Dermoscopy of pigmented skin lesions: results of a consensus meeting via the Internet.

Background: There is a need for better standardization of the dermoscopic terminology in assessing pigmented skin lesions.

Objective: The virtual Consensus Net Meeting on Dermoscopy was organized to investigate reproducibility and validity of the various features and diagnostic algorithms.

Methods: Dermoscopic images of 108 lesions were evaluated via the Internet by 40 experienced dermoscopists using a 2-step diagnostic procedure.

Interferon gamma in survivors of the Chernobyl power plant accident: new therapeutic option for radiation-induced fibrosis.

Background: One of the remarkable clinical consequences of the Chernobyl accident was skin involvement, leading to extensive cutaneous fibrosis. Apart from surgery, no established treatment is available.

Methods: A group of survivors, working in or present at the accident site on April 26, 1986, and a few days thereafter, were examined, treated, and followed-up in 6-month intervals from September 1991 to November 1995.

Palpable migratory arciform erythema. Clinical morphology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and response to treatment.

Background: Palpable migratory arciform erythema is clinically characterized by sharply circumscribed, infiltrated erythematous patches that tend to spread irregularly, resulting in arciform morphologic features. The histopathologic features are characterized by a patchy inflammatory perivascular and periadnexal T-lymphocytic infiltrate throughout the dermis. The disease runs a chronic course and is rarely described in the literature.

[The value of oil baths for adjuvant basic therapy of inflammatory dermatoses with dry, barrier-disrupted skin].

The therapeutic value of oil baths for the treatment of dry skin with disturbed barrier function in atopic eczema, atopic xerosis, dry aged skin, exsiccation eczematid and psoriasis vulgaris is presented with special regard to modern concepts of epidermal barrier function. The use of oil baths with emollients as an integral and indispensable constitutent of maintenance therapy in dry skin conditions, atopic eczema and inflammatory dermatoses is reviewed.

The influence of the pH-value on the growth of Brevibacterium epidermidis in continuous culture.

Brevibacterium epidermidis is a major component of the bacterial flora of certain skin surface biotopes, characterized by a comparatively high pH-value. The presence of Brevibacterium epidermidis seems to be linked to the production of malodour. Skin surface pH has been found to be a major factor of bacterial growth on the skin.

[The tuberculid concept from the current viewpoint].

The concept of tuberculid was introduced by Darier in 1896. In contrast to "true" cutaneous tuberculosis, properties of the tuberculids were explained by an hyperergic response to myobacteria or their fragments released from a different site of manifest or passed tuberculous infection. Key features include a strongly positive tuberculin skin test, evidence of concomitant manifest or past tuberculosis, and prompt response to antituberculous therapy.

The influence of the regular use of a soap or an acidic syndet bar on pre-acne.

The role of regular skin cleansing with soap or syndet in pre-acne is ill-defined. The intention of this study was to assess the relative value of an acidic syndet bar and a conventional soap bar in the prevention of acne lesions in acne-prone patients. In a randomized, open, comparative trial the three months' application of either an acidic syndet bar or a conventional soap to facial skin for 1 min each in the morning and in the evening was compared in 120 adolescents and young adults with inflammatory acne grade I or II according to the Plewig and Kligman classification.

Late irradiation damage to the skin caused by soft X-ray radiation therapy of cutaneous tumors.

Background: Although radiotherapy of skin tumors has lost its former preeminence, there is still need for this modality. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the frequency of radiogenic ulcers and tumors following soft x-ray therapy of skin lesions.

Study Design: A total of 612 radiation sites in 522 patients were retrospectively analyzed by means of medical records.

Modern topical glucocorticoids and anti-infectives for superinfected atopic eczema: do prednicarbate and didecyldimethylammoniumchloride form a rational combination?

The addition of an anti-infective to a topical glucocorticoid preparation for superinfected atopic eczema is still controversial. To address this question in the context of the topical glucocorticoids of the non-halogenated double-ester type 0.25% prednicarbate cream was compared to the identical preparation incorporating the same amount of the disinfectant didecyldimethylammoniumchloride in patients suffering from atopic eczema carrying Staphylococcus aureus at a density of more than 10(6) colony-forming units per cm2.

