Neuronal histamine deficit in Alzheimer's disease.

Histamine is known to be a neurotransmitter in the brain, but it has not been clearly implicated in major diseases. All histaminergic neurons reside in the posterior hypothalamus and innervate most brain areas, which is compatible with the concept that histamine is involved in general central regulatory mechanisms. A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorimetric method was used to measure histamine contents in post mortem Alzheimer brains and age-matched controls. The cellular storage sites and distribution of histaminergic nerve fibers were examined with a specific immunohistochemical method. The histamine content was significantly reduced in the hypothalamus (42% of control value), hippocampus (43%) and temporal cortex (53%) of Alzheimer brains. Differences in other cortical areas, putamen and substantia nigra were not significant. Histamine-containing nerve fibers were found in the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and subiculum of both Alzheimer brains and controls. No histamine-containing mast cells were seen in these temporal structures. Histamine in the human temporal lobe is stored in nerve fibers originating from the posterior hypothalamus, and not in mast cells. Decrease in brain histamine may contribute to the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease directly or through the cholinergic system. Development of drugs that penetrate the blood brain barrier and increase histaminergic activity might be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease.

Alclometasone dipropionate 0.05% vs hydrocortisone 1.0%: potential to induce cutaneous atrophy in children.

Alclometasone dipropionate 0.05% and hydrocortisone 1.0% ointments were applied twice daily for three weeks to bilateral, paired eczematous lesions of children. Study ointments were assigned to left- and right-sided test sites in a randomized, double-blind manner. The potential of these preparations to induce clinically significant cutaneous atrophy was evaluated in 34 children by visual assessment of the test sites under magnification for telangiectasia. Efficacy was evaluated in 32 children by ratings of the severity of erythema, induration, and pruritus and global evaluations of eczema at the test sites. Safety and efficacy evaluations were performed prior to initial application of the study agents and after each week of treatment. Telangiectasia and other signs of cutaneous atrophy were not observed at any test site during the study, and treatment was well tolerated. Only one of the 34 children experienced an adverse effect: a mild, transient urticarial rash occurring with the application of both study ointments during the first week of the study. In general, the ointments were equally effective in relieving the children's signs and symptoms of eczema. After three weeks of therapy, improvement in the total score of ratings of the severity of signs and symptoms averaged 88% at alclometasone-treated sites and 86% at hydrocortisone-treated sites.

PPP2R1B gene in chronic lymphocytic leukemias and mantle cell lymphomas.

Deletion of chromosome bands 11q22-q23 is one of the most common structural chromosome alterations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The PPP2R1B gene is located very close to the minimal common deletion region of 11q22-q23 in CLL and MCL. Recently, the PPP2R1B gene was found to be mutated in human lung and colon cancers. To evaluate the role of the PPP2R1B gene in the pathogenesis of CLL and MCL, we performed RT-PCR analysis and cDNA sequencing on 10 CLL RNA samples and SSCP analysis on 26 CLL and 37 MCL genomic DNA samples. A deletion of exon 3 was found in one CLL sample. No mutation was detected in the SSCP analysis. To exclude the possibility of large genomic deletions we performed Southern blotting analysis. One MCL sample showed abnormal bands. Our results do not suggest that the PPP2R1B gene has a major pathogenic role in CLL and MCL.

Comparison of 0.25% desoxymethasone ointment with 0.05% fluocinonide ointment in psoriasis.

A double-blind comparative trial was carried out in 56 patients with psoriasis to assess the effectiveness of 0.25% desoxymethasone and 0.05% fluocinonide ointments. All patients showed marked improvement in their condition with twice daily application of the ointments during the 2-week period of the trial. Erythema, scaling and induration on the desoxymethasone-treated side showed a significantly better improvement than on the fluocinonide-treated side.

Recessive ichthyosis congenita type II.

