BACKGROUND: Psoralen has been used in the treatment of certain hypojigmentary disorders with UVA or solar irradiation. However trecent report proposed the actions of psiralens are direct and do not require the presence of ultraviolet light. The report also suggested that tze specific receptors other than DNA would be present. OBJECTIVE: This study was done ta identify the effects of 8-methoryporalen(8-MOP) on the proliferation and melanization of cultured normal human melanocytes without UVA. METHODS: Melanocytes were cultured in melanocyte culture medium neluding 16% or 5% FBS. We added 8-MOP by their concentrations from 10 M to 10 M. After 8 hours treatment, we investigated the melanocytes proliferation and Lhe melanin contents. RESULTS: We could not detecet any significant differences of melanoytes proliferation and melanin contents between the control end experimental groups. CONCLUSION: There were no effect on the proliferation and the milanization of cultured normal human melanocytes with 8-MOP only.
DNA ; Ficusin ; Humans* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Methoxsalen ; Ultraviolet Rays

BACKGROUND: Amorolfine is a new topical antifungal drug of the morpholine class has broad spectrum fungicidal activity. Amorolfine nail lacquer 5% is a transungual delivery system which can penetrate well through the nail plate to the infected keratin and remain there for a prolonged period. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of 5% amorolfine nail lacquer given once weekly to the patients with onychomycosis. METHODS: 29 patients with onychomycosis affecting not more than 80% of the surface of nail were treated once weekly for up to 9 months with amorolfine nail lacquer 5%. Clinical and mycological examination were performed before treatment and 3, 6, 9 months after start of treatment. Final evaluation was done 3 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: Average affected area(%) and average score of clinical signs-thickening, splitting, discoloration-were significantly decreased 3 months after start of treatment. Mycological cure rate was continuously increased according to the treatment duration reaching 75.9% at 3 months after treatment. Overall efficacy assessed by the investgators were cure in 31.0% and improvement in 41.4%. Tolerability, mode and frequency of treatment, and formulation were evaluated as good or excellent by most of the patients.No systemic or local side effect was observed. CONCLUSION: Amorolfine nail lacquer 5% used once weekly up to 9 months was relatively effective and safe for the treatment of onychomycosis.
Fingers* ; Humans ; Lacquer* ; Onychomycosis* ; Toes*