Syozo Sato

Melasma: A clinical, light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunofluorescence study

Melasma is an acquired brown hypermelanosis of the face. Although it is thought that melasma is associated with multiple etiologic factors (pregnancy, gastric, racial, and endocrine), one of the primary causes of its exacerbation appears to be exposure to sunlight. Three patterns of melasma are recognized clinically: (1) a centrofacial pattern, (2) a malar pattern, and (3) a mandibular pattern. Examination of patients with Woods light (320--400 nm) is useful in classifying the specific type of melasma in correlation with the localization of pigment granules (melanosomes) in the epidermis and dermis. Four types of melasma are described on the basis of Woods light examination: (1) an epidermal type, (2) a dermal type, (3) a mixed type, and (4) a fourth type, described in patients of dark complexion, in which the lesions, for lack of contrast, are not discernible on Woods light examination, perhaps due to the increased number of melanosomes in the normal skin of black individuals. Light, histochemical, and electron microscopic studies revealed an increase in number and activity of type-specific melanocytes which appeared to be engaged in increased formation, melanization, and transfer of pigment granules (melanosomes) to the epidermis as well as to the dermis. The melanocyte seems to undergo a functional alteration brought about by a combination of multiple factors, including persistent sun exposure, hormonal factors, and genetic predisposition.

The effects of single and epistatic quantitative trait loci for fatty acid composition in a Meishan × Duroc crossbred population

We performed a whole genome QTL analysis to confirm the existence of QTL affecting fatty acid composition and to investigate the effects of additive, dominance, imprinting, and epistatic interactions between QTL in an F(2) resource population. The F(2) population, comprising 166 pigs, was obtained by crossing a Duroc boar and a Meishan sow. The F(2) population was measured for fatty acid composition and was used for whole genome QTL analysis, using a total of 180 microsatellite markers. The suggestive and significant thresholds were equivalent to likelihood ratio test statistics (LRT) of 13.7 and 20.5, respectively. For single QTL analysis, 2 suggestive QTL and 1 significant QTL were detected. Suggestive QTL for C14:0 and C16:1 were identified on chromosomes 12 and 7, respectively, and a significant QTL for C18:2 was detected on chromosome 5 with the greatest LRT of 22.9. For C14:0, a significant QTL with paternal imprinting effect was also detected on chromosome 12, where the locus was in the same region as an additive QTL effect, with a large LRT of 24.2. The suggestive QTL on chromosome 7 was not significant when correction for backfat thickness was included. For epistatic QTL analysis, a total of 5 epistatic pairs were located on chromosomes 4, 5, 9, and 16. The same epistatic pairs were significant when correction for backfat thickness was included. The individual QTL identified in the single QTL analysis and in the epistatic QTL analysis were not the same loci, except for C18:2. For C14:0, an epistatic QTL pair was detected on chromosome 16, with the least P-value of 4.9 x 10(-12). The present study constitutes one of the first reports on the mapping of imprinted QTL and epistatic pairs of QTL affecting fatty acid composition in a swine population.

Eccrine spiradenoma: an electron microscopic study

Electron-microscopic studies of two typical lesions of eccrine spiradenoma were performed to correlate ultrastructure and histopathology. The salient ultramorphological features of the parenchyma were an adenoid cystic organization composed of epithelial, myoepithelial, and nonepithelial cell types, and the presence of intracytoplasmic luminae within the epithelial cells. There were no indications that the parenchyma was secretorily active. The stroma ramified through the parenchyma, occupying extensive areas and forming tenuous septa of the loose connective tissue in which blood vessels and nerve fibers were embedded. Profiles of cystoid spaces resulting from invagination of stroma into the parenchyma were frequently encountered. Based on our observations, eccrine spiradenoma appears to differentiate toward ductal structures of eccrine sweat apparatus.

Circumscribed Dermal Melaninoses: Classification, Light, Histochemical, and Electron Microscopic Studies on Three Patients with the Erythema Dyschromicum Perstans Type

ABSTRACT: Circumscribed dermal hypermelanosis refers to a group of cutaneous disorders with circumscribed blue, blue‐grey, slate‐grey, or blue‐black pigmentation. Dermal Melanocyte deposition (melanocytosis) and melanin in mdcrophages (melaninosis) are observed histopathologically. This group of disorders can be differentiated clinically from brown epidermal hypermelanosis by examination using Woods light. The microscopic, histochemical, immunofluorescent, and ultrastructural findings in three cases of erythema dyschromicum Persians supports its classification in the group of circumscribed dermal melanosis. Damage to epidermal basal cells gives rise to a caseade of events producing the’ ashen‐gray color. The epidermal melanocytes in this disorder are morphologically distinctive and increased in number. Ultrastructurally, a direct interaction between melanocytes and lymphocytess seen resulting in vacuolar degeneration of the dermalepidermal junction, with resultant incontinence of pigment. The dermal depth to which the pigment‐containing macro‐phages may extend is greater than that found in post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation. perhaps because of involvement of the appendageal structures.

