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Biomedical subjects

J K Billings

Publications and source records attributed to J K Billings.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1987

Lipoatrophic panniculitis: a possible autoimmune inflammatory disease of fat. Report of three cases.

We observed three children with a clinically similar presentation of erythematous nodules that expanded centrifugally leaving lipoatrophy. Areas of lipoatrophy coalesced, resulting in clinical pictures similar to partial or total lipodystrophy. Histologic study revealed a lobular panniculitis with a mixed infiltrate of lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. Of these three children, one had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, one developed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and the third developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, suggesting that the pathogenic mechanism may be an expression of autoimmunity.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1986

Cyclosporine improves psoriasis in a double-blind study.

In a double-blind trial, 21 patients with severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive oral cyclosporine, 14 mg/kg/d, or its vehicle. After four weeks of therapy the 11 cyclosporine recipients had the following response to treatment: two had total clearing and six improved markedly, two moderately, and one minimally; whereas ten vehicle-treated patients showed no change or minimal improvement. Vehicle-treated patients, after a switch to cyclosporine for four weeks, demonstrated impressive improvement similar to that seen in patients who initially received only cyclosporine. Moderate or marked improvement or total clearing was noted in 17 (81%) of 21 and 20 (95%) of 21 after one and four weeks of therapy, respectively. Mitotic figures and leukotriene B4 levels in lesions decreased 86% and 64%, respectively, after seven days of cyclosporine therapy. Mononuclear (including activated T cells) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrates were markedly reduced in lesions of all patients after seven days of cyclosporine therapy. These results suggest that psoriasis may have an immunologic basis mediated by activated T cells and/or other immune cells; if a long-term regimen with a favorable efficacy-side effect ratio can be determined, cyclosporine would be a significant advance in the treatment of psoriasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Age-related changes in sebaceous wax ester secretion rates in men and women.

Sustainable rates of sebaceous wax ester secretion were measured on the foreheads of 109 men and 167 women, aged 15-97. Each measurement was made after first depleting the cutaneous sebum reservoir by overnight absorption of lipid into a layer of bentonite clay. Lipid was then absorbed for 3 h into fresh clay in which two 2-cm cloth disks were embedded. The absorbed lipid was extracted from the disks with ether and analyzed for wax esters by thin-layer chromatography. For both men and women there was a wide range of wax ester secretion rates at all ages. Rates were highest in the 15- to 35-year-olds and appeared to decline continuously throughout the adult age range. Values of log(wax esters) were better correlated with age than the untransformed values of wax ester secretion. The equations of best fit of log(wax esters) vs age suggested that sebum secretion declines about 23% per decade in men and 32% per decade in women.

Adolescent↗