Potential Implications of Rimonabant on Age-Related Oxidative Stress and Inflammation.

Over the last decades, growing interest has turned to preventive and therapeutic approaches for achieving successful aging. Oxidative stress and inflammation are fundamental features of cardiovascular diseases; therefore, potential targets of them can improve cardiac outcomes. Our study aimed to examine the involvement of the endocannabinoid system, especially the CB1 receptor blockade, on inflammatory and oxidant/antioxidant processes. Twenty-month-old female and male Wistar rats were divided into rimonabant-treated and aging control (untreated) groups. Rimonabant, a selective CB1 receptor antagonist, was administered at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 2 weeks. Cardiac amounts of ROS, the antioxidant glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the activity and concentration of the heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme were detected. Among inflammatory parameters, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity were measured. Two weeks of low dose rimonabant treatment significantly reduced the cardiac ROS via boosting of the antioxidant defense mechanisms as regards the HO system, and the SOD and glutathione content. Consistently, the age-related inflammatory response was alleviated. Rimonabant-treated animals showed significantly decreased NF-κB, TNF-α, and MPO levels. Our findings prove the beneficial involvement of CB1 receptor blocker rimonabant on inflammatory and oxidative damages to the aging heart.

Vichy mineralizing water with hyaluronic acid is effective and well tolerated as an adjunct to the management of various dermatoses and after esthetic procedures.

INTRODUCTION: M89, containing 89% of Vichy mineralizing water and hyaluronic acid, has been developed to reinforce the skin barrier and to improve skin quality. AIM: To assess efficacy and tolerability of M89. METHOD: Observational survey of subjects with facial dermatoses or after esthetic procedures. M89 served as adjunct to conventional therapy. Clinician assessments of erythema, desquamation, irritation and patient-reported dryness, burning, itching, and stinging/tingling were conducted at baseline and 4 weeks. At 1 week and 4 weeks, patient assessed tolerance and satisfaction with M89. RESULTS: A total of 1630 subjects participated; 92.5% were females. Mean age was 41.1 ± 11.3 years. Dermatological indications accounted for 32.5%, procedures for 67.5%. At 4 weeks, in subjects with dermatoses, erythema had resolved or improved in 68.0%, desquamation in 83.4%, and irritation in 93.3%. Dryness, burning, itching, and stinging/tingling scores had decreased by 63.8%, 81.8%, 70.9%, and 85.2%, respectively (all P ≤ .0001); 75.7% considered that their skin was sufficiently hydrated. In the procedure group, erythema had resolved or improved in 72.5%, desquamation in 75.2%, and irritation in 88.1%. Dryness, burning, itching, and stinging/tingling scores had decreased by 62.1%, 78.8%, 70.0%, and 84.2%, respectively (all P ≤ .0001); 74.1% considered that their skin was sufficiently hydrated. Almost all subjects reported soothed skin and satisfaction with product texture. Subject and investigator satisfaction was very high. CONCLUSION: M89 significantly improves skin signs and symptoms after 4 weeks of continued use with no tolerance issues in subjects with dermatological indications. Moreover, subjects who have had recently undergone esthetic procedures M89 allowed a satisfying skin recovery.

Attachment Styles of Dermatological Patients in Europe: A Multi-centre Study in 13 Countries.

Attachment styles of dermatological outpatients and satisfaction with their dermatologists were investigated within the framework of a multicentre study conducted in 13 European countries, organized by the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry. Attachment style was assessed with the Adult Attachment Scale. Patient satisfaction with the dermatologist was assessed with an 11-degree scale. A total of 3,635 adult outpatients and 1,359 controls participated in the study. Dermatological outpatients were less able to depend on others, were less comfortable with closeness and intimacy, and experienced similar rates of anxiety in relationships as did the controls. Participants who had secure attachment styles reported stressful life events during the last 6 months significantly less often than those who had insecure attachment styles. Patients with secure attachment styles tended to be more satisfied with their dermatologist than did insecure patients. These results suggest that secure attachment of dermatological outpatients may be a protective factor in the management of stress.

