Biomedical subjects

E Bangha

Publications and source records attributed to E Bangha.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Enteral histaminosis: Clinical implications.

There is increasing evidence that enteral histaminosis is a major cause of food intolerance resulting from dysfunctional metabolism of endogenous histamine in certain food stuffs. However, this phenomenon has been poorly characterised and, due to the lack of epidemiological data, the existence of this condition has been underestimated, which may lead to incorrect diagnosis. This short commentary highlights a stricter regimen of diagnostic procedure in order to take into account the many causes of food intolerance. The underlying mechanisms ascribed particularly to non-immunologically food reactions require more rigorous research and further work is vital.

Clinical Protocols↗

PubMed1999

[Quality management in the German health care system].

With the increasing demands on hospitals for improved quality and lower costs, hospitals have been forced to reevaluate their manner of operation and quality assurance programs. Hospitals have also been faced with customer dissatisfaction and intense competition. This article reviews current quality-management systems and examines their position in dermatology.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed1998

[Effect of a baby whey bath on skin physiology parameters in young children].

Although the skin of babies is very sensitive to irritants and baby baths are widely used in child care, there have been no investigations concerning their efficacy and safety so far. In the presented work we investigate the effect of a baby bath containing 80% and after another 2 weeks of treatment with a whey baby bath. During the study all infants were bathed at a temperature between 35 and 38 degrees C for 5 to 15 min every other day. The results showed a slightly lower skin moisture, a lower skin-pH and after an initial minimal increase a reduction of skin redness values. However, none of the results were statistically significant. The tested baby bath was well tolerated by the babies' skin based on a reduction of skin-pH. In contrast to relatively aggressive soaps we found a protective effect of the tested baby bath on the acid mantle of the skin.

Baths↗

PubMed1997

Daytime serum levels of melatonin after topical application onto the human skin.

The hormone melatonin is produced in the pineal gland and secreted into the blood in a circadian rhythm. Due to its antioxidative and immunomodulatory effects it might play a role as a topical drug in dermatology. In this study we investigated the penetration kinetics of melatonin applied to the skin of 6 healthy volunteers aged 26-34 years (M/F = 2/4). First the individual physiologic daytime melatonin serum levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Then 3 of the participants were treated once topically on their scalp with 20 mg melatonin dissolved in 70% ethanol, while the other 3 individuals received 100 mg. The application was performed at 9.00 a.m., and blood samples were collected repeatedly for a total of 8 h. Physiologic daytime melatonin levels in the 6 individuals were 16.8 +/- 10.0 pg/ml. The 3 individuals treated with 20 mg melatonin displayed peak serum levels of 762, 918 and 3,440 pg/ml, respectively, those treated with 100 mg melatonin showed peak levels of 1,136, 3,360 and 4,230 pg/ml lasting throughout the entire observation period of 8 h. These findings indicate that melatonin might accumulate in the stratum corneum with prolonged release into the blood system from this depot.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1997

Suppression of UV-induced erythema by topical treatment with melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine). Influence of the application time point.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we reported a significant and dose-dependent suppression of UV-induced erythema in human skin by a topically applied melatonin preparation. OBJECTIVE: The present double-blind randomized study was designed to examine the influence of the application time point of topical melatonin on this antierythema effect. METHODS: Defined small areas on the lower back of 20 volunteers were treated with 0.6 mg/cm2 melatonin dissolved in a nanocolloid gel carrier either 15 min before or 1, 30 or 240 min after UV irradiation with twice the individual minimal erythema dose delivered by a Multiport Solar UV Simulator (UVA and UVB). The erythemata induced were evaluated by visual scoring and chromametry 24 h after irradiation. RESULTS: Treatment of the skin with melatonin 15 min before UV irradiation proved to almost completely suppress the development of an UV-induced erythema. In contrast, no significant protective effects of melatonin were observed when it was applied after UV irradiation. CONCLUSION: Topically applied melatonin has a clear-cut protective effect against UV-induced erythema. Free radical scavenging of UV-generated hydroxyl radicals and interference with the arachidonic acid metabolism are possible mechanisms of the melatonin action.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1996

Suppression of UV-induced erythema by topical treatment with melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine). A dose response study.

