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Biomedical subjects

H I Beck

Publications and source records attributed to H I Beck.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Receptor-induced beta gamma release from fatty acylation-deficient mutants of G alpha z.

The neuronal-specific G protein Gz is known to interact with a large variety of receptors for neurotransmitters and hormones. Fatty acylations on the N-terminus of the alpha subunit of Gz (alpha z) provide anchorage to the plasma membrane. Fatty acylation-deficient mutants of alpha z have previously been shown to exhibit altered signaling properties. Since the N-terminus of alpha z is likely to play a critical role in beta gamma binding, we examined the ability of these mutants to interact with beta gamma subunits by means of receptor-mediated stimulation of beta gamma-sensitive type II adenylyl cyclase. Our results indicate that lack of myristoylation, but not lack of palmitoylation, impaired the ability of alpha z to mediate receptor-induced release of beta gamma subunits.

Acylation↗

Nickel in intercellular fluid. Comparison between nickel-allergic patients and controls.

Twelve non-atopic women with nickel allergy and allergic contact dermatitis (pompholyx type) were compared with matched controls without any known allergy. Intercellular fluid was obtained by the suction blister technique, and sufficient material for analysis was available from 10 women from each group. The median nickel concentration was 16 nmol/l in the patient group and 39 nmol/l in the controls (p less than 0.02). Calculated dietary intake of nickel during the week before examination was similar in the two groups, but the fluid intake was larger in the control group. Urine was collected in the morning before examination by 11 women in each group; the nickel concentrations showed no difference between the two groups. These observations suggest that cellular uptake of nickel in sensitized patients may be sufficient to influence the kinetics of nickel in the body.

Dermatitis, Contact↗

House dust mites and atopic dermatitis. A case-control study on the significance of house dust mites as etiologic allergens in atopic dermatitis.

The occurrence of house dust mites was measured in homes of 24 patients with atopic dermatitis, 30 patients with mite-sensitive asthma and 32 patients with asthma not related to house dust mites. Patients with mite-positive asthma and patients with atopic dermatitis had significantly higher exposure to house dust mites compared with patients with mite-negative asthma. For atopic dermatitis the higher exposure to house dust mites corresponded to a relative risk of 4.7 and a clear dose-response relationship was demonstrated between exposure and risk of disease in the subgroups of patients with atopic dermatitis. The present epidemiologic results support the idea that house dust mites may be an etiologic factor in a proportion of adult patients with atopic dermatitis.

Allergens↗

Atopic dermatitis and house dust mites.

The occurrence of house dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp) was investigated in the homes of 26 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), 20 patients with psoriasis and 41 randomly selected homes in Arhus, Denmark. The AD patients with moderate to severe eczema had an increased concentration of mites (median 85 mites/0.1 g mattress dust) compared with the controls (median 8 mites/0.1 g mattress dust). The higher exposure to house dust mites corresponded to a relative risk of 4.6 and a clear dose-response relationship between exposure and disease could be demonstrated. Our results illustrate a clear association between moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and increased exposure to house dust mites in the patients' homes, and support the hypothesis that mite antigens could be an aetiological factor in atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗

Atopic dermatitis and the indoor climate. The effect from preventive measures.

Nine patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) were clinically evaluated before and after moving to new houses with improved air exchange, low relative humidity and optimal temperature control. During a 2-year period three clinical and subjective assessments were performed each month of disease activity, and compared with changes in suspended and respirable dust particles, room temperature, air exchange rate, concentration of house-dust mites in bedrooms, and the concentration of organic solvents in the indoor air. Ten matched patients with AD, who did not move, served as a control group. The skin condition of patients moved improved significantly after moving. The indoor climate was improved on: 1) air exchange rate, 2) relative humidity, and 3) room temperature, but the amounts of house dust mites, respirable air particles and organic solvents were unchanged. The clinical and subjective improvement in AD could not be correlated to any single indoor environmental factor. The present investigation supports the current concept, that AD may be a multifactorial disease, and that the indoor climate may be a contributing factor affecting the eczema.

Adolescent↗

No detectable increase in sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes from mycosis fungoides patients after topical treatment with nitrogen mustard.

We measured sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in lymphocytes of eight MF patients before, and 2 h, and 24 h after treatment with topical nitrogen mustard. The mean number of SCEs/cell (+/- SEM) were 8.15 (+/- 0.62), 8.34 (+0.55) and 8.26 (+/- 0.56), respectively. The 2 h and 24 h results do not differ significantly from pretreatment levels. Our results show that concentrations of nitrogen mustard used to control MF do not induce SCEs in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Aged↗

Adult, acquired reactive perforating collagenosis. Report of a case including ultrastructural findings.

A case of reactive perforating collagenosis in an adult male patient with chronic renal failure. Pruritic, umbilicate papules, showing extrusion of collagen fibers through the epidermis were detected histopathologically. Electron microscopy showed absence of basal membrane beneath the perforation and collagen fibers with preserved periodicity passing through widened intercellular spaces with islands of cytoplasmic material.

Aged↗

Skin blood flow in necrobiosis lipoidica during treatment with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid.

Skin blood flow was measured by the laser Doppler technique in lesional and clinically normal skin of 10 diabetic patients with necrobiosis lipoidica during and after treatment with 40 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) daily. The measurements showed that the blood flow during ASA treatment was significantly decreased in the central lesional skin without changes in the peripheral part of the lesions and normal skin. In view of these findings we suggest that low-dose ASA may not be the best treatment for necrobiosis lipoidica.

Adolescent↗

House dust mites and human dander.

The occurrence of house dust mites was measured in the homes of 12 patients with the scaly skin disease, psoriasis. The median number of mites in the mattress dust and floor dust was 27 (range 10-153)/0.1 g and 56 (range 12-114)/0.1 g respectively, which is significantly higher than the background pollution of house dust mites in normal Danish homes. The results support the idea that the amount of mites in our homes not only depend on relative air humidity but also on the production of dandruff.

Adult↗

Atopic dermatitis, house dust mite allergy and month of birth.

An analysis of the month of birth in 210 patients with atopic dermatitis and a positive prick test towards the house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) showed a significantly higher prevalence of birth in the interval May to November when compared with the expected distribution (p less than 0.01). A subdivision of the AD patients due to the concomitant presence of asthma showed no differences as the relative risk was nearly the same in the two subgroups. This observation indicates that a consistent seasonal preference of birth in patients with atopic dermatitis only applies to the skin disease and not to coexistent asthma.

Adolescent↗

IgE in atopic dermatitis: a study of the intercellular fluid.

In 33 adult patients with atopic dermatitis of mild to severe degree the concentration of IgE in serum (S) and intercellular fluid (IF) was studied by suction blister technique. The median value of IF/S-IgE was 0.20 and not different from the ratio 0.21 found in controls. Furthermore, by subdividing the patients into groups with asthma/rhinitis or different severities of eczema no significant differences in the IF/S-IgE ratios were found compared with the controls. In the controls the IF/S-IgE ratio (0.21) was significantly different from the IF/S-IgG ratio (0.32). The median ratio of IF/S-IgE divided by IF/S-IgG was 0.63, which might indicate a reduced passage of IgE into IF compared with IgG presumably dependent on differences in the molecular size or tertiary structure of the proteins.

Adolescent↗

Graft exchange in vitiligo. Studies on the outcome of exchanging biopsies from vitiliginous skin to normal, pigmented skin and vice versa.

In 27 patients with vitiligo punch biopsies from vitiliginous skin to normal skin and vice versa were performed. Of the vitiligo grafts 69% showed donor dominance and 31% receptor dominance. When normal skin was transplanted 74% showed receptor dominance and 26% donor dominance. In 13 patients (52%) blood screening pointed towards an autoimmune disease.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of erosive lichen planus with dapsone.

A 74-year-old woman with a chronic, severe, erosive lichen planus on the tongue, buccal mucosa and toes was treated successfully with dapsone. Previous therapy had failed, Partly due to side effects.

Aged↗

Topical treatment of psoriatic skin with methotrexate cream: a clinical, pharmacokinetic, and histological study.

Five patients were treated with either 0.25% methotrexate cream or placebo in a double blind trial. The evaluation showed no clinical or histological effect although the drug was absorbed from the skin. Methotrexate (MTX) accumulated in locally treated psoriasis plaques as well as in untreated plaques. The psoriatic skin concentrations were increased by a factor of 119 and 4, respectively. This observation is discussed in relation to the possible role of action of methotrexate in psoriasis. We suggest that methotrexate inhibits the chemotaxis of neutrophil leukocytes systemically and not primarily in the skin, thereby preventing development of the early stages in the psoriatic lesions.

Administration, Topical↗