Shigeo Ofuji

Leukotactic properties of soluble substances inpsoriasis scale

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanicms underlying the production of transepidcrmal migration of leukocytes toward the stratum corneum in psoriatic lesions, the chcmotactic properties of soluble substances in psoriasis scales were examined by a modified Boydms chamber.

Treatment of Acute Febrile Neutrophilic Dermatosis (Sweet’s Syndrome) with Potassium Iodide

6 cases with acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweets syndrome) responded rapidly and dramatically to treatment with potassium iodide. All patients became afebrile and symptom-free within 24--48 h after therapy. The cutaneous eruptions subsided completely in 3--5 days. 5 of the patients received the drug only for 2 weeks, but they have had no recurrences. Although the remaining 1 patient had shown minor recurrences after cessation of the medication, he was free of all symptoms during the therapy. The mode of the action of potassium iodide is also discussed.

Regression of plane warts following spontaneous inflammation. An histopathological study.

This paper describes the clinical and histopathological features in ten cases of spontaneously involuting plane warts. In all, rapid regression occurred after the sudden development of an inflammatory reaction. At an early stage a degenerative change appears in the upper epidermis and the typic features of the warts are masked. At the height of the reaction an intense mononuclear cell infiltrate in the dermis associated with epidermal spongiosis, exocytosis cell necrosis and focal parakeratosis is found. It is suggested that the development of cell mediated immunity may be responsible for spontaneous involution of warts.

Erythema multiforme: demonstration of immune complexes in the sera and skin lesions

In twenty patients with erythema multiforme we investigated circulating immune complexes and their deposition in the skin lesions. C1q‐binding activity was elevated in ten of twenty patients, and the platelet aggregation titre was high in three of twelve tested sera. Decreased levels of C3 were seen in two and of C4 in one out of eighteen patients. Direct immunofluorescence showed a deposition of C3, IgM or IgG in the blood vessel walls of the upper dermis in four of twelve patients. These findings may suggest that transient production of circulating immune complexes and their deposition play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Demonstration of C3 cleavage product in leukotactic substances of scale extract from pustular psoriasis.

The scale extract prepared from psoriatic lesions exhibited highly leukotactic activity as compared to other horny tissue extracts, accounting for the migration of leukocytes into such epidermis (Tagami & Ofuji, 1976). This activity is attributed to the action of small amounts of strongly chcmotactic substances eluting near the cytochrome C marker (molecular weight 12,500) on Sephadcx G-200 chromatography. Of the known endogenous chemotactic factors, complement cleavage products are Hkely to be present based on analysis by molecular sieve chromatography. Krogh & Tonder (1973) demonstrated C3 in saline extracts of psoriasis scales. However, there has been no direct evidence that chemotactically active complement cleavage products exist in the scales of psoriatic lesions.

Dyskeratotic degeneration of epidermal cells in pityriasis rosea: light and electron microscopic studies

We studied biopsies from twenty‐nine patients with pityriasis rosea. All specimens showed features of subacute or chronic dermatitis as previously reported, but sixteen cases (55%) had dyskeratotic cells within the epidermis. Ultrastructurally, these cells contained an aggregation of tonofilaments, many vacuoles and intracytoplasmic desmosomes. Previously, only non‐speci fic histological changes had been described in pityriasis rosea, but the presence of dyskeratotic cells seems to be a significant feature.

Ultrastructural studies of spontaneously regressing plane warts. Langerhans cells show marked activation

SummaryUltrastructural changes of Langerhans cells during spontaneous involution of plane warts were examined. In areas with activated macrophages and epidermal cell interaction, Langerhans cells showed signs of enhanced cellular activity with an increased number of Langerhans cell granules, as in contact dermatitis. The fine structure of Langerhans cell granules, however, was unusual in that the vesicular portion was surrounded internally by a membrane, and this portion frequently occurred independently taking the shape of a loop.ZusammenfassungEs wurden die ultrastrukturellen Veränderungen der Langerhansschen Zellen während der spontanen Involution der Plattenwarze untersucht. In den Gebieten mit aktivierten Makrophagen und epidermischen Zellen zeigten die Langerhansschen Zellen, wie in der Kontaktdermatitis, ein Zeichen erhöhter cellulärer Aktivität mit Vermehrung der cellulären Körner. Ungewöhnlich an der feinen Struktur der Körner der Langerhansschen Zellen war, daß der vesiculäre Teil innen mit einer Membrane umgeben wurde und daß dieser Teil häufig in Gestalt einer Schlinge vorkam.

Primary Eruption of Prurigo simplex subacuta

28 patients with typical picture of prurigo simplex subacuta were examined for the primary eruption. In all patients, the first visible lesion was a papule, at the top of which a vesicular element was never seen. 46 biopsy specimens of the initial eruption were serially sectioned. The histological changes were found in connection with hair follicles, which consisted of spongiosis and mononuclear cell migration at the follicular epidermis and perifollicular infiltrates of mononuclear cells.

Congenital Self-healing Reticulohistiocytosis (Hashimoto-Pritzker): A Case Report with a Solitary Lesion

A small, dark‐reddish nodule noted on the left shoulder of a newborn baby showed thick proliferation of atypical histiocytic cells in the dermis with inflammatory infiltrating cells. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of Birbecks granules in about one‐fourth of the histiocytic cells. At 36 days of age, the nodule disappeared spontaneously; no other skin lesions were observed throughout the course. This case was considered to be a solitary variant of congenital self‐healing reticulohistiocytosis (Hashimoto and Pritzker).

Ultrastructural studies of spontaneously regressing plane warts. Macrophages attack verruca-epidermal cells

SummaryPlane warts were examined at the earliest phase of spontaneous involution using an electron microscopy. Macrophages outnumbered lymphocytes in invading the epidermis. Lymphocytes exhibited pseudopods on the surface which occasionally reached into the epidermal cells. The cell membranes of both macrophages and epidermal cells frequently disappeared on the contacting surface and on occasion part of the cytoplasm and even the nucleus of macrophages invaded the epidermal cells. The macrophages showed an independent partial loss of their cell membranes with a subsequent outpour of their contents. This ultrastructural feature indicates that in spontaneously regressing plane warts the depressed membrane stability of macrophages as observed in BCG and other-induced tumor cell destruction also occurs in the presence of lymphocytes. Therefore, the spontaneous involution may represen a rejection phenomenon.ZusammenfassungPlane Warzen in der frühesten klinischen Phase der spontanen Involution wurden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Es wurde gezeigt, daß Makrophagen und Lymphocyten in die Epidermis einwandern und daß die Zahl der ersteren die der letzteren überschritt. Die Lymphocyten zeigten Pseudopodien an der Oberfläche und diese drangen zuweilen in die epidermischen Zellen ein. An der Berührungsfläche der Makrophagen und der epidermalen Zellen verschwanden häufig Membranen beider Zellen und gelegentlich wurde ein Teil des Cytoplasmas und auch des Nucleus der Makrophagen von den Zellen der Epidermis aufgenommen. Außerdem wurde ein davon unabhängiger partieller Verlust der Zellmembranen der Makrophagen beobachtet. Diese ultrastrukturellen Verhältnisse zeigen, daß in der spontan zurückgehenden planen Warze eine verringerte Stabilität der Makrophagenmembranen in Gegenwart von Lymphocyten sich entwickelt, wie sie in der durch BCG und anderen Ursachen zerstörten Tumorzelle beobachtet wird, und daß die spontane Involution ein Abstoßungs-Phänomen darstellen kann.