Anne-Lene Krogstad

Bioavailability of aminolaevulinic acid and methylaminolaevulinate in basal cell carcinomas: a perfusion study using microdialysis in vivo

Background  Photodynamic therapy is becoming a popular treatment for superficial nonmelanoma precancerous and cancerous lesions, showing excellent cosmetic results. Nevertheless, the reported cure rates vary and the transdermal penetration of drugs has been discussed as a limiting factor, particularly for treatment of nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Delta-aminolevulinic acid in superficial basal cell carcinomas and normal skin—a microdialysis and perfusion study

Delta‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is used for photodynamic therapy of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) as it is converted to protoporphyrin IX in tumour tissue. During illumination with 635 nm light a photochemical reaction takes place, singlet oxygen is generated and the tumour destroyed. In this study we used the microdialysis technique to quantify the concentration of ALA at a certain depth in tumour and healthy skin. The penetration ability of ALA was investigated as a function of time in BCCs (n = 14) and in normal skin (n = 4) after topical application. The microdialysis catheters were inserted intracutaneously and the depth position recorded by means of ultrasound. Microdialysate sample concentrations of amino acids and ALA were determined by high performance ion‐exchange chromatography. A laser Doppler perfusion imager measured perfusion in the BCCs. The data show that the average depth of the microdialysis catheters was 0.5 mm. The interstitial ALA concentration in the BCCs increased from 0 to 3.1 mmol/L 15 min after application of ALA, whereas no measurable amounts of ALA were found in healthy skin. The blood perfusion was 2.5‐fold increased in the BCCs. The interstitial levels of amino acids were not significantly changed during the ALA treatment. In summary, we found that ALA rapidly penetrates tumour skin. We conclude that microdialysis seems to be well suited for pharmacodynamic studies of ALA in skin.

UVB therapy increases 25(OH) vitamin D syntheses in postmenopausal women with psoriasis.

Background: Vitamin D3 is produced in the epidermis by ultraviolet (UV) radiation (290–315 nm) of 7‐dehydrocholesterol. A similar range of 290–320 nm (broadband UVB) has been successfully used for years to treat psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UVB therapy was able to influence vitamin D synthesis in psoriasis patients.

No compensatory sweating after botulinum toxin treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis

Background  Primary focal hyperhidrosis is caused by excessive secretion by eccrine sweat glands, usually at the palms, soles and axillae. The underlying mechanism is unclear. In recent years botulinum toxin A has emerged as a useful treatment. Compensatory sweating, which is a major problem in many patients who have undergone transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis, has only rarely been reported after botulinum toxin. However, this potential side‐effect of botulinum toxin treatment has not been systematically examined.

Sun exposure induces rapid immunological changes in skin and peripheral blood in patients with psoriasis

Background  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has immunosuppressive effects and heliotherapy is a well‐described treatment modality for psoriasis.

Evaluation of objective methods to diagnose palmar hyperhidrosis and monitor effects of botulinum toxin treatment

OBJECTIVE To evaluate (1) if laboratory tests may be a useful complement in diagnosing palmar hyperhidrosis and (2) if such tests can be used in the follow up examination of treatment effects. METHODS Repeated measurements of evaporation and conductance were made in glabrous skin on hands and compared with subjective estimates of the degree of sweating in 20 control subjects and 20 patients with a history of palmar hyperhidrosis. In addition, 17 patients were monitored for up to 6 months after treatment of the hands with botulinum toxin A. RESULTS Before treatment, evaporation in the palms was higher in the patients than in the control subjects but skin conductance did not differ between the groups. After treatment both evaporation and skin conductance decreased markedly in the patients and then slowly returned towards pretreatment values. CONCLUSIONS Measurements of evaporation, but not skin conductance, may be a useful objective adjunct when diagnosing palmar hyperhidrosis. Both methods can, however, be used to monitor intraindividual changes of sweating over time.

Limited evidence of the effects of patient education and self-management interventions in psoriasis patients: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE To describe the contents of educational and self-management programmes for patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate their effects. METHODS A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomized trials and controlled clinical trials identified by a systematic literature search. Risk of bias was assessed by two independent reviewers and interventional effects were summarized descriptively and by meta-analysis. RESULTS Nine studies were included, which ranged from single brief interventions to long complex multidisciplinary programmes. Four RCTs with adequate sequence allocation were included to analyze interventional effects. One RCT compared two different educational programmes and found no differences between groups. The results of three trials that focused on combinations of education and self-management were heterogeneous. One RCT based on a 12-week comprehensive programme reported statistically significant effects (p<0.05) on disease severity and health-related quality of life. Two RCTs with less comprehensive programmes reported no effects on HRQoL. CONCLUSION This review showed that little evidence is available to support the effects of educational and self-management interventions in patients with psoriasis that are studied in RCTs. There is a significant lack of focused self-management and, compared with other chronic conditions, there appear to be few effective disease-specific tailored educational programmes for psoriasis.

Risk factors for osteoporosis and bone status in postmenopausal women with psoriasis treated with UVB therapy.

The aims of this study were to examine whether postmenopausal women with psoriasis who were exposed to regular ultraviolet light B (UVB) therapy had greater bone mineral density than women of similar age from the same region, and to estimate the influence of risk factors on bone status. A total of 35 randomly selected women, age (mean +/- SD) 69.3 +/- 6.29 years (age range 60-82 years), with active psoriasis, mean onset at 37.0 years (+/- 23.5 SD) were studied. The patients had been previously exposed to broadband or narrowband UVB. Age-matched, women (n = 2448) from Göteborg, examined at the Geriatric out-patient clinic during the years 2001 and 2002, were used as controls. Bone mineral density was examined by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Hologic Delphi A) at the hip and the lumbar spine. Medical history and lifestyle factors were assessed with a questionnaire. Postmenopausal women with psoriasis were found to have higher bone mineral density than age-matched controls. Higher body weight, physical activity and UVB exposure could explain this finding.

Vitamin D production after UVB exposure - a comparison of exposed skin regions.

BACKGROUND Cholecalciferol is an essential steroid produced in the skin by solar ultraviolet B radiation (UVB 290-315nm). Skin production of cholecalciferol depends on factors affecting UVB flux, age and exposed skin area. PURPOSE Serum cholecalciferol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] concentrations were measured after UVB irradiation of 3 different skin areas to compare the skin capacity to produce vitamin D in different anatomic sites in the same individuals. METHOD Ten voluntary Caucasians (skin photo type II & III, aged 48±12years (±SD)) were exposed to broadband UVB (280-320nm) between February and April. Hands and face, upper body and whole body were exposed to a suberythemic dose of UVB (median 101mJ/cm(2) (min 66, max 143)) (for 3 subsequent days 24h apart with a wash out period of about 3weeks (median 18days (min 11, max 25)) between the exposures of respective area. Serum concentrations of cholecalciferol and 25(OH)D3, were measured immediately before the first and 24h after the last dose of radiation. RESULTS There was a significantly higher increase in serum cholecalciferol after UVB exposure of the two larger skin areas compared to face and hands, but no difference in increase was found between upper body and whole body exposures. CONCLUSION Exposure of a larger skin area was superior to small areas and gave greater increase in both serum cholecalciferol and serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations. However, exposure of face and hands, i.e. only 5% of the body surface area, was capable of increasing serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3.

Daily pattern of sweating and response to stress and exercise in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis.

Background  Focal hyperhidrosis is an embarrassing condition that can have a significant negative impact on patient quality of life. It is characterized by excessive sweating affecting a variety of areas, including the palms. Little is known about the daily pattern of sweating in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis.