Do training-dependent differences in perspiration exist between healthy and atopic subjects?

Sweating (perspiratio sensibilis) serves predominantly for thermoregulation and is triggered, among other stimuli, by physical stress. Although consensus on sex-dependent differences in sweating has not been reached so far and recent studies revealing abnormal diminution of the sweating capacity in atopic subjects are mainly based on heat exposure experiments, the influence of endurance training on perspiration in atopics has not yet been evaluated. Using a special sweat collector device reliable even during intensive body movement, we compared the sweat production of age-matched male and female healthy controls (14 m, 10 f) to that of in-patients with atopic eczema (AE: 14 m, 10 f) during and 5 min after physical exercise (30 min) with a bicycle ergometer under standardized experimental conditions.

Rhythmical changes of the cutaneous blood flow in the forehead region under the condition of hypnoid relaxation.

Background: A characteristic and stable blood flow rhythm can be detected for the skin of the forehead and ear lobes with frequencies of approx. 0.15 Hz (9/min), which were primarily not related to the respiratory rhythm.

Graft-versus-host-like mucocutaneous eruptions with serological features of paraneoplastic pemphigus and systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A 63-year-old male patient spontaneously developed severe erosive orogenital mucositis, palmoplantar and gluteal inflammatory lesions resistant to therapy. The skin lesions clinically and histologically resembled lichen-planus-like graft-versus-host disease. Investigation for an underlying autoimmune or malignant disorder revealed a centrocytic-centroblastic low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (according to the Kiel classification) in the bone marrow, mesenterial and iliacal lymphoma.

[Lupus erythematosus/lichen ruber planus overlap syndrome. 5 cases in a patient sample of the Erlangen University Dermatology Clinic (1894-1995)].

The simultaneous occurrence of lupus erythematosus (LE)- and lichen ruber (LP)-like symptoms is called LE/LP-overlap syndrome (LE/LP-OS). It is defined by concomitant clinical, histologic and immunhistologic features of both diseases. To date, 47 cases of this rare dermatosis have been reported with marked differences in the skin lesions: They are either of intermediate appearance between LE and LP (type I = intermediate type), or show a coexistence of LE- and LP-specific lesions (type II = polar type).

[Sex-dependent differences in sweating of normal probands and atopic patients in cardiovascular stress].

Sweating (perspiratio sensibillis) due to cholinergic sweat gland activity serves predominantly for thermoregulation and is triggered among others by physical stress. Individuals suffering from atopic eczema usually respond to sweating with generalized itching. Different sweat regulation in atopic patients and healthy controls under cholinergic stimulation and heat chamber provocation tests has already been examined in several studies.

[Aphthae and aphthous lesions of the mouth mucosa].

Recurrent aphthae (or aphthoses) are the most frequent inflammatory lesions of the oral mucosa. Aphthae can clearly be defined, but may also be barely discernible from aphthoid erosions and ulcers of heterogeneous origin. Although a subject of molecular research, the etiopathogenesis of oral aphthoses is still unknown.

[Glossitis granulomatosa--an unusual subtype of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome].

So-called "glossitis granulomatosa", described in 1952 by H. Schuermann as a peculiar manifestation of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS), is little known in oral medicine due to the paucity of cases published so far. During the past 25 years the author has observed eight definite cases of glossitis granulomatosa and confirmed its close connections with MRS.

Acetylcholine is an inducer of itching in patients with atopic eczema.

As previous experimental studies disproved histamine as the main mediator of eliciting pruritus in atopic eczema (AE), we examined the neurocutaneous sensations in 15 patients with AE and in 15 age- and sex-matched non-atopic controls after i.c. injection of acetylcholine (Ach, 0.

CD36 (OKM5) antigen expression on human mucosal epithelia is associated with keratinization type.

The glycoprotein CD36 functions as a thrombospondin receptor and is expressed on a variety of cell types, including platelets, monocyte/macrophages, and endothelial cells. In human skin, the presence of CD36 on keratinocytes was initially found in lesional areas of T-cell mediated inflammatory dermatoses. Controversy still exists on the interpretation of this expression as an inflammatory or differentiation-associated marker.

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome--a challenge for dermatologists to participate in the field of oral medicine.

Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a neuro-muco-cutaneous disorder involving remittently both the oro-facial innervation and muco-cutaneous tissues in a pathosis of complex origin characterized by recurrent edema, facial or other palsies, and nerval dysfunctions frequently associated with plicated tongue. Biopsies taken from the edematous tissues often reveal a temporary pattern of moderate epitheloid granulomatous inflammation scattered scarcely within remarkable tissue edema. However, this histological pattern is not a prerequisite for the diagnosis of MRS.

Physical stress-induced secretion of adrenal and pituitary hormones in patients with atopic eczema compared with normal controls.

Atopic eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which shares some psychological and neuroendocrine disturbances with patients suffering from depression. In view of recent findings of an attenuated response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system in patients with atopic eczema during a human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH) challenge paradigm fourteen consecutive non-specifically trained in-patients with atopic eczema (8 men, 6 women) and an age-matched control group (8 men, 6 women) performed exhausting incremental graded bicycle exercise to evaluate cortisol, adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), beta-endorphin, epinephrine and norepinephrine releases induced by physical stress. The exercise yielded significant increases in cortisol, ACTH, beta-endorphin, epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations in both groups.

Respiratory-dependent laser-Doppler flux motion in different skin areas and its meaning to autonomic nervous control of the vessels of the skin.

The aim of this study is to evaluate and quantify the respiratory dependency of cutaneous laser-Doppler flux motion in two variable innervated sites of the upper extremity (the proximal volar forearm and the fingertip) by using a computer-supported system. Various spontaneous (6-17/ min) and externally triggered (12 or 6/min) respiratory frequencies were used for comparative frequency analysis of the laser-Doppler flux signal. Further, an index (MIRSF) was determined as an indicator of the correlation between flux motion and respiration.

[Antipruritic effect of antihistaminic and local anesthetic topical agents after iontophoretic histamine stimulation].

No adequate topical therapy is available for pruritus. As little is known about the local influence of antihistamines and topical anaesthetics on the pruritic effect of histamine, we studied these agents in 12 volunteers. The antipruritic effect of 15-min topical application of dimethindene maleate (Fenistil gel) and different agents (Optiderm, EMLA, Xylocaine-Salbe 5%) on subsequent focal histamine stimulus (20 mC) given by iontophoresis was evaluated.

Malignant chondroid syringoma: immunohistopathology.

Malignant chondroid syringoma, also called malignant mixed tumor of the skin, is a rare variant of a malignant tumor derived from sweat gland cells. Histologically the tumor is composed of an epithelial and a mesenchymal component. The epithelial structures show glandular differentiation and carcinomatous features.

Immunohistochemical localization of very late activation integrins in healthy and diseased human gingiva.

The beta 1-integrins (VLA family) are cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) that play a major role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. The expression pattern of CAM was studied in 5 clinically normal volunteers with healthy gingiva and in 18 patients with clinically different stages of periodontitis. In healthy human gingiva alpha 2, alpha 3 and alpha 6 integrin chains were found in a characteristic distribution, showing a broad continuous expression on the junctional and sulcular epithelium sites.

Acetylcholine induces different cutaneous sensations in atopic and non-atopic subjects.

The mediators eliciting pruritus in atopic eczema are a matter of discussion, since several substances may be involved and histamine is unlikely to be the main agent. Hence, in this study we examined the cutaneous sensations and vascular reactions in 15 patients with atopic eczema and in 15 non-atopic subjects after i.c.

Systemic corticosteroids are important in the treatment of Fournier's gangrene: a case report.

Fournier's gangrene represents an acute severe necrotizing inflammatory process affecting the scrotum and penis. It has an associated mortality of 30-50%. In most cases, aetiological factors can be identified, such as diabetes mellitus, chronic alcoholism and perianal, perirectal or periurethral infection.

[Dynamic function tests for detection of physiologic and pathophysiologic reactions in cutaneous microcirculation].

Functional tests simulating local stresses are especially suitable for the evaluation of physiological and pathophysiological patterns in the cutaneous microcirculation, particularly if combined with non-invasive methods such as laser-Doppler fluxmetry and oxygen tension measurements. Arterial occlusion (3 min) and local heating (up to 42 degrees C) are appropriate as stimuli to simulate specific local demands on the cutaneous perfusion similar to those produced by pressure, myokