There are over ten thousand different
biological studies performed on DMSO. We have listed just a few
of the more popular studies here, with the summary or abstract. These
references are provided for ACADEMIC USE ONLY and are not intended
to promote or endorse the sale of DMSO or MSM.
DMSO Studies
The use of
dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for the treatment of intractable pain
in surgical patients
William
M. Rosenbaum, M.D.; Edward E. Rosenbaum, M.D.; Stanley W. Jacob,
M.D.
Portland, OR. Department of Surgery,
University of Oregon Medical School
The use of dimethylsulfoxide
(DMSO) as a medicinal agent was first reported in 1964.Since
that time two publications encompassing the use of dimethylsulfoxide
in patients with acute bursitis and chronic arthritis have appeared.
The results in over 600 additional patients have been submitted
for publication. The papers to date summarize the data following
the topical administration of dimethylsulfoxide for the treatment
of acute and chronic subacromial bursitis, chronic arthritis,
acute musculoskeletal trauma, scleroderma, Dupuytren's contracture,
superficial second- and third-degree burns, and postmastectomy
Iymphedema of the upper extremity.
This presentation describes
the results in 37 surgical patients treated with dimethylsulfoxide
for intractable pain. "Intractable" is here defined
as persistent pain despite at least one year of conventional
therapy. In this study dimethylsulfoxide was applied for the
therapy of phantom pain, tic douloureux, and posttraumatic or
postoperative intractable pain.
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The Effects of Dimethyl Sulfoxide on Post-traumatic
Limb Swelling and Joint Stiffness
A
Review and an Experimental Study in Rabbits
Robert
C. More, M.D.; J. Michael Kabo, PH.D., Frederick J. Dorey, PH.D.;
Roy A. Meals, M.D.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
is an inorganic compound with many interesting in vitro properties,
including the ability to scavenge oxygen-free radicals. DMSO
has been used to treat a variety of clinical conditions, especially
musculoskeletal trauma, but valid data regarding its effectiveness
are lacking. This paper reviews the pharmacology of DMSO and
reports on its effectiveness in reducing posttraumatic limb swelling
and ankle joint stiffness in a rabbit hind limb model. The left
and right hind limbs of the test and control animals were instrumented
and fractured identically. DMSO was applied daily to the skin
of only one limb in the test animals. DMSO reduced postinjury
ankle stiffness in both ankles of the test rabbits by 41% but
had no effect on limb swelling compared to control rabbits. Postulated
mechanisms of decreased joint stiflness include oxygenfree radical
scavenging and inhibition of fibroblast proliferation.
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Self-Administration
of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) for Interstitial Cystitis
Lt. Col. Robert D. Biggers (MC), USAF
From the Urology Service, U.S. Air Force
Academy Hospital, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Abstract: Ten patients with
biopsy-proved interstitial cystitis were treated with a program
of self-admintstered dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) using the technique
of intermittent self-catheterization. Nine of the 10 patients
responded favorably to the treatment and are on a maintenance
program. The technique was well tolerated and without complications.
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What
Really Cures in Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation? A Possible
Role for Dimethyl sulfoxide
A. Toren and G. Rechavi
Medical Hypotheses (1993)41, 495-498
Institute of Hematology and the Pediatric
Hemato-oncology Unit, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Sackler
School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel (Correspondence
to AT, The Institute of Hematology, The Sheba Medical Center,
Tel-Hashomer 52 621, Israel).
Absbract: Dimethylsulfoxide
has long been known to be a potent inducer of differentiation
of various malignant cells in animals and human beings. It is
a toxic agent, and high concentrations are needed to induce differentiation.
Other compounds that also have methylene groups and a polar/apolar
architecture, and are needed in much smaller concentrations to
induce differentiation, like hexamethylene bisacetamide have
been developed. They are already used in trials in human beings.
However dimethylsulfoxide still has a very important role in
bone marrow transplantation, being added to the frozen marrow
as a cryoprotectant. We suggest that dimethylsulfoxide may induce
differentiation of malignant cells present in the marrow or alternatively
in the body when it is infused back with the transplanted marrow.
This may be an additional factor contributing to the success
rate achieved in various malignancies treated by transplantation,
especially autologous, complementing the traditional explanations
which are based mainly on the high dose chemotherapy and the
immunological manipulations that occur during transplantation.
