Biomedical subjects
M C Polderman
Publications and source records attributed to M C Polderman.
Total body exposure to ultraviolet radiation does not influence plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in man.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: A growing number of reports support evidence of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides in human skin cells, although not consistently. Also the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on cutaneous and plasma levels of these POMC peptides has not been established unequivocally. We hypothesized that production of beta-endorphin (betaE) may explain the sense of well-being many people experience when sun-bathing. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exposure of the skin to UVR elevates plasma betaE. METHOD: Healthy volunteers (n=26) received a single, weighted dose of 15 J/cm2 of UVA. Several times during the hour following irradiation, plasma betaE- immunoreactivity (betaE-IR) was determined by radioimmunoassay. The effect of repeated exposure was assessed in 35 patients treated with UVB, UVA, or UVA-1. Plasma ACTH-IR was monitored in parallel. RESULTS: Overall, plasma levels of betaE-IR and ACTH-IR showed no significant changes during the experiment, indicating that these peptides are not influenced by single or repeated exposures to UVR of different wavelengths. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these results, the skin does not appear to contribute significantly to the levels of circulating betaE or ACTH. These data offer no support for the hypothesis that exposure to UVR leads to an increased concentration of circulating betaE, which could contribute to the feeling of well-being that often accompanies sun-bathing.
UVA-1 cold light treatment of SLE: a double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial.
OBJECTIVE: Treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often implies strong drugs with possibly serious side effects. Thus there is a need for new immunosuppressive treatments. Long wave ultraviolet A (UVA-1) cold light therapy is an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory treatment with a possible systemic effect and few side effects. In the current study low dose UVA-1 cold light treatment was tested to determine whether it reduces disease activity in SLE. METHODS: Eleven patients with SLE were treated with UVA-1 cold light treatment and a placebo light treatment in a double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study. In two consecutive 12 week periods the patients were treated in the first three weeks with UVA-1 and placebo treatment or vice versa. The primary variables were the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and SLE Activity Measure (SLAM). RESULTS: The mean SLAM and SLEDAI showed a significant decrease of 30.4% (p=0.0005) and 37.9% (p=0.016) respectively after three weeks of UVA-1 and a non-significant decline of 9.3% (p=0.43) and 12.2% (p=0.54) respectively after three weeks of placebo treatment. In this small trial the difference in reduction of the disease activity indices during UVA-1 compared with during placebo treatment failed to reach the conventional border of significance (p=0.07). The total score of quality of life measure RAND-36 did not improve significantly, but the subscore for vitality did improve. CONCLUSION: Low dose UVA-1 cold light treatment was strongly suggestive of lowering disease activity in this double blind placebo controlled study, and no side effects occurred.
Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of a long-pulsed ruby laser system in the removal of unwanted hair.
BACKGROUND: Unwanted hair growth is a common, usually physiologic phenomenon. OBJECTIVE: In this study the efficacy and tolerability of a long-pulsed ruby laser system was compared with needle electrolysis and hot wax on three parts of the body. METHODS: Thirty volunteers were treated three times on the forearm (n = 10), on the face (n = 10), or in the pubic area (n = 10) with 25 J/cm2 laser, 40 J/cm2 laser, needle electrolysis, and hot wax therapy. RESULTS: The 25 J/cm2 and 40 J/cm2 laser treated sites showed a statistically significant decrease (38% and 49%, respectively) in the number of hairs at the first visit after the last treatment compared to the pretreatment hair counts. No significant decrease was observed in the needle electrolysis and hot wax treated sites. Laser therapy yielded better results on the forearm than on the face or pubic area and was scored as the least painful. CONCLUSION: The long-pulsed ruby laser is a promising, well-tolerated method of epilation.
[Ultraviolet A-I phototherapy for skin diseases].
Favourable effects of sunlight on various skin diseases include inhibition of rapid proliferation of cells (psoriasis), modulation of cells in an inflammatory infiltrate (atopic eczema) and stimulation of proteolytic enzymes (scleroderma). The ultraviolet (UV) fraction of the solar spectrum is the most biologically active because it is almost completely absorbed by the skin. UVB and the combination of psoralens with UVA (PUVA) have become important therapeutic modalities, especially for psoriasis and eczema. Lamps producing long wave UV radiation are available: UVA-I light. Owing to its longer wavelength it penetrates more deeply into the skin and gives less risk of development of skin cancer than other forms of UV radiation. Good results are reported of application of UVA-I in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, scleroderma, urticaria pigmentosa, and systemic lupus erythematosus.