Mauray J. Tye

Upper dermal elastolysis: A comparative study with mid‐dermal elastolysis

We encountered a patient who complained of many small papules on the neck, shoulders, upper chest and upper back. Biopsy specimens showed complete loss of elastic fibers in the upper dermis including papillary dermis, whereas those of the mid dermis were intact. Electron microscopy revealed that assembly of component fibrils of elastic fibers was loose, and electron dense substance was aggregated in the spaces between these loosely bound subunit Fibrils or along the periphery of abnormal fibers. Dermal phagocytes engulfed abnormal as well as normal elastic fibers. Upper dermal elastolysis is a clinical and histopathological entity different from mid‐dermal elastolysis. Ultrastructural changes of the former are essentially similar to those of the latter but much more severe. It is suggested that activated elastophagocytosis of dermal phagocytes may play a role in this disease.

Immunochemical analysis of the basic immunoglobulin in papular mucinosis.

Abstract The basic immunoglobulin (PM protein) isolated from the serum of a patient with papular mucinosis is unique in that it appears to be a homogeneous immunoglobulin distinct from myeloma paraproteins. The PM protein is electrophoretically homogeneous, always has λ light chains, and in most cases has γG 1 heavy chains. Individual antigenic determinants of the PM protein were detected with rabbit anti-PM protein serum. The diagnostic PM protein seems to be a γG 1 immunoglobulin whose only unusual feature is its marked basicity. The PM protein has a net positive charge much greater than that of normal IgG fractions. This difference in net charge is associated with the light chains of the PM protein.

Localization of Eosinophil Granule Major Basic Protein in Incontinentia Pigmenti

Abstract: We report a case of incontinentia pigmenti and demonstrate the deposition and localization of eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) in the vesicular stage of this neurocutaneous syndrome. The initial stage of incontinentia pigmenti is histologically characterized by intraepidermal vesicles associated with eosinophilic spongiotic dermatitis. Pathologic examination of a lesional tissue specimen from our patient demonstrated epidermal necrosis, spongiosis, and vesicle formation. Indirect immunofluorescence with affinity‐chromatography purified antibody to human eosinophil granule MBP demonstrated many intact eosinophils within vesicles and scattered throughout the epidermis and dermis, and extracellular deposition of granular MBP in the tissue. The characteristic finding of extensive tissue eosinophilia in incontinentia pigmenti, as well as the new finding of extracellular deposition of an eosinophil granule protein in lesional tissue, suggests the involvement of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Cultivation in vitro of Adult Human Skin and Oral Mucosa on Gelatin Film.

Summary Zones of epithelioid cells from single fragments of adult human skin and oral mucosa develop on gelatin film. Although the initial appearance of these cells was somewhat slower on this substrate, their subsequent migration or growth appeared to be comparable to that in plasma clot. Proliferation of fibroblast-like cells was observed in some skin cultures on gelatin film when the medium consisted of a modified Eagles basal solution supplemented with 15% calf serum but not when supplemented with 20% human or 10% human and 5% calf serum. Cultural characteristics of adult human skin and oral mucosa were similar except that fibroblast-like cells were more rarely observed and extensive sheaths of epithelioid cells occurred on glass as well as on gelatin film from oral mucosa.

Microsporosis of the Scalp. Evaluation of a New Therapeutic Agent.

By COMPARISON with other large cities, Boston has not had the high incidence of tinea capitis prevalent in most of the country.1 , 2 It has, however, experienced a rapidly increasing incidence of i...