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Biomedical subjects

G Swanbeck

Publications and source records attributed to G Swanbeck.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Cutaneous drug reactions. An attempt to quantitative estimation.

The drugs taken by patients with suspected cutaneous drug reactions (CDR) were recorded during a 4-year period at Sahlgren Hospital in Gotenburg in a prospective study. A total of 440 patients were included. By dividing the frequency of occurrence of the recorded drugs by the number of sold defined daily doses (SDDD) for the city during the same period of time, figures for the CDR risk for different drugs corrected for frequency of use were obtained. The risk of CDR seemed to be highest for gold compounds, trimethoprim with and without sulphonamides, cephalosporins and penicillins. The most common types of CDR were macular and mucalopapular eruptions, followed by urticaria and cutaneous vasculitis. The results correlate well with those of the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program.

Drug Eruptions↗
PubMed1992

Urea in the treatment of dry skin.

Urea is a unique physiological substance. It has frequently been used in dermatological therapy for more than 20 years. The relevant properties of urea with regard to its use in dermatological preparations are discussed in this brief review. Urea's natural presence in the horny layer, its water solubility, dipolar character and relation to concentrated solutions of electrolytes, are highlighted. The clinical use of urea creams is discussed with respect to indications, side-effects and combinations with other substances.

Drug Synergism↗
PubMed1992

One-minute dithranol therapy in psoriasis: a placebo-controlled paired comparative study.

In a double-blind left-right randomised comparison, 27 patients suffering from chronic plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris were treated for one minute with dithranol 2% ointment, Psoralon (Psoralon MT), on a selected psoriasis plaque on one half of the body and with a placebo ointment on a corresponding plaque on the other. The preparations were applied once daily for 8 weeks. Seventeen patients achieved clearing or considerable improvement with dithranol therapy, as compared with 6 patients with placebo (p = 0.002). Erythema, infiltration, scaling, pruritus and the overall result were assessed. Statistically significant differences in favour of dithranol treatment were seen for all five variables, except for pruritus. The average of these five variables, designated the mean score, was also analysed; dithranol was seen to yield significantly better results (p = 0.001). Staining of clothes and the bathroom was noted by 3 and 5 patients, respectively, but no medical side effects were seen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Location of ulcers on the lower limbs in relation to distal systolic blood pressure indices.

The distal systolic blood pressure indices (AI = ankle/arm and TI = toe/arm) of 100 patients with lower limb ulcers at a dermatology outpatient clinic were correlated to ulcer site. The left limb was more often ulcerated than the right. Most ulcers were situated medially, while ulcers on the anterior and posterior sides were infrequent. An AI below 0.9 and TI below 0.6 is usually considered to indicate arterial insufficiency. Forty-four per cent of the patients had an AI less than 0.9 and 66% a TI less than 0.6. The lowest mean indices in all ulcerated limbs were found in patients with ulcers on the feet, followed by those with ulcers in lateral and posterior positions. A significantly lower TI (p = 0.002) was found in the ulcerated limbs when comparing the patients with one ulcerated and one non-ulcerated leg, but no such difference was found for AI. Thus, the ulcerated and the seemingly healthy limb usually had about the same AI. In all patients, TI decreased significantly with age (p = 0.0001). TI was lower in men, than in women, when the effect of age was eliminated (p = 0.0509).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Consequences of having hand eczema.

Consequences of hand eczema were studied in 1238 patients who had the diagnosis confirmed in a prevalence study of hand eczema in the population of Gothenburg. It was found that 2/3 of the patients had consulted a doctor on some occasion and 1/5 had been on sick leave for their hand eczema. The mean total time on sick leave was 18.9 weeks, the median 8 weeks. Patients in service occupations reported more periods of sick leave than other occupational groups. Local steroid preparations were used by 1/2 the patients, emollients by 85%. Change of work was reported by 8% and was most common in service occupations. Hairdressers had the highest rate of change. 80% of the patients experienced some kind of disturbance to their social and emotional lives, considered to be caused by the hand eczema. Frequent itching was reported by 1/2 the patients, occasional itching by another 1/3. Comparing different types of hand eczema, allergic contact dermatitis seemed throughout to cause more serious consequences. It is concluded that good care of a hand eczema patient includes attention to the impact of the disease on the patient's total situation.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1990

Occupational hand eczema in an industrial city.

Hand eczema in relation to occupation was studied in an industrial city. Questionnaires were sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register of the city. Those subjects (1385) considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination including patch testing. It was found that the reported 1-year period prevalence of hand eczema in the total sample was 11.8%. The only occupational group reporting a statistically significant higher 1-year period prevalence was service work, 15.4%. Among all occupations, cleaners turned out to have the highest period prevalence, 21.3%. Hand eczema was more common among people reporting some kind of occupational exposure. The most harmful exposure turned out to be to unspecified chemicals, water and detergents and dust and dry dirt. The use of protective gloves is reported and analysed. The most common contact allergy was nickel, followed by cobalt, fragrance-mix, balsam of Peru and colophony. A statistically significant increase in contact allergy to colophony for women in administrative work was found. It is concluded that the type of hand eczema that is mostly dependent on occupation is irritant contact dermatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Predictive factors for hand eczema.

