The role of prostaglandins in the inflammatory response of the skin.

London : University of London Audio-Visual Centre, 1975.

1 encoded moving image (20.23 min.) : sound, black and white.

00:20:23

University of London

Restricted

In English

Presented by Professor M.W. Greaves and Dr W.P. Kingston, Institute of Dermatology, St John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin. Made by University of London Audio-Visual Centre for British Postgraduate Medical Federation. Produced by John Metcalfe.

This video is one of around 310 titles, originally broadcast on Channel 7 of the ILEA closed-circuit television network, given to Wellcome Trust from the University of London Audio-Visual Centre shortly after it closed in the late 1980s. Although some of these programmes might now seem rather out-dated, they probably represent the largest and most diversified body of medical video produced in any British university at this time, and give a comprehensive and fascinating view of the state of medical and surgical research and practice in the 1970s and 1980s, thus constituting a contemporary medical-historical archive of great interest. The lectures mostly take place in a small and intimate studio setting and are often face-to-face. The lecturers use a wide variety of resources to illustrate their points, including film clips, slides, graphs, animated diagrams, charts and tables as well as 3-dimensional models and display boards with movable pieces. Some of the lecturers are telegenic while some are clearly less comfortable about being recorded; all are experts in their field and show great enthusiasm to share both the latest research and the historical context of their specialist areas.

Segment 1 Opening credits. Prof. Greaves introduces the topic of inflammatory reaction of skin. Behind him is a picture of a woman's dermatitis-inflamed breasts. He describes other stimuli that provoke inflammatory reactions, including allergic reactions and physical injury. He explains what an inflammatory reaction is, using animated graphs, saying that much work has been put into finding calming measures for inflamed skin but not enough work has been put into the mechanisms of the reaction. He discusses mediators of inflammation such as histamine and prostaglandins. He discusses prostaglandins in more detail. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:42:15 Length: 00:05:42:15

Segment 2 Greaves introduces Dr Kingston, who discusses some aspects of the biochemistry of prostaglandins and their mode of enzymic synthesis in tissues. He uses diagrams and slides throughout his talk. First he describes the basic structure of prostaglandins, then their synthesis. Greaves and Kingston appear together. A diagram of prostaglandin E is seen. Greaves explains that Kingston has been injected with 1 microgram of prostaglandin E1. A close-up of Kingston's arm is seen, which is slightly inflamed around the site of injection. He touches the area to show that this touch causes Kingston pain. Time start: 00:05:42:15 Time end: 00:10:26:13 Length: 00:04:43:23

Segment 3 Greaves talks about adding a subsequent pain-producing agent such as bradykinin. He then talks about demonstrating the presence of increased concentrations of prostaglandin E1 in inflamed skin. He introduces another experiment; in this experiment, suction blisters have been raised on the skin of a female. Footage of the female is seen with suction blisters on her belly. The contents of the blisters are aspirated using a needle and syringe and then tested for prostaglandin activity. He talks about the cascade superfusion technique used to examine the contents of the suction blisters. Film of the technique and the apparatus needed is seen. He explains the result of the procedure and talks further about this experiment. Time start: 00:10:26:13 Time end: 00:15:21:00 Length: 00:04:54:12

Segment 4 Next, Dr Kingston talks about the relationship between non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and prostaglandin activity. Still and animated images are seen throughout his talk. A graph shows the relationship between the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and aspirin dosage. Greaves ends the lecture by summarising the relationship between prostaglandin activity and inflammatory reaction. Time start: 00:15:21:00 Time end: 00:20:23:15 Length: 00:05:02:15