Showing papers in "International Journal of Dermatology in 1971"

Photodermatitis in north american indians: familial actinic prurigo

Abstract: A distinctive photoderniatitis of the polymorphic Hght eruption type has been described in Nortli American Indians by Schenck.i Everett cl al./ and Birt.3 In 1968, Londofio c't alA reported a condition of striking similarity in Colombia, South America. Individuals in both groups described in North and Sovith America react adversely to sunlight; both tend to develop the dermatitis veiy early in life, often before the age of 10. The condition is more common in females and is chronic and recurrent. Frequently there is a positive family history. Lesions on the face may be eczematous (Fig. 1, 2) or plaque-like (Fig. 3, 4). Pruriginous papules (Fig. 5) are common on the exjaosed areas of the arms, hands and legs. Impetiginization (Fig. 6) is frequent, and many patients have cheilitis, particularly of the lower lip. We have noted cheilitis as the sole manifestation of this disease entity. It is our opinion, and Londofio agrees, that we are j^robably describing the same disease. The mediator of this photoderniatitis is not known, but we suspect that it is

Taxonomic criteria for the fungi of chromoblastomycosis with reference to Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

Abstract: A review of recent literature on chromoblastomycosis shows that the generic classification of the species pedrosoi is still a controversial subject. This fungus, which happens to be the most common causative agent of the disease, has been variously assigned to the gê nera Hormodendrum,^ Phialophora, Fonsecaea and Rhinocladiella. We have repeatedly expressed our opinion in favor of Fonsecaea as the adequate genus for the species pedrosoi, a view that is now shared by many respected investigators in the field. It is the purpose of this communication to summarize the evidence in support of our view.

Lichen amyloidosus in Singapore.

Abstract: Table 1 shows the breakdown analysis of LA as related to the various ethnic groups found in Singapore. Population statistics were based on the mid-year figure for 1967. Ol' the 142 diagnosed cases ol LA, 135 patients were (Chinese, three Malays, three Indians and Pakistanis, and one was a Eurasian. Tlie large number ol Chinese patients was mainly due to the fact that in 1967 Chinese accounted for 75 per cent ol; the population in Singapore. Malays made up 14 per cent, Indians and Pakistanis 8 per cent, and other national groups, 3 per cent of the total population. We determined the incidence of LA for each ethnic group. This was expressed as the number of cases of LA per 100,000 population of the ethnic group. To facilitate computation, population figures were

Motor nerve conduction studies in leprosy.

Abstract: It is generally accepted that leprosy is a neural infection involving both sensory and motor fibers.^' lo Xhe sensory nerves are involved by extension of the disease along the cutaneous nerve twigs, giving rise to anesthetic patches. Motor fiber involvement is indicated by weakness and wasting of the muscles. Electromyographic studies have revealed denervation and fibrillation potentials in muscles supplied by diseased nerves.8 Functional derangements of nerves can be shown by nerve conduction studies before the apjiearance of clinical symptoms and signs. This prompted us to undertake a detailed study of the conduction in various nei-ves in patients with different types of leprosy. Jopling and Morgan-Hughes^ and Granger'* have reported decreased motor nerve conduction velocities in the ulnar nerve of one patient each studied by them. The present study consists of such observations in clinically affected as well as on \"normal\" nerves in patients with

Adnexal tumors of the skin

Abstract: Adnexal tumors are new growths in which the interrelations between the epithelial components of the skin and their subserving stroma are preserved in a normal or more or less distorted fashion. Synonyms for the condition are organoid tumors, appendageal tumors, nevoid tumors (basal cell tumors), and liamartomas. In this pictorial review, adnexal tumors of the skin are classified according to their level of differentiation and their structural resemblance in Table 1, originally constructed and later revised by Pinkus,3o, 3i and independently by Lever.20

