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Biomedical subjects

B Fjellner

Publications and source records attributed to B Fjellner.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Influence of ultraviolet light on itch and flare reactions in human skin induced by histamine and the histamine liberator compound 48/80.

The itch and flare responses induced by intradermal injection of histamine and the histamine liberator compound 48/80 were studied in healthy volunteers before and after exposure to UVB, UVA or PUVA administered 2-3 times weekly for 4 weeks. All three modalities were found to inhibit the responses induced by compound 48/80. The degree of tanning was most pronounced after PUVA and weakest after UVB, without any correlation between tanning and inhibition of itch. In contrast, when induced by histamine, the responses were not inhibited to the same extent, pronounced and significant inhibition being observed only for itching in subjects exposed to UVB. It is concluded that UVB, UVA and PUVA all might be of benefit in treating pruritic states if histamine release is involved and that UVB might have an additional effect by inducing hyposensitivity to itching stimuli.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells exposed to ultraviolet light.

After irradiation with ultraviolet light, rat peritoneal mast cells incubated with the histamine liberator compound 48/80 were found to have reduced capacity to release histamine. The action spectrum for histamine release inhibition seemed to be in the wavelength region of UVB. UV-light per se did not induce histamine liberation other than for dosages greater than or equal to 1.45 J/cm2. No such release was observed with the doses of UVA studied (3.4-20.5 J/cm2). The metabolic inhibitor 2.4-dinitrophenol (DNP), which almost completely inhibited compound 48/80-elicited histamine release, did not influence the UV-induced histamine release, indicating that the latter was not a secretory process but due to cytotoxic leakage of histamine from the cells. These results suggest that inhibition of histamine-releasing capacity or reduction of skin histamine due to photolysis of mast cells may explain the beneficial effect of UV in pruritic disorders where histamine release from mast cells is involved.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Studies on pruritogenic and histamine-releasing effects of some putative peptide neurotransmitters.

Pruritus, whealing and axon-reflex erythema appeared in human skin after intradermal injection of (i) several peptides with a putative transmitter function, i.e. vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (10(-7)--10(-4) M), [Gln4]-neurotensin (10(-7)--10(-4) M), neurotensin (10(-5)--10(-4) M) and secretin (10(-5)--10(-4) M), which were compared with substance P (10(-7)--10(-5) M) previously shown to be one of the most potent histamine liberators when administered intradermally in humans; (ii) the basic polypeptide protamine (10(-7)--10(-4) M); and (iii) histamine (0.3-10 micrograms/ml) and the histamine liberator compound 48/80 (0.3-10 micrograms/ml). The reactions were inhibited in a dose-related manner by the antihistamine mepyramine, indicating that the peptide-induced responses were mediated by released histamine. This was further confirmed by the histamine release observed when the peptides were incubated with rat peritoneal mast cells. In human skin, VIP was more potent than the other neuropeptides and had roughly the same potency as substance P. The two adjacent basic amino-acid residues and the amide substitution of the terminal C-group of VIP, in addition to its strong net basic charge, may explain its potency as a histamine releaser.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Pruritus in polycythemia vera: treatment with aspirin and possibility of platelet involvement.

The characteristic temperature-dependent pruritus in polycythemia vera (PV) is described. The triggering factor seems to be a sudden decrease in skin temperature, e.g. after a hot bath or shower. The sudden onset and limited duration of the pruritus might suggest an activation or release of some humoral factor(s). In a controlled study we showed that aspirin alleviates this particular pruritus. Therefore, the possibility of prostaglandin and platelet involvement was considered. It was found that substances such as PGE2 and serotonin, produced and released by platelets, could elicit pruritus in healthy volunteers when injected intradermally and that PGE2 enhanced the cutaneous responses to serotonin. Studies of platelet aggregation did not reveal any abnormalitites in the PV patients but ADP was shown to sensitize platelets to adrenaline-induced aggregation in vitro. Although not proven the following hypothesis is suggested: a combination of ADP, emerging from erythrocytes, and catecholamines released from adrenergic vasoconstrictor nerves when the skin is cooled down, might stimulate platelets to aggregation in skin vessels and to production and release of pruritogenic factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus aggravated by oral zinc therapy.

A woman with hypertension had been treated with hydralazine and propranolol for the past 6 years. Leg ulcers and mild joint involvement had been observed for 3 years. When oral zinc therapy was started, multisystemic manifestations of a lupus erythematosus-like syndrome developed within one week. The possible implication of zinc in drug-induced lupus is discussed.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation and itching.

The response to transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS)--a method used for treatment of chronic pain--was studied in 41 patients with itching of diverse etiology. At a first trial, 63% of the patients found that TNS ameliorated their itching, 20% reported complete relief. As a rule the effect lasted for many hours, although TNS was given only for 5-30 min. In 15 of the patients, having suffered from extensive pruritus for more than one year, TNS was given several times a day for 5-47 days. During this time the effect declined. Twelve patients were relieved initially, either partially or completely, but ultimately only 6 had a partial relief and in none had the itching disappeared completely. Only one patient wanted to continue the TNS therapy. The decreasing efficacy is discussed; probably there was an initial placebo effect which declined during the course of treatment. The results indicate that TNS is of limited value for treating chronic itching.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stress and psoriasis: psychoendocrine and metabolic reactions in psoriatic patients during standardized stressor exposure.

Psychoendocrine and metabolic reactions during standardized stressor exposure (color-word conflict test and forced mental arithmetics) were studied in ten psoriatic and ten matched healthy subjects. During resting conditions, the groups were similar with regard to psychologic and biochemical variables, except for plasma glucose, which was slightly elevated in the psoriatic group. During stressor exposure, the psoriatic group reported significantly higher strain levels. Blood pressure, pulse rate, plasma glucose, and urinary adrenaline excretion increased in both groups during exposure, with more pronounced increases of the latter two in the psoriatic group. Serum cortisol, prolactin, progesterone and urinary cortisol decreased in both groups during stressor exposure. The decrease in serum cortisol was more pronounced in the psoriatic group. Thus, no psychoendocrine differences were found between the healthy and psoriatic subjects during resting conditions. In contrast, during a standardized stressor exposure, psoriatic subjects reported higher levels of strain, which was accompanied by higher levels of urinary adrenaline and lower levels of plasma cortisol. These results fit the hypothesis that psoriatic patients perceive certain challenging situations as more stressful than do nonpsoriatic controls, and react accordingly in their differential psychoendocrine reaction pattern. Possible pathophysiologic implications of the different pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenomedullary reactions in psoriatics submitted to stressor exposure are discussed.

Adult↗