Successful Treatment of Autoimmune Urticaria with Low-Dose Prednisolone Therapy Administered for a Few Months: A Case Series of 42 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as symptoms of urticaria persisting for 6 weeks or more without obvious cause. Autologous serum skin test (ASST) positivity in patients with CSU is considered to be associated with autoimmune urticaria (AIU). METHODS: In this retrospective study we retrieved the medical records of 1,073 urticaria patients seen at the Department of Dermatology and Allergology of Szeged University between January 2005 and February 2014. Forty-two patients (36 female and 6 male) met the study criteria by having CSU and giving positive results in the ASST. Our aim was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of low-dose oral prednisolone therapy administered to patients with antihistamine-refractory ASST-positive CSU for a few months. Patients were given an initial dose (40 mg/day) of prednisolone until the complete resolution of the symptoms, usually 7-10 days, and then the dose was gradually decreased, as in other autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: Prednisolone therapy lasted for an average of 3.6 months and a complete long-lasting response was achieved in 35 of 42 AIU patients (83.3%). The follow-up period was at least 36 months (3 years) for each AIU patient; the longest follow-up time was 139 months (11.5 years). None of the patients reported any considerable side effects. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we suggest that the use of this treatment could be an alternative for the treatment of AIU. Our present results also highlight the need for other therapies in a small percentage of AIU patients. Our results suggest that AIU represents a transient autoimmunity that can be successfully treated with low-dose steroid therapy administered for a few months.

Epicutaneous patch test--a new diagnostic option to prevent the rejection of silicone-covered cochlear implants in children.

OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation (CI) is a revolutionary method for hearing rehabilitation in patients with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss. One of the surgical complications may be the necrosis of the skin flap above the receiver-stimulator coil, resulting in device extrusion. Our aim was to find the plausible causes of the silicone covered implant rejection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Authors present four cases of cochlear implant rejection, briefly describe their dermato-surgical solutions and analyse their innovative method - the epicutanoeus patch testing with silicone samples. RESULTS: They observed positive skin reaction in three of the four cases. CONCLUSION: Authors analyse the applicability and results of their surgical solutions and the epicutaneous testing in connection with the prevention of skin flap necrosis and rejection of silicone-covered cochlear implants.

Patch tests with fragrance mix II and its components.

BACKGROUND: Fragrance mix II (FM II) was initiated to detect contact hypersenstitivity (CH) to fragrances that could not have been identified previously. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multicenter study was to map the frequency of CH to FM II and its components in Hungary. METHODS: Six centers participated in the survey from 2009 to 2010. A total off 565 patients (434 women and 131 men) with former skin symptoms provoked by scented products were patch tested. The tests were performed with Brial GmbH D-Greven allergens. In the environmental patch test series, FM II, FM I, Myroxylon pereirae, colophonium, wood-tar mix, propolis, and sesquiterpene lactone mix were tested as fragrance allergens. The FM II components (citral, farnesol, coumarin, citronellol, α-hexyl-cinnamaldehyde, and hydroxy-isohexyl-3-cyclohexene-carboxaldehyde [Lyral]) were also tested. RESULTS: Contact hypersenstitivity to any fragrances was detected in 28.8%, to FM II in 17.2% of the patients. Contact hypersenstitivity to hydroxy-isohexyl-3-cyclohexene-carboxaldehyde was observed in 7.3%, to coumarin in 5.1%, to α-hexyl-cinnamaldehyde in 3.5%, to citral in 3.4%, to farnesol in 2.5%, and to citronellol in 1.2%. Of the FM II-positive cases, 48.4% showed isolated CH reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of CH to FM II is 17.2% in the tested, selected Hungarian population. The CH to FM II and its components could not have been revealed without the present test materials.