Basal cell nevus syndrome and turner's syndrome in a patient

Abstract: In 1951, Binkley and Johnson^ reported hereditary multiple basal cell epitheliomas in mother and daughter; they also found other developmental defects in these patients. Subsequent studies of such patients confirmed that this combination of the anomalies constitutes a distinct syndrome.i' "• 12,13 A wide range of anomalies is found in the basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS). Cutaneous anomalies include basal cell epitheliomas, milia, epithelial and sebaceous cysts, lipomas and dyskeratoses of the palms and soles. Some osseous anomalies are mandibular cysts, rib anomalies, brachymetacarpalism, spina bifida occulta, sclerosis and defective dentition. Soft-tissue anomalies are calcification of the falx cerebri, ovarian fibromas with calcification and lymphatic mesenteric cysts. Mental and neurologic abnormalities such as mental retardation, aberrations and partial agenesis of the corpus callosum are anomalies of the nervous system. Ocular anomalies are hypertelorism, dystopia canthi, cataracts, and congenital blindness. In addition, this condition sometimes is associated with visceral carcinoma23. s, 13 or with hereditary or congenital syndromes.

On the treatment of vitiligo

Abstract: / Viiiligo, a disease characterized by almost coiiijjlcle lack of skin pigment with hyjierpigmentetl liordeis in various areas, is the comiiionesL cosmetic problem in lii>lit and dark-skiiinetl individuals. The cause ot the disease is still unknown, although in the last 10 years a good deal ol research has probed the pathogenesis of the absence of pigment. Over 20 years' experience of the senior author indicates that psoralens are the most efficient drug available for the treatment of this lesistant and disfiguring disease. \"I'liis paper reports the comjjarative results of treating vitiligo with 8-methoxypsoralen (Meladinine), trimethyl ]JSOralen (trisoralen) and a combination of 8-methoxyj.)soraleii and oral corticosteroids.

Palmo‐plantar hyperkeratosis with periodontosis (papillon‐lefevre syndrome)

Abstract: C.M.B., a 13-year-old Caucasian girl from the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, was seen in April, 1969 in the Department of Dermatology, Mexico City Children's Hospital, for thickening of the skin of the palms and soles and a progressive loosening of the teeth. On examination, a diffuse, finely pitting erythematous hyperkeratosis of the palms, soles and of the Achilles tendon was found (Fig. lA, B), Hyperkeratotic and eryihematous plaques of varying sizes (Fig. 2) were also present on the dorsal areas of the intei\"phalangeal joints of the fingers and toes, on the knees and on the skin over the sacrum. These cutaneous lesions had first appeared when the patient was ten months old, as \"red scaly patches.\" More of the asymptomatic lesions developed during her second and third years; worsening was noted during the winter months. Previous treatment administered elsewhere consisted of oral griseofulvin, vitamin C and tojiical steroids. The odontological examination and roentgenographic studies revealed five remaining teeth only in the maxillae and five remaining teeth in the mandible. The teeth were poorly positioned, dystrophic and loose as seen in Fig. 3. The gums were swollen and erythematous, with a purulent exudate.

Absence of pemphigus-type autoantibodies despite the presence of pemphigus-like histopathology: report of two cases.

Abstract: The presence of circulating antibodies to intercellular "cement" of stratified squamous epithelia has been accepted as a specific finding limited to Che various types of pemphigus since its discovery in 1964 by Beutner and Jordan.i We recently had the opportunity to study the sera and skin biopsies of two patients with acantholytic diseases other than pemphigus, and believe the observations worth reporting, because we are unaware of any previously published immunofluorescent studies for either of these dermatoses.

Les modifications du pigment melanique cutane rencontrees chez ľ africain au cours de diverses dermatoses

