Yoshihito Seki

Lichen planus pemphigoides: Case report and results of immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopic study

A Japanese woman with lichen planus pemphigoides is reported. Immunologic characteristics of lichen planus pemphigoides antigen in the patient were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence and compared with those of bullous pemphigoid antigen or epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen. Ultrastructural localization of lichen planus pemphigoides antigen was studied with the use of immunoelectron microscopic techniques. Lichen planus pemphigoides antigen showed localization similar to that of bullous pemphigoid antigen but different from that of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen. The antigenic stability of lichen planus pemphigoides antigen was different from that of bullous pemphigoid antigen or epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen. Thus this study demonstrates that lichen planus pemphigoides antigen is different from bullous pemphigoid antigen.

Administration of IgG Fraction of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (EBA) Serum into Mice

In order to study the pathogenic role of autoantibodies in the serum of EBA patients, we tried to induce EBA lesions in mice by administration of the IgG fraction of EBA serum via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) routes into neonatal or adult mice. We also tried to induce EBA lesions in fetuses by intravenous (i.v.) injection of EBA serum into pregnant mice.

Bilateral Periorbital Eccrine Hidrocystoma

We saw four patients showing identical features as cystic lesions on the bilateral external canthi. Histological examination showed cystic cavities in the dermis. Histological and enzyme histochemical findings suggest that these cystic tumors are of eccrine origin. Thus we diagnosed these cytic tumors as eccrine hidrocystoma with characteristic clinical feature. The recognition of this feature would help to correctly diagnose these eccrine hidrocystoma.

Surgical Treatment of a Deep Fungal Infection of the Skin by Trichosporon cutaneum

We treated a patient with facial granuloma caused by Trichosporon cutaneum, in whom various therapeutic modalities had been ineffective. A surgical procedure combining excision, topical chemotherapy of the open wound, and covering the defect with a cervicofacial flap was finally successful.

Four Primary Malignant Tumors, Including Malignant Melanoma and Malignant Lymphoma, in the Same Adult Patient

We report an 80‐year‐old Japanese male with four primary malignant tumors: malignant melanoma, prostatic cancer, malignant lymphoma, and renal cell carcinoma, which occurred in that respective order. The combination of malignant melanoma and malignant lymphoma is rare. The patient was treated with BCG after an operation for malignant melanoma. He was also treated with cobalt 60 irradiation after an operation for prostatic cancer. We also discuss other reports of multiple malignant tumors and suggest some possible causes of this patients primary malignant tumors.

Lectin-binding sites in eccrine sweat gland tumours

Lectin‐binding sites in sections of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded eccrine sweat gland tumours were investigated using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated peanut agglutinin (PNA), FITC conjugated Ricinus communis 1 agglutinin (RCA‐1) and FITC conjugated wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). In 22 benign eccrine sweat gland tumours, lectin‐binding sites were noted primarily on the cell surface, and in the secretions. In five malignant sweat gland tumours, all showed cytoplasmic lectin‐binding sites in variable proportions of malignant cells in addition to cell surface staining. These results indicate that cytoplasmic lectin‐binding sites may be a useful marker of neoplastic transformation of eccrine sweat gland tumours.

Bullous Pemphigoid of Childhood: Immunofluorescent Investigation

A four‐month‐old Japanese girl with bullous pemphigoid of childhood (BPC) was reported. The characteristics of BPC antigen were studied by immunofluorescent technique using the serum of this patient with variously treated normal human skin as substrate. This study showed that her BPC antigen was quite similar to bullous pemphigoid antigen seen in adult patients and that this BPC antigen was differed from epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) antigen.

Ultrastructural observations of fungal elements in a Trichosporon cutaneum infection of the skin.

Using electron microscopic methods, we observed the fine structure of fungal elements occurring in a facial granulomatous infection caused by Trichosporon cutaneum.