Diffuse melanosis secondary to metastatic malignant melanoma: Light and electron microscopic findings

Tumor-free hyperpigmented skin from a patient with diffuse melanosis secondary to metastatic melanoma was examined by light and electron microscopy. Our findings indicate that the pathogenesis of this diffuse slate blue color is primarily to pigment deposition within perivascular dermal macrophages. We did not find intact melanosomes or individual tumor cell metastases in clinically normal skin, as has been previously reported.

Cutaneous Angioma in Crow‐Fukase Syndrome: The Nature of Globules within the Endothelial Cells

To clarify the nature of the intracytoplasmic globules seen in the endothelial cells of the cutaneous angiomas of the Crow‐Fukase syndrome, we performed light and electron microscopic as well as immunohistochemical studies. The proliferating plump endothelial cells of the angioma located in the mid‐dermal portion contained numerous globules. IgG, A, M, and kappa and lambda light chain globulins were present in the endothelial cells containing these globules. Electron microscopy revealed osmiophilic fine fibrillar structures and amorphous substance in the globules. Thiéry staining for detection of vicinal‐glycol radicals of carbohydrate demonstrated the deposition of fine silver particles as a reaction product. We consider that the intracytoplasmic globules are phagolysosomes containing glycoprotein.

Langerhans cells in human apocrine ducts

SummaryElectron microscopic observations revealed for the first time a few number of Langerhans cells within the intradermal apocrine duct of the normal human axillary skin. In many respects the fine structural features of Langerhans cells were noted to be identical with those described in the epidermis.Our present results suggest that Langerhans cells could be a stable and constant cellular constituent for the normal apocrine ducts. The significance of this presence of Langerhans cells remains to be investigated.ZusammenfassungDie normale Haut der Axilla des Menschen wurde elektronenmikroskopisch beobachtet. In der suprabasalen Schicht des apokrinen Schweißdrüsen-Ausführungsgangs fanden sich einzelne Langerhans-Zellen, die ultrastrukturell mit denen in der Epidermis identisch waren. Sie zeigt meistens flächigere spindelförmige Gestaltung mit paralleler Längsachse zum Drüsengang. Diese Langerhans-Zellen könnten vermutlich als ein essentielles Bauelement des apokrinen Schweißdrüsengangs, wie in der Epidermis dienen.

Ultrastructure and X-ray microanalysis of siderosome

SummaryComparative ultrastructural examination and energy-dispersive electron probe X-ray microanalysis were performed on a long standing skin lesion of hemosiderotic histiocytoma. Iron-containing fine particles present in siderosome were the main element of interest. Qualitative study of spectra over the siderosomes clearly demonstrated the characteristic X-ray energy emitted by iron, whereas spectra obtained from adjacent cytoplasm revealed minimal iron peak. On quantitative evaluation of the spectra yielded from various siderosomes, iron counts intensity was found to be proportionally increased with increment in amount and electron opacity of the siderosomal inclusion. Accounts on chemical nature of the siderosomal inclusion and on the presence of lipid residue in cytoplasm were noted.ZusammenfassungAn Hand von Beobachtung bei einer Patientin mit hämosiderinspeicherndem Histiocytom wurden ultrastrukturelle, sowie elektronenmikroskopische energie-dispersive analytische Untersuchungen der Siderosomen durchgeführt. Die wuchernden Tumorzellen bestanden in feinstruktureller Hinsicht aus Histiocyten und ihre cytoplasmatische Matrix enthielt zahlreiche Siderosomen, die gelegentlich einzeln oder manchmal in großen Gruppen das Cytoplasma durchsetzten. Mit Hilfe des Röntgenanalyseverfahrens wurden punkt-, linien- bzw. flächenmäßige Auswertungen in Bezug auf Eisenverteilung innerhalb von Tumorzellen angefertigt. Bemerkenswerterweise traten dabei die von Eisen emittierten Röntgenspektren vor allem auf den Siderosomen auf, und mit der Zunahme der siderosomalen Elektronendichte ließen sich über Siderosomen graduell erhöhte Eisenwerte nachweisen, während im Cytoplasma immer nur geringfügige Eisenmenge vorhanden waren. Weiterhin wurde der chemische Charakter des im Siderosom abgelagerten Eisens und die mögliche Bedeutung der cytoplasmatischen Lipoidgranula diskutiert.

Clinical Evaluation of Methylcobalamin on Herpes Zoster

Methylcobalamin was used for the treatment of herpes zoster in 65 patients, and the clinical effect of this preparation was compared with the effect of its placebo using double blind technique.This preparation of the drug and its placebo were prepared for this clinical experiment. 1500 μ gram daily of methylcobalamin was administrated orally and 500 μ gram of the preparation was injected intramusculaly twice per week.Results of the clinical effect are indicated in Table 1 and 2.It was demonstrated that this preparation of the drug which was tested was found to be superior to its placebo stochastically.No evidence of any side effect was found in either case.