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Notes: Background Seborrhoeic keratosis (SK) is a benign epidermal tumour with increased pigmentation. We have recently demonstrated that increased secretion of endothelin (ET)-1, a strong keratinocyte-derived mitogen and melanogen for human melanocytes, is intrinsically involved in the hyperpigmentation mechanism of SK. Objectives To examine whether the increased ET secretion results from cytokines that induce ET production and/or from differences in the processing of ET that lead to its final active, secreted form. Methods We used immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) to determine whether ET-inducing enzymes and/or cytokines are also highly expressed in SK. Results RT–PCR of mRNAs encoding interleukin (IL)-1α, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-1α demonstrated that there is an increased expression of TNF-α and ECE-1α mRNAs in SK, whereas the IL-1α transcript is rather downregulated in SK compared with that in perilesional normal epidermis. In parallel, immunohistochemical analysis of SK revealed marked immunostaining for TNF-α in basaloid cells at lower levels of the epidermis and in basal cells, and for ECE-1α in most basaloid and basal cells in comparison with their weak staining throughout the epidermis in perilesional normal controls. In contrast, immunostaining for IL-1α was almost negative in SK relative to distinctive staining throughout the epidermis in the perilesional normal controls. Conclusions These findings suggest that the increased secretion of ET-1 leading to enhanced pigmentation in SK results from the co-ordinated increased expression of TNF-α and ECE-1α.

Notes: Summary Background The incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is increasing worldwide. No large-scale study has previously compared the therapeutic management of this condition in different countries. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment preferences of dermatologists in Japan, the U.S.A. and the U.K., and investigate their relationship with certain factors pertaining to the physician and his practice. Methods A questionnaire was sent to all registered members of dermatological societies in Japan, the U.S.A. and the U.K. Responses were collated and statistical analysis performed using χ2, Mantel–Haenszel and Breslow heterogeneity tests. Results Three thousand six hundred and eighty-eight completed surveys were returned. U.S.A. and U.K. physicians were significantly more aggressive in prescribing systemic medications, such as steroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressants, compared with those in Japan. Japanese dermatologists also utilized topical steroids significantly less. The use of alternative remedies was highest in Japan. All three countries had a relatively high degree of optimism for topical immunosuppressants, but less so for other emerging therapies. Conclusions Both similarities and differences in the therapy of AD exist in the three countries studied. Factors related to the physician, patient population and culture may influence these observations.

Notes: Annealing behavior of shallow donor-bound and acceptor-bound exciton lines in CdTe crystals grown by the Bridgman method was investigated by high-resoluton photoluminescence measurements at 4.2 K. The intensity of the neutral acceptor-bound exciton line (A0X) at 1.5896 eV, which was commonly observed in p-type CdTe, drastically decreased by annealing under Cd saturated atmosphere. By further subsequent annealing under Te saturated atmosphere, the A0X line recovered again. On the other hand, the intensity of the neutral donor-bound exciton line increased by annealing under Cd saturated atmosphere and decreased by the further annealing under Te saturated atmosphere. It was found that this change in the photoluminescence lines by the annealing process was reversible. These results strongly suggest that the A0X line at 1.5896 eV can be ascribed to the recombination of excitons trapped at Cd-vacancy/donor-impurity complexes.

Notes: The doping efficiency of Si (≡[e−]/[Si]) has been measured as a function of substrate temperature Ts, beam-equivalent As4-to-Ga fluence ratio R, and beam supply conditions to probe the kinetic limitations of low-temperature GaAs homoepitaxy. The doping efficiency decreases strongly with increasing R at low Ts due, we suggest, to electron trapping at defects caused by excess As incorporation.

Notes: : There have been no reports concerning the efficacy and safety of a 1-week quadruple therapy regimen of omeprazole, amoxycillin, roxithromycin and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori infections and the impact of primary resistance on the eradication rate.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods: One hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients with peptic ulcer disease as well as gastritis with biopsy-proven H. pylori infection were entered into an open study of omeprazole 20 mg o.m., amoxycillin 500 mg t.d.s., roxithromycin 150 mg b.d., and metronidazole 250 mg t.d.s. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by urease test, histology and culture. Susceptibility to amoxycillin, metronidazole and roxithromycin was determined by the E-test.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Results: H. pylori was eradicated in 155 out of 169 (92%; 95% CI 88–96%) by intention-to-treat analysis, and in 155 out of 163 (95%; 95% CI 92–98%) by per protocol analysis. The prevalence of primary resistance against amoxycillin, roxithromycin and metronidazole was 2 out of 166 (1%), 16 out of 166 (10%) and 27 out of 166 (16%), respectively. H. pylori was eradicated in 25 out of 27 (93%) patients with metronidazole-resistant strains compared with 130 out of 136 (96%) in patients with metronidazole-sensitive strains of H. pylori. It was eradicated in 15 out of 16 (94%) patients with roxithromycin-resistant strains while in 140 out of 147 (95%) patients with roxithromycin-sensitive strains of H. pylori, and in two out of two (100%) patients with amoxycillin-resistant stains compared with 153 out of 161 (95%) in patients with amoxycillin-sensitive strains. H. pylori was eradicated in three out of four (75%) patients with double resistance against metronidazole and roxithromycin compared with 152 out of 159 (96%) patients with sensitive strains to metronidazole and or roxithromycin. None of these differences were statistically significant. Severe side-effects were found in only one out of 169 patients—anaphylaxis due to penicillin.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉Conclusions: The 1-week quadruple therapy with omeprazole, amoxycillin, metronidazole and roxithromycin was found to eradicate H. pylori in over 90% of all patients. This regimen was also found to be beneficial for patients with pre-treatment resistant strains to metronidazole, roxithromycin or amoxycillin, and was observed to be safe and well-tolerated.

Notes: Seborrhoeic keratosis (SK) is a benign epidermal tumour with a varying degree of pigmentation. We have recently demonstrated that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a strong keratinocyte-derived mitogen and melanogen for human melanocytes in UVB-induced melanosis. To clarify the role of ET-1 in hyperpigmentation in SK, we have used immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to see whether the production of ET-1 is accentuated in SK. Immunohistochemical analysis in SK (n= 7: acanthotic and deeply pigmented types) revealed marked immunostaining with anti-ET-1 in almost all basaloid and basal cells as compared with definite staining confined to basal cells in the perilesional normal controls. In parallel. RT-PCR of ET-l mRNA demonstrated accentuated expression of ET-1 transcript in SK (n= 4) in comparison with that in the perilesional normal controls, accompanied by a similarly accentuated expression of tyrosinase mRNA. These findings suggest that ET-1 plays a part in the hyperpigmentation seen in SK.