Content - Volume 63, Issue 6

To explore the possibility that dopa and 5-S-cysteinyldopa, precursors of melanin, can be produced in non-melanogenic tissues, this study examined the contents of the free and protein-bound forms of two catechols in non-melanogenic tissues of mice and rats, and compared the urinary excretion of free catechols in black and albino mice. Considerable amounts of protein bound dopa and 5-S-cysteinyldop ...

A tyrosinase purified from cultured human melanoma cells was studied for dopa oxidation and tyrosine oxygenation. Km for oxidation of L-dopa was 0.5 mM, and for D-dopa 3 mM. L-tyrosine was oxygenated only in the presence of a cosubstrate. L-Dopa was superior to D-dopa, dopamine, L- and D-alpha-methyldopa, dopac, and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid as cosubstrate. Ascorbic acid, 5-S-cysteinyl ...

We report a patient who developed a vesiculobullous eruption which clinically and histologically showed features of pemphigoid and dermatitis herpetiformis, responded to prednisone but doubtfully to dapsone, and demonstrated ´classical´ immunopathologic characteristics of phemphigoid and dermatitis herpetiformis. Peribullous and unaffected skin featured deposition of IgG and C3c in a homogeneous ...

Dermal changes of the vulva in lichen sclerosus were compared with control vulvar samples using ultrastructural and immunofluorescence techniques. Collagen degeneration and regeneration were observed ultrastructurally in the superficial dermis of lichen sclerosus with increased amounts of ground substance. These processes appeared to alter the affinity of collagen fibres for the anticollagen antis ...

The uninvolved oral mucosa of seven pemphigus patients was compared with that of age- and sex-matched controls. Three patients had pemphigus erythematodes, two had pemphigus vulgaris, one had pemphigus foliaceus, and one pemphigus vegetans. Five out of seven pemphigus patients demonstrated wider intercellular spaces than the controls. This difference was seen in both basal and spinous epithelial c ...

The interaction between complement-fixing pemphigus antibodies and leukocytes was investigated by the in vitro leukocyte attachment test. Attachment of eosinophils as well as neutrophils was induced by pemphigus antibodies at the intercellular space of epidermis in the presence of complement. This phenomenon was found to be produced by 7 out of 10 pemphigus sera in the indirect method using non-le ...

Ultrastructural localization of the in vitro binding sites of circulating anti-basement membrane zone antibodies was investigated using two immunoperoxidase methods: the ordinary IgG indirect immunoperoxidase method and the complement immunoperoxidase method. The results indicate that the binding sites of the circulating autoantibodies were diverse. It is postulated that those antibodies demonstra ...

The expression of Fc-IgG receptors on mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes/macrophages), as well as the activity of soluble immune suppressor supernatant of T-cell proliferation (SISS-T) factor have been investigated in 23 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip, including 8 patients with metastases in the regional lymph glands. The results demonstrated a significant increase of ...

Irritation and staining caused by equi-irritant doses of dithranol (anthralin) and 10-butyryl dithranol (butantrone) were observed for one week after a single 24-hour exposure under occlusion. The test chambers were applied on the uninvolved dorsal skin of 11 psoriasis patients. The estimates of erythema were made with a refined reading scale, and to test the visual discriminatory power they were ...

In the present study, cell cultures of fibroblasts from normal skin have been investigated regarding the production of fibronectin. The development of multimeric insoluble fibronectin is demonstrated as small dots at the cell surface, developing into a branched meshwork of fibrous structures in parallel arrays. Soluble dimeric fibronectin is also found in the culture medium.

Eight patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (6 patients with mycosis fungoides, 1 patient with S?©zary´s syndrome, 1 patient with low-grade malignant lymphoma, unclassified) were treated with TP-5, a synthetic pentapeptide having the same biologic activity as the thymic hormone thymopoietin. TP-5 was administered three times weekly at a dosage of 50 mg subcutaneously in 6 patients, 50 mg intr ...

Twenty-six consecutive patients with secondary or early latent syphilis, all with normal neurological findings, were studied with auditory brainstem responses (ABR), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and an assay for immune complexes in serum and CSF. Seven of the 26 patients studied had a pathological ABR pattern and 14 had one or more pathological CSF tests. Fifteen patients had circulating imm ...

