Shunichi Baba

Localized argyria with chrysiasis caused by implanted acupuncture needles: Distribution and chemical forms of silver and gold in cutaneous tissue by electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis

A case of localized argyria with chrysiasis caused by implanted acupuncture needles in a 41-year-old Japanese woman was studied by electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. Large amounts of silver granules with selenium and sulfur were detected around eccrine secretory cells in much greater amounts than around ductal cells. Many granules were also observed along the outer edge of the basement membrane but never within cells or intercellular spaces. The granules were also present around blood vessels, lymphatics and nerve fibers, and in elastic fibers. Small numbers of gold fragments were also seen, mostly within macrophages. These results suggest that silver deposits extracellularly as selenide and sulfide, whereas free gold is found intracellularly.

Acquired Reactive Perforating Collagenosis with IgA Nephropathy

A 25‐year‐old Japanese man developed numerous discrete umbilicated papules on his face, trunk, and both forearms at the onset of IgA nephropathy. The newest lesion was a nonumbilicated skin‐colored papule. On histopathologic examination, alteration of capillaries was observerd in both newer and umbilicated papules. In our case, a primary cause of the reactive perforating collagenosis could be an alteration of the capillaries.

Cactus Granuloma of the Skin

A case of cactus granuloma due to the thorns of Opuntia bieglovii Engelman is reported. A 24‐year‐old Japanese man contacted the thorns of this cactus in Palm Springs, California, U.S.A., and, three months later, numerous, slightly elevated papules 2 to 4 mm in diameter appeared on the dorsum of his right hand and fingers. Histopathological examination revealed many small granulomas surrounding the bristle fragments throughout the dermis. The granulomas consisted of epithelioid cells, Langhans type and foreign body type giant cells. The fragments of the barbed bristles gave strongly positive reactions with PAS. Two hypothetical mechanisms, one allergic and the other non‐allergic, are offered to explain this granuloma formation and are discussed with reference to the literature.

Pruritic Papular Eruptions and Candidiasis Due to HIV Infection

We present two patients with refractory papular eruptions and severe candidiasis. Both of them are positive for treponema pallidum and have suffered from pruritic papular eruptions (PPE) that had resisted therapy for years. Also, candidiasis appeared in the mouth, at intertriginous sites, and on the feet The clinical features suggested immunodeficiency, and HIV tests were positive.

Cytochemical studies of nuclear DNA and RNA in normal and abnormal keratinizing tissues.

The distribution patterns of nuclear DNA and RNA in normal and abnormal keratinizing tissues of human skin were examined by electron microscopy, using an enzyme digestion technique. We found that the distribution of nucleic acids in the nuclei of epidermal cells during keratinization changes gradually. In the hair cells, particularly in the cells of hair cortex and Henles layer of inner root sheath, essentially similar findings were observed. On the other hand, the distribution patterns observed in the tumor cells of calcifying epithelioma and the parakeratotic cells of psoriasis were different from each other and different from the distribution patterns of normal keratinizing tissue, hair, and epidermis. It seems that a similar pattern of reorganization of nucleic acids occurs in the nucleic of normal keratinizing cells as the cells keratinize. However, in abnormal tissue, it seems that the reorganization pattern of nucleic acids in the nuclei is different in each case.

A Case of Tick Bite with Ixodes turdus Nakatsuji

The first case of tick bite by Ixodes turdus Nakatsuji was reported. The tick was found on the occipital area near the left ear of a 6‐year‐old boy. The tick bite occurred in Hoya, a suburb of Tokyo.

Lipid-rich Keratin Spherules Containing Cholesterol Crystals in an Epidermal Cyst : A Study Using Electron Microscopy

Numerous, small spherical inclusions with laminated horn-like material were observed in an epidermal cyst from the left earlobe of a 52-year-old Japanese man. They were examined by light and electron microscopy. Positive reactions obtained by staining with both oil red-O and anti-pankeratin antibody led to the conclusion that the inclusions consisted of lipid-rich keratin spherules. These were thought to have been formed in the hydrophobic regions of keratin proteins and non-polar lipids in the hydrophilic milieu of the cyst. Electron microscopy revealed cholesterol crystals within the spherules, suggesting that cholesterol had been slowly isolated from the lipoproteins and the membrane components of the cornified cells included in the lipid-rich keratin spherules, and had gradually become concentrated, finally appearing in the spherules as cholesterol crystals. With further study, a more detailed understanding of this process may throw some light on the development of gallstones and atheroembolism.

Cell proliferative activity of epidermal keratinocytes in hair discs.

To clarify the differences in epidermal keratinocyte proliferative activity and in postnatal developmental changes of this activity between the hair discs and the interfollicular epidermis, the incorporation of 3H‐thymidine into the nuclei of the basal cells was measured by autoradiography, and the percentages of basal cells thus labelled were calculated. This percentage was higher in hair discs than in interfollicular epidermis at all stages examined. The percentage of labelled basal cells in the hair discs was 10% up to 15 days after birth, decreasing to about 6% from 20 days postnatally. These results suggest that the degree of cell proliferation in the hair disc epidermis differs from that in the surrounding epidermis and that changes in proliferative activity during the postnatal developmental stages are well correlated with the morphogenesis of the hair discs.

A case of tick bite with Ixodes turdus Nakatsuji--a report from Japan.

The first case of tick bite by Ixodes turdus Nakatsuji was reported. The tick was found on the occipital area near the left ear of a 6‐year‐old boy. The tick bite occurred in Hoya, a suburb of Tokyo.

Laboratory Observations of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann after a Human Bite

A case of a tick bite with Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann is reported. The tick was found on the left lower abdomen of a 62‐year‐old female. The tick bite occurred in Fuchu city, a suburb of Tokyo. This paper presents laboratory observations of the process of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann laying eggs and becoming larvae after biting a human. The results of our observations include the size of female adult (length: 7.5 mm, width: 5.2 mm, weight: 96 mg) after blood sucking, preoviposition period (7 days), oviposition period (24 days), number of eggs (760 eggs), egg size (length: 0.58~0.62 mm, width: 0.39~0.42 mm), size of unfed larva (length: 0.45~0.5 mm, width: 0.45~0.5 mm) and unfed larva period until death, which ranged from 10 to 62 days.