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The study evaluates the clinical efficacy of pulsed dye laser therapy in the treatment of acne. The study concluded that the nonpurpuric pulsed dye laser therapy did not result in significant improvement of facial acne.

Photoaging of the skin refers to cumulative damage from sun exposure. There is limited evidence so far that 0.1 percent tretinoin applied directly to the skin can improve the characteristics and appearance of photodamaged skin. In this study, six women (age range, 36 to 55 years) applied tretinoin to one forearm and an inactive placebo cream to the other forearm daily for four months. At the beginning and end of the study, skin biopsies were taken and the structure of the skin was examined using an electron microscope. Specifically, the number of anchoring fibrils in the epidermal-dermal junction were counted; these structures contain the protein collagen. It was theorized that during sun damage, exposure to UV light increases the production of collagenase, the enzyme that breaks down collagen in the skin, and that the collagenase degrades the anchoring fibrils. Tretinoin is believed to inhibit this process, preserving the anchoring fibrils. The anchoring fibrils may literally anchor the layers of skin to one another, straightening out the tiny wrinkles caused by sun damage. Treatment with tretinoin doubled the density of anchoring fibrils as compared with the placebo cream; the increased number of these anchoring fibrils may be responsible for the improved appearance of photoaged skin when treated with tretinoin. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Objective To quantitatively examine the dynamics of molecular alterations involved in dermal remodeling after carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing of photodamaged human skin. Design Serial in vivo biochemical analyses after laser therapy. Setting Academic referral center, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Subjects Volunteer sample of 28 adults, 48 to 76 years old, with clinically evident photodamage of the forearms. Intervention Focal CO2 laser resurfacing of photodamaged forearms and serial biopsies at baseline and various times after treatment. Main Outcome Measures Reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction technology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess levels of type I and type III procollagens; matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 3, 9, and 13; tropoelastin; fibrillin; primary cytokines interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor α; and profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor β1. Results Production of type I procollagen and type III procollagen messenger RNA peaked at 7.5 and 8.9 times baseline levels, respectively, 21 days after treatment and remained elevated for at least 6 months. Increases in messenger RNA levels of several cytokines (interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and transforming growth factor β1) preceded and/or accompanied changes in collagen levels. Marked increases in messenger RNA levels of MMP-1 (39 130-fold), MMP-3 (1041-fold), MMP-9 (75-fold), and MMP-13 (767-fold) were noted. Levels of fibrillin and tropoelastin rose in a delayed fashion several weeks after treatment. Conclusions The biochemical changes seen after CO2 laser resurfacing proceed through a well-organized and highly reproducible wound healing response that results in marked alterations in dermal structure. These quantitative changes may serve as a means for comparison as other therapeutic modalities meant to improve the appearance of photodamaged skin are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the long-term effects of recombinant human interferon gamma treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). Design: Case series. Patients were treated for up to 24 months. Setting: University dermatology outpatient clinics in Ann Arbor, Mich, and Portland, Ore. Patients: Twenty-four of 32 eligible patients who participated in a previously reported, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of recombinant human interferon gamma treatment for AD were enrolled. Intervention: Patients self-administered recombinant human interferon gamma, 50 µg/m[sup 2], by daily subcutaneous injection. Main Outcome Measures: Overall response; body surface area of involvement; clinical severity scores for pruritus, erythema, edema, excoriations, dryness, scaling, and lichenification; other atopic symptoms; and laboratory parameters, including serum IgE levels, were monitored at quarterly visits. Results at 1 and 2 years were compared with baseline values. Results: All efficacy parameters improved (P<.05). For example, pruritus was reduced by 50% after both 1 (n=24, P<.001) and 2 (n=16, P=.005) years. Allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis also improved (P<.01). Eosinophil counts decreased significantly (P<.001). IgE levels increased. Clinical improvement more closely correlated with changes in eosinophil counts (r=0.3-0.5) than with changes in IgE levels (r=0.0-0.2). Only 1 patient discontinued therapy because of adverse effects (flulike symptoms). Conclusions: The initial efficacy and adverse effects reported for recombinant human interferon gamma treatment of patients with AD were maintained after 2 years of long-term use. Recombinant human interferon gamma seems to be a well-tolerated and effective agent in the long-term therapy of patients with AD. Therapies that correct cellular immune defects, but not humoral immune defects, may be effective in the treatment of patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]