Abstract: La patliologie cutanee de la race noire fait actiiellement I'objet d'etudes de plus en plus nombreuses, son investigation n'ayant debute qu'a une epoque relativement recente:les travaux de Dubois au Congo, de Clarke au Nigeria, de Marshall en Afrique du Sud, de Basset au Senegal, sont en eflEet parmi les premiers a exposer les problemes de dermatologie sur peau noire. Pourtant celle-ci peut etre pleine d'enseignement notamment j)our ce qui concerne certains phenomenes physiologiques de la peau, en particulier le mecanisme de la melanogenese et le role pliysiologique du pigment m.elanique. \"La peau du Noir en effet est presque uniquement conditionnee par le pigment melanique qoi determine la plupart des caracteres semeiologiques de la dermatologie\" (Basset). La ricliesse pigmentaire du tegument noir peut permettre certaines investigations rendues singulierement difficiles au niveau de la peau blanche par suite de la pauvrete de celle-ci en melanine. II existe, en effet, au cours de diverses dermatoses des modifications pigmentaires a type de migrations dermiques ou epidermiques particulierement bien visibles

Liquefying panniculitis associated with arthritis and localized vasculitis of the ileum. Report of a fatal case.

Abstract: A 24-year-old white sailor entered the U.S. Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Mass., in June 19.'J3 complaining of pain and swelling of the left knee. He had injured his knee between a dock and a motor launch. An area oC erythema \"like a b r u s h burn\" developed, followed in 24 hours by swelling and discoloration of the entire left leg. Examinat ion disclosed a palpable tender cordlike swelling. Thrombophlebitis was the diagnosis. Treatment consisted of bed rest, bandaging, l e g elevation and administration of .•i()(),0()0 units of penicillin b.i.d. for five days. Two weeks later he developed an erythematous, tender, fluctuant area over the medial aspect of the left calf. Aspiration yielded 36 cc of serosanguinous fluid from the lesion, which subsided in two weeks. In [uly 1953, he injtired his right knee i n a similar docking incident, stiflering immediate pain, swelling and limitation of motion. T\"his subsided unevetitfully in a few days. F o u r weeks later, a red tender fimi swelling

The Woronoff ring of psoriasis: study of a patient.

Abstract: A 14-year-old girl was admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital in Jtine 1968, because of a scaly eruption of three months' dtirat ion . It had worsened considerably in the last three weeks before liospitalization. T h e r e was no personal history of a precedi n g illness and no family history of psoriasis. Her temperature on admission was 101.6° F. Physical examination revealed a generalized guttate papulosquamous erupt ion , typical of psoriasis. Pustular lesions were present on the palms and soles. Hypopigmented halos surrounded many of the scaly lesions (Fig. 1). The joints of the fingers, ankles, and feet were warm a n d tender. T h e erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Westergren) was 46 mm/hr. Tlie sertim u r i c acid was 6.8 mg/100 ml. The latex

The value of autoantibodies to vascular lipids in syphilis and non-syphilis.

Abstract: The lipoidal serologic tests for syphilis, such as the Kohner, Kahn and VDRL, ai-e methods of testing for the presence in. the patient's serum of an autoaiitibody (reagin) to a phospholipid present in blood vessels (cardiolipin). This phospholipid is present only in mammalian cells. The reagin is an autoantibody to an intracellular constituent. These tests have been in use since 1906. In this time considerable empiric knowledge about the presence of reagin has been gathered. This reagin has been very useful in diagnosing syphilis; in more recent years, it has served as a warning for us to look for other disorders. Why do these autoantibodies form and what is their significance? Medicine has repeatedly made the error of underestimating the importance of body structures and functions that were not known to be doing specific good. Only recently have we stopped talking about the pineal gland, tonsils, appendix and thymus as meaningless vestigial organs. The reagin of syphilis forms in 100 per cent of people with secondary syphilis whose blood can make antibodies. It is a general biologic phenomenon. Is it of no physiologic value?

Chromomycosis of the skin: report of five cases

Abstract: Chroniomycosis was reported by Kano^ in 1933 ior the first time in Japan. Since Kano's initial case, only lour cases have been reported in Japan over a 23-year period up to 1955. After 1956, liowever, the increase of cases of this disease in Japan has been remarkable, a total of 63 being reported until 19()9. This increase has been especially pronounced during the last 10 years. This is probably due to physicians becoming familiar with the clinical picture as a restih ot tlie detailed reporti by Takahaslii and Fukushiro (Table 1).

