Content - Volume 63, Issue 4

Polyamine biosynthesis and arginase activity in psoriasis were studied using keratotome strips and suction blister roofs as specimens. In the uninvolved psoriatic skin a slight (1.3-fold; p less than 0.05) increase in the spermidine level was observed compared with control skin. There was also a 1.2-fold increase (p less than 0.05) in the spermidine/spermine molar ratio, which is considered to be ...

A new method is described which makes it possible using skin specimens to perform flow cytometric analysis of DNA content. DNA content analysis was performed on 28 skin specimens and 9 blood samples from 18 patients with mycosis fungoides and S?©zary syndrome. The reproducibility was fair, with almost identical results in 6 cases (mycosis fungoides and S?©zary syndrome) where two samples (skin s ...

We observed in our in vitro studies that human leukocytes were attached by their complement receptors to the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of the skin specimens pretreated with pemphigoid antibodies and complement. The resultant histologic feature was very similar to that of an early stage of the inflammatory reactions observable in the lesions of bullous pemphigoid. Eosinophils were also attracted ...

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 31 patients with a positive patch test to potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and from 24 healthy controls were stimulated with various concentrations of chromium chloride (CrCl3) and/or chromium basic sulphate (Cr4(SO4)5(OH)2), sodium chromate (Na2CrO4) or K2Cr2O7 on various days of culture. Both trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds could induce lymphocyte tran ...

Contact sensitivity to picryl chloride was studied in the mouse ear. The skin hypersensitivity, as a factor of ear swelling, and the intensity of the cellular infiltrate in the skin were evaluated together during the elicitation of the contact sensitivity reaction. It was found that the ear swelling is a mainly vascular reaction preceding the appearance of inflammatory cells. The infiltrating cell ...

A case of specific, delayed hypersensitivity induced by repeated contact with a wild form of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is reported. In the flowers investigated the content of the responsible contact allergen parthenolide--a potent sesquiterpene lactone--appeared to be 10 times greater (0.6-0.9%) than in earlier years. Guinea pig experiments confirm the strong sensitizing potency of this Comp ...

A method is described for the serial cultivation of adult human hair follicle keratinocytes. Plucked scalp hair follicles, placed on bovine eye lens capsules as a growth substrate, give rise to quickly expanding colonies within a few days. After trypsinization, the cells are replated with irradiated 3T3 cells as ´feeders´. Using this combination of techniques the keratinocytes can be subcultured ...

Thirty-nine peripheral nerves in dermis of 12 morphea patients were analysed for ultrastructural changes. Changes found in the mesenchymal parts of the nerves, i.e. epi-, peri- and endoneurium, were myxedematous changes, collagen fibril degradation, cell infiltration and abnormal fibrosis. The infiltrating cells were lymphocytes and plasma cells as well as mast cells and myofibroblast. Perineural ...

The immediate effects of long-wave ultraviolet irradiation (UVA) in non-erythemal doses on suprabasal melanocytes in normal skin of healthy caucasians with skin types II and III was investigated with the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to detect possible morphological changes. In skin type III the melanocytes remained essentially unaltered, but in skin type II, multiple pinocytotic ...

Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face was observed in 28 of 347 patients treated with PUVA for psoriasis. The facial lesions appeared after discontinuation of PUVA, and had not been present at the start of PUVA treatment. They were prevented by masking the face during irradiation.

5,6-dimethoxyindolyl-2-carboxylic acid was identified in urine of patients with malignant melanoma by means of gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. Its presence supports the concept of the existence of an efficient methylating activity in melanoma tissue.

Biopsy specimens from granulomatous skin lesions of 14 patients with active sarcoidosis were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. In seven lesions, deposits of IgM, IgA or complement C3 were demonstrated in the dermal vessel walls and/or at the dermal-epidermal junction. Similar deposits were found in three of twelve biopsy specimens from clinically normal skin from a buttock of the same pat ...

The lipophilic yeast Pityrosporum orbiculare has been cultured quantitatively, in 10 volunteers, from clinically normal skin on the chest, back, upper arm, lower leg, and dorsal aspect of the hand. The highest count was on the back (mean 333/cm2) and chest (mean 327/cm2). This was statistically significant higher than on the upper arm (mean 21/cm2), lower leg (mean 13/cm2), and dorsal aspect of th ...

Radiological examination of the hands was performed in 41 patients with systemic sclerosis. Pathological changes were found in 39 patients. Eighteen patients had subcutaneous calcifications and 11 had atrophy of the finger pulps. Bone resorption of ungual tufts was found in 11 patients. Juxta-articular osteoporosis was seen in 9 patients and periarticular bone erosions in 8 patients indicating ero ...

A 38-year-old woman developed epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (A-EBD) in connection with her third pregnancy. The activity of visible blistering disappeared at menopause. Direct immunofluorescence examination showed linear deposition of IgG and C´3 in the basement membrane zone. The light and electron microscopical findings of the disease were consistent with A-EBD. We assume that the bullous sca ...

A 62-year-old female with a 20-year history of small horny papules on the skin of the legs is described. Light microscopy revealed a hyperkeratotic papule with atrophic epidermis and a dense dermal inflammatory cell infiltrate with many cerebriform lymphocytes not earlier described in connection with hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans (HLP). The electron-microscopic picture showed membrane-coati ...

A family is described in which female members of two generations were affected from birth from a flexion deformity of the fingers. The pedigree analysis suggests the possibility of a sex-limited autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. This rare condition, which has been reported only once in the literature, is known by the term streblodactyly (streblos = Gr. twisted, crooked).

A case of elephantiasis of the external ears associated with pediculus capitis is reported. Hypersensitivity to the louse bite and Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome are discussed.

A 36-year-old male, with no history of hereditary palmo-plantar keratoderma, showed at the age of 2-3 years a typical keratoderma of the Unna Thost variety on palms and soles. At the age of 16 years he developed mutilating symptoms localized to the fingers. Radiologic examination showed abnormally pointed end phalanges.

No abstract available.