gonadotropins can be increased in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, both in patients with malignant tumours and with apparently benign disease.

To evaluate the value of intact hCG, the beta-subunit of hCG and the common alpha-subunit of the glycoprotein hormones as tumour markers in patients with gastrinomas, we investigated 30 patients with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Fifty-seven percent of the patients with malignant disease (N = 7) and 45% of those with active and apparently benign disease (N = 20) had raised values of circulating alpha-subunit. Detectable levels of hCG or hCG-beta were found in 7 patients of whom 4 had malignant disease. Radical tumour resection in 2 patients resulted in normalisation of elevated levels of alpha-subunit, and in one patient who developed metastases, the alpha-subunit values became elevated simultaneously. By chromatographic studies we found that the alpha-subunit-like reacting substance in serum eluted as the normal free alpha-subunit in 8 patients, but in one patient with metastatic disease we found evidence for production of a larger molecular form of alpha-subunit. The results indicate that the common alpha-subunit is a valuable tumour marker in patients with gastrinomas, whereas hCG-beta is only seldomly elevated. Single estimates of any of the hormonal fragments seem not to relate with malignancy, whereas a rise in alpha-subunit concentration in some patients may be related to the development of malignancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Contact thermography for assessment of skin damage due to experimental irritants.

Irritant dermatitis after application of experimental irritants was studied by means of contact thermography. Sixteen healthy persons were patch-tested, using the following irritants: Sodium lauryl sulphate, benzalkonium chloride, nonanoic acid, hydrochloric acid, croton oil, sapo kalinus and sodium hydroxide. A main finding was that croton oil after 24 h caused a warm skin lesion, and sodium lauryl sulphate after 96 h caused a cold skin lesion. This study emphasizes the differences in the skin reactions to different irritants.

Croton Oil↗