No abstract

In addition to the well known biological effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), its stimulating effect on the immune system has recently been described. In the present study, therefore, the influence of ASA on isolated leucocytes was investigated in vitro. Various concentrations of ASA, representing therapeutic concentrations, had neither an inhibitory nor a stimulating influence on the cytotoxicity of CD16-positive cells. The phytohaemagglutinin-induced proliferation of lymphocytes and the phagocytosis activity of monocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes was similarly unaffected. These results would indicate that the immunostimulating effects already described for ASA cannot be examined in isolated leucocytes in vitro and should be attributed to an interaction of various effector cells in vivo.

Two hundred and fourteen outpatients men and women, aged between 12 and 95 years (mean age: 41 years) and attending dermatology clinics and dermatologists for treatment of inflammatory mycosis and/or dermatitis of various origins, with additional superinfection, were recruited. Informed written consent was obtained from all patients before the study in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The subjects were informed that they may withdraw from the study at any time at their own discretion. Women were excluded if they were pregnant or not using adequate contraception. Further exclusion criteria were: dermatitis of viral or specific origin, systemic treatment with corticosteroids or simultaneous treatment with other topical agents, sensitivity to any component of the test drugs, severe liver disease, or systemic diseases with abnormal skin reactions. Study Medication:Patients were assigned to receive either a cream, containing 0.1 % fluprednidene acetate and 2% miconazoie, or a cream, containing 2 % miconazole. The medication was supplied in identical application tubes and the subjects were instructed to apply the substances twice daily. The oil-in-water cream base was identical in both treatment groups. Study Design:The trial was designed as a prospective, randomized, double-blind parallel-group comparison of two treatments and was performed in Germany in 7 centers. At the start of the treatment, baseline case histories and demographic data were recorded. At baseline, within the first week (after 2-4 days), after 1 and 2 weeks, and at the end of treatment, the following efflorescences and symptoms creating a severity index were assessed: rubor, maceration, vesicles, papules, pustules, desquamation, pruritus, and exudation. A four-stage scale, ranging from "not present (0)" to "severe (3)," was used. As a main target criterion, the subjective onset of efficacy was to be recorded.Pathogen detection was carried out at baseline, after 2-4 days, and at the end of treatment to document the relevant fungi and/or bacteria, either in the native or cultured state. The inclusion criterion defined was that at least one posi-

The influence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, CAS 50-78-2) on the Listeria monocytogenes infection in balb/c mice was investigated. One day prior to lethal or sublethal infection, balb/c mice were treated intravenously with therapeutic concentrations of ASA alone or ASA in combination with murine recombinant interferon gamma, a lymphokine produced by T-helper cells. Three days post-infection, parasite burdens of spleen and liver were determined by the colony-forming unit assay. It was shown that the prophylactic application of ASA in a concentration of 5 mg/kg body weight resulted in a more than 10-fold reduction of viable Listeria monocytogenes in spleen and liver of balb/c mice. In addition, the combination of a suboptimal dosage of interferon gamma with ASA resulted in a significantly higher survival rate compared to the untreated controls.