Subject atopic dermatitis

T Cells Secrete Different Cytokines at Different Stages in Atopic Dermatitis The onset of acute atopic dermatitis is strongly associated with the production ofTh-2 cytokines, notably IL-4, IL-13 and IL-31, levels of which are significantly higher in atopic dermatitis individuals compared with control subjects [2]. 

Scalabrin DM, Bavbek S, Peizanowski MS, et al Use of specific IgE in assessing the relevance of fungal and dust mite allergens to atopic dermatitis A comparison with asthmatic and nonasthmatic control subjects. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999 104 1273-1279. 

Miyamoto et al. have also demonstrated in the dry skin and itch mouse model (water + acetone ether treated) that the scratching response can be inhibited by the use of atropine, a nonspecific muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonist, and 4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine (4-DAMP), an M3 mAChR antagonist.32 They further showed that Mi and M2 mAChR antagonist were not able to inhibit the scratch response. This report suggests the role of acetylcholine, and the M3 specific receptor as a potential player in dry-skin-associated pruritus. In addition, skin biopsies in human subjects with atopic dermatitis were found to have increased levels of acetylcholine compared with normal controls, which suggests that abnormal concentrations of neurotransmitters may also be involved in itch secondary to xeroderma.33... 

Reduced NMF levels are also implicated in the more common dry skin conditions. Subjects with atopic dermatitis have decreased levels of NMF,80 and FAA levels have been reported to decrease significantly in dry, scaly skin induced experimentally by repetitive tape stripping.81 Additionally, a significant correlation exists between SC hydration state and the FAA content of elderly individuals with skin xerosis.82... 

Dietary supplementation studies with n-3 fatty acids alone have generally not been promising in atopic dermatitis. An initial double-blind study reported a subjective improvement on fish oil compared with the control OA, but no objective improvement on physician assessment.179 A further double-blind study using EPA with saturated fatty acids as the control, showed equal improvement with both supplements and the benefit was attributed to increased clinician guidance,180 while a multicenter study showed a similar improvement in clinical score in subjects taking fish oil or corn oil.181 The latter results might possibly reflect a beneficial effect of both EFA-containing oils, but more likely imply a placebo effect, and illustrate the problems posed both in selection of a suitable control and the interpretation of such studies. 

The infants were seen on a monthly basis. The interview of the parents was based on a diary kept by the parents. The primary outcome of the study was the cumulative incidence of atopic dermatitis during the first 6 months of life. The skin was investigated for atopic dermatitis according to the diagnostic criteria described by Harrigan and Rabinowitz (76) and Muraro et al. (69). The severity of the skin alterations was scored by the SCO RAD index based on extension, intensity of the skin symptoms, as well as on the subjective symptoms pruritus and sleep loss as recommended by the European Task Force on atopic dermatitis (77,78). 

Fig. 1. Correlation between ceramide 3 levels and transepidermal water loss values in 47 subjects with atopic dermatitis. Correlation coefficient r = -0.31...

Fig. 2. Transepidermal water loss (g/m h) and capacitance (A.U.y arbitrary units) mean ( standard deviation) values in 186 children with atopic dermatitis (AD) and in 38 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. Values referring to uninvolved skin sites in children without skin lesions at the moment of the investigation differ from those of AD children with active dermatitis...

Fig. 3. Transepidermal water loss (g/m h) and echogenicity (0-30 pixel) values expressing the intensity of skin-barrier damage and inflammation on forearm skin after a 30-min 5% sodium lauryl sulfate challenge in subjects with contact dermatitis (CD) and with atopic dermatitis (AD)...

Juhlin L, Michaelsson G (1969) Cutaneous vascular reactions to prostaglandins in healthy subjects and in patients with urticaria and atopic dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 49 251-261... 

Jakasa I, de Jongh CM, Verberk MM, Bos JD, Kezic S. Percutaneous penetration of sodium lauryl sulphate is increased in uninvolved skin of patients with atopic dermatitis compared with control subjects. Br J Dermatol. 2006 155 104-9. 

Tumorigenicity The rates of tumors among patients with atopic dermatitis or eczema who used topical pimecrolimus have been evaluated in a retrospective cohort study of 953 064 subjects and controls [54 ]. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for all cancers was 1.15 (95% Cl = 0.99, 1.31). T-cell lymphoma was the only tumor associated with a significantly increased risk (HR = 3.76 95% Cl = 1.71, 8.28). However, after exclusion of patients who had had suspicious lesions before exposure the hazard ratio fell to 2.32 (95% Cl = 0.89, 6.07). 

Table 8. Relative risk and etiologic fi action for subjects with atopic skin diathesis (ASD) in bakers with notified occupational contact dermatitis (n = 107) The frequency of ASD in seased bakers was 61% (modified according to Tacke et al. 1995)...

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