Content - Volume 75, Issue 3

Immunohistochemical peroxidase staining for p53 protein was performed on 22 condyloma acuminatum tissue samples from patients infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of our study was to understand the benign character of this syndrome. The patients studied were infected by HPV type 6 and 11. Two monoclonal antibodies, PAbs DO-1 and 240, were used to detect the p53 protein. Overexpres ...

Functional disturbance of p53 tumor suppressor protein contributes to uncontrolled cell growth. Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoproteins bind to wild-type p53 and abrogate its function. Our objective was to elucidate the relation of aberrant p53 protein expression to HPV DNA and cellular atypia in male genital warts and premalignant lesions. Immunohistochemically detectable p53 protein expressio ...

Basaloid proliferations of epidermis overlying dermatofibromas and morphologically resembling superficial basal cell carcinomas might possess a malignant potential. In order to elucidate whether these basaloid proliferations share phenotypic characteristics with malignancy, we examined immunohistochemically 19 cases of dermatofibroma with overlying epidermal basaloid proliferations, 10 dermatofibr ...

The expression of the transglutaminase I in human anagen hair follicles was studied by an immunohistochemical staining. In the bulbar and suprabulbar portions of anagen hair follicles, transglutaminase I was detected on the hair cuticle and the three layers of the inner root sheath. Subsequently, the positive staining became translocated to the inner site of the outer root sheath in the middle par ...

A new interferometry procedure (Holon View measuring system) permits non-invasive and objective measurement of the surface, height/depth and volume of ulcerous lesions. The method, which uses a combination of the so-called phase-shift and gray-code technique, is new in dermatology. The measuring system consists of a diffraction grating projection system, a video camera and a computer-aided, digita ...

The intercellular lipids of stratum corneum are predominantly formed by cholesterol, ceramides and free fatty acids. Cholesterol synthesis is inhibited by statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs (lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin). The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of these drugs on skin barrier function. Knowledge about the effect on epidermis of systemic inhibition of cholest ...

Patients with X-linked recessive ichthyosis (RXLI) were studied as a model of the effect of disturbed epidermal lipid composition on skin barrier function. Thirteen patients with RXLI and 15 age- and sex-matched controls were patch-tested with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) 0.5% for 24 h. Basal skin properties and skin response to SLS were studied by measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), ...

While assessing the protective effect of broad-spectrum sunscreens against chronic UVA radiation, we observed a paradoxical worsening of skin damage with one product. To further examine this finding, five proprietory broad-spectrum sunscreens were applied to albino hairless mice irradiated thrice weekly for 32 weeks with a UVASUN lamp (> 340 nm). Appropriate age-matched controls were included. Aft ...

We developed a simple method for measuring the amount of the secretory form of immunoglobulin A (sIgA) present in sweat. A small disk (10 x 10 mm) made of cellulose membrane was attached to the skin surface for periods of 1 to 24 h. SIgA was absorbed to the membrane and accumulated during the period of application. Enzyme immunoassay using anti-sIgA and antisecretory component (SC) antibodies reve ...

Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of CD4+ T cells in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. One of the current hypotheses is that triggering of the psoriatic inflammatory process could be secondary to CD4+ T cell activation by bacterial superantigens in the skin. In this study, IL-2-derived T cell lines were recovered from the blood and the skin of 4 patients with chronic plaque type ...

A new highly potent analogue (KH-1060) of vitamin D3 has been recently shown to stimulate the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes. This study was intended to determine the effects of this new analogue on epidermis at the ultrastructural level. KH-1060 was applied topically on the backs of hairless mice for 4 weeks; the skin was then studied by routine electron microscopy. The effects were ...

Chloroquine can prevent photosensitivity reactions, but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. To investigate if the drug may interfere with inflammatory or immunological mechanisms of the UV-induced erythema of photosensitive patients, we studied the localization of chloroquine in the skin and its effect on the epidermal/dermal expression of IL-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and ICAM-1 and the occurre ...

Therapy with khellin and UVA irradiation (KUVA) is a therapeutic approach to vitiligo. Little is known about the photobiological properties of khellin and its long-term side-effects after prolonged administration. A 47-year-old woman suffering from acral vitiligo since the age of 3 is reported, who developed blisters on hands and fingers during KUVA-therapy. Laboratory findings were consistent wit ...

Cryoglobulinemia has an unknown etiology in many cases. In the last years, hepatitis C virus has been known to be involved as a causative agent of so called essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. We report 8 patients suffering from cutaneous vasculitis and chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Their sera showed cryoglobulinemia (6 cases mixed, 2 cases not typified), rheumatoid factor and complement cons ...

We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with a non-tuberculous (atypical) mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis, caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum, in association with Sweet's syndrome. The cervical lymphadenitis was resistant to medical treatment, and the Sweet's syndrome occurred intermittently. Systemic steroid treatment was required to control the cutaneous symptoms.

The psychosocial impact of psoriasis may result in significant daily stress for the patient. We present a questionnaire, the Psoriasis Life Stress Inventory (PLSI), which provides a rating of psoriasis-related stress. Two hundred and seventeen psoriasis patients endorsed a list of psoriasis-related items they had experienced over the previous one month and rated the degree of stress associated wit ...