Comparative study on the in vitro human skin permeation of monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids applied in rose oil and in form of neat single compounds

Essential oils are ingredients of cosmetic and health care products as well as massage oil used in aromatherapy. There is no doubt that essential oils and their components are able to permeate human skin. But information is rare dealing with percutanous absorption of essential oils in more detail. In this paper we investigated the in vitro skin permeation of monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids applied in pure rose oil and in form of neat single substances. We found that the application form had an exceeding influence on the skin permeation behaviour of the compounds. For substances applied in rose oil a clear relationship between their lipophilic character, chemical structure, and skin permeation could be confirmed. Regarding the P(app)-values the substances are ranked in the order: monoterpene hydrocarbons < monoterpene alcohols < monoterpene ketons < phenylpropanoids. In contrast, for neat single substances there were no relationships between their lipophilic characters, structures and skin permeation. Furthermore, except for alpha-pinene and isomenthone, the P(app)-values of all other substances were several times higher when applied in pure native rose oil than in their neat form. This suggests that co-operative interactions between essential oil components may promote skin permeation behaviour of essential oil and its components.

Incidence and outcome of traumatic brain injury in an urban area in Western Europe over 10 years

INTRODUCTION

Valid epidemiological data on incidence and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) show great variability. A study on incidence, severity and outcome of TBI was conducted in an urban area of one million inhabitants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

130,000 prehospital emergencies were screened for TBI.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score <or=8 and/or Abbreviated Injury Scale for head injuries (AIS(head)) score >or=2 with confirmed TBI via appropriate diagnostics.

RESULTS

Annual incidence was 7.3/100,000. Overall mortality rate was 45.8%: 182 (28%) were prehospital deaths, 116 (17.8%) patients died in hospital. Two hundred and fourteen of 352 (60.8%) surviving patients were sufficiently rehabilitated at discharge [Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score = 1], but 138 patients (39.2%) survived with persisting deficits. GOS was associated with initial GCS and AIS(head).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of TBI was lower compared to the literature. The overall mortality was high, especially prehospital and early in-hospital mortality rates.

Intracoronary enalaprilat during angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction: alleviation of postischaemic neurohumoral and inflammatory stress?

AIM

Reperfusion after myocardial ischaemia is associated with a distinct ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Since ACE-inhibition, beyond its influence on cardiac angiotensin II formation and kinin metabolism, has been shown to be cardioprotective by decreasing leucocyte adhesion and endothelin-1 (ET-1) release, we investigated the effects of intracoronary (i.c.) enalaprilat during primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were randomized to receive i.c. enalaprilat (50 micro g) or placebo immediately after reopening of the infarct-related artery (IRA). Plasma concentrations of soluble L-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), ET-1 and nitric oxide metabolite concentrations (NOx) were measured in pulmonary arterial blood. Coronary blood flow was assessed using corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame counts (CTFC). During reperfusion, there was a significant increase in sL-selectin, sP-selectin and ET-1 in the placebo group, which was greatly diminished by enalaprilat. Levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 were not affected in either group. CTFC in the placebo group remained higher than normal in both the IRA and nonculprit vessels, whereas myocardial blood flow improved with enalaprilat.

CONCLUSION

Enalaprilat as adjunct to primary angioplasty might be a protective approach to prevent leucocyte adhesion and the release of ET-1, thereby improving coronary blood flow.

Alpha-fetoprotein-positive carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report

We report on the case of a 19-year-old male with an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Tumour markers other than AFP were normal. Because of inoperability, a combined radiochemotherapy was initiated with a hyperfractionated dose of 44.8 Gy. Initially, the tumour showed a good response to irradiation and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) application, and therapy showed sufficient local control. After combined radio-chemotherapy, AFP levels declined from about 3000 ng/ml (reference area: 0-7 ng/ml) to 18 ng/ml, but increased when widespread metastasis appeared. The patient died 18 months after the initial therapy due to general tumour progression. Originally, AFP was thought to be specific to hepatocellular carcinoma and germ cell tumours. Rarely has it been reported in other malignancies. Rare cases of acinar cell carcinomas of the pancreas were found to express AFP. Our patient is the youngest reported in the literature to date. When present, AFP expression is useful for diagnosis and as a marker for monitoring therapeutic response and recurrence of the disease.

Polyclonal anti-histamine H2 receptor antibodies detect differential expression of H2 receptor protein in primary vascular cell types

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

One of the factors defining cellular response might be the distribution and density of receptor subtypes on cell membranes. It was our aim to quantify and compare histamine H2 receptor expression in primary vascular cell types. We have therefore generated antibodies directed against the second extra-cellular loop of the H2 receptor.

METHODS

The specificity of polyclonal anti-H2 receptor antibodies designed for this purpose was examined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. H2 receptor expression was quantified by ELISA. Regulation of H2 receptor gene expression was analyzed by competitive RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that the polyclonal antibodies specifically interact with the histamine H2 receptor. Furthermore, utilizing these antibodies we were able to show significant differences in H2 receptor levels in human umbilical arterial and vein endothelial cells as well as smooth muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the antibodies generated against the extra-cellular domain of the H2 receptor are specific and can be utilized to detect and quantify H2 receptor expression. Furthermore, the significant differences in H2 receptor expression in different vascular cell types might play a critical role in defining histamine induced cellular responses during physiological or pathophysiological processes.