In the heterogeneous group of recessive congenital ichthyoses the disorder of desquamation seems to be a basic problem. Desquamation is strongly dependent on the normal lipid metabolism of the keratinocytes. We describe a group of patients who have a typical clinical picture of large scale ichthyosis and cholesterol clefts in the thickened corneal layer, evidencing a disturbance of the lipid metabolism of the skin. The corneocytes also show a thin or absent cornified envelope, which could indicate a disturbance of protein synthesis. These patients have a severe ichthyosis, but good general health and no associated symptoms. This disorder has recently been named 'ichthyosis congenita type II' by the Heidelberg group on the basis of electron microscopic findings. According to the present examination this group corresponds clinically to the currently used diagnosis 'lamellar ichthyosis'.

Do elevated temperature and CO2 generally have counteracting effects on phenolic phytochemistry of boreal trees?

Global climate change includes concomitant changes in many components of the abiotic flux necessary for plant life. In this paper, we investigate the combined effects of elevated CO2 (720 ppm) and temperature (+2 K) on the phytochemistry of three deciduous tree species. The analysis revealed that elevated CO(2) generally stimulated increased carbon partitioning to various classes of phenolic compounds, whereas an increase in temperature had the opposite effect. The combined effects of both elevated CO2 and temperature were additive, i.e., canceling one another's individual effects. Obviously, the effects of global climate change on leaf chemistry must simultaneously consider both temperature and CO2. If these results are generally applicable, then the counteracting effect of the temperature is likely to play a major role in alpine, boreal, and arctic zones in determining the balance between populations of plants and herbivores.

Comparison of a new antihistamine HC 20-511 with cyproheptadine (Periactin) in chronic urticaria.

The effect and tolerance of a new antihistamine, HC 20-511, in daily doses of 2 and 4 mg was compared with cyproheptadine (Periactin) 8 mg daily in 50 cases of chronic urticaria. HC 20-511 4 mg daily proved to be the most effective, rapid and long-lasting. HC 20-511 had less sedative effect than cyproheptadine, but both possessed the same appetite-stimulating effect. However, this was not noted with the smaller dosage of HC 20-511.

A new antihistamine hc20-511 compared with dimetinden (fenistil retard) in the treatment of chronic urticaria and other pruritic dermatoses.

The new antihistamine, HC20-511 (Sandoz), was compared with Dimetinden (Fenistil retard) in a single-blind comparative study in 42 patients with dermatoses, 28 of whom suffered from chronic urticaria. HC20-511 had a better effect, especially in chronic urticaria, where pruritus, erythema and papules quickly disappeared. The effect appeared somewhat faster than and lasted as long as that of Dimetinden, although HC20-511 is not a retard-preparation unlike the Dimetinden preparation used for comparison. HC20-511 also caused less side effects.

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome in five successive generations: Report on a family in Finland.

A family of 11 members with tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome (TRP syndrome) is described. The inheritance in five successive generations was autosomal dominant. The main features of the TRP syndrome noted were: sparse hair, pear-shaped nose and joint deformity with cone-shaped epiphyses at some of the middle phalanges of the hands.

Antihypertensive effect of prazosin in combination with methyldopa, clonidine, or propranolol.

Seventeen hypertensive out-patients, more or less unresponsive to previous treatment with antihypertensive drugs, were treated in a cross-over fashion with placebo, prazosin (Pz), methyldopa (MD), Pz + MD, Pz + clonidine (C) and Pz + propranolol. The antihypertensive responses to Pz 2 mg t.i.d. and MD 250 mg t.i.d. were poor, and only modest when the drugs were combined. The combination of Pz with low doses of C was about as effective as Pz + MD, and some patients failed to respond to it. Nor was the combination of Pz + propranolol effective in those cases but the addition of a diuretic produced good responses in all patients. Side effects were few. It is concluded that a combination of central and peripheral sympathetic blockade does not necessarily produce normotension, and that a diuretic added to this combination greatly improves the response.