Content - Volume 73, Issue 2

The basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is an angiogenic factor and also a mitogen for epidermal keratinocytes. In order to investigate the role of bFGF in human skin we examined the distribution of bFGF immunoreactivity in normal and diseased human skin. Antigen expression was demonstrated by direct immunofluorescence staining of cryostat sections with a polyclonal anti-bFGF antibody. In normal ...

Topical cyclosporin A (CyA; Sandimmun) in a formulation incorporating the penetration enhancers (PE) propylene glycol (18%) and azone (2%) was tested for efficacy in a double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial in 5 chronic plaque psoriatic patients. On each patient, two similar plaques were treated daily, under occlusion, for 4 weeks with either 8% (w/v) CyA, containing PE, or with vehicle comprising ...

Selenium (Se) is known to affect the immune system, and decreased Se-levels in blood of patients with moderate or severe psoriasis have been reported. In this study, the effect of Se-supplementation (400 micrograms/day for 6 weeks as Se-yeast, containing about 70% selenomethionine, SeMet) on skin and blood Se-content, on skin glutathione peroxidase activity and on various chemical and immunologica ...

The induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) can be partially blocked by corticosteroids, retinoic acid or active vitamin D3. The influence of the other members of this so-called "steroid hormone receptor superfamily", namely the sex-steroids and thyroid hormone, is unknown in epidermis, but they enhance ODC induction in certain other tissues. Here we investigated whether topical estri ...

Streptococcal and staphylococcal toxins are responsible for skin-related clinical conditions, e.g. scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome. Skin involvement may result from a hypersensitivity reaction to these toxins; however, their precise mode of action has still to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the capacity of human epidermal cells to present streptococcal erythr ...

Topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA) has been shown to transform the horn-filled utriculi of the rhino mouse into normal follicles. We studied the early events by light and electron microscopy. Reduction in diameters of the utriculi was quantified by image analysis of whole mounts. Topical RA at 0.05% in ethanol/propylene glycol was applied daily and biopsies were taken after 1, 2, 3 and 6 days of ...

Differentiation of keratinocytes involves both non-genomic and genomic events. The genomic effects are regulated by ligand-dependent transcription factors, e.g. the steroid/thyroid super-family of nuclear receptors. In the present study we examined mRNA expression of receptors for retinoic acid, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D3 in normal human skin and cultured keratinocytes using reverse transcrip ...

In the present investigation, collagen synthesis and degradation were studied by measuring the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) and a type I collagen-specific degradation peptide (ICTP) in the sera of 43 male patients, treated for acne with isotretinoin or with tetracycline. The values were compared with those ob ...

In a previous study acitretin and its 13-cis-metabolite were monitored in the plasma and epidermis of healthy volunteers. They were given 50 mg of trans-acitretin daily. No drug accumulation was observed in the skin, nor in the plasma. The purpose of the present study was to extend the data from non-psoriatic to psoriatic (n = 11) subjects, treated for at least 1 month with 25 mg acitretin. Plasma ...

In 8 out of 29 patients with scleroderma we found antibodies to HIV retroviral proteins in the Western blot analysis. The sera reacted only to one or two of the following bands: p 18, p 24, p 55, p 65 in relatively weak grades. There were no evident clinical correlations with the reactivity of certain bands, nor signs of direct HIV infection in our patients. Apart from 3 cases with positive CMV re ...

The importance of occupational environments in relation to the course of an atopic skin disease was investigated. A series of 1008 adult patients, who had had an atopic disease since their teenage years, were studied. Severe or moderate childhood atopic dermatitis tended to persist or relapse in adulthood independent of occupation. Only dermatitis of the hands showed a correlation with extensive d ...

A case of atypical varicella zoster in a 33-year-old AIDS patient is reported. The patient had had two attacks of herpes zoster within a year and was given high-dose acyclovir several times. Thereafter he developed small keratotic pellucid papules on fingers, wrists and face, which were found to contain varicella-zoster antigen by the ELISA test. Skin biopsy showed acanthosis and lack of vesicatio ...

Dental personnel are exposed to many sensitizing compounds at work and often develop multiple delayed allergies. Here we report on a dentist who got sensitized to several products that have not, or only seldom, caused sensitization earlier. These products were: coconut diethanolamide from her handwashing liquids, N-ethyl-4-toluene sulfonamide, a resin carrier in dental materials for isolating cavi ...

Eight patients suffering from atopic dermatitis were treated with interferon alpha 2b. They received low or intermediate doses (9-15 x 10(6) U/week) for a short period of time (4-8 weeks), with a moderate improvement of skin lesions in 4 of them and no change or an exacerbation of the disease in the other 4. Among the 4 patients who slightly improved at 4 weeks, 3 did not show any beneficial effec ...

Two patients with multiple angiokeratomas on genitalia and thighs, one with Fabry's disease and one with Fordyce's disease, were treated with copper vapour laser light of 578 nm wavelength. The result was desirable, with destruction and disappearance of the lesions and minimal scarring and posttreatment hyper- or hypopigmentation.

A case of eruptive syringoma with the clinical features of urticaria pigmentosa is described. A histological specimen revealed a syringoma with an increased number of mast cells in the connective tissue.

A case of inflammatory carcinoma, or carcinoma erysipelatodes, clinically resembling erythema annulare centrifugum is reported. The cutaneous inflammatory carcinoma was due to metastasis by a signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma, probably of gastrointestinal origin. This is the third reported case of inflammatory carcinoma with signet-ring cell infiltration. Cancer patients with atypical or unusual inf ...

Eight patients with severe atopic dermatitis were treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha 2b), given by subcutaneous injection, three times a week. The maximum doses varied from 3 to 9 x 10(6) U and the period of treatment from 6 to 14 weeks. The therapy was well tolerated. No changes were observed in eczema or IgE levels, although IFN-alpha 2b treatment significantly decreased blood eosinophils.

We report a rare case of a cutaneous leiomyosarcoma on the extensor surface of the proximal part of the left arm of an 84-year-old man. The tumour exhibited a number of histological and immunohistochemical features which are characteristic of a leiomyosarcoma. Leiomyosarcomas are frequently misdiagnosed on clinical grounds. Therefore, clinical features, differential diagnosis, histological and imm ...

A case of bilateral, symmetric, sporothricoid granulomas involving the dorsa of fingers and wrists is reported. The culture-proved Mycobacterium marinum skin infection was acquired by a fish-fancier while clearing his aquarium with bare hands. The patient suffered from chronic hand eczema. Treatment with co-trimoxazole was successful.

A 64-year-old man affected by acute monoblastic leukemia developed a cutis verticis gyrata during the terminal phase of hemopathy. The association between these two diseases is rare. The classification of cutis verticis gyrata in primary essential, primary non-essential and secondary forms is reviewed. Performing a skin biopsy is necessary in the diagnostic approach to patients with cutis verticis ...

Quantitative evaluation of scalp hair requires techniques that are reproducible. The unit area trichogram is such a method but is unsuitable for large-scale clinical trials. An alternative may be the phototrichogram--a non-plucking, non-invasive method. Hair variables were evaluated in 12 Caucasian subjects employing both methods. The mean value for total hair density was significantly underestima ...

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.