In several studies dietary fish oil has been found to have a beneficial effect on psoriasis, but the results are contradictory and based mainly on open studies or studies of small numbers of patients.
The Norwegian Melanoma Project was conducted during 1989-1993 as a co-operative study by the dermatological, surgical, oncological and pathological departments of the five university hospitals in Norway. We present the results from the patients diagnosed and treated in our dermatological department at Ullevaal Hospital. During the study period 4582 patients received a clinical evaluation of pigmented lesions and 1347 patients were included in follow-up analyses, which consisted of a complete anamnestical evaluation and a clinical and pathological investigation of excised pigmented lesions. In all, 66 cutaneous malignant melanomas, 50 superficial spreading melanomas, seven lentigo maligna melanomas, eight nodular melanomas and one acral lentiginous melanoma were diagnosed. Correlation of the clinical and anamnestical information demonstrated an increased risk of developing malignant melanoma in persons with red hair and skin type I/II. When the histological thickness of superficial spreading melanomas diagnosed before the start of the project was compared with that of those treated during the project, there was a significant decrease in thickness in the project period.
In 18 ambulant patients with palmoplantar pustulosis low plasma zinc concentrations were observed. During treatment with an all-trans aromatic retinoid (RO-10-9359) the values increased while at the same time the skin condition improved in particular with regard to the pustule formation. The observed low plasma zinc values may in some way be related to pustulosis but not as causal factor.
Recurrent herpes labialis is a prevalent infection. We have investigated the annual incidence and some clinical aspects of the condition, and the frequency of probable superinfection among the staff at the largest hospital in Norway. Over a period of 12 months a total of 83 (67 females and 16 males) out of 3,565 persons with a mean age of 34.3 years experienced clinical recurrence of herpes labialis, giving an annual incidence of 23 persons with one or more eruptions per 1,000 employed. The mean recurrence rate was 4.8 episodes per year. UV-light was reported as a precipitating factor by 60% and psychological stress by 30%. Seven persons reported sick leave of one to three days' duration because of the most recent eruption. In 6/83 patients the probable pathogenic bacteriae (i.e. beta-hemolytic streptococci group A in one and Staphylococcus aureus in five cases) were isolated within the first 48 h after the skin lesions occurred. After 7-9 days S aureus was found in eight persons. The mean duration in days until all skin lesions had healed was the same in patients with or without probable superinfection. Recurrent herpes labialis does not seem to be a significant health problem among the staff of Ullevål Hospital. Probable superinfections appear to occur rarely and without significantly increasing morbidity.
One-hundred-and-twenty hairless mice were irradiated with UVB (310 nm, exposure 60 mJ/cm2) on a limited area of the dorsal skin. At different time intervals after irradiation, the rate of endogenous dehydrogenase activity per mg dry epidermis was measured by the tetrazolium reduction method. The amount of formazan deposited remained normal for 18 h, and then increased, reaching a peak significantly higher than normal at 24 h, and thereafter returned to normal. At day 8 there was a new, probably significant peak. The reaction was followed for 14 days. It was concluded that UVB irradiation provokes a period of increased formazan deposition in the epidermis, similar to what has been observed after ionizing radiation and chemical carcinogens. The validity of the tetrazolium test for skin carcinogenic irritaments was thus also confirmed.
The hydration, the hygroscopicity and the water-holding capacity as well as the rate of water loss were measured in 1) dry non-eczematous skin in 13 patients (mean age 32 years) with atophic dermatitis (AD), 2) dry, xerotic skin of old patients (mean age 75 years) and 3) 17 controls (mean age 36 years) with normal skin and no history of AD. Significantly higher water flux was found in patients with AD compared to the other groups while all the other functional parameters were much lower. The obtained data suggest different functional disturbances in dry skin of patients with AD compared to old, dry (xerotic) skin.
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