[Treatment of herpes infections with transfer factor]. / Traitement des infections herpétiques par le facteur de transfert.

Twelve patients suffering from recurrent herpetic infections resistant to several current therapies were treated for a 3 to 10 months period with a bovine transfer factor specific to Herpes simplex virus of type 1 and 2. The results obtained showed that this treatment was capable of dramatically reducing the intensity, duration and frequency of the relapses. This preliminary clinical trial suggests that specific transfer factor administered orally could be an effective treatment of herpes infections.

[Measurement of sulfoconjugates of 5-androsten-3 beta, 17 beta-diol in idiopathic hirsute virilism]. / Mesure des sulfoconjugués de 5-androstène-3 beta, 17 beta-diol dans le virilisme pilaire idiopathique.

The sulphoconjugates of delta 5-C19O2 steroids were determined in 32 women with idiopathic hirsutism (IH). The plasma and urinary levels of 5-androsten-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (delta 5, 3 beta-diol) were 82 +/- 24 ng/ml and 169 +/- 170 micrograms/24 h respectively for the monosulphate ester and 193 +/- 101 ng/ml and 180 +/- 108 micrograms/24 h for the disulphate ester. These levels are statistically higher (p less than 0,001) as compared with the levels observed in women without IH (30 +/- 20 ng/ml and 23 +/- 13 micrograms/24 h for the monosulphate, 78 +/- 40 ng/ml and 48,0 +/- 23,7 micrograms/24 h for the disulphate). There is a correlation between the urinary levels of the monosulphate of delta 5, 3 beta-diol (y) and of the dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (S-DHA) (x) : y (microgram/24 h) = 0,124x + 16,8; r = 0,93 (p less than 0,01) and n = 32. The plasma levels of S-DHA ranged form 1,250 ng/ml to 7,000 ng/ml in the abnormal population and from 1,000 ng/ml to 2,400 ng/ml in the normal population. A concomitant determination of plasma free androgens showed that 60 % of the dehydroepiandrosterone values were above the upper limits of normal values. Conversely, the testosterone and androstenedione levels were only higher in 20 % and 27 % of cases respectively. These results suggest that the possible importance of the sulphoconjugates of delta 5-C19O2 steroids in the IH pathogeny should not be overlooked.

[Antiandrogens and acne]. / Anti-androgènes et acné.

One hundred forty-four patients with acne, in most cases severe, were treated with cyproterone acetate, either at low dose ( Diane : 2 mg daily for 21 days), or at high dose ( Androcur : 50-100 mg daily for 10 days) in an inversed sequential schedule according to Hammerstein . The comparison between the two groups of patients exhibits an highly significant difference in favour of Androcur , as well on seborrhea as on comedones and eruptions, whatever the dose (50 or 100 mg); similarly, the results of Androcur were the same with or without topical treatment (Tretinoin or Benzoyl peroxide). The tolerance was equally good in the two groups.

Differential aspects of Solcoderm therapy as a function of dermatologic diagnoses.

Experience with 265 Solcoderm-treated lesions in 131 patients followed for 1 year is the basis of delineating the preferred methods of treating skin tumors with this new caustic agent. General principles and diagnosis-specific suggestions are presented.

[The menopause and the skin (author's transl)]. / La ménopause et la peau.

It is currently admitted that the skin and its appendages plays an important part in steroid metabolism, especially in genital androgens, estrogens and progestogens. This activity produces the cutaneous changes sometimes associated with the premenopause period : facial hyper-seborrhea, seborrhea of the scalp, loss of scalp hairs, increaed pilosity on the cheeks and upper lip, whether they occur spontaneously or after hormonal treatment. Following the menopause-onset a progressive decreases in hair growth, can be observed, especially in the axillary and pubic regions, with occasional diffuse alopecia, increase in degeneration of elastic tissue, and atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, in fact as some changes appearing in the skin show correlations with the hormonal changes, others appear to be more closely related to aging of the skin. Thus, hormonal therapy will not be able to treat efficiently all these disorders.

Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma of the palm.

A case of Bowen's disease of the palm with associated squamous cell carcinoma is described. A brief general review underlines this unusual localization. Bowen's disease may occur at any cutaneous site, simultaneously involving areas protected from and exposed to the light. Involvement of the dorsum of the hand is not rare, but palmar involvement is highly unusual. Only 12 indisputable cases have been published up to the present time.

[Pemphigus herpetiformis (eosinophilic spongiosis) (author's transl)]. / Pemphigus herpétiforme (spongiose à éosinophiles).

A 71-year-old male had a clinically atypical pemphigus (pemphigus herpetiformis), associated with histopathologic eosinophilic spongiosis. This case is discussed and was frequently found reported in iatrogenic pemphigus.

Treatment of pityriasis capitis (dandruff) with econazole nitrate.

63 patients of both sexes with pityriasis sicca or steatoides were examined for presence of Pityrosporum ovale on the scalp. Only those cases in which very numerous yeasts were seen in all squamae present in the preparation were considered positive. According to the severity or duration of pityriasis, 60% of the patients in this population represented severe cases and 38% refractory cases. A solution of econazole nitrate was applied as a spray, morning and evening, for a period of 10 to 20 days (mean). The overall assessment of the clinical effects of econazole nitrate indicated 56 favourable results, with complete disappearance of objective clinical signs in 47 cases; the course of pruritus proceeded roughly parallel with that of the objective signs. The mycological checking of the clinical results, performed at least 7 days after the conclusion of therapy, disclosed 6 failures and 57 successes. In 17 patients, the microscopic examination of squamae was complemented by culture before and after treatment: in all cases, the culture, positive before econazole nitrate therapy, became negative after treatment, thus confirming the results of direct examination. These data suggest that Pityrosporum ovale plays a pathogenetic part in pityriasis simplex capitis.

[Trial treatment of seborrhea and of common acne in females with the ovulation inhibitors]. / Essai de mise au point du traitement de la séborrhée et de l'acné vulgaire féminines par les inhibiteurs d'ovulation.

PIP: Treatment of acne vulgaris and seborrhea in 557 women using Sequens, Metrulene, and ovariostat is described. The ovulation inhibitors were administered as for contraception. Successful results (cure or considerable improvement) were observed in about 80% of the patients treated with Sequens and Metrulene; the failure rate was less than 10%. The less favorable results obtained with ovariostat are apparently due to the lower estrogen dose (75 mcg vs. 80 and 100 mcg for Sequens and Metrulene, respectively), which may be below the therapeutically effective threshold. Side effects, similar to those of contraceptive treatment, were minor. The possible reasons for the high drop-out rate (126/557) are discussed.^ieng