Factors related to hand eczema were studied. Their relative importance as predictors was ranked by multiple logistic regression analysis. Questionnaires were sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register. Those subjects (1385) considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination. It was found that a history of childhood eczema was the most important predictive factor for hand eczema. Second was female sex, followed by occupational exposure, a history of asthma and/or hay fever, and a service occupation. A small decrease in risk with advancing age was also found. The difference in the probability of having had eczema in a 1-year period, between individuals having the most important risk factors studied and those having none of them, proved to be for females 48% compared to 8%, and for males 34% compared to 4%. A history of childhood eczema was found to be more common among young persons, indicating an increase in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis. Of those individuals who reported childhood eczema, 27% reported hand eczema on some occasion during the last 12 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Parental education in the treatment of childhood atopic eczema.

To evaluate the role of health education in the treatment of childhood atopic eczema, an eczema school was arranged for the parents. Fifty consecutive patients (aged 4 months-6 years 2 months) with atopic eczema of varying severity were randomly assigned into two groups; one group receiving routine information given by the physician during the medical visit, and the other group also visiting a trained nurse to receive further information on eczema treatment and practical training in controlling atopic eczema. The therapeutic effect was better in the group which had received extra guidance. We suggest that systematic training in eczema treatment should be organized as an important part of eczema treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of onychomycosis with a propylene glycol-urea-lactic acid solution.

Twenty three patients with culture positive onychomycosis were treated topically twice daily for 2-6 month with a solution containing 10 g urea, 15 g lactic acid, 4 g NaOH, 21 g water, and 50 g propylene glycol. Trichophyton rubrum was cultured in 17 patients and Candida albicans in 6 patients. The solution was effective in 21 of the 23 patients with cure in 2 patients, marked improvement in 11 patients and improvement in 8 of the patients. In the patients with marked improvement some nails were often completely cured. The good effect of this solution in the treatment of onychomycosis is in correlation with a good in vitro activity with MICs of 5% against Tr. rubrum and 10% against C. albicans and a high penetration into nails in vitro. The patients found the solution cosmetically attractive and no side effects were noticed by the patients. Even if the treatment period was short the good effect in the majority of the patients indicates that this solution is effective in topical treatment of onychomycosis.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1989

Skin problems from visual display units. Provocation of skin symptoms under experimental conditions.

Thirty patients having skin problems experienced being caused by work with visual display units (VDU) were tested double-blind with two VDUs. One VDU had strong electrostatic and electromagnetic fields and the other VDU had an identical appearance but the electrostatic field and electromagnetic fields were practically eliminated. Approximately 80% of the patients reacted with stinging or itching in the face during the 3 hours working period with 25% relative humidity in the room. No difference between the VDUs was found with regard to provoking these symptoms. At 60% relative humidity 13 patients of 19 experienced stinging or itching in the face. Those 13 that reacted were asked to come another time and were informed that the VDU was not turned on and that all electric fields that were present came from the cable to the VDU. A green cloth was put over the VDUs. This time 11 of the 13 patients reacted with stinging and itching in spite of the fact that the VDU was turned off. The present study does not indicate that electric and electromagnetic fields are of major importance in provoking subjective skin symptoms in patients experiencing skin problems when working with VDUs.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Epidemiology of different types of hand eczema in an industrial city.

Different types of hand eczema in an industrial city were studied. Questionnaires were sent to 20,000 individuals aged 20-65 years, randomly selected from the population register of the city. Those subjects (1,385) considering themselves to have had hand eczema within the previous 12 months were invited to a dermatological examination. It was found that hand eczema occurred twice as often among females as among males. The most common diagnosis was irritant dermatitis. Atopic hand eczema and allergic contact dermatitis had a lower but approximately equal prevalence. Onset of hand eczema at young ages was common, in particular among women. Hand eczema was shown often to be a long-lasting disease with a relapsing course. Atopic hand eczema seemed to be most unfavourable, with a long duration, high continuity of symptoms and extensive involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Urea as a single drug in dry skin].

Preparations containing urea were found to be effective in the treatment of ichthyosis vulgaris and so we were encouraged to test their use in other dry skin conditions. Urea creams are well applied to dry skin which is not inflamed. In the treatment of psoriasis, which requires a stronger water-binding substance, a combination of sodium chloride and urea in equal concentrations is optimal. Urea creams can be used in the prophylactic treatment of hand eczema and also as a prophylactic against infection, but not in the treatment of already existing infections. In psoriasis and ichthyosis urea is effective in creams substitution therapy. Though urea creams provided relief from itching in neurodermatitis, their use after treatment of eczema with fat-containing salves caused burning sensations. In our experience creams with a urea concentration of 5%-10% offer possibility for treating dry skin.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1988

Regulating the pressure under compression bandages for venous leg ulcers.

A simple method for regulating the highest comfortable sub-bandage pressure is described. One way of regulating the pressure under the bandage is to vary the stretch of the bandage and the other way is to alter the number of bandage layers. With constant stretch, the pressure is proportional to the number of layers. The method with constant degree of stretch and gradually increasing number of layers was tested on 30 patients. Initially the patients received two layers of bandage. One layer was added each time the patient came for treatment, up to five layers. If the patient felt pain or any other discomfort the number of layers was decreased to the former number. About 27% of the patients preferred five layers, 60% four layers and 13% three layers.

Aged↗