Oxygen-centred free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic UV-induced skin damage as well as in skin aging. In this double-blind randomized study the efficacy of topically applied melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), a potent free radical scavenger, in the suppression of UV-induced erythema was assessed. A group of 20 healthy volunteers were irradiated with 0.099 J/cm2 UVB on four 5-cm2 areas on the lower back and topically treated with various concentrations of melatonin (0.05, 0.1, 0.5%) in a nanocolloid gel as carrier or with carrier alone. The UV-induced erythema was examined 8 and 24 h after irradiation by visual scoring and chromametry. A distinct dose response relationship was observed between the topical dose of melatonin and the degree of UV-induced erythema. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in redness (chromameter a-value and visual scoring) 8 h after irradiation between the areas treated with melatonin at 0.5% and those treated with melatonin at 0.05% or with the carrier. These results might open a new approach in the prevention and control of free radical-influenced skin diseases.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1996

Evaluation of topical antipsoriatic treatment by chromametry, visiometry and 20-MHz ultrasound in the psoriasis plaque test.

The antipsoriatic effects of two topical antipsoriatic agents, betamethasone valerate (Betnovate) and calcipotriol (Daivonex), and a pure nanocolloid gel were assessed in 10 patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis in a modified psoriasis plaque test. Three noninvasive bioengineering methods were applied to measure antipsoriatic effects: chromametry for objective evaluation of erythema; visiometry, a method for profilometry, and 20-MHz skin ultrasound for the measurement of skin thickness as a parameter of inflammatory infiltration and psoriatic hyperproliferation of the epidermis. Regarding inflammation parameters such as skin thickness (infiltration) and erythema (dilatation of vessels and hyperperfusion), the steroid preparation Betnovate proved to be significantly most effective in our study. Daivonex showed significant decreases in the skin roughness parameters, underlining its antiproliferative effect. The nanocolloid carrier was significantly effective in thickness reduction, this effect being most probably due to occlusion. 20-MHz ultrasound, chromametry and visiometry proved to provide multiparameter assessment of treated and untreated psoriatic skin and can be recommended as objective and reproducible measurements for further studies.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1996

Toxicology of topical local anesthetics.

Topical anesthesia of the skin, nowadays performed for various indications from pruritus over postherpetic neuralgia to minor surgery, has been under investigation for more than 30 years. Due to low water solubility, the active base form of most of the local anesthetics on the market is poorly absorbed through the skin. Hence, the most challenging target was to develop galenic preparations which provide a good skin penetration in order to reach the dermal nerve endings and thereby lead to sufficient local anesthesia. On the other hand good skin penetration also results in a distribution of the drug in the circulation. Since local anesthetic agents are known to have an impact on the heart and central nervous system, unwanted side effects following topical application onto the skin are worth discussing. This article reviews the current topical local anesthetics with particular accent on their pharmacological and toxicological data.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1996

Sensitizations to allergens of the European standard series at the Department of Dermatology in Zurich 1990-1994.

BACKGROUND: For planning and evaluation of preventive activities against contact dermatitis, it is important to detect trends in contact sensitization. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We performed a computer-aided analysis of the patch test results of 5,565 patients tested with the European standard allergens consecutively from 1990 to 1994 in our patch test clinic. RESULTS: The male/female ratio was 42.4/ 57.6%. Sixty-one percent of the patients were < 45 years. Hands, face and lower legs were the major localizations of eczema. The largest occupational groups were office workers (21%), houseworkers and cleaning personnel (18%) and pensioners (10%). The highest sensitization rates were found for nickel (18.5%) and fragrance mix (9.6%). An increase of sensitizations to fragrance mix and balsam of Peru in both sexes and a decrease in nickel and cobalt sensitizations for females and potassium dichromate reactions for males were observed. CONCLUSION: Our data show considerable changes in the frequency of contact sensitizations that warrant further analytic studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Irritancy testing in occupational dermatology: comparison between two quick tests and the acute irritation induced by sodium lauryl sulphate.