Erythema nodosum: a study of bo cases

Abstract: Erythema nodosum (dermatitis contusiformis) represents a clinicopathological entity with a multitude of causative factors. The appearance of definite nodose lesions is similar, but they vary in size. The underlying causes are variable, and the exact cause has not yet been discovered. Erythema nodosum tends to occur in people during the first to the third decade of life. Females are more commonly affected than males in a proportion of 4:1. Attacks and recurrence of the condition are prevalent during spring and autumn (the disease is more or less seasonal), yet sporadic cases may be seen all year. The eruption often occurs on the legs and the shins. It may be found rarely on the forearms distal to the elbows and still more rarely on other sites. In the condition, which usually starts suddenly, lesions fully develop within 24 to 48 hours. There may be an incubation period of about a week, during which prodomal symptoms of joint and rheumatoid pains may occur. Some factors can predispose a patient to erythema nodosum.

The natural history of experimental primary‐inoculation coccidioides immitis infection

Abstract: Infection of humans by primary inoculation with Coccidioides immitis has been reported. -̂̂ These infections have occurred in laboratory personnel who accidentally inoculated themselves while working with both the active parasitic and/or vegetative phase of the organism. Inoculation comes about through a break in the skin caused by a variety of objects, such as a thorn, grapevine, splinter of wood, or barbed wire fence. The clinical course has been characterized by the development of an ulcer at the site of inoculation, regional adenopathy, low-grade fever and malaise. Laboratory results have included verification of the presence of precipitins, a low-titer complement fixation test, and a positive coccidioidin skin test. With the exception of the patient reported by Guy and Jacob^' 2 and one of the patients whose condition disseminated reported by Winn,^ a good immunological status was attained. Two interesting cases have been reported in which previously immune persons were accidentally inoculated with C. immitis. Smith et aW> cite a case of Tiggert's in which a laboratory worker, who was known to have a positive coccidioidin skin test, accidentally inoculated his wrist bone with a suspension of C. im,mitis arthrospores.

Ten years in retrospect.

Abstract: Dr. Kierlanil, officers, and members of the International Society of Tropicat Dermatology and honored guests. It is with pleasure that 1 take the opportunity as Archivist-Historian to say a lew words about our Society on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its founding. When Dr. Fred Reiss asked me if I would be interested in becoming the ArchivistHistorian of this Society, I really did not know what the responsibilities would turn out to be. I soon learned that the first and most important one was to remove the fairly extensive Tdes that Dr. Reiss and Dr. Andrade were good enough to store in their offices. In fact, I heard that another dermatologist Iiad been approached to take the job and had declined ostensibly because he did not feel that he had enough room to store the files. So my fnst official act as Archivist-Historian was to double park in front of Dr. Reiss' office and remove these files and bring them home. Like other jobs, when one gets interested, one finds rewarding aspects. And one of these was learning more about the Society from our friend and Secretary-General, Dr. Fred Reiss. In the brief ten yeais since its inception, this Society has accomplished much. We have an enrollment of about 1,600 distinguished dermatologists from all over the world. A publication (originally called Dermatologica Tropicalis and renamed the International Journal of Devinatology) has over 1,748 subscribers in 83 countries. This journal under the cturent leadership of the capable Dr. Orlando Canizares and Dr. Richard Gibbs is growing in its reputation for excellence. It deals not only with tropical dermatology, but also with selected aspects of clinical dermatology, basic scientific research and geographic ecology. The Society has sponsored two very successftil international meetings—in 1964 at Naples under the aegis of Dr. Cerutti, and again in 1969 at Kyoto guided by Dr. Kasuke Ito and Professor Matsumoto. The meeting at Naples brought together physicians from 63 countries. At this meeting 225 papers were presented. At the 1969 meeting at Kyoto there were 270 papers presented to 600 physicians attending from 70 countries. In addition, in conjunction with the Bohemoslovakian Dermatological Society, a very successful meeting, the

Rare fungal infections in Kuwait.