Iontophoresis of histamine in the skin has been shown to release prostaglandins and arachidonic acid in suction blister fluid. Application of DMSO had a similar effect. No effect was found after using the following erythema and oedema irritants: scraping, vibration and ketocaine. Treatment with vasoconstricting drugs such as noradrenaline betamethasone and lidocaine-prilocaine mixture did not infl ...

After the addition of E. coli polysaccharide to blood from patients with deep inflammatory acne, microclots formed in all patients, whereas this was rarely seen in mild acne and never in controls. Furthermore, spontaneous microclot formation without addition of endotoxin was seen in 5 of the 10 patients with the most severe acne.

A case of AIDS manifesting as a necrotic, haemorrhagic anogenital herpes zoster and lymphadenopathy, is described. Investigations of T-lymphocyte subsets showed decreased T4 and slight increase of T8. Electronmicroscopy revealed tubuloreticular virus-like structures in lymphocytes.

A case of rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) with bullous and pustular lesions is reported. These skin manifestations represent very unusual symptoms of RV. A dramatic clinical improvement was obtained by plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy.

40 patients with alopecia totalis have been treated with PUVA. 26 did not respond, 6 experienced a partial hair regrowth, while 8 got a complete regrowth. However, relapses were frequent, occurring at an early stage.

Ten adult patients with severe atopic dermatitis were treated for three months with estatin, which is a metabolite of Streptomyces olivoreticuli. Bestatin has been shown to increase tumor resistance in mice, augment a variety of immune responses and to reduce the level of IgE in non-atopic healthy persons. During bestatin therapy we were not able to see any clinical change of the atopic dermatitis ...

Seven patients with pyoderma gangrenosum have been treated with clofazimine. In contrast to the beneficial effect described in other articles only one healed. (Received March 27, 1983.)

A patient is described in whom the nail changes of the yellow nail syndrome developed whilst she was taking penicillamine. Stopping the drug was associated with resolution of the nail changes. The yellow nail syndrome was first described in 1964 (Samman and White), but the cause is still unknown. Impaired lymphatic drainage is thought to be a factor in the pathogenesis, and lymphoedema is often an ...

A case of monosymptomatic photo-onycholysis due to tetracycline-hydrochloride is reported. A 40-year-old woman with rosacea had been treated with tetracycline-hydrochloride (Achromycin) 250 mg daily for 3 years. In the summer period after one month of intensive sun exposure she developed painful bullae under the nails.

A woman with rheumatoid arthritis developed an erythematous-bullous eruption on light-irradiated areas following sun exposure. Treatment with piroxicam, had been initiated 14 days earlier. The clinical picture, the relationship in time to the drug administration and a positive photopatch test gave reason to suspect piroxicam-induced photosensibility. Piroxicam (Felden) is a new non-steroid anti-in ...

A case of cellulitis, resulting in a recurrence of a leg ulcer is presented due to the unique association of its bacterial flora, consisting exclusively of V. alginolyticus and of its clinically rapid expansion after seabathing.

Intralesional steroids injected into hypertrophic scars and keloids can result in histiocytic and foreign body granulomatous reaction which may be confused with focal mucinosis or necrobiotic process such as rheumatoid nodule. An awareness of this possibility might avoid unnecessary investigations in the patient.

Basal cell carcinoma of the skin is a slow growing relatively benign tumor usually located on the head and neck. Although rare, metastasis to lymph nodes or parenchymatous organs has been reported previously (1-9). We wish to add another case of metastasizing basal cell carcinoma of the skin, which presented certain unique features only rarely reported (1), namely complicating amyloidosis in the k ...

A case of basal cell epithelioma overlying a long-standing histiocytofibroma is presented. The association of these two tumors is a rare finding. The role of dermal factors in the pathogenesis of epidermal tumors is briefly discussed, just as the controversy about the reactive or neoplastic nature of the epidermal change.

Abstract is missing

A leukoplakic lesion of the prepuce is described with the histologic and ultrastructural features of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. The lesion represents most likely a variant of epidermolytic leukoplakia recently observed in the vermilion border of the lip.

No abstract available.