Yoshiki Taniguchi

Two human cases of gnathostomiasis and discovery of a second intermediate host of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Japan

Two human cases of gnathostomiasis from ingestion of raw native Japanese loaches, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, are reported. Seven early third-stage larval Gnathostoma nipponicum were recovered from 3,098 loaches in the same district in which 2 human patients had obtained and eaten raw loaches. Encapsulated G. nipponicum larvae were also recovered from loaches infected under laboratory conditions. All 6 weasels captured in the same district in which the naturally infected loaches were found and where the humans had become infected were infected with adult worms of the same species. This is the first report of M. anguillicaudatus serving as a second intermediate host of G. nipponicum.

HLA Class I and II Alleles and Susceptibility to Generalized Pustular Psoriasis: Significant Associations with HLA‐Cw1 and HLA‐DQB1*0303

HLA alleles in generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) were investigated to clarify the etiology and/or pathogenesis of this disease. Not only serological typing of HLA class I and II antigens but also genotyping of HLA class II alleles were carried out in twenty‐six unrelated Japanese patients with GPP. These patients were classified according to their history of psoriasis vulgaris (PV). Serological typing revealed a significantly high incidence of HLA‐Cw1 (Pc=0.04) in the patients as compared with Japanese healthy controls. The frequency of HLA‐B46 was particularly high in the patients with GPP and a previous history of PV. Genotyping of HLA class II alleles showed a highly significant increase in HLA‐DQB1*0303 (Pc=0.01) in the patients vs. the healthy controls. In particular, HLA‐DQB1*0303 was significantly more frequent in the patients with no prior history of PV than in those with a history of PV. Analysis on linkage disequilibrium showed remarkably different patterns for HLA class II haplotypes between the patients and the healthy controls. Based on the comparative analysis among the amino acid sequences of the β1‐domain of the HLA‐DQB1*03 alleles, proline at residue 55 was suggested to be important as a common amino acid for determination of the susceptibility to GPP. These results revealed not only an association between the etiology and/or pathogenesis of GPP and HLA, but also different mechanisms of the immune response between the patients with GPP and PV.

Immunohistochemical study of cytokeratin expression in nevus sebaceous

Background  The histogenesis of nevus sebaceous (NS) is unclear.

Pyoderma gangrenosum and annular erythema associated with Sjögren's syndrome controlled with minocycline.

isolate was placed in the F. nubica clade and identified as F. nubica on morphology and phylogeny. It was preserved as IFM 57240 at the Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University. Based on the results of phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region, de Hoog et al. classified Botrytoides monophora, a synonym of conventional F. pedrosoi, into the Fonsecaea genus in 2004. They reported that F. nubica, F. pedrosoi sensu stricto and F. monophora are morphologically very similar but a high degree of genetic diversity exists. The former two species seem to be pathogens that are strictly associated with human chromoblastomycosis. On the other hand, F. monophora is a more general opportunist with a more variable clinical spectrum. According to Yaguchi et al., all previous isolates from Japan belonged to the subgroup of F. monophora. The present case is the first reported one of chromoblastomycosis caused by F. nubica in Japan. Judging from the history, the patient, a Vietnamese man, is thought to have developed the infection through the injury in Japan. F. nubica has also been isolated in Australia, Brazil, China, Thailand and Africa. Because it was closely related to DUMC 0401 isolated in Korea and IFM 47061 isolated in Thailand, we speculate that this strain had been imported from Asian countries to Japan. Because it presents in the soil and plants, this fungal species has the potential of increase in Japan. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Case of creeping disease treated with ivermectin

We report a case of creeping disease treated successfully with ivermectin. A 46‐year‐old man presented with a 1‐month history of pruriginous linear erythema on his right thigh after a visit to Indonesia. Although he had no history of eating raw fish or meat, he walked along the river and in the jungle without wearing shoes. Creeping disease caused by animal hookworm was strongly suspected. The presence of parasite larvae was not confirmed in biopsied skin specimens. In enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, serum samples were negative for binding to hookworm antigens, including Ancylostoma canium, Necator americanus and Gnathostoma doloresi. He was treated with a single 12 mg oral dose (200 µg/kg) of ivermectin. The eruption and pruritus resolved within a few days after the administration and did not relapse.

Band‐like lipoatrophy on the forearm by injected triamcinolone acetonide to wrist joint

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A case of merkel cell cancer with CEA positive.

We reported a case of a 68 year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma. He noticed a tumor on his left leg about seven months previously. As the tumor expanded gradually, he visited Mie University Hospital. At his first visit, the lesion composed of a smooth, easily bleeding tumor in the center and a violet plaque around the tumor. Light microscopy showed two diffirent parts in the lesion, which are Merkel cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical examination showed positive reaction of CEA on the part of Merkel cell carcinoma.

A case of squamous cell carcinoma causing transition to parotid lymph node transition in early stage.

We reported a cace of a 61-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the external ear, which metastasized to the parotid lymph node, although the tumor was 2cm in diameter at an elrly stage. During past 10 years, we have experienced 13 patients with SCC on the external ear. All patients were male with a mean age of 76.8 years. The tumor were located mostly on the helix. Two patients developed lymph nodes metastasis, but no distal metastasis. SCC of the external ear is an aggressive cancer with higher metasiatic rates than cutaneous SCC as seen in other parts of the body. Poor prognotic facters included specific growth pattern and perineural invasion.