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The
Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in the Treatment of Interstitial
Cystitis
A.EK.A. Engberg, L. Frodin and G. Jonson
Department of Urology, University Hospital,
Uppsala and Department of Urology, University Hospital, Lund,
Sweden
Scandinavian Journal of Urololgy and Nephrololgy
12:129-131, 1978
Abstract: Dimethylsulfoxide
(DMSO) was used in 17 patients with interstitial cystitis. The
diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings
and the characteristic picture with Hunner ulcera. The majority
of the patients had responded poorly to other forms of conservative
treatment. Subjective symptoms were controlled in 2/3 of the
cases but repeated treatment was needed and 5 patients did not
respond to the therapy. The DMSO treatment is an alternative
worth to try and has, in some cases, a dramatic and lasting effect.
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Dimethylsulfoxide with Heparin in the Treatment of Smoke
Inhalation Injury
M. Brown, MD et al.
Journal of Burn Care Rehabilitation , Vol. 9 (1) 1988
DMSO
significantly diminished the usual pulmonary lymphatic response
to inhalation injury, presumably owing to inhibition of free
radical-induced permeability changes.
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Dimethyl Sulfoxide Antagonizes Hypotensive,
Metabolic, and Pathologic Responses Induced by Endotoxin
Daniel J. Brackett, Megan R. Lerner,
and Michael F. Wilson
Research Service, VA Medical
Center and the Departments of Medicine and Anesthesiology, University
of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Circulatory Shock 33:156-163 (1991)
There is evidence that
free radical activity may be important in the development of
endotoxemia. Dimethyl sulfoxide is a hydroxyl radical scavenger
that readily penetrates cell membranes. Using the conscious,
instrumented rat this study tests the ability of dimethyl sulfoxide
to modify the course of endotoxemia by evaluating cardiovascular,
metabolic, and tissue injury parameters for 4 hr after the toxic
insult. Treatment with dimethyl sulfoxide (6.5 g/kg; i.p.) evoked
significant decreases in cardiac output, stroke volume, and central
venous pressure and increases in heart rate, systemic vascular
resistance, mean aortic pressure, respiration rate, and concentrations
of blood glucose and plasma lactate. Following endotoxin (40
mg/kg, i.v. LD90-24 hr), dimethyl sulfoxide pretreatment blocked
the early hypotensive episode but all other cardiovascular and
respiratory responses to endotoxin were essentially unaltered.
The pH, PO2, PCO2, and hematocrit were the same for both treated
and untreated groups; however, dimethyl sulfoxide prevented the
endotoxin-induced hypoglycemia and significantly attenuated the
hyperlacticemia at 4 hr. The severe hemorrhagic intestinal pathology
characteristic of this model of endotoxemia was not present in
the dimethyl sulfoxide treated group. From these results we conclude
that dimethyl sulfoxide caused significant cardiovascular alterations
conducive to impaired systemic blood flow. However, when administered
prior to endotoxin, dimethyl sulfoxide induced significant beneficial
modifications in the course of endotoxemia despite few improvements
in cardiovascular function. The data indicate that the hydroxyl
radical may be a mediator of tissue injury in this model of endotoxemia.
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Dimethyl Sulfoxide
in the Treatment of Scleroderma
Marvin F. Engel, MD,
Brunswick, Ga
The author reports a high rate of success
in the management of the cutaneous manifestations of this disease
by the topical use of this drug.
This paper can be considered
a continuation of a study first reported before the Section on
Dermatology of the Southern Medical Association in Houston in 1965; namely,
"Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Clinical Dermatology." In
that report I mentioned the remarkable improvement in 5 patients.with
scleroderma treated with dimethyl sulfoxide.
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Dimethyl Sulfoxide
in the Treatment of Inflammatory Genitourinary Disorders
Sheridan W. Shirley, M.D.; Bruce H. Stewart, M.D.; Simon Mirelman, M.D.
From the Department of Urology, Cleveland
Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, and University of Alabama,
Birmingham, Alabama
Abstract: Intravesical
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used in the treatment of 213
patients with various inflammatory conditions involving the lower
genitourinary tract, including intractable cystitis, radiation
cystitis, chronic prostatitis, and chronic female trigonitis.
