Tomio Akiyama

A case of cold urticaria due to a serum factor belonging to the IGE class.

A case of cold urticaria showing a positive Prausnitz‐Küstner (P‐K) reaction was studied. The results obtained were as follows: 1) the P‐K reaction was positive, 2) skin fixation time was 21 days, 3) the P‐K reaction could be blocked by heating the serum for 2 hours at 56°C, and 4) the P‐K reaction became negative after adsorption of IgE from the serum. These data suggest that the serum factor responsible for cold urticaria in this case belongs to the IgE class. The effect of histamine liberator 48/80, histological examination of the skin and results of the estimation of serum histamine concentration by a fluorometric method all suggest that this wheal formation is due to a histamine release from mast cells in the skin.

Immunological studies of onchocerciasis in Guatemala. I. Immunoglobulin levels in Guatemalan onchocerciasis.

The serum levels of the four immunoglobulins, IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, in Guatemalan onchocerciasis patients were determined quantitatively using a laser immunoassay system or radioimmunosorbent test.

A case of epithelioid sarcoma.

A case of a 58‐year‐old man with epithelioid sarcoma is reported.

Evaluation of RAST in atopic dermatitis.

Eighty‐two patients with atopic dermatitis were examined for specific IgE antibodies by RAST. A higher number of positive RAST reactions were found in patients with high serum IgE values and with coexisting asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Positive RAST reactions against mite and house dust were found in many of these patients and even in about one‐half of patients with atopic dermatitis only. The comparisons between intradermal tests and RAST were made with various allergens and the mite extract showed the best agreement between these two tests.

Ultrastructural studies of eosinophils in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis

SummaryKinetics and ultrastructural changes of eosinophils in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in guinea pigs were studied. Ovalbumin was used. Skin biopsies were studied with the electron microscope. Degranulation of eosinophils in the vascular lumen, the vascular wall, and in the surrounding of vessels was noted. There was edema and degeneration of collagen fibers.ZusammenfassungDie Kinetik und ultrastrukturellen Veränderungen von eosinophilen Zellen bei passiven kutanen Anaphylaxiereaktionen wurden bei Meerschweinchen untersucht. Ovalbumin wurde benutzt. Hautbiopsien wurden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Degranulation von Eosinophilen im Gefäßlumen, in der Gefäßwand und im perivaskulären Gewebe wurden gefunden. Ebenso traten Ödeme und Kollagendegenerationen auf.

A CASE OF LICHEN MYXEDEMATOSUS ASSOCIATED WITH IMMUNOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES

A 33‐year‐old male consulted us with symptoms of band‐like infiltration, thickenning and subcutaneous induration occurring in the face, chest, back, shoulder and upper extremities. In the following time he developed arthralgia, fever and ocular symptoms. Laboratory tests revealed normal thyroid functions and a normal bone marrow picture, but there were immunological abnormalities such as reduced cellular immunity, decrease in C 3 (beta 1c/1a) and positive antinuclear antibody. Histologically, there was an increase in fibroblasts and deposits of hyaluronic acid were revealed histochemically. A diagnosis of lichen myxedematosus was established.