Nicholas Arthur Soter

To investigate the functional heterogeneity of mouse mast cells, we extracted and purified cutaneous and peritoneal mast cells from 10- to 18-week-old BALB/c mice and compared their responses to secretagogues. Cutaneous mast cells (CMC) were extracted from mouse ears after digestion with hyaluronidase and collagenase in MEM containing 25% fetal calf serum and purified on a discontinuous Percoll gradient. The histamine content of cells obtained from the 30/40% interface was 1.0 +/- 0.1 ...

In two randomized, double-blind, multicenter studies, a total of 631 adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis applied tacrolimus ointment (0.03% or 0.1%) or vehicle twice daily for up to 12 weeks. The mean percent body surface area (%BSA) affected at baseline was 45%, and 56% of patients had severe atopic dermatitis. As previously reported, these studies showed that tacrolimus ointment was superior to vehicle for all efficacy parameters measured. This report focuses on ...

The buttock skin of clinically normal human subjects was subjected to approximately 2.5 minimal erythema doses of ultraviolet A irradiation. Deep red erythema developed during irradiation, faded slightly within the next few hours, increased to maximum intensity between 9-15 h, and decreased gradually thereafter although still persisting strongly at 48 h. Suction blister exudates were obtained at 0, 5, 9, 15, 24, and 48 h after irradiation as well as suction blister exudates from a ...

To better define the inflammatory infiltrates and kinetics of mediator release during the cutaneous late-phase reaction (LPR), we examined skin biopsies at 8 h, and skin chamber cell counts and mediator release for 12 h after antigen challenge. Compared with the control sites, the antigen-stimulated biopsy sites contained 14 times as many basophils (P less than 0.01) and six times as many eosinophils (P less than 0.001) with one to two fold more mononuclear cells (P less than 0.03) and ...

Sera from 29 patients with biopsy-proven idiopathic active cutaneous necrotizing venulitis (CNV) were examined for immune complexes by serum complement levels, Clq binding, and ADCC inhibition. For comparison these studies were also performed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most of the patients with CNV, SLE, and RA have evidence of circulating immune complexes at a time during which they have active disease. Patients with CNV tend to ...

BACKGROUND: Cetirizine and astemizole have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria. Cetirizine brings about clinical benefit more rapidly.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of single daily doses of cetirizine and astemizole in relieving the symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria, with particular emphasis on the commencement of action.

METHODS: Patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were ...

The local effects of intracutaneous injections into humans of 1-3 nmol of five products of arachidonic acid metabolism, leukotrienes (LT) C4, D4, E4, and B4 from the 5-lipoxygenase pathways and prostaglandin (PG) D2 from the cyclooxygenase pathway, were assessed clinically and histologically. In equimolar concentrations, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4, elicited erythema and wheal formation, in which a wheal with central pallor was present up to 2 hr, and the erythema persisted as long as 6 hr. ...

Profiles of serum complement components were studied in patients with necrotizing angiitis (vasculitis) of the skin and concomitant rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus. In patients with either rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome, the early components—C1, C4, and C2—were depressed. When cryoglobulins containing mainly IgG and IgM were present in the patients with Sjögren's syndrome, there was further preferential reduction of C4 and C2 in serum ...

BACKGROUND: In patients with psoriasis and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, therapeutic options may be limited by their potential immunosuppressive effects. UVB radiation can activate HIV-1 gene expression in transgenic mice and in vitro. It is not known whether this viral activation leads to a clinically significant effect or if these findings can be extrapolated to humans.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the safety of UVB light treatment in ...

To evaluate further the interactions of C5a and mast cells in cutaneous inflammation, the ability of human native C5a (nC5a) (10 to 500 ng/ml) and human recombinant C5a (rC5a) (10 ng/ml to 100 ng/ml) to induce histamine release from purified BALB/c cutaneous mast cells (CMC) and peritoneal mast cells (PMC) was analyzed. It was found that nC5a induced histamine release from CMC but not from PMC, with a maximal net release at 250 ng/ml nC5a (22.8 +/- 2.6%). Kinetic experiments demonstrated ...

Patients with idiopathic acquired cold-induced urticaria were evaluated for the release of the preformed mast-cell mediators of immediate-type hypersensitivity during a study in which one arm was immersed in ice water while the other arm remained as a control. Blood specimens were obtained from each arm serially over a one-hour interval, and serum speciments were assessed for histamine, eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis, and complement components. Levels of histamine and ...

BACKGROUND: Although photosensitivity disorders have been well described, their incidence in a referral institution had not been studied.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of photosensitivity disorders, including photocontact dermatitis, in an academic medical center.

METHODS: The results of the assessment of 203 consecutive patients, all of whom had phototests, referred for the evaluation of photosensitivity disorders during a 7.3-year period were ...

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of investigation on which to base the treatment of chronic urticaria after a patient fails maximum therapy with antihistamines. One prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study suggested that mycophenolate mofetil may be a successful second-line therapy.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in 19 patients with autoimmune and chronic idiopathic urticaria.

METHODS: In a retrospective chart review, records of ...