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Thirteen patients were treated for their axillary hyperhidrosis by excision of axillary skin under general anaesthesia. The operation was performed by dermatologists. Significant benefit was obtained by ten of the thirteen patients. The sweat levels were measured in a control group, and in patients before operation, and at intervals up to 1 year post-operatively. This is a good operation; minor complications are common, but resolve quickly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight patients with mycosis fungoides limited to the skin have been treated with either topical nitrogen mustard alone or in combination with photochemotherapy. This regime does not prevent contact sensitization to nitrogen mustard but will clear sanctuary sites of disease which may develop when photochemotherapy is used alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An animal model for investigating topically applied epidermal cytotoxic drugs to determine optimum therapeutic doses and schedules is described. It is used here to examine the effects of cycloheximide on epidermal DNA synthesis, as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in vivo, in terms of dose/response and activity/time profiles and potential systemic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An animal model for evaluating the effects of drugs on epidermal DNA synthesis has been used to determine the time of onset, period of maximum activity and duration of effect of two topically applied proprietary glucocorticosteroids, clobetasone butyrate and clubetasol propionate. Both drugs produced maximum inhibition of epidermal DNA synthesis by 24 Ii after application. Clobetasol propionate exhibited a significantly earlier onset (4½ h) and longer duration (36 h) of activity than clobetasonc butyrate (6 and 24 h respectively). A systemic effect was not observed at any time after the application of clobetasone butyrate but was observed for up to 24 h after the application of clobetasol propionate. Clobetasol butyrare was also assayed in this system and was found to be as potent as clobetasol propionate. It is concluded that the alcoholic, as opposed to the ketonic, grouping in the i r posit ions of the steroid ring profoundly alters the potential of this molecule for systemic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple animal model for studying topically applied glucocorticosteroids for their effect on epidermal DNA synthesis is described. It is designed so that their potential for systemic side effects may be predicted and its usefulness in this respect is illustrated by the results obtained with two of the steroids investigated. One, a new formulation Temetex, is predicted to have considerable systemic potential. The other, Molivate, is remarkable for having moderate local, without demonstrable systemic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating immune complexes have been detected in patients with pityriasis lichenoides during disease activity when 1gM and C3 have been observed in dermal vessels on direct immunofluoresccnce of fresh lesions. This implies that pityriasis lichenoides is an immune complex disorder and that deposited complexes play a part in the pathogcnesis of the condition. There is a characteristic pattern of immunofluorescence `which may be a diagnostic aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tachyphylaxis (acute tolerance) to two important actions of topical glucocorticosteroids is demonstrated. In humans, topically active glucocorticoids applied to the skin cause vasoconstriction initially but this response fades with successive applications. In hairless mouse epidermis, inhibition of DNA synthesis and mitosis is caused by one application of a glucocorticoid but with repeated administration of the drug this effect is lost. The degree of inhibition of cell division appears to be similar 30 and 54 h after one application of steroid to that following three or five applications during such a time period. These findings suggest that an optimum therapeutic approach to the use of these agents exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new, rapid, simple and accurate procedure for extracting DNA from the epidermis is described involving hydroxyapatite. This compound has an unique property of high affinity for double stranded native DNA, but none for RNA and protein. The technique has been applied to a hairless mouse model for screening systemic and topical agents for cell inhibitory properties in proliferating epidermis for potential use in the therapy of psoriasis. Mitotic counts, autoradiography and a standard chloroform procedure for isolating DNA have confirmed the results obtained using hydroxyapatite column chromatography. In addition, compounds which are known to be effective in psoriasis, have been found to be effective in the system suggesting that it should be a good predictive screen for new therapies. Of several compounds screened for topical activity, cycloheximide has been found to be very effective in the system and preliminary clinical studies confirm its efficacy in psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]