Seiichiro Hata

The human epidermal cells infected with herpes simplex virus in vitro

SummaryThe cytopathic changes of the epidermal cells infected with herpes simplex virus were observed in vitro. Cell cultures were initiated from suspension of pure epidermal cells obtained by tryptic digestion of the adult human skin. The keratinocytes connected by intercellular bridges were to form confluent sheets. The melanocytes were scattered around the sheet and often stretched dendritic processes towards the keratinocytes.Herpes simplex viruses were inoculated to the culture. The cytopathic effects on the keratinocytes were as follows: The ruffling membrane activity which was usually observed on the keratinocytes along the free margin of the sheet was lost at two hours after the inoculation. At six hours the intercellular connections were lost specifically at the periphery of the sheet and the polygonal keratinocytes began to take round, elliptic or spindle-shaped forms. At 24 h the degeneration of the keratinocytes was prominent. The nuclei showed vacuolated appearance and giant cells were simultaneously observed. The morphological changes of melanocytes, however, were minimal. The titer of the virus in the medium increased as high as 109.33 (TCID50/ml) at 50 h after the inoculation.ZusammenfassungDie cytopathischen Veränderungen von Herpes simplexinfizierten Epidermiszellen wurden in vitro beobachtet. Kulturen reiner Epidermiszellen wurden nach tryptischer Verdauung menschlicher Erwachsenenhaut angesetzt. Die Keratinocyten waren durch Intercellularbrücken verbunden und bildeten zusammenhängende Zellrasen. Darum verstreut lagen Melanocyten, deren dendritische Fortsätze oft mit den Keratinocyten verbunden waren.Folgende cytopathischen Veränderungen zeigten sich nach Inoculation der Kulturen mit Herpes simplex-Viren: 2 Std nach Inoculation ging in den am Rande des Zellrasens befindlichen Keratinocyten die Membranbewegungen verloren. Nach 6 Std lösten sich die Intercellularbrücken an der Peripherie. Die polygonalen Keratinocyten nahmen runde, elliptische oder spindelige Formen an. Degeneration der Keratinocyten trat nach 24 Std ein, wobei vacuolierte Kerne wie auch Riesenzellbildung beobachtet werden konnte. An den Melanocyten wurden nur minimale Veränderungen sichtbar. 50 Std nach Inoculation war der Virustiter im Medium auf 109.33 (TCID50/ml) angestiegen.

Unusual Pigmentation on the Skin over Trunk Bones and Extremities

6 young people (19-31 years old) exhibited unusual light or dark brown, ill-circumscribed or reticular pigmentation distributed over protrudent bones. 5 of them have been using nylon towels and scrub brushes for over 3-10 years. Biopsy specimens showed that the amount of melanin granules in the basal layer was increased and melanophages were scattered in the upper dermis. Inflammatory infiltrates were minimal.

Skin test with Varicella-zoster virus antigen on herpes zoster patients.

SummaryIntracutaneous injection of Varicella-zoster (V-Z) viral antigen was performed on 55 patients with herpes zoster. All of them reacted positively after 10 days. The patients in the acute stage responded weakly whereas those in the convalescent phase developed a stronger reaction. The intensity of the reaction did not correlate with the number of days of illness. Positive reactions were observed in those patients who had suffered from herpes zoster several years ago. Complement fixing antibody titers did not parallel the intensity of skin reaction.ZusammenfassungVaricella-Zoster-Antigen wurde i.c. 55 Patienten mit Herpes zoster injiziert. Nach 10 Tagen entwickelte sich bei allen Patienten eine positive Reaktion. Bei Patienten im akuten Stadium war die Reaktion schwach. Bei Patienten in der Erholungsphase zeigte sich eine verstärkte Reaktion. Die Intensität der Reaktion war nicht mit den Krankheitstagen korreliert. Positive Reaktionen zeigten sich auch in einem Kollektiv, das einige Jahre zuvor den Herpes zoster überstanden hatte. Antikörpertiter zeigten keine Parallelität zur Stärke der Hautreaktion.

Density of Dopa-Positive Melanocytes in Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria

Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria, one of the hereditary diseases characterized by the presence of pigmented and hypopigmented spots on the extremities, was studied by the splitting dopa stain on the hypopigmented area. There were 190 +/- 58/mm2 dopa-positive cells, i.e. less than the normal value of the Japanese population. This suggests that the pigment anomaly in this disease may be due to the small number of melanocytes.

Incidence of Friction Melanosis in Young Japanese Women Induced by Using Nylon Towels and Brushes

Friction melanosis was observed in 25 (5.2%) of 479 healthy young women and in none of 25 young men. The lesions were distributed on the skin over the clavicles, shoulders, neck and extensor surface of upper arms. All the patients had used nylon towels or scrub brushes in the bathroom for periods of 2 to 15 years. The period of usage was not related to the degree of pigmentation, which depended rather on the strength and times of scrubbing. A slender figure was not a factor participate in this pigment disorder.

Unusual varicella zoster virus infection in a patient with colon carcinoma and Evans syndrome--delayed virus shedding generalized recurrent necrotic herpes zoster.

A 53‐year‐old Japanese woman with Evans syndrome and colon cancer had two episodes of herpes zoster. The first painful vesicular rashes involved the right lower abdomen and buttock and healed in one month. After one more month, a second attack occurred on the right thigh and leg and developed into generalized hemorrhagic lesions, which became crusted in about 90 days. The patient died 131 days after the second attack, when the lesions had almost subsided. Varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) was isolated on the 59th day of the second attack. Her intracutaneous reactions to VZV antigen was negative, but the humoral antibodies were continuously positive.

Viral activity in skin lesions of herpes zoster.

Varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) was isolated in 41 of 53 (77%) patients with herpes zoster on the first to ninth days after the rash. The isolation rate was highest on the early days, as high as 86% on days one and two of rash, and gradually decreased to the ninth day; the isolation rate depended more upon the condition of skin lesions than the days of illness. The high viral activity in the rash proves its important role as the source of VZV infections and the reliability of virus isolation for the diagnosis of herpes zoster.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF “NYLON CLOTHS FRICTION DERMATOSIS” IN JAPAN

A survey of nylon cloths friction dermatosis (NCFD) was taken by gathering information by a questionnaire sent to university hospitals in Japan. The replies were obtained from 44 hospitals (55% recovery) reporting 158 patients. Pigmentation was noted mainly on the skin over the trunk bones and extremities. The pigmentation was distributed over more than two regions in most of the patients. Along with the clinical and histological features, a history of repeated friction, usually with nylon towels or scrub brushes, was required for diagnosis. A few months after discontinuing the use of nylon towels or scrub brushes, NCFD disappeared or improved in 15% of the patients.

RECURRENT ECZEMA HERPETICUM IN AN ADULT

A case of recurrent Kaposis varicelliform eruption caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 was presented in a man with atopic dermatitis. The generalized vesicular eruptions first developed during his twenty sixth year. Four years later the same vesicular lesion as wide as the first attack developed and was improved in a shorter period.

COMPLEMENT FIXING ANTIBODY TO VARICELLA‐ZOSTER VIRUS IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Complement fixing antibody to varicella‐zoster virus was studied in sera from 619 persons not suffering from varicella or herpes zoster.