Serum 5-S-cysteinyldopa levels in patients with psoriasis undergoing narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet (UV) B radiation from sunlight can result in tanning or burning of the skin. Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB), a relatively new light source that is not yet widely available, is effective for treating generalized psoriasis without the use of psoralens. AIMS: The melanin-related metabolite 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5-S-CD), which reflects pheomelanin production, has been used as a biological marker of melanoma progression, but there are no studies available on therapeutic UVB effects on serum 5-S-CD of human subjects. In the present study, we measured the time course of changes in serum levels of 5-S-CD in patients with psoriasis undergoing NB-UVB phototherapy. METHODS: In total, 11 Japanese patients with generalized psoriasis vulgaris received NB-UVB treatment five times per week, at an initial dose of 0.1 J/cm(2). The dose was increased by 10-20% per treatment for > 20 treatments. Serum samples were taken before and 3, 7, 10, 14 and 28 days after phototherapy. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of NB-UVB treatment, 9 of 11 patients were in remission, confirming the effectiveness of NB-UVB for treating Japanese patients with psoriasis. Two patients withdrew before day 28 because of other complications. Mean level of 5-S-CD in serum was significantly increased on day 7, 10 14 and 28 compared with the level before phototherapy and it peaked on day 10. CONCLUSIONS: Serum 5-S-CD levels were significantly increased by therapeutic UVB exposure. Sustained levels of 5-S-CD in serum appear to reflect the degree of skin injury during NB-UVB phototherapy.

The competitive NMDA antagonist, CGS-19755, improves postischemic hypoperfusion in selectively vulnerable regions in gerbils.

We attempted to clarify the effects of an NMDA antagonist on postischemic hypoperfusion in gerbils with 10 min forebrain ischemia and to relate it to postischemic metabolic recovery. We administered 10 mg/kg of CGS-19755, a competitive NMDA antagonist, or the same volume of saline intraperitoneally 30 min before the vascular occlusion. In 26 gerbils, we measured local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) 60 min after the reperfusion using [14C]iodoantipyrine autoradiography. In 20 gerbils, the effects on metabolic recovery were determined by serial measurements of intracellular pH, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the ratio between phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi) until 60 min after reperfusion using 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In another group of 24 gerbils, we determined histopathological damage 24 h after the ischemia. The LCBF autoradiograms in the control group consistently demonstrated a typical postischemic hypoperfusion, i.e. homogeneous 50-75% reduction of blood flow in all forebrain structures. In contrast, CGS-19755 pretreatment animals showed highly heterogeneous LCBF declines, and significantly higher LCBF values were observed in the frontoparietal cortex and thalamus both of which were the most vulnerable area in this model. No significant LCBF change was observed in sham operated animals with or without CGS-19755 pretreatment. The postischemic recovery of PCr/Pi in gerbils pretreated with CGS-19755 was significantly better than that in the control animals. No significant differences in the recovery of ATP and intracellular pH were observed. The histological damage in the CGS-19755-treated group was less extensive than those in the saline-treated group. CGS-19755 pretreatment improved postischemic hypoperfusion and PCr/Pi recovery in the 10-min forebrain ischemia model in gerbils. The improvement of postischemic hypoperfusion in selectively vulnerable regions suggests that the activation of NMDA receptors may be related to the mechanism of developing postischemic hypoperfusion.

Identification of human urinary stains by the quotient uric acid/urea nitrogen.

Uric acid (UA) and urea nitrogen (UN) were determined in urinary stains and the UA/UN x 20 values were calculated. The values in human urinary stains were 1.11-4.21, while those in other mammals except some of chimpanzees, were under 0.7, and those in fecal stains of birds were over 80. Most of the stains of other human body fluids or plant juices tested contained neither UA nor UN, and some contained one, but never the other. Ascorbic acid (AS) of up to 100 mg/dl in urine did not interfere with UA determination when dried human urinary stains were analyzed. It was also found that the contents of UA were very low at the peripheral parts of urinary stains. The present results indicate that the quotient UA/UN is useful for identification of human urinary stains in forensic practice provided that the peripheral part of the stain is not used.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: clinical response to plasma exchange therapy and circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibody titer.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita has been recognized as a rare autoimmune mechanobullous disorder since the detection of immunoglobulin and complement deposits along the basement membrane zone. A circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibody has also been detected in some cases. We are reporting a case of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in which clinical symptoms were well correlated with the circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibody titers. Although the patient initially responded very well to corticosteroid therapy, remission could not be maintained without increasing the dosage. Other therapies, including azathioprine, dapsone, vitamin E, and gold sodium thiomalate, produced no beneficial effects. Although a high dose of oral corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide decreased the antibody titer and blister formation, this therapy had to be terminated because of side effects. Plasma exchange therapy in combination with corticosteroid and low-dose cyclophosphamide resulted in a marked decrease of the anti-basement membrane zone antibody titer and clinical improvement. Thus plasma exchange therapy may be a useful adjunct to conventional treatments for patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

[Evaluation of chemotherapy of breast cancer (2). Clinical evaluation of the blood and tissue concentrations of FT-207 following intrarectal administration].

In order to examine the transfer of antitumor drug in breast cancer after administration of FT-207 suppository, FT and 5-FU concentrations in blood, tumor tissues, normal tissues and axillary lymph nodes were determined respectively. FT and 5-FU concentrations in tumor tissues were higher than those in normal tissues or lymph nodes in every cases, and there was a significant difference between FT and 5-FU concentration in blood and tumor tissues. Blood levels of FT and 5-FU remained quite constant at 16 and 20 hours after administration, respectively. Accordingly, it was suggested that the administration of FT-207 suppository to breast cancer was very effective as an adjuvant chemotherapy.