Changes of minimal erythema dose after water and salt water baths.

Knowledge about the influence of salt water baths on UV irradiation, especially balneophototherapy, is incomplete. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various concentrated salt solutions on the minimal erythema dose (MED). We determined the MEDdry (UVB) in 24 healthy, previously UV unexposed subjects on the inner forearm. Subjects were divided randomly into two groups of 12. Subsequently, the MEDwet was assessed on each forearm after 30 min tap water or 5% salt water bath (group A), respectively, or after 30 min 10% or 20% salt water bath (group B), respectively. Compared with the MEDdry, a significantly decreased MEDwet, was observed after all exposures (group A==>F = 18.94; P < 0.001; group B==>F = 11.73; P < 0.006). A maximal relative decrease in MEDdry of about 51.4% was observed after the 10% salt water bath. The 5% salt solution caused a modest relative decrease in MEDwet of 23.4%. We observed a markedly increased photosensitivity to UVB after all exposures, without a linear correlation between the MED and the salt water concentration. A determination of MED during balneophototherapy should be carried out after bathing in order to reduce the cumulative UV dose and to prevent acute photodamage.

[Urticaria: allergic--not allergic]. / Urtikaria: allergisch--nicht allergisch.

Discussion of etiologically important facts in urticaria dealing as well with allergy as with psychosomatic origin.

[Clinical studies with prednicarbate with special reference to double-blind comparisons with common therapeutic preparations]. / Klinische Studien mit Prednicarbat unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Doppelblindvergleiche zu therapieüblichen Präparaten.

We report on the clinical efficacy of the local corticoid prednicarbate (chemical name: prednisolone-17-ethyl carbonate-21-propionate). In a concentration of 0.25%, it can be assigned to corticoid force class III. We think it's remarkable that even extensive application of 20 g daily in patients with affected skin and 30 g daily in healthy persons does not cause any suppression of plasma cortisol. Extreme long-term application (12 months) in 4 test persons did not result in any clinical, histological, or electron microscopical signs of topical atrophy; only one case showed slight hypertrichosis. These studies show that we may regard the original opinion as disproved that efficacy and side effects of corticoids are always inseparably linked together. To our minds, this preparation constitutes an essential step towards solving the problem of long-term application of a topical corticoid wherever it may be necessary from the dermatologic point of view, e.g. especially in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

[The nonallergic urticaria syndrome (author's transl)]. / Das nichtallergische Urtikaria-Syndrom.

The problems of nonallergic chronic urticaria (nonallergic urticaria syndrome) is presented in detail. The course and the special diagnostic requirements are discussed in detail. Then a model of the diagnostic strategy in chronic urticaria is presented and discussed. It is particularly emphasized that in the overwhelming majority of nonallergic syndrome patients, psychic problems are predominant and that correct specialist treatment is followed by freedom from symptoms in very many cases.