Arzneimittel Forsch
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Arzneimittel Forsch · Apr 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDimethindene maleate in the treatment of sunburn. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.
The efficacy of topical dimethindene maleate (DMM, CAS 31614-69-5, Fenistil Gel) in the treatment of sunburn was evaluated in a placebo-controlled, 1-period crossover trial in 24 healthy volunteers. An UV-erythema (sunburn) of a well-defined intensity and extent was experimentally induced on three different skin test-areas by means of UV-A/B irradiation with three times the minimal erythema dose (MED). About 24 h after irradiation, one skin test-area was subjected to a 1-h occlusive treatment with DMM gel, the second test area was subjected to treatment with a placebo gel and the third one remained untreated. ⋯ With regard to subjective sensations of pain, itching and tenderness assessed by means of visual analogue scales (VAS), no clinically relevant differences between treatments were observed after sole UV-irradiation. After additional laser stimulation tenderness was--objectively but not subjectively--decreased on the DMM-area versus placebo. Both gel preparations were well tolerated.
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Arzneimittel Forsch · Apr 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialStudy on local inflammatory reactions and other parameters during subcutaneous mistletoe application in HIV-positive patients and HIV-negative subjects over a period of 18 weeks.
Subcutaneous injections of fermented and unfermented aqueous extracts of Viscum album L. result in a local inflammatory reaction at the injection site. In this trial, the symptoms associated with this local reaction were investigated. Furthermore the occurrence of local reactions was tried to correlate with an increase in CD3/25- and CD8/38-positive lymphocyte counts, with eosinophilic granulocyte numbers, and with the formation of mistletoe lectin antibodies. ⋯ There were no changes in eosinophilic granulocytes or CD8/38-positive lymphocyte populations. For evaluation of the therapeutic applications of mistletoe extracts in HIV-positive patients it is advisable to assess primarily activation of CD3-positive lymphocytes and the patient response on the basis of the local reaction. The local inflammatory reaction at the injection site is desirable and well tolerated if the reaction is smaller than 5 cm in diameter.