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Background: Rosiglitazone maleate is the second approved oral hypoglycemic agent of the thiazolidinedione class. The first, troglitazone, has been associated with liver failure, occasionally resulting in liver transplantation or death. There have been no reports to date of rosiglitazone-associated elevations in the alanine aminotransferase level or hepatotoxicity.Objective: To report the clinical characteristics of liver failure developing in a patient receiving rosiglitazone.Design: Case report.Setting: University hospital.Patient: 69-year-old man taking rosiglitazone, 4 mg/d.Intervention: Discontinuation of rosiglitazone therapy and treatment with lactulose, vitamin K, fresh frozen plasma, ventilatory assistance, and intensive care unit support.Measurements: Blood test monitoring, including toxicology screening, liver function tests, coagulation studies, serum chemistries, and complete blood counts.Results: After 21 days of rosiglitazone therapy, hepatic failure developed. Other causes of hepatic failure, such as viruses and toxins, were excluded, although it is possible that congestive heart failure was also a causative factor. The patient recovered fully with supportive care.Conclusion: Rosiglitazone may be associated with hepatic failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential role of substance abuse. especially cocaine and alcohol as co-factor in HIV infection and in the development and expression of AIDS has been suggested. but the possible biological role of substance abuse in the development of AIDS is not known. in order to better understand immune system function in chronic cocaine abuse, we have assessed primary H cell responses to helper T-cell independent (TI) and dependent (TD) antigens in inbred Fisher male rats injected with 1-25-5 mg cocaine/kg body weight for 10 days. The ability of cocaine-exposed animals to mount primary in vivo splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) and serum antibody responses to the TI antigen, pneumococcal polysaccharide type III (SIII), was elevated several-fold when compared with controls. The degree of elevation of humoral antibody responses seemed to be directly related to the dose of cocaine. Primary in vivo B cell responses to the TD antigen, sheep red blood cells (SRBC), was elevated at lower concentrations of cocaine( 1.25-2-5 mg/gk) and was found to be significantly suppressed after chronic exposure to the higher concentration (50 mg/kg). The elevated primary splenic immunostimulation to TI (SIII) may be attributed to a combination of loss of T suppressor cell control and direct B cell stimulation. Elevated immune responses to SRBC at lower concentrations were attributed to stimulation of T helper cells as well as loss of T suppressor cells. Immunosuppression to SRBC observed in response to 5.0 mg/kg of cocaine was most probably due to loss of T helper cell subset functions. These findings were further tested by in vivo methods, where splenic lymphocytes from cocaine-exposed animals were examined for their ability to respond to concanavalin A (Con A) in terms of the induction of antigen non-specific suppressor T cells. The addition of Con A-stimulated splenic lymphocytes from cocaine-treated animals did not inhibit the primary antibody responses of SRBC as compared with saline-treated controls, indicating that suppressor T cells malfunction after cocaine exposure. Lymphocyte subpopulation analysis using fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibodies showed a significant increase in the B cell populations at doses of 1.25-5 mg/kg. A reciprocal change in T cell populations also took place. No significant numerical change in macrophage (NSE+) and T cell subset. T helper and T suppressor was noticed, suggesting that cocaine probably directly effects mature T cell subset functions but does not affect their differentiation. In vitro, exposure of isolated lymphocytes to various doses of cocaine did not result in any significant immunomodulation, indicating that not cocaine but its by-products or a metabolite of cocaine or the stimulation by cocaine of the release of some host factor(s) is responsible for the observed immunological alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nineteen, non-cycling female rats, 13–15 months of age, were fed 125 mg L-DOPA/15 g feed daily, and nineteen control rats of the same age were provided feed without L-DOPA. Sixteen of the L-DOPA fed rats each demonstrated 1–7 (average = 3) vaginal estrous cycles during the 75-day period of treatment, whereas no cycles were observed in the untreated controls. All animals were then ovariectomized and the post-castration rise in LH was monitored. Four weeks after ovariectomy, serum LH levels in the L-DOPA treated old female rats were significantly higher than in the non-treated old female rats. A single injection of 20μg of estradiol benzoate (EB) significantly lowered serum LH in the L-DOPA treated rats, but no effect was observed in the non-treated controls. A second injection of EB three days later produced a significantly greater LH surge in the old rats given L-DOPA than in the non-L-DOPA treated controls. These results indicate that prolonged L-DOPA administration can partially prevent the decline in function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian system in aging female rats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a case study on the use of Evipan in the investigation of some chronic dermatoses. Selection of patients for the study; Difficulty of obtaining the confidence of a patient in a service ward; Advantages of Evipan over hypnosis.

Presents observations on the phytopharmacological index in pemphigus. Clinical manifestations of the disease, including ulceration of the mouth; Results of experiments that determine the difference among various water solutions from pemphigus patients; Factor affecting the value of the phytotoxic index in pemphigus.

Presents cases of rosacea-like tuberculide. Clinical appearance of tuberculide; Effect of tuberculin on the disease; Differential diagnosis between lupus miliaris and rosaceous tuberculide.

Presents the findings of intradermal tests in dermatoses and the therapeutic effect of intradermal vaccines. Comparison of the positive reactions of patients to tuberculin with erythema multiforme; Importance of intradermal injections of autogenous vaccines in skin infections; Diseases treated with intradermal injections of streptococcal vaccine.

This article presents information on various case studies related to dermatology. One of the case studies discussed is of a married woman, aged 60, who was admitted to hospital complaining of discomfort and tightness of her skin, some irritation, swelling of the small joints of her hands, stiffness of her wrists, general weakness and lethargy. A cheerful, well preserved woman, with a noticeably smooth, pallid face and very restricted smile. The chief characteristics of the affected areas of skin are induration without loss of elasticity, and aggregation of papules of varying sizes, many of which have a shiny surface, and a somewhat translucent appearance. The color varies from flesh color to a somewhat mauve hue.

The article presents information about studies related to keratosis pilaris. Researcher H.S. Stannus reviewed 4,000 children of school age and found that keratosis pilaris was maximal at puberty and the next few years of adolescence, particularly among girls who were well grown and plump. He examined girls of 14 years and found the incidence of keratosis pilaris was up to 80%. Researcher C.N. Frazier and C.K. Hu described keratosis pilaris, keratomalacia and squamous metaplasia of the mucocutaneous junctions and upper respiratory tract as due to a vitamin A deficiency.

The article discusses the depigmentary properties of monobenzylether of hydroquinone. The effect of hydroquinone on the skin was investigated because commercial agerite alba contains a small proportion of hydroquinone. In the workers affected by depigmentation due to the rubber gloves, patch tests with hydroquinone gave a slight degree of depigmentation in a small proportion of the patch tests. The compound can also act as a skin sensitizer. Monobenzylether of hydroquinone has a specific blocking action on the formation of skin pigment, perhaps at the dopa--melanin stage.