Takako Baba

Successful Treatment of Dark-colored Epidermal Nevus with Ruby Laser

The pulsed ruby laser has a selective thermolytic effect. Recently, it has been available for the treatment of superficial pigmented disorders. We studied 5 cases of epidermal nevus treated with the pulsed ruby laser. In comparison with the usual methods including electrocautery, cryotherapy and skin abrasion, ruby laser therapy is an excellent tool due to technological ease and rapid improvement. Depigmentation after treatment in 2 cases was the only side effect of this therapy. Bose cases had a dark pigmentation of the skin. Despite of the risk of discoloration, the ruby laser is one of the most effective tools for therapy of pigmented epidermal nevus.

Immediate-type heat urticaria: report of a case and study of plasma histamine release

We report a 68‐year‐old man who had immediate‐type heat urticaria with systemic symptoms. Immersing his hand in water at 42 °C (heat challenge test) produced an urticarial response, with an increase in the plasma histamine level from 0.26 to 7.64 ng/mL. Administration of oral antihistamines alone did not suppress either the urticarial response or the increase in plasma histamine. However, a combination of antihistamines and desensitization improved the skin lesions and reduced the plasma histamine level. The heat challenge test subsequently provoked a negative response and there was no increase in plasma histamine level 3 months after starting the combination therapy. These results indicate that the histamine level reflected the result of the heat challenge test and the amelioration of the skin eruption.

Successful Treatment of Mucosal Melanosis of the Lip with Normal Pulsed Ruby Laser

Melanosis of the lip is not rare in Orientals. Although it causes cosmetic problems, treatment of this pigmentary disorder is often neglected because a satisfactory tool for complete removal of mucosal melanosis has not yet been developed. The pulsed ruby laser, which has a wavelength of 694 nm and a short pulse duration of 1–2 msec, selectively damages pigmented cells in the skin. In this study, six Japanese patients with labial melanosis, manifested as labial lentigo and Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome, were successfully treated with the pulsed ruby laser. The therapy achieved rapid results without producing changes in mucosal texture or recurrence after operation

Novel function of metallothionein in photoprotection: Metallothionein-null mouse exhibits reduced tolerance against ultraviolet-B injury in the skin

We have shown previously that injection of cadmium chloride (Cd2+) depletes the number of ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced sunburn cells in the mouse skin in vivo, and that Cd2+ treatment enhances UVB resistance in cultured keratinocytes in vitro, indicating the photoprotective role of Cd2+-induced metallothioneins (MT) with antioxidant property against UVB injury; however, there has been no direct evidence for the role of MT in UV protection. To improve our understanding of MT in photoprotection, MT-null mouse deficient in its MT-1 and MT-2 genes was studied. Skin explants were preliminarily exposed to medium alone, Cd2+ and Cd2+ plus buthionine S,R-sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis. We then compared the number of UVB-induced sunburn cells and apoptotic cells in the epidermis of MT-null mice with that of control mice using organ culture systems. The skin of MT-null mice developed a greater number of sunburn cells and apoptotic cells than did that of normal mice in all experimental conditions. These findings indicate that the skin of MT-null mouse is readily injured by UVB irradiation. MT-null mouse provided direct evidence of the photoprotective effect of cellular MT in the skin.

Melanosis Riehl‐like Facial Pigmentation in a Japanese Case of AIDS

An AIDS patient with the cardinal complaint of severe pigmentation on the face is reported. Hyperpigmentation is an unusual symptom of AIDS. This is a Japanese patient who presented melanosis Riehl‐like discoloration. The importance of pigmented lesions in patients who have not been given any anti‐HIV agents has not been emphasized in the literature.