Kenju Nishida

Characterization of pigmented granules in minocycline-induced cutaneous pigmentation: observations using fluorescence microscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography

We describe a technique to facilitate histopathological detection and quantitative measurement of trace amounts of tissue minocycline.

Cutis laxa with ultrastructural abnormalities of elastic fiber

A case of a congenital, autosomal recessive form of generalized cutis laxa is reported. The patient was a 27-month-old boy with generalized flaccid skin and short stature. Radiologic examination revealed that the age of the bones of the wrist was compatible with a chronologic age of only 1 year. Elastic fibers were diminished throughout the dermis, and results of electron microscopic study showed globular and unstained elastin and relatively large amounts of the microfibrillar components of elastic fibers.

Cutaneous oxalate granulomas in a haemodialysed patient: report of a case with unique clinical features

We report a patient undergoing haemodialysis, who developed multiple subcutaneous nodules. Histology showed that the noduies were composed of deposits of crystals in the dermis, with an associated foreign‐body reaction. The crystalline deposits were identified as calcium oxalate by histochemical staining, polarizing microscopy, and analytical electron microscopy.

Clinical effect of tocoretinate on lichen and macular amyloidosis

Lichen amyloidosis and macular amyloidosis are commonly therapy‐resistant. Tocoretinate is a hybrid compound of retinoic acid and tocopherol that is commonly used for the treatment of skin ulcers. Although beneficial effect of oral retinoic acid on lichen amyloidosis is reported, tocoretinate has not been reported to be useful for the treatment of lichen amyloidosis or macular amyloidosis. We evaluated the effects of topical tocoretinate on lichen amyloidosis and macular amyloidosis lesions. Tocoretinate was topically applied daily to the lesions and clinical improvement and histological changes were evaluated. The outcome was very good for four, good for two, moderate for two and poor for two of 10 treated patients. Epidermal hypertrophy was reduced and expression of involucrin, keratin 1 and keratin 10 was decreased by tocoretinate treatment, suggesting the normalization of epidermal differentiation. Amyloid deposits remained histologically detectable, even in clinically responsive patients. Together, topical application of tocoretinate reduced the clinical symptoms of lichen amyloidosis and macular amyloidosis, and normalized disturbed epidermal differentiation.

Non-IgG1 nature of cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity factor in contact sensitivity.

Cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity (CBH)-inducing factor was demonstrated in immune sera obtained from dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-sensitized animals 2 weeks after sensitization (DNP-GPS-2W). It showed hapten specificity and worked dose dependently. It was fractionated into a non-gamma-globulin fraction by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration following ammonium sulfate desalting and CM-cellulose chromatography. The factor was eluted into a fraction of a little smaller molecular weight than bovine serum albumin on Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. It passed through an antiguinea pig IgG1 column and was absorbed to a DNP-BGG column. On SDS-PAGE it failed to show any staining band because of low protein concentration. From these results CBH factor appearing in circulation in contact-sensitized animals was thought to be a somewhat different molecule from that of Askenases factor, i.e. IgG1 antibody.

GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN IN THE SKIN AND URINE OF A HUNTER SYNDROME PATIENT WITH A SPECIFIC SKIN LESION

The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) contents of the cutaneous papules, the non‐eruptive skin, and the urine of a patient with Hunter syndrome were examined. Both skin samples contained hyaluronic acid (HA) and dermatan sulfate (DS) as major components and heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) as minor components. The HA content of the papules was greatly increased, while that of the non‐eruptive skin was normal. The amounts of DS and HS were increased in all three samples; the papules, non‐eruptive skin, and urine. HS from the patients skin and urine had an electrophoretic mobility different from that of authentic HS. It seemed interesting from a pathogenetic viewpoint that the components of GAG in the cutaneous papules differed from those in the non‐eruptive skin and urine.

CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT LYMPHOMAS

Clinical and histological findings in 37 cases of cutaneous lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome were investigated; there were 31 in adults and 6 in children. Cutaneous lesions were the first manifestations of the diseases in all cases, and they appeared mostly as tumors or nodules. Cytomorphologically, about a half of the cases showed proliferations of large cleaved, non‐cleaved cells or immunoblasts (Group I). Eight cases showed a polymorphous appearance containing convoluted cells of various size (Group II). Five cases in children demonstrated monomorphous proliferation of uniform‐sized lymphoblasts (Group III). The cytologic findings in 6 cases did not fit into any lymphoid groups (Group IV). The clinical findings observed in each group were reviewed and compared. Follow‐up study revealed that the prognosis of Group I was the poorest among the four groups.