Significant symptomatic relief has been achieved in the majority
of patients so treated, and no systemic or local toxicity has
been noted. Some patients failed to respond entirely, and others
relapsed after DMSO treatment periods of several months, ultimately
coming to augmentation cystoplasty or urinary diversion. However,
because of its simplicity and ease of administration, intravesical
DMSO therapy is recommended in all noninfectious or non-neoplastic
inflammatory conditions presenting initially with severe symptoms,
or that have failed to respond to conventional therapy.
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Dimethyl
sulfoxide in the management of patient with brain swelling and
increased intracranial pressure after severe closed head injury
A. Kulalt, M. Akar L. Baykut
Neurosurgical Clinic of Dicle-University
School of Medicine Dyarbakir, Turkey
Summary: The results of a prospective
study on the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in patients
with severe closed head injuries causing brain edema and increase
in intracranial pressure (ICP) are presented. 10 patients were
selected and carefully analyzed according to Glasgow coma scale
(GCS) scores and severity of brain edema. The results demonstrate
that DMSO rapidly reduces the raised ICP, increases the cerebral
perfusion pressure (CPP) and improves the neurological course
and outcome without affecting the systemic blood pressure and
patient responsiveness except only in one patient. We also point
out that the rebound effect does not occur.
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Radioprotective Effects of Dimethyl Sulfoxide
in Golden Hamster Embryo Cells Exposed to Gamma Rays at 77 K,
Protection from Lethal, Chromosomal, and DNA Damage
Masami Watanabe, Masao Suzuki, Keji Suzuki, Yuji Hayakawa; and
Tetsuo Miyazaki
Division of Radiation
Biology, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura,
Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236, Japan, and Department of Synthetic
Chemistry,, Faculty of Engineering. Nugoya University, Chikusu-ku
Nagaya 464, Japan
Radiation Research. 124, 73-78 (1990).
Golden hamster embryo cells
were exposed to 137 Cs gamma rays in the presence or absence
of dimethyl sulfoxide at both 310 and 77 K. Dimethyl sulfoxide
gave significant protection against cell killing at both 310
and 77 K. The extent of radioprotection with 1.28 M dimethyl
sulfoxide at 77 K was 85-89% of the lethal effects observed in
the absence of dimethyl sulfoxide at 310 K: the dose modifying
factor was 5.7. Dimethyl sulloxide also exerted protected against
y-ray-induced DNA single-strand breaks and ehromosomal aberrations
with a maximum protection of 8O-100'%, at a dimethyl sulfoxide
concentration of 1.28 M at 77 K. At 77 K, H atoms. ion holes,
and electrons can migrate through frozen cells but OH radicals
cannot diffuse. thus the protective effects of dimethyl sulfoxide
against cell killing, chromosomal aberrations, and DNA single-strand
breaks at 77 K may be due to the scavenging of H atoms or other
ions, rather than OH radicals. (1990 Academic Press, Inc.)
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Pretreatment
with catalase or dimethyl sulfoxide protects alloxan-induced
acute lung edema in dogs
Tomoo Kawada, Kenjiro Kambara, Michio Arakawa,
Takashi Segawa, Fumio Ando, Senri Hirakawa, Shoichi Emura, Shizuko
Shoumura, and Hideo Isono
Second Department of Internal Medicine
and First Departrnent of Anatomy, Gifu University School of Medicine,
Gifu City, Gifu 500, Japan
Journal of Applied Physiololgy 73(4): 1326-1333, 1992.
Abstract: We tested the preventive effects
of catalase, an enzymatic
scavenger of hydrogen peroxide, or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO),
a hydroxyl radical scavenger, on intravenous alloxan-induced
lung edema in four groups of pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized,
ventilated dogs for 3 h: saline (20 ml · kg-l ·
h-1) infusion alone (n = 5), alloxan (75 mg/kg) + saline infusion
(n = 5), catalase (150,000 U/kg) + allaxan + saline infusion
(n = 5), or DMSO (4 mg/kg) + alloxan + saline infusion (n = 5).
Catalase or DMSO significantly prevented the increase in plasma
thromboxane B2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F, over 3 h after alloxan
and the accumulation of extravascular lung water after 3 h [3.95
+ 0.52 (SE) g/g with catalase, 3.06 + 0.42 g/g with DMSO, but
not early pulmonary arterial pressor response. An electron microscopic
study indicated that catalase or DMSO significantly reduced the
endothelial cellular damages after alloxan. These findings strongly
suggest that hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical are major
mediators responsible for intravenous alloxan-induced edematous
lung injury in anesthetized ventilated dogs.
