Plasma and skin concentration of 5-methoxypsoralen in psoriatic patients after oral administration.

The aim of this work was to investigate the distribution of 5-methoxypsoralen in the skin after oral administration of the drug and to examine the correlation between skin and plasma concentrations. 5-Methoxypsoralen skin concentration was measured in both healthy and psoriatic sites of 10 psoriatic patients after single and multiple oral doses. The results obtained show that 5-methoxypsoralen accumulates at higher levels in the more external layers of the skin after oral administration. The high affinity of drug for the stratum corneum was confirmed by in vitro skin affinity measurements. The concentration of 5-methoxypsoralen in the skin was similar in both psoriatic and healthy sites, indicating that the pathology does not influence drug distribution in the skin. After single dose administration, a linear correlation was found between skin and plasma drug concentration. After multiple dose administration, drug concentration in the skin was fairly constant despite the variable plasma concentrations in different subjects.

Distribution of khellin in excised human skin following iontophoresis and passive dermal transport.

The aim of this work was to study in vitro khellin distribution into human skin after passive or iontophoretic transport. The experiments were performed on excised human skin, using vertical Franz-type diffusion cells. The effects of current application and reservoir pH were studied. At the end of the experiments the skin was sliced thinly and the drug was extracted and analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that khellin is able to penetrate through stratum corneum, to reach basal epidermis and upper dermis. The application time proved to be an important parameter. Current application (30 min; 0.5 mA/cm(2)), with a donor at pH 7.0, favored khellin accumulation even if the drug is not ionized. On the contrary, the use of a formulation at pH 3.2 inhibited drug accumulation. Leaving the drug reservoir in contact with the skin for 30 min after current application led to a dramatic increase of khellin concentration. A combination of dermal iontophoresis and passive diffusion is then a useful technique to govern khellin distribution in the skin.

Generalized eruptive histiocytoma. A clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural study.

A case of adult self-healing histiocytosis, classified as generalized eruptive histiocytoma, is reported. Ultrastructural investigation of the cytoplasm of tumor cells revealed the presence of many dense and laminated bodies. The origin and possible importance of these bodies are described and discussed, and the need for quantitative study of cytoplasmic markers in histiocytic proliferations of the skin is emphasized.

Macrophage--T-lymphocyte interaction in lichen planus. An electron microscopic and immunocytochemical study.

Papular lichen planus lesions from 12 patients were studied by a double-step immunocytochemical method to detect T-lymphocytes. Semithin sections were studied by light microscopy and ultrathin sections examined by electron microscopy. In the dermal infiltrate, many T-lymphocytes appeared closely juxtaposed to macrophages or Langerhans cells, frequently arranged in a rosette-like pattern. In the epidermis, T-lymphocytes were juxtaposed to macrophages or Langerhans cells and to degenerated keratinocytes. The close relationship between T-lymphocytes, macrophages or Langerhans cells and degenerated keratinocytes supports the hypothesis that lichen planus is immunological in nature: T-lymphocytes, after interacting with macrophages or Langerhans cells, become cytotoxic for keratinocytes.

Immunohistochemical study of dermal cell popoulation in psoriatic skin.

As demonstrated by means of an immunoperoxidase technique, the great majority of the infiltrating mononuclear cells located in the superficial and middle dermis of psoriatic skin consisted of T-lymphocytes. On the contrary, immunoglobulin bearing cells, investigated by means of both immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence methods, were scarce; IgA and IgG cells were predominant, whilst IgM cells were scarcely represented. Macrophages and monocytic cells were observed in the superficial dermis by means of the alpha-naphtyl-acetate-esterase method, in frozen sections. The role of the above mentioned cells and the significance of their reciprocal relationships still remains in discussion.

[Fluconazole in the treatment of dermatomycoses. Clinical experience]. / Il fluconazolo nel trattamento delle epidermomicosi. Esperienze cliniche.

Twenty patients suffering from dermatomycosis have been treated with fluconazole at the dose of 50 mg/daily for 20 days. These patients (10 M + 10 F) were aged 36 years on average (range 17-65 years). And were suffering from the following: Tinea pedis (3 cases), Tinea cruris (1 case), Tinea corporis (9 cases), Tinea versicolor (3 cases), Candidiasis (5 cases). One patient was suffering from Tinea on two different body sites. 19 patients finished the treatment and reported a complete clinical and mycological healing either at the end of the therapy on at follow-up visits. One patient, who was already suffering from gastritis, had to interrupt the therapy early due to abdominal pain. General safety was excellent.