PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R A Forster

Publications and source records attributed to R A Forster.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of dermatophyte infection of the finger- and toe-nails with terbinafine (SF 86-327, Lamisil), an orally active fungicidal agent.

We report on the use of a new orally active fungicidal agent, terbinafine (SF 86-327, Lamisil) in the treatment of patients with dermatophyte onychomycosis. Twenty patients with toe-nail, and 10 with finger-nail infection received 250 mg of terbinafine daily: finger-nail infections were treated for 6 months and toe-nail infections for 12 months. All 24 patients who completed the course of therapy achieved mycological cure, as did two subjects who dropped out of the trial. All but two patients had clinically normal nails at the end of the study period. The mean time for mycological cure was 12.5 weeks for finger-nail infection, and 24 weeks for toe-nail infections. The time for a clinical cure with normal nails was 20.5 weeks for finger-nail infection, and 44 weeks for toe-nail infection. An exacerbation of pre-existing dyspepsia occurred in three of the six patients who did not complete the trial but there were no other significant adverse reactions.

Administration, Oral↗

The role of bovine collagen in the treatment of acne scars.

Eighteen patients with a variety of depressed scars, predominantly as a result of acne, were treated with a purified bovine dermal collagen prepared as an injection (Zyderm I) for direct implantation into the scars. Both subjective and objective assessment showed encouraging results in those with soft and distensible scars. This method is, however, largely unsuitable for rigid, fibrotic or ice-pick scarring. Any improvement was usually apparent by the third treatment session. This is a safe, virtually painless, simple technique requiring no specialized equipment and has a high patient acceptability-but is expensive.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Topical azelaic acid and the treatment of acne: a clinical and laboratory comparison with oral tetracycline.

Topical azelaic acid and oral tetracycline were compared in a 6-month double-blind study for treatment of acne vulgaris in 45 male subjects with clinical acne. Their acne was graded, inflamed or non-inflamed, lesions were counted and the density of their skin microflora was measured. Both treatments were of benefit and produced only a few minor side-effects. Although oral tetracycline was more effective than azelaic acid, the differences were only just significant. The average reduction in numbers of cutaneous micrococcaceae and Propionibacterium sp. with azelaic acid treatment was 224 and 30-fold, respectively. In a separate group of 11 male subjects with physiological acne the effect of azelaic acid on sebum excretion rate was assessed, and little change was detected.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Topical benzoyl peroxide increases the sebum excretion rate in patients with acne.

Investigations on fifteen patients with acne showed that at the end of 1 and 2 months of treatment 5% benzoyl peroxide increased the sebum excretion rate by 22.5%. This rise in sebum excretion is probably due to the comedolytic activity of benzoyl peroxide which will influence the pooling of sebum in the upper reaches of the pilosebaceous duct.

Acne Vulgaris↗

The effect of topically applied progesterone on sebum excretion rate.

There is evidence that anti-androgens may help in the treatment of acne vulgaris. We therefore performed a double-blind trial to assess the effect of topically applied progesterone on sebum excretion rate. Thirty-eight patients took part in the trial which was for 3 months. The preparation had no effect in males. However, a significant reduction in sebum excretion rate was found in females, the effect being maximal at the end of the second month. There was a significant loss of effect at the end of the third month and this was not related to deterioration of the progesterone preparation.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Antibodies to Candida after operations on the heart.

The occurrence of yeasts and antibodies to yeasts was studied in patients undergoing open-heart surgery without antifungal prophylaxis, and in a similar group receiving antifungal prophylaxis. An association was demonstrated between the occurrence of commensal yeasts and the appearance of antibodies. None of the patients developed overt systemic or superficial yeast infection. The antigenic stimulus for the post-operative production of antibodies appeared to be the increase in the yeast flora that occurred shortly after operation. When the commensal yeast population was suppressed by antifungal antibiotics, the antibody response was also reduced. The implications of these findings in the interpretation of serological tests for diagnosis of systemic yeast infections are discussed.

Agglutination Tests↗

Pilo-sebaceous duct physiology. III. Observations on the number and size of pilo-sebaceous ducts in acne vulgaris.

We have used surface microscopy to measure the pil-sebaceous duct orifices at different sites in 150 subjects. Our data have shown that there are more pilo-sebaceous units on the face compared to the back and that these exists are smaller on the face. Despite the small exit the sebum excretion rate per gland on the forehead was not significantly different from that on the back. Thus the number of pilo-sebaceous duct units and the pilo-sebaceous canal exit size are possible factors in the localization of acne.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Tetracycline and acne vulgaris: a clinical and laboratory investigation.

A satisfactory clinical response to long-term oral tetracycline treatment was associated with a mean serum tetracycline of 1.98 mug/ml. The surface lipid showed an increased triglyceride, decreased free fatty acids, and decreased cholesterol, and the amount of keratin within the pilosebaceous duct was reduced. At this dose level there was no quantitative decrease in the bacterial flora though there was a decrease in the fatty acids. We believe that the latter was due to a direct inhibition by tetracycline on extracellular lipases.

Acne Vulgaris↗