Content - Volume 68, Issue 6

Optothermal infrared spectrometry (OTIS) is a recently introduced method for specific measurement, in vivo, of water in the skin. In the present study the method proved well suited to register the increase in water content in stratum corneum following application of emollients. The results were compared with those obtained with a commercial instrument, the Corneometer, and the two methods were fou ...

Complement C3 deposition around lesions is an early event in the inflammation of acne vulgaris. The aims of this study were to determine the relationship between the capacity of individual comedones to cleave complement C3 and their microbial flora. The contents of 48 open comedones were expressed from the upper back of acne vulgaris patients and each comedo was homogenized individually and assaye ...

A trypsinization technique was optimized for preparation of human epidermal single-cell suspensions from suction blisters. The conditions which provided the highest epidermal cell yield and viability was Sigma trypsin 0.25% (Type II, crude; cat. no. T8128). The incubation time should be 45 min at 37 degrees C with continuous shaking of the epidermal tissue. The use of suction blisters was evaluate ...

The lectin-binding pattern of malignant and benign human epidermal tumours was studied. Twelve squamous cell carcinomas and ten kerato-acanthomas were investigated, using fluorochrome-conjugated lectins. Lectins used were Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin (Con-A), Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA), Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA-L), and Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA-120). Two types of fluorescen ...

Diffuse dermatitis and markedly elevated serum IgE concentrations were observed in three adult males who were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody. The clinical features in common for these patients included 1) an adult onset of greater than 6 weeks´ duration associated with pruritus, 2) T-helper (CD-4) cell depletion, 3) the lack of overt atopic disease, and 4) the lack o ...

Thirteen patients with Darier´s disease with a mean extent of the lesions of 29.4 +/- 10% of the total skin area were treated with acitretin (the main metabolite of etretinate) for 16 weeks. The dose was 30 mg/day during the initial 8 weeks and was later adjusted individually to 10-30 mg/day in order to achieve optimal results. Three patients cleared completely, 7 patients showed marked improveme ...

Six patients with persistent palmoplantar pustulosis were treated with acitretin, and the clinical response was compared with the effect on the intra-epidermal accumulation of polymorphonuclear PMN leukocytes. A prompt improvement of pustule formation and subsequently decreased scaling and erythema was seen in all patients. Following discontinuation of therapy, a relapse occurred within 2 weeks. W ...

We report a case of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) treated with local injection of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2). The biopsy specimen showed marked infiltration of large convoluted cells admixed with small lymphocytes and histiocytes in the epidermis, dermis and subcutis. After six injections of rIL-2, 4 nodules out of 5 on the left lower leg disappeared and the remaining large nodule was di ...

In a prospective study of 63 patients with long-lasting hand eczema, a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis could be established in 49%. Comparison between patients with atopic dermatitis and those without atopic dermatitis showed that the hand eczema pattern differed very little between the groups. Hyperlinearity was significantly more common in the palms of the patients with atopic dermatitis.

Exposure to colour developing agents that are derivatives of p-phenylenediamine, e.g. CD-2 and CD-3, are known to cause lichenoid lesions and allergic contact dermatitis. This study describes the clinical picture, course and patch test results in 24 patients with occupational skin disease caused by colour developing agents. Biopsies for histopathology of the occupationally-induced lesions and/or p ...

In two brothers and their sister, ectodermal defects including hypodontia, onychodystrophia, trichodysplasia and palmoplantar keratosis were observed. In addition to the ectodermal dysplasia a diffuse palmoplantar eccrine hyperplasia was noted as well as tumours and cysts of eccrine origin. This seems to be the first report of familial occurrence of eccrine tumours.

Dry-looking skin of unknown etiology develops in a majority of patients with chronic renal failure. The hydration of the stratum corneum influences the appearance of the skin and lack of water is considered to induce roughness, e.g. in atopic dermatitis. The aim of the present study was to compare the water content in uremic and healthy skin and to evaluate the possible relationship between skin h ...

The hair follicle mites Demodex folliculorum and D. brevis are the most common permanent ectoparasites of Man. Ordinarily they are harmless to their human host and appear to be of no medical significance. We present, however, an unusual finding regarding this mite, namely, that in a potassium hydroxide mount of a skin scraping from a mycotic plaque we found numerous Demodex mites containing inside ...

Pityrosporum orbiculare was cultured from clinically normal skin in 60 adults, 30 to 80 years of age. Antibody titers against P. orbiculare in serum and lipid measurements were also estimated. There was a parallel between a reduction in number of cultured organisms and an increase in age (p = 0.002, multiple linear regression analysis). The lipid content of the skin in older people was lower than ...

Ten patients with cholinergic urticaria (CU) were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. They were scheduled to receive acrivastine 8 mg t.d.s., hydroxyzine hydrochloride 20 mg t.d.s. and placebo according to a fully randomized, balanced treatment plan. Subjective clinical assessments and objective measurements following exercise challenge were performed during the stud ...