Abstract: A Kuwaitian woman came to our clinic with what she thought were nits of the scalp hair. Examination disclosed multiple small, soft light-brown concretions affecting the distal portions of the scalp hair (Fig. 1). Tlie remainder of the hair shafts were not involved. Many hairs had more than one nodule. Examination of hairs under Wood's light showed no fluorescence. It was clear that the nodules were not nits. Microscopic examination of one affected hair in 10 per cent potassium hydroxide suggested tliat these concretions were composed oE many closely set arthrospores arranged in a collarette pattern extendini) inside the Iiair shaft (Fig. 2) . Implantation of a few liairs on malt extract and ordinary agar media resulted in rapidly growing cream-colored colonies. No growth was obtained on chloramphenicolcydohexamide enriched medium. Microscopic examination of a needle mount stained with hiciophenol showed niycelia, arthrospores and blastospores arranged both in clusters and in zigzag patterns typical of Tricliosporon cutaneiirn, as

Isolation of a Mycoplasma from three patients with Lepromatous leprosy.

Abstract: Using a modified cell-free culture medium and modern microscopic equipment, a mycoplasma was isolated from scrapings of skin lesions of three patients with lepromatous leprosy. Three specimens were taken from the first patients. All five isolates were arginine-positive and their antibiotic sensitivity was identical with only one slight exception.

Comparisoin of dermatologic lesions

Abstract: T h e maxillofacial prosthodontist worki n g in a hospital environment is often called upon to use his skill and knowledge i n dental procedines in a field completely unrelated to his specialty. A record of progress or lack of it in treatm e n t of dermatologic lesions, in threedimensional form, can easily be obtained Ijy using dental impression material. T h e e.ssential eqtiipment (Fig. 1) used in the procedure includes: jeltrate impress ion material,§ flexible mixing bowl and spatula, quick-setting dental plaster,^] Alg ina te adhesive,** and dental stone.

Host‐parasite relatioimship and tissue response in tropical and parasitic diseases

Abstract: The turn oJ: the century, marking progress in public health, research in pathogeriesis o£ disease and advancement in basic sciences and socioeconomic concliLions, caused a complete change in the epidemiology of the western civilized world. These changes have altered the pattern ol medical practice. We have enterect a new era ol: global medicine. The impact ol; Ireely mixitig populations and of rapid intercontinental communications has eliminated the natmal qviarantine of long journeys (Fig. 1). Tropical and parasitic diseases, once the special scourge of hot, damp, uncterprivilegect countries, are increasingly seen in common medical jjractice everywhere. Their inclusion in differential diagnoses is essential. Some infections and disease entities not etidogenous to our environment are biologically bonnd to particular climatic conditions, to specific fauna and flora, and to the presence of intermediate hosts and carriers. These disease entities are imported. The increasing awareness by clinicians

Absorcion percutaimea del 5-fluorouracilo

Abstract: Corresponde a Dillaha ct al.^ el mcrito de haber puiUuali/ado desde 1963 la gran eficancia de la acci6n citotoxica selectiva del 5Fluorouracilo (5-FU), aplicado topicamente, en la queratosis acti'nica. Estas observaciones lueron corroborandose posteriomente por otros investigadores, de manera que en la actualidad el consensus de la opinion es que el 5-FU constituye el tratamiento ideal de las queratosis actinicas y seniles, lnaxime cuando se ha iniciado el viraje hacia la malignizacion y particularmen te ctiando las lesiones son numerosas y ocupan grandes superficies, dado que la accion especifica se limita a la piel enferma sin que se produzca alteracion significativa en la piel normal, lii otros efectos colaterales indeseables.

Lecture tapes in medical eoucation

Abstract: Medical cdtication has becti utidergoing rapid cdiatiges over the past lew years. The necessity of producing more physicians atid providing medical infortnaticjn lor their consumptioti is piesetiting a challenge to teachers iti medical education across Nortlt America. We have found ourselves in a situation in which there are more students and often fewer stall to teach them, and often even fewer patients to illustrate examples for teaching purposes. This challenge Jias forced tlie development of newer methods for presentation of facts and theories, particularly in the field of dermatology. Among these techniques have been the audiovisual aids.