Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies/trends , Acupuncture Therapy , Anthroposophy , Anxiety/diagnosis , Anxiety/therapy , Homeopathy , Humans , MethodsABSTRACT
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been etiologically linked with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus HTLV-III. In a study on the prevalence of antibodies to this virus in Switzerland, sera from 941 individuals were collected in 5 major urban areas (Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich) in 1983 and 1984. All sera were tested by ELISA and the majority also by Western blot. We found an antibody prevalence of 100% among 22 cases of AIDS, of 94% among 48 cases of AIDS-related complex (ARC), and of 57% among 14 homosexual contacts of AIDS patients. Among 55 sera collected from i.v. drug addicts in 1984, 53% were positive, whereas the rate had been 36% among 103 sera collected in 1983. The rate was 19% among 227 sera collected from asymptomatic active homosexuals in 1984, against 10% among 40 sera collected in 1983. 8% positives were found among 98 patients with various types of viral hepatitis. In addition, 4% of 84 sera of individuals from Equatorial Africa were positive. No positives were found among 15 sera of individuals from other African regions, among 32 sera of persons from various regions of Asia, and among 203 Swiss blood donors. These results demonstrate the high and increasing rate of HTLV-III infection among groups at risk for AIDS, and suggest that HTLV-III-related diseases will be a serious problem in the years ahead.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Deltaretrovirus/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Homosexuality , Humans , Male , Risk , Substance-Related Disorders/immunology , SwitzerlandABSTRACT
Studies on lymphocyte stimulation in vitro were carried out with various perspectives. Apart from the well-known mitogens such as PHA and ConA, Candida extract and mercury ions had a relatively strong stimulatory effect, mistletoe extract a moderate one, nickel ions and trichophytin none at all. In malignant lymphomas the degree of stimulation was greatly reduced. In malignant melanomas the degree of stimulation, which at the beginning was often quite low, increased during the course of treatment. There was no correlation between the response to recall antigens and the degree of lymphocyte stimulation. The lymphocyte stimulation test did not prove reliable for the detection of drug allergies.
Subject(s)
Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Drug Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Humans , Immunity, Cellular/drug effects , Melanoma/diagnosis , Mitogens/pharmacology , Serologic Tests/methods , Stimulation, ChemicalABSTRACT
A total of 71 patients (12 males and 59 females) who attended the University Skin Clinic of Basle in the years 1956-1982, have been investigated by a dermatologist, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Among 55 female patients (group I and II) 14 had a suicide attempt in their history. Of the 39 female patients of group I 25 (64%) had suffered from a stressful childhood event. Of group I (39 female patients) 19 (48.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation; 23 patients (59%) had suffered from depressions either in the past or at the time of investigation. Among group II (16 patients) 11 (68.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation. The psychological test investigation (Colour Pyramid Test and Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test) revealed artefact patients to be in a state of considerable depressive-aggressive tension without being able to handle their emotions and impulses in an adequate manner.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis/psychology , Factitious Disorders/psychology , Self Mutilation/psychology , Adult , Dreams , Family , Female , Humans , Male , Psychological Tests , Self Concept , Sick Role , Suicide/psychology , Suicide, Attempted/psychologyABSTRACT
In a multicenter controlled study carried out in Austria and Switzerland by 8 dermatologists in 208 patients with acute eczematous dermatoses, 0.05% halometasone cream proved to have significantly superior clinical efficacy than 0.05% betamethasone dipropionate cream (P much less than 0.05) showing an equal tolerability. Good to very good results were reported in 93% of the patients treated with halometasone and in 84% of those treated with betamethasone dipropionate creams (Diprosone, Diproderm). General tolerability of both treatments was good. Neither skin atrophy nor any systemic adverse effect, due to the transcutaneous absorption of the corticoids, were observed in this study.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Betamethasone/analogs & derivatives , Eczema/drug therapy , Administration, Topical , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/adverse effects , Betamethasone/administration & dosage , Betamethasone/adverse effects , Clinical Trials as Topic , Drug Tolerance , Female , Glucocorticoids , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
35 female patients with dermatological artefacts being treated in the University Skin Clinic Basel have been investigated by a dermatologist, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist. The testpsychological examination with the Color Pyramid Test and the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test yielded a striking uniform picture: The patients showed strong intrapsychic tension, severe depressivity, inhibition of aggression, affective inhibition, low frustration tolerance, weak ego-integration (with tendencies to break outs of impulses) and autoaggressive tendencies. These results point to a depressive and schizoid-narcissistic personality-structure. The manipulations at the skin have different functions: by causing pain to themselves the patients try to feel their body-boundaries and to avoid fragmentations in the body-self; on the tactile level emotional experiences of early childhood should be (re)-activated; the artefact should draw the attention of the surroundings to the emotional suffering of the patient. Concerning therapy, it is important that the doctor to whom the patients come first is ready to offer therapeutic talks. In these discussions the situation in which the artefact was done, with its psychodynamic background, should be explored and the therapist should help the patient to find other ways than artefacts to articulate his needs.
Subject(s)
Personality Disorders/psychology , Skin Diseases/psychology , Adult , Aggression/psychology , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Psychological Tests , Self Mutilation/psychology , Skin/injuriesSubject(s)
Self Mutilation/psychology , Skin/injuries , Adult , Aged , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychological Tests , Suicide, AttemptedSubject(s)
Nail Diseases/pathology , Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Nails, Malformed/etiology , Warts/pathologyABSTRACT
A female patient developed a severely irritating papulous dermatosis localized on the face and arms, running a chronic course. Histology displayed blister formation and mucin deposits in the corium. Laboratory determinations showed antibodies against thyroglobulin and cytoplasmic antibodies with high titers; thyroid function tests were normal.
Subject(s)
Mucins/metabolism , Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous/pathology , Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/pathology , Facial Dermatoses/pathology , Female , Hand Dermatoses/pathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
The following treatments for psoriasis are compared with each other: PUVA, UVB, retinoid 10-9359 alone and in combination with 4 mg triamcinolone or UVB. The best results were obtained with UVB alone and with the combination of UVB and retinoid. Based on a survey of various psoriasis therapies during the last 40 years, it is concluded that a final assessment of the value of a new therapy is only possible after some time.