Content - Volume 67, Issue 3

The content and distribution of substance P (SP), somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in human skin were investigated. Radioimmunoassay was performed on pooled tissue samples from several regions (fingers, toes, axillas and thighs) and on tissue fluid from spontaneous blisters on inflamed skin. Immunocytochemical locali ...

Biopsies from a patient with a longstanding form of scleredema adultorum Buschke were analysed for morphological and biochemical changes in the dermal connective tissue. By light microscopy the tissue changes were located to the deep part of the reticular dermis. Therefore dermal tissue was separated into a superficial and a deep part and analysed biochemically. By this procedure it was possible t ...

Fibroblasts were cultured from affected and unaffected skin sites of 6 patients with localized scleroderma. As a parameter of fibroblast activation, collagen synthesis and cellular pro alpha 1(I)collagen mRNA levels were measured. Cell surface glycoproteins were labelled with the periodate/borohydride method and fractionated electrophoretically. A distinct reduction in the relative amount of surfa ...

Recording technique and accuracy of the Servo Med EP1 evaporimeter were studied. The technical accuracy of this equipment was found high with a coefficient of variation of 3.3%. Measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were performed on the palm of the hand and on the flexor side of the forearm in 10 healthy volunteers. Continuous registrations were undertaken for a three-minute period and ...

Forty-one patients with primary Kaposi´s sarcoma (KS) have been evaluated clinically, histologically and immunologically at the time of diagnosis. There was no correlation between histological and immunological features. Moreover, the disease did not appear to be related to particular HLA phenotypes. The T4/T8 ratio was augmented. Leu 7+ cells were also significantly increased. The last 15 patien ...

Peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, studied in 50 patients with pemphigus vulgaris by means of spontaneous (E) and active (EA) rosette-formation, were increased in active disease and gradually returned to normal after achieving clinical remission of pemphigus vulgaris. The portion of B-cells quantified by M-rosette formation was increased in active disease as well (19.9 +/- 3.0% vs. 10.8 +/- 1.6% in c ...

Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) and morphea are clinically distinct skin diseases with some common features and possible coexistence. We found antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in eight of fifteen patients with morphea. Six of them had IgG antibodies and two both IgG and IgM antibodies. Four of the eight seropositive and five of the seven seronegative patients had been treated with high ...

Thirty-nine patients with mycosis fungoides in various stages or Sézary syndrome were treated with isotretinoin and 29 with etretinate as single drug therapy. Complete remission within 2 months was obtained with isotretinoin in 8 cases (21%) and partial remission in another 15 cases (38%). Etretinate induced complete remission in 5 cases (21%) and partial remission in 11 (46%). Only 1 case with S ...

The arotinoid ethyl ester Ro 13-6298 is a third generation retinoid shown to be thousand-fold more potent than etretinate (Tigason, Tegison) in animal testing and in human therapy. In an open uncontrolled trial, we treated 57 patients suffering from psoriasis (32) and various severe skin disorders (25) with daily doses ranging from 20 to 150 micrograms, during 1 to 130 weeks (mean = 12 weeks). Fou ...

A shortened modification of Dittmar´s in vitro human skin assay reliably predicts the efficacy of topical antifungals against ringworm fungi. Cadaver skin was treated with the test agents for 4 or 24 h. After heat separation of the epidermis for one minute at 60 degrees C, the undersurface was point inoculated with a spore suspension of T. mentagrophytes. In untreated skin fluffy, 3 mm colonies d ...

The frequency distribution of HLA-B38 and HLA-B39 was studied in a group of 50 unrelated psoriatic arthritis patients. A high increase of HLA-B39 was noted in the subgroup with axial arthropathy. All B39 positive patients presented with spondylitis and/or sacroiliitis. The hypothesis is formulated that HLA-B39 may discriminate a genetic subset of psoriatic arthritis characterized by a particular s ...

The hair root status (trichogram) was studied in eleven patients with primary and eight with secondary syphilis. Variables studied in addition to the hair roots were absence or presence of hair root sheaths, deformities and hair roots with angulations exceeding 20 degrees. A decrease in the number of anagen hair roots and an increase in the number of catagen hair roots, dysplastic/dystrophic roots ...

Basal cell herniations, i.e. basal keratinocyte processes protruding through basal lamina gaps were observed in psoriasis, circinate balanitis, pityriasis rubra pilaris, patch tests, gold dermatitis and conjunctivitis. This indicates that they are not specific to psoriasis and tumours as has been reported.

Immune functions were studied in eight patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis representing a broad clinical spectrum of this disease. Clinical improvement after ketoconazole for 6 months was not associated with amelioration of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity to Candida antigen or the in vitro lymphocyte responses to Candida antigen of T-cell mitogens.

A method is described by which the effect of pressure and relief of pressure on blood flow in cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue can be evaluated. Five normal persons were placed supine on a transparent polyacrylate board and blood flow in the skin overlying the sacral area was measured. Cutaneous blood flow was measured by the laser-Doppler technique and subcutaneous blood flow was measured by the ...

Three cases of scleroderma, developed after occupational exposure to trichlorethylene and trichlorethane are described. The question is raised whether exposure to these chlorohydrocarbon solvents may be an etiological factor.

In a patient with total C2 deficiency and repeated respiratory infections a papulovesicular rash showed to be due to leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient´s brother also had a total deficiency of C2 but no clinical symptoms. HLA-investigation in both him and the proband showed the genotype commonly reported in cases with homozygous C2 deficiency. Their heterozygous mother and sister had slight ...

The gluten intake was quantitated utilizing a dietary history method in 43 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis on non-restricted diet. The mean daily gluten intake was 15 g. The individual intake of gluten was related to the maintenance dose of dapsone. It was significantly higher in patients on 100-150 mg dapsone daily than in those taking 0-25 mg daily. There was a significant correlation bet ...

A prospective study was carried out over 12 months involving twenty-eight patients with psoriatic arthritis. Almost all patients improved dramatically with regard to both pain and function. Clinical assessment including evaluation of number of swollen joints, joint tenderness score, and morning stiffness was performed by external observer without any knowledge of previous evaluation data. These da ...