ABSTRACT
A double blind placebo-controlled study of two doses of gamma-linolenic acid, provided by evening primrose oil (EPO, Epogam, Searle, U.K.), in children with atopic dermatitis was performed: 1) to examine the effect of gamma-linolenic acid administration on the clinical status of children with atopic dermatitis and abnormalities of IgE-mediated immune responses compared to those without such IgE abnormalities; 2) to investigate the effect of gamma-linolenic acid on red cell fatty acid composition and 3) to assess whether treatment with gamma-linolenic acid induced changes in red cell membrane microviscosity. A significant improvement in the overall severity of the clinical condition was seen in children treated with gamma-linolenic acid, independent of whether the children had manifestations of IgE-mediated allergy. Furthermore, gamma-linolenic acid treatment increased the percentage content of n-6 fatty acids in erythrocyte cell membrane; this increase was more marked in the membranes of children treated with high doses of EPO. In the high dose group a significant increase in dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) occurred. This may be of particular relevance because of the potential importance of DGLA as a precursor of antiinflammatory prostanoids. Red cell membrane microviscosity did not change in any group after treatment with EPO, even in high doses, despite a significant increase in the proportion of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Atopic/blood , Erythrocyte Membrane/drug effects , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Fatty Acids/blood , gamma-Linolenic Acid/pharmacology , Child , Child, Preschool , Double-Blind Method , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , ViscositySubject(s)
Ichthyosis/pathology , Adolescent , Biopsy , Cromolyn Sodium/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Ichthyosis/drug therapy , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
The authors describe the results of an alcohol education course given to 2166 high school students in the area of Padua, Italy. An evaluation was performed, utilizing a before and after technique: it was shown that baseline knowledge of relevant information on alcohology was similar among younger and older teenagers; also, baseline information and course gain varied according to question content.