Chronic cutaneous damage after accidental exposure to ionizing radiation: the Chernobyl experience.

Background: The hazards of acute radiation exposure are well known. Bone marrow failure from total body gamma or neutron irradiation is the most clinically relevant aspect of acute radiation disease. With nonhomogeneous exposure, as is characteristic in accidents, other organ systems, such as the skin, may be more important in determining clinical prognosis.

The ABCD rule of dermatoscopy. High prospective value in the diagnosis of doubtful melanocytic skin lesions.

Background: The difficulties in accurately assessing pigmented skin lesions are ever present in practice. The recently described ABCD rule of dermatoscopy (skin surface microscopy at x10 magnification), based on the criteria asymmetry (A), border (B), color (C), and differential structure (D), improved diagnostic accuracy when applied retrospectively to clinical slides.

Objective: A study was designed to evaluate the prospective value of the ABCD rule of dermatoscopy in melanocytic lesions.

Comparative efficacy and safety of bifonazole 1% cream and the corresponding base preparation in the treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a common entity that conventionally is difficult to treat. Recently, topical ketoconazole has been proven successful. To determine if other azoles, and in particular the more modern ones, are also helpful in this condition, a double-blind multicentre randomized controlled trial was performed in patients suffering from seborrhoeic dermatitis involving individuals 16 years and older without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Erythema induratum of Bazin. Evidence of T-lymphocyte hyperresponsiveness to purified protein derivative of tuberculin: report of two cases and treatment.

Background And Design: Erythema induratum of Bazin, a chronic form of nodular vasculitis, may be associated with chronic infections by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the true origin of the disease is a subject of speculation and remains elusive. Two female patients (58 years old and 33 years old) with a minimum 10-year history of chronic tender ulcerating nodules on the lower aspects of the legs were studied both clinically and in the response of their peripheral T cells to purified protein derivative of tuberculin.

Evidence for the phagocytosis of intact oligolamellar liposomes by human keratinocytes in vitro and consecutive intracellular disintegration.

While there is evidence for the use of liposomes as drug carriers upon topical application to the skin, the underlying mechanisms are far from being clear. Therefore human keratinocytes grown in vitro were exposed to large oligolamellar liposomes. After attachment and invagination these particles can be found unchanged within the cytoplasm both inside and outside of lysosomes.

Male reproductive system in patients exposed to ionizing irradiation in the Chernobyl accident.

Twelve men with different forms and stages of chronic radiation dermatitis caused by accidental exposure to beta and gamma irradiation during and after the Chernobyl atomic power plant accident were examined. Two patients had impotentia coeundi, and the others reported various impairments of sexual function. One patient had aspermia, two patients had azoospermia, one had oligospermia, and four had normal sperm counts.

[Historical development of skin surface microscopy].

Within the last decade, skin surface microscopy has been rediscovered as an useful technique for preoperative diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. This method was originally developed early this century as one component of "functional diagnosis" in constitutional pathology.

[Clinical aspects and therapy of Bureau-Barrière syndrome. Observations of 17 cases with review of the literature].

Bureau-Barrière syndrome can affect various organ systems. It is defined by the triad: painless ulcers at mechanically irritated and hyperkeratotic plantar areas of the feet, sensitive polyneuropathy of the lower legs and osteolysis in the forefoot area. The condition mainly affects middle-aged men suffering from alcoholism, liver disease, obesity or metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus.

Topical tiacrilast, a potent mast cell degranulation inhibitor, does not improve adult atopic eczema.

Tiacrilast is a potent mast cell degranulation inhibitor in vitro and in animal studies. Since mast cells and their mediators are possibly involved in atopic eczema, we have studied a topically applied 3% hydrogel formulation of tiacrilast against vehicle in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Drug or vehicle were applied on involved skin for 28 days.

In-use tolerability of two new syndet bars with sodium cocoyl isethionate, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and wheat starch as major ingredients in differing relations: results of a cross-over trial.

Synopsis In a cross-over trial two different new syndet bars differing in their content of sodium cocoyl isethionate, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate and wheat starch as major components were compared in the cleansing of hand skin of 72 healthy volunteers. The preparation designated 'T'containing a higher amount of wheat starch turned out to be less irritant as judged from the parameters itching and erythema (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon's test for matched pairs).