To reduce the incidence of irritant contact dermatitis, the development of screening methods to identify subjects with increased susceptibility to irritants is essential. In a pilot study on the comparison between two quick, non-invasive irritancy tests (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with the time-consuming patch testing with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), no correlation between the "quick tests" and SLS patch testing was observed. In the present paper the results of irritancy testing in 181 metal worker trainees are presented. Experimental irritant contact dermatitis reactions were induced on the medial third of the volar forearm using SLS 0.5%, applied for 23 h and as "quick tests" DMSO 90% and 95% and a solution of 0.2% mol/l NaOH applied for 5 min. Assessment of skin irritability was made by visual scoring and measurement of transepidermal water loss. Except for a statistically significant relationship between the irritations by DMSO 90% and 95%, correlations between the different techniques were weak or non-existent. This is most probably due to different pathophysiological pathways for the irritant reactions. We therefore propose to use a spectrum of different tests in occupational dermatology for predicting the individual's risk of irritant contact dermatitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Occupational contact dermatitis toward sesquiterpene lactones in a florist.

Many plants and flowers can cause dermatitis in florists, growers, and others working in the industry. In the United States, Alstromeria, also called Peruvian Lily, has frequently been reported to cause hand eczema in floral workers. This interesting report details sesquiterpene lactone allergy in the occupational setting. Fortunately, in this case, it seems that resolution of the dermatitis was achieved fairly rapidly by avoiding the occupational situation. Unfortunately, for many of our patients with airborne compositae dermatitis, there is no way to avoid the allergen; therefore, many of these individuals develop severe, chronic recalcitrant dermatitis requiring aggressive therapy. Diagnosis of this condition is not always easy, as it appears that the sesquiterpene lactone mix allergen that we have commercially available misses a number of cases, at least in the United States. Better characterization of the allergens involved and better supply of allergenic extracts for testing is critical to improve our diagnostic ability.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Skin problems in sugar artists.

Sugar artistry is a growing profession amongst bakers and confectioners and an increasingly common hobby in amateur cooks. The main work consists of manual manipulation of sugar which is formed into figures and objects for table and food decoration. The sugar must be warmed up to 50 degrees C in order to be liquid and malleable and so the artists suffer from diverse thermally induced skin problems on their hands. Such changes have not to date been reported in the dermatological literature. In this study we report our experience in 50 Swiss sugar artists who have suffered from skin problems. The study took the form of a questionnaire survey. The response rate was 30 out of 50. Twenty-six reported no chronic skin disorder. Four suffered from a palmar vesicular relapsing type of chronic eczema. The main skin problems on the hands during work with hot sugar were increased sweating, seen in 20 out of 30 (67%), and burning with erythema and blistering, seen in 12 out of 30 (40%). Most participants (83%) were highly irritated by the skin problems during their work, and applied a protective cream before working with sugar, or wore rubber gloves. Topical therapy with a preparation containing 10% aluminium chloride hexahydrate, used once daily for 3 weeks, evaluated in 14 participants, decreased sweating in 10 (71%) and reduced the thermally induced erythema in one (7%).

Aluminum Chloride↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Suppression of UV-induced erythema by topical treatment with melatonin. Influence of the application time point.

The UV-suppressive effect of topical melatonin was assessed at different application time points in a double-blind randomized clinical trial. The lower back of 20 healthy volunteers was treated with 0.6 mg/cm2 melatonin or vehicle either 15 min before or 1, 30 or 240 min after UV irradiation. The erythema was evaluated visually and measured by chromametry 24 h after irradiation. UV-absorbing effects of melatonin were measured at a concentration of 8 microg/ml with a spectrophotometer. Melatonin absorbs UV light at a wavelength of 225-275 nm which is clearly below the wavelength of UVA and UVB (290-390 nm). The visual score showed that application of melatonin 15 min before irradiation significantly suppressed erythema compared to treatment with vehicle alone (p < 0.001). Similar results were found by chromametry (p < 0.001). Treatment after irradiation showed no UV suppression. The erythema suppressive effect of melatonin might be explained by the radical-scavenging mechanism of quenching meanly hydroxyl radicals (.OH) which are known to be most present in sunburn reaction of the skin. The protective effect of the pre-irradiation treatment might be explained by penetration into the skin within 15 min and the presence in a local concentration at the irradiation time point.

Administration, Topical↗