[Microdialysis. A method for measurement of local tissue metabolism]. / Mikrodialyse. En metode til måling af lokal vaevsmetabolisme.

Studies of pharmacological, immunological, and biochemical reactions in intact tissues have been hampered by the lack of appropriate techniques. The purpose of the review is to give a short introduction to the microdialysis technique which permits measurement of low molecular weight compounds in the extracellular water compartment in different tissue. Originally developed for use in animal brain, microdialysis is now being applied in humans for both clinical and experimental studies in different tissues, e.g. subcutaneous adipose tissue, brain, skin, and skeletal muscle. This review summarizes theoretical and practical aspects of microdialysis, and describes its main applications in humans.

[Clinical effect of ranitidine in psoriasis. An open prospective study]. / Klinisk effekt af ranitidin ved psoriasis. Et abent prospektivt studie.

We report the results of an open, prospective study of 20 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis (median PASI score: 15.7) treated with oral ranitidine 300 mg twice daily for six months. No other medication was allowed during the study period. The median PASI score was reduced to 14.5, 9.1 and 5.7 after one, three and six months of treatment, respectively (p < 0.00001). A mild to moderate worsening was observed in 15 patients within the first month of treatment, but this was not followed by exclusion from the study, and long-term treatment improved disease status in most patients. Eight patients continued therapy with ranitidine 300 mg twice daily after the study was completed. None of these patients relapsed during a follow-up period of 12-18 months. The results of the present study suggest that ranitidine may be beneficial in the treatment of some patients with psoriasis.

[Recruitment of patients for clinical trials on psoriasis. A review of recent dermatological literature]. / Rekruttering af patienter til kliniske undersøgelser af psoriasis. En gennemgang af nyere dermatologisk litteratur.

Reports of 62 psoriasis clinical trials listed in the Cumulated Index Medicus during 1988 and 1989, and published only in leading dermatological journals, were evaluated with respect to different elements of research methodology concerned with the recruitment of patients. The evaluation included items such as eligibility criteria, the sampling process, ethical considerations, and sample size calculation. Major weaknesses in the description of all aspects of the recruitment procedure were demonstrated. For example, a quantitative disease activity criterion at entry was mentioned in 15% of the studies, consecutive patients were included in 5% of the trials, approval from an ethics committee and informed consent of patients was mentioned in 16% of the studies and a pre-study sample size calculation was not mentioned in any of the trials.

[Studies following Wassmund osteotomy in the modified down-fracture technic]. / Untersuchungen nach Wassmund-Osteotomie in der modifizierten Down-fracture-Technik.

The down-fracture technique enables three-dimensional displacement of the maxilla in the Le Fort-I plane as well as its simultaneous multisegmentation. Using a semirigid technique of fixation with miniplates, a stable result can be obtained in orthodontic follow-up treatment without tendency to vertical and sagittal recurrence. The transverse deviations detected are interpreted primarily as functional adaptations. In cranial displacement of the maxilla by more than 10 mm, there is a risk of esthetic problems involving the region of the upper lip, the soft tissues of the nose and the cheek. The rate of subjective postoperative disorders is small. In the event of damage to the descending palatine artery, areas of necrosis may occur in the region of the anterior lateral teeth. The disorders of sensitivity of the gum and the gingiva typical for such operations do not result in subjective discomfort. The rate of iatrogenic damage to teeth is 5.6% in the patients followed up. Because of high acceptance of therapy and the low incidence of complications on the one hand as well as the various possibilities of therapy on the other hand, the down-fracture technique is regarded as the most important method of operation in orthodontic surgery at present.