Nitric oxide mediates histamine induced down-regulation of H2 receptor mRNA and internalization of the receptor protein (R1)

During agonist-dependent long-term stimulation of cells, histamine receptor subtypes are frequently down-regulated. However, the mechanisms underlying the modulation of receptor expression during long-term histamine stimulation have yet to be resolved. Based on our recently reported results showing an H1-mediated down-regulation of histamine H2 receptor mRNA in endothelial cells, our aim was to characterize the mechanism controlling rapid and long-term histamine-mediated modulation of H2 receptor expression in more detail. We were able to show that the histamine-induced down-regulation of H2 receptor mRNA and cell surface expression lasting for 24 h was accompanied by augmentation of the receptor protein level in the cytoplasmatic fraction of endothelial cells for this time period. Furthermore, changes in receptor protein levels in whole-cell lysate were negligible, indicating that the rapid and prolonged modulation of cell surface H2 receptor levels by histamine was regulated solely via internalization. The role of nitric oxide (NO) as a key mediator in histamine-stimulated cell responses was underlined by subsequent studies showing the attenuation of histamine-induced H2 receptor mRNA down-regulation and protein trafficking following NO synthase isozyme inhibition.

Lymphangiolipoma of the lower extremity: 5-year radiological follow-up after radiotherapy treatment

This report describes a lymphangiolipoma located in the extremity in a young woman. Radiotherapy effectively controlled recurrent lymphangiolipoma of the left upper leg that had been judged inoperable by limb-sparing surgical resection. In the case presented here, a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks was employed without long-term complications after 5-year follow-up.

CT simulation in nodal positive breast cancer

BACKGROUND

A variety of solutions are used to match tangential fields and opposed lymph node fields in irradiation of nodal positive breast cancer. The choice is depending on the technical equipment which is available and the clinical situation. The CT simulation of a non-monoisocentric technique was evaluated in terms of accuracy and reproducibility.

PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS

The field match parameters were adjusted virtually at CT simulation and were compared with parameters derived mathematically. The coordinate transfer from the CT simulator to the conventional simulator was analyzed in 25 consecutive patients.

RESULTS

The angles adjusted virtually for a geometrically exact coplanar field match corresponded with the angles calculated for each set-up. The mean isocenter displacement was 5.7 mm and the total uncertainty of the coordinate transfer was 6.7 mm (1 SD). Limitations in the patient set-up became obvious because of the steep arm abduction necessary to fit the 70 cm CT gantry aperture. Required modifications of the arm position and coordinate transfer errors led to a significant shift of the marked matchline of > 1.0 cm in eight of 25 patients (32%).

CONCLUSION

The virtual CT simulation allows a precise and graphic definition of the field match parameters. However, modifications of the virtual set-up basically due to technical limitations were required in a total of 32% of cases, so that a hybrid technique was adapted at present that combines virtual adjustment of the ideal field alignment parameters with conventional simulation.

Application of automated flow injection analysis to drug liberations studies with the Franz diffusion cell

The flow-injection method with sensitive fluorimetric detection is used to monitor the liberation profiles of a topical dermatological formulation containing the model compound salicylic acid. The connection of a standard Franz diffusion cell with the automated flow-injection system enables an acquisition of multi-point liberation data in a form of series of fluorescence peaks in a short time. Examples of liberation profiles for a topical dermatological formulation containing salicylic acid are shown.

Chemokines and interleukin-18 are up-regulated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid but not in serum of septic surgical ICU patients

Our objective was to investigate the levels of chemokines (MIP1-alpha, MCP-1, and Gro-alpha), Interleukin-18 (IL-18), and Interleukin (IL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum at the onset and ongoing states of sepsis as defined by the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine in septic surgical ICU patients. Our summary background data was to understand the significance of compartmentalized inflammatory mediator production in an immunologically active organ (lung) in comparison with levels in the systemic circulation. The study group consisted of 20 septic patients and 10 non-septic patients on surgical ICU. At the onset of sepsis, both BAL fluid and serum samples were taken and levels of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1, GRO-alpha, IL-18, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. Furthermore, over a subsequent 8-day period, levels of these mediators were determined in serum. In some experiments, IL-18 mRNA levels were determined in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of septic and non-septic patients. At the onset of sepsis, MIP-1alpha, MCP-1, GRO-alpha, IL-18, and IL-6 levels were significantly up-regulated in BAL fluid as compared with non-septic controls. In marked contrast, with the exception of IL-18 mRNA and IL-6 peptide, there was no increase in serum levels of inflammatory mediators determined both at the onset and during the ongoing states of sepsis. Based on the present data, monitoring levels of serum chemokines and IL-18 protein as markers of sepsis might be misleading since despite their non-detection in serum, they were highly up-regulated in the lung tissue compartment. These data might underscore the role of MIP-1alpha, MCP-1, GRO-alpha, and IL-18 in the mediation of local tissue damage. Furthermore, these findings raise the notion that mediator measurement in immunologically active organs might serve as pivotal indicators of sepsis prior to the actual fulfillment of specific clinical criteria that defines the patient as being septic.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the monitoring of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation

BACKGROUND

During the last few years, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been established as the most important tumor marker for prostate cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the response of PSA after surgery and radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1/1995 to 9/1997, 32 patients were treated by radical prostatectomy and subsequent radiotherapy. Radiation therapy was carried out using a linear accelerator to the prostate bed, a total dose of 60 Gy was given. PSA values were measured immediately before irradiation, weekly during radiation therapy and every three months thereafter in the usual follow-up pattern.

RESULTS

21 of 32 patients had no measurable PSA after surgery. In the remaining 11 patients the median PSA half-life was reached 3 months after irradiation, the nadir after 15 months. 5 patients with increasing PSA levels suffered from a relapse (15.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that PSA monitoring is a useful marker for treatment outcome and that adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery improves local control as well as biochemical failure rate. If PSA is still detectable after surgery the risk for biochemical failure is significantly higher (45.5%).