Methylprednisolone pulse therapy in dermatomyositis

A high dose of methylprednisolone (pulse therapy) was given to 3 patients with uncontrolled dermatomyositis (DM) accompanied by severe muscle weakness. The effects of pulse therapy were compared with findings in 5 patients with severe DM who were treated with the usual dose of prednisolone (controls). The pulse therapy led to an improvement in the clinical symptoms in the 3 patients with uncontrolled DM, who were in danger of aspiration pneumonia. A rapid reduction in muscle enzyme levels in this group was also evident.

Preparation of 18F-labeled 6- and 2-fluoro-9-benzylpurine as a potential brain-scanning agent

The preparations of [18F]-6-fluoro-9-benzylpurine(I) and [18F]-2-fluoro-9-benzylpurine(II) are described. (I) was prepared by two methods: (i) halogen exchange of 6-chloro-9-benzylpurine with Ag 18F; and (ii) displacement of trimethylpurin-6-ylammonium chloride with K 18F, followed by 9N benzylation. The latter labeling method was far superior to the former, both in radiochemical yield and in specific activity. (I) was relatively stable in a Tris-HCl buffer (0.4 M, pH 7.6) at 37 degrees C, but was easily hydrolyzed in 1 N HCl. Biodistribution of (I) in mice demonstrated high uptake in the brain. (I) can be expected to be a potential brain-scanning radiopharmaceutical for positron computed tomography.

Effects of combination treatment with vitamins E and C on chloasma and pigmented contact dermatitis. A double blind controlled clinical trial

A multi-clinical double-blind study on therapeutic effect of combination preparation of vitamins E and C was undertaken in comparison with single preparation of vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of chloasma or pigmented contact dermatitis (PCD). Combination treatment resulted in significantly better clinical improvement than vitamin C alone in both diseases. Objective data compiled from color difference measurements and color photographs revealed significantly better results with combination treatment in chloasma than vitamin C alone and, in PCD, than vitamin E or C alone. Differences in skin luminosity between hyperpigmented and normal areas significantly decreased in all three groups, with the combination group producing the most significant change. The total serum lipoperoxide level and its ratio to total serum lipids tended to decline in the combination group, and decreased significantly in vitamin E group. The sebum lipoperoxide level decreased significantly only in the combination group (EC).