Use and abuse of psoralens.
The psoralens 1 are furocoumarins to which most people in the United States have been exposed. Celery contains psoralen. Oil of bergamot, widely used in perfumes, contains 5-methoxypsoralen. Thus, there are few persons who have not ingested psoralen and probably no adult woman who has not applied a psoralen to her skin. Plants containing psoralen have been used to produce pigmentation for at least 3,000 years. Recently, oil of bergamot has been used for this purpose. Scientific investigation of the psoralens began when Kuske 2 and, later, Fahmy and his group 3 isolated the active chemicals from a variety of plants. Many physicians in different countries began to study these compounds. Lerner, Denton, and Fitzpatrick 4 and Kelly and Pinkus 5 initiated clinical evaluation in the United States. The chemical alterations in the psoralesn which occur after oral ingestion or topical application to the skin are not known. Exposure of
Part IV: Basic Considerations of the Psoralens: Studies of Liver Function in Subjects Receiving Methoxsalen1
The chemical configuration of methoxsalen has been somewhat disturbing to investigators interested in hepatic function because of possible hepatotoxic activity. Some meager preliminary data suggesting that selective damage might occur was based on the finding of questionable elevation of occasional cephalin-cholesterol floc-culation tests. A systematic study of liver function with methoxsalen seemed indicated particularly in view of the projected widespread clinical trial which has since taken place over the last several months. Elliott in 1956, reporting on 22 patients receiving the drug, stated that two developed elevated bromsulphalein retention. Pretreatment examinations of liver function were not available so that the precise significance of these elevated tests is uncertain.
Modern Lexicography: An Introduction
Chapter 1: Dictionaries and the Dictionary Chapter 2: The Lexicographical Scene of English-Speaking Countries Chapter 3: The Historical Origins of the General-Purpose Dictionary Chapter 4: General-Purpose Dictionaries and Society Chapter 5: What are General-Purpose Dictionaries Really For? Chapter 6: The Linguistic Traditions ofr Lexicography Chapter 7: Whither Lexicography? Conclusion