Systemically induced (hematogenous) contact eczema.

The oral or parenteral application of certain contact allergens may elicit eczematous skin reactions "from the inside" in sensitized individuals; this phenomenon has been called "systemically induced eczema" or "hematogenous contact eczema". Both the clinical morphology and dermatopathology are very similar to classical allergic contact eczema. The distribution of skin lesions is mostly symmetrical and may affect the face or the anogenital area. The pathophysiology involves T-lymphocytes and probably secretion of cytokines similar to the well-known phenomenon of "flare-up". The most important contact allergens known to elicit systemically induced contact eczema are metal salts, drugs, phytoallergens and balsam of Peru. After careful diagnosis, a specific allergen avoidance is the basis of prophylaxis and therapy.

A double-blind clinical trial of fenticonazole (2%) spray versus naftifine (1%) spray in patients with cutaneous mycoses.

A multi-centre, double-blind trial was carried out in 100 patients with cutaneous mycotic infections, confirmed by direct microscopy and/or culture, to compare the efficacy and tolerability of spray formulations of 2% fenticonazole and 1% naftifine. On entry, patients were allocated at random to receive once daily topical applications of one or other drug over a period of 2 to 4 weeks, treatment being stopped when patients had recovered or substantially improved. Clinical and mycological assessments were made before (baseline), at weekly intervals during treatment and, if possible, 2 to 3 weeks after the end of treatment (drug-free period). Treatment was continued for 19.25 days with fenticonazole and 19.62 days with naftifine. All patients had positive mycological findings on entry. The most frequently isolated pathogens were dermatophytes, mainly Trichophyton rubrum; however, Candida albicans was present in 33.3% of patients in the fenticonazole group and in 20.8% of those treated with naftifine. At the end of treatment, only 3 (6.3%) and 5 (10.4%) patients, respectively, of the 48 patients assessed in each group still had positive mycological findings. Assessments of symptoms indicated comparable, significant improvement in both groups, and at the end of treatment the overall opinion of doctors and patients was that about 90% of patients were cured or greatly improved. The end of the drug-free period evaluation showed that, of the patients assessed as cured or greatly improved at the end of treatment, only 1 (3.2%) patient who had received fenticonazole and 2 (6.3%) who had received naftifine were confirmed mycologically as having relapsed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The metabolism of tromantadine.

The metabolism of the antiviral drug tromantadine (1-adamantyl-2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)acetamide) was studied after an oral dose of 120 mg tromantadine hydrochloride using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Most of the dose was excreted unchanged with the urine. Six metabolites could be identified. The main metabolic products were 1-aminoadamantane (amantadine) and 1-adamantyl-(2-hydroxy)acetamide. Further metabolic pathways were demethylation of the dimethylamino function and oxidative desamination to an unstable aldehyde which is oxidized to a carbonic acid or reduced to an alcohol.

[Comparative testing of Kamillosan cream and steroidal (0.25% hydrocortisone, 0.75% fluocortin butyl ester) and non-steroidal (5% bufexamac) dermatologic agents in maintenance therapy of eczematous diseases]. / Vergleichende Prüfung von Kamillosan Creme gegenüber steroidalen (0,25% Hydrocortison, 0,75% Fluocortinbutylester) und nichtsteroidalen (5% Bufexamac) Externa in der Erhaltungstherapie von Ekzemerkrankungen.

We report on 161 patients suffering from inflammatory dermatoses on hands, forearms, and lower legs who had been initially treated with 0.1% difluocortolone valerate. During the maintenance therapy carried out over a period of 3 to 4 weeks, we tested the efficacy of Kamillosan cream vs. 0.25% hydrocortisone, 0.75% fluocortin butyl ester, and 5% bufexamac in a bilateral comparative study. For the indications tested Kamillosan cream showed more or less equieffective therapeutic results as compared to 0.25% hydrocortisone. It is superior, however, to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent 5% bufexamac as well as to 0.75% fluocortin butyl ester, a further glucocorticoid. With regard to neurodermitis, Kamillosan cream not only shows the same therapeutic effect as 0.25% hydrocortisone but is even of marked superiority towards other reference products.

[The antifungal agent naftifin. Placebo-controlled therapeutic comparison in tinea pedis]. / Antimykotikum Naftifin. Placebo-kontrollierter Therapievergleich bei Tinea pedum.

The antimycotic efficacy of Naftifine was compared with that of placebo in a double-blind randomized trial in 60 patients with Tinea pedum proved by culture and microscopic examination. Naftifine was significantly superior to placebo concerning the number of mycologically cured patients as well as the clinical response to therapy. At the end of the study all patients were cured by Naftifine, whereas no patient of the placebo group showed an improvement.

New appliance for in vivo determination of the thickness of the horny layer. Principle of the method, apparatus.

UNLABELLED: An electronically guided mechanism permits the "unbloody" measurement of the horny layer (HL) thickness in vivo. PRINCIPLE: If a steel needle is driven by a constant speed electrode through the HL from the exterior, it is possible to measure and catalogue specific resistance variations by means of synchronic recording following derivation from the alternating current circuit against an indifferent electrode per needle electrode through the HL, i.e. from the point of skin surface contact to that of the living "ell layer of the epidermis. DESCRIPTIONS: The mechanical construction consists of a hydraulic trust with a measuring head which is affixed by subpressure to the skin surface. The electronic device of plug-in design constains: 1. a constant voltage generator for the analogous and digital electronic, 2. a high Ohm test amplifier as well as threshold value switch, and measuring area transformer, 3. a digital measuring value indicator, hydraulic-guidance logistics, inclusive of respective operational parts. Measuring values, made available by electronic output, are being transmitted numerically via code transformer to a teletypewriter and simultaneously transferred on an electronic data processing tape. Presented are measuring data for the calibration of the device as well as a series of results of HL-thickness measurements. Methodological errors are being discussed, just as the applicability of the device for research and practical usage.

Individual transparency patterns of adhesive-tape strip series of the stratum corneum.

A newly developed apparatus permits the differentiated transparency measurement of stripped horny layer material. An adhesive tape strip, covered with a stripped horny layer mass, is fixed on a glass plate and led past a homogenous light source and a photo cell at a constant speed, whereby each respective light-current deviation is collected as a parameter for each respective strip model. It is then synchronously registered via a continuous-line-recorder. The systematic evaluation of original curves results in a reproducible individual horny layer model obtained by a methodically stripped adhesive tape series, successively taken under constant conditions from the same skin area. Three characteristic types of curves were observed.

[Scanning electron-microscopic findings in orthoergically damaged skin surfaces of hairless mice (author's transl)]. / Rasterelektronenmikroskopische Befunde an der orthoergisch geschädigten Hautoberfläche haarloser Mäuse

Mechanic-chemically defined irritation of the skin surface of hairless mice regularly leads to macroscopically sub-visible changes of the horny layer. Scanning electron-microscopic analysis reveals extended regular horny layer dehiscences, as well as deeper dehiscence or trench formations in the area of irritation, as compared to normal skin. The damaged horny layer sample, presented respectively, depends-to a degree-upon type, intensity and duration of irritation. Hairless mice proved to be best suited at test animals for informative studies concerning cutaneous resistance to stress.