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Regulation
of Β-Adrenergic Responses during in Vitro Differentiation of
Mouse Erythroleukemia Cells
Radmila Moudry and Hartmut Porzig
Department
of Pharmacology, University of Bern, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland
Experimental Cell Research 191, 278-285 (1990)
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced
erythroid differentiation of Friend mouse erythroleukemia (MEL)
cells is associated with a marked transient modulation of catecholamine
sensitivity. Within 24 h after induction and well before the
onset of hemoglobin synthesis, we observed a 3-fold increase
in Β-receptor density and a more than 10-fold increase in receptor-coupled
cAMP formation. During the following 4 days, in parallel with
the development of normoblast-like cells, receptor numbers returned
to preinduction levels while catecholamine-dependent cAMP formation
remained significantly elevated. Simultaneously, the apparent
potency of the Β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline increased
10-fold. Improved receptor-cyclase coupling is probably due to
a major shift in the expression of G; and G. regulatory proteins.
Bacterial toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins
suggests that the dominating species in native cells is Gi (G,`~:Gi,,
= 1:7). By contrast, G. predominates in differentiated cells
(G,~,:G~, = 1.8:1). Receptor-independent forskolin-stimulated
cAMP formation showed a pronounced, albeit transient, decrease
during differentiation. We suggest that these changes in cellular
cAMP responses may be important for transient positive or negative
cooperative interactions between hormones and growth factors
in the course of erythroid cell development.
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Effect of dimethyl
sulphoxide and some antibiotics on cultured human T-lymphoma
cells as measured by microcalorimetry
Per Lonobro and Ingemar Wadso
Thermochemistry,
Chemical Centre, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical
Methods, 22 (1991) 331-336 331
Summary: The influence of dimethyl
sulphoxide (1), penicillin/streptomycin (11). gentamicin (111),
and amphotericin B (IV) on growing human T-lymphoma cells was
measured by microcalorimetry. There was a dose-dependent decrease
in the heat production rate of the cells after 24 h of incubation
with I in concentrations ranging from 0-2% (v/v) At 3.6~, about
half of the cells died. 11 and 111 had no effect on the cells
after incubation for 6 days, at concentrations from I to 10 times
that of the normal (50-500 lU/ml; 50-500 ~g/ml). IV was used
in combination with 11 (50 lU/ml; 50 ~g/ml) and 111 (50 lig/ml),
respectively, at concentrations between 0.25 and 7.5 lig/ml.
After 6 days of incubation. the results were similar to those
obtained with 11 and 111 separately.
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Preliminary Test Using DMSO as a Vehicle
for Drugs in Leprosy
Roy O. Yeats
Sopas Hospital, Wabag, New
Guinea
Seventy per cent DMSO was
employed as a vehicle to test the effect of three drugs on tuberculoid
markings and other lesions of patients already receiving oral
treatment with Dapsone. All were outpatients and were given two
treatments weekly. This study was preliminary, with the intent
to employ hospitalized patients for larger and more exact trials
at a later period. The evaluation was unfortunately stopped when
the United States Food and Drug Administration discontinued studies
on dimethyl sulfoxide.
Ten mg per ml of Dapsone,
Isoniazid, and Paraaminosalicylic Acid, respectively, were used
in the tests. The solutions were applied with cotton applicators,
leaving the skin wet and dripping. All patients were stationary;
some had been under Dapsone treatment for as long as five years,
some for only six months.
Dapsone-Eight Patients
In this group, one patient
was found to have albuminuria, and was eliminated before application
of DMSO. He was given three months without treatment, and was
then able to take Dapsone orally. The remaining seven patients
in the group received an average of 16 applications. Of these
seven, four lost all traces of tuberculoid markings. One lost
the tuberculoid markings on the buttocks, but not on the face.
One patient, a late neural leper, showed no improvement. One,
a late neural leper with leonine brows, lost all tuberculoid
markings except a nodular area on the left forehead. One showed
no change in tuberculoid markings.
Paraaminosalicyclic Acid-Seven Patients
This group had an average
of 16 treatments. One patient after ten treatments is said to
have died away from home, but no particulars were obtained. One,
with a heavy leonine brow, had a marked reduction in the folds.
One patient lost the tuberculoid markings on the back, but not
on the abdomen. One with many neurofibromata on the legs lost
several of these and other neurofibromata were reduced in size.
One with fissures and ulcers on the feet seemed to be completely
healed, and two lost all tuberculoid markings.
Isoniazid-Eight Patients
This group underwent an
average of 15 7/8 treatments. One, with only seven treatments,
had lost all tuberculoid markings when seen two weeks after the
treatment period had finished. Multiple nodules all over this
patient's body became softer. The nodules
had not been biopsied, so it is not known what they actually
were. One patient in this group lost the tuberculoid markings
from his back, but not from the arm and buttocks. Six others
lost all of the tuberculoid markings.
Summary: Three groups of patients
with leprosy were treated with drugs in 70 per cent dimethyl
sulfoxide as a skin wash. All of these were on Dapsone orally.
Improvement in all three groups was rapid and marked, but about
equal. This was a preliminary study, and while no control on
DMSO alone was tested, it is considered probable that the improvement
in each group was due to the DMSO rather than to the drug in
solution.
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An Alternative Method for the Determination
of Dimethyl Sulphide in Beer
G. E. Otter and A. S. Marsh
J. Inst Brew. March - April, 1982. Vol. 88. pp. 76-79
Abstract: A method for the determination of dimethyl sulphide
(DMS) in beer and for total DMS precursor in malt is described. The DMS was
extracted into chloroform and determined by glass capillary gas liquid
chromatography (GLC) using a flame ionisation detector (FID) and diethyl ether
as an internal standard. Errors arising from the use of 'head space' sampling
were thereby avoided. The reproducibility of results and the recovery of DMS
at the 100 ppb level were satisfactory but less so at levels below 50 ppb.
Beers produced in a pilot brewery from malts containing high levels of total
DMS precursor were not found to contain correspondingly high levels of DMS.
Conclusion: The new method is satisfactory for the analysis of
DMS in beer and for the determination of total DMS precursor in malt. Reproducibility
was good at the 100 ppb level but results below 50 ppb were less reliable because the
limits of detection are being approached. However, for sorting or quality control
purposes the results are satisfactory providing that the lack of precision is recognised.
The taste threshold for DMS in American beers is quoted at 25 ppb and at 30 ppb for
British beers. This method indicates that the lowest level, at which it is perceptible
in British beers, is about 40 ppb but at these low levels the accuracy of the method is
only plus or minus 25%.
The results obtained in pilot scale brews did not support the practicability of
controlling DMS levels in beer by using malts with known levels of DMS precursor.
There was no significant difference either in DMS content or DMS flavour in beers
produced from malts containing high, medium, or low DMS precursor levels.
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MSM Studies
Effects of
Oral Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Dimethyl Sulfone on Murine Autoimmune
Lymphoproliferative Disease
Jane L. Morton and Benjamin V. Siegel
Division of Arthritis and rheumatic Diseases and
Department of Pathology
Oregon Health Sciences
University, Portland, Oregon 97221
Proceedings of the Society of Experimental
Biology and Medicine 183, 227-230 (1986)
Abstract: The results from several studies
examining the effects of DMSO on autoimmune phenomena have been
inconclusive, possibly because of differences in experimental
models, treatment regimens and doses employed. In the present
investigation, autoimmune strain MRL/lpr, C3H/lpr, and male BXSB
mice were placed on a continuous treatment regimen with 3% DMSO
or 3% DMSO2 in the drinking water, ad libitum, commencing
at 1 to 2 months of age, before spontaneous disease development
could be detected. This represented doses of 8-10 g/kg/day of
DMSO and 6-8 g/kg/day of DMSO2. Both compounds were observed
to extend the mean life span of MRL/lpr mice from 51/2 months
to over 10 months of age. All strains showed decreased antinuclear
antibody responses and significant diminution of Iymphadenopathy,
splenomegaly, and anemia development. Serum IgG levels and spleen
IgM antibody plaque formation, however, did not differ from control
values. There was no indication of involvement of systemic immunosuppressive
or antiproliferative effects, and treated animals were observed
to remain healthy and vigorous with no signs of toxicity. These
results demonstrate that high doses of both DMSO and its major
in vivo metabolite, DMSO2, provide significant protection against
the development of murine autoimmune Iymphoproliferative disease.
Possible mechanisms of protection are discussed. ~ 1986 Society
for Experimental Biology and Medicine
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