Ronald E. Grimwood

Transplantation of human basal cell carcinomas to athymic mice

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) obtained from 22 subjects undergoing microscopically controlled surgery were transplanted to 40 athymic (nude) mice. With no further immunosuppression of the mice, no tumor growth was noted in the first 14 attempts. When mice were further immunosuppressed with anti‐lymphocyte serum (ALS) injections and by splenectomy, successful tumor growth was achieved in 15 of 22 mice by a subcutaneous implantation technique and in 1 of 4 by a superficial grafting technique. Transplanted BCC retained the morphology and basement membrane proteins typical of human BCC. As determined by autoradiography, 3H‐thymidine was incorporated primarily in the peripheral palisaded cells of the transplanted tumor. Successful use of the athymic mouse model for study of human BCC requires use of mice further immunosuppressed by splenectomy and ALS, and the use of a subcutaneous implantation technique. With the use of this model, studies of the biology of human BCC may be possible.

Necrotizing fasciitis associated with porphyria cutanea tarda

A case is presented of a 31-year-old white woman with necrotizing fasciitis. She had had a previous diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda that was manifested in part by bullous lesions on her forearms and hands. A soft tissue infection developed in her left hand and forearm in an area of bullous disease. After a delay of 8 days the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was made. She recovered following surgical debridement, extensive fasciotomy, broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

A simple and improved method for direct and indirect immunofluorescent staining

Several technics for immunofluorescent staining have been described in the literature and are presently used by laboratories performing direct and indirect tissue immunofluorescence. The purpose of this communication is to describe a simple immunofluorescent technic that uses a five-slide polypropylene slide mailer containing the diluted conjugated antisera. This technic eliminates the need for an incubation chamber, decreases background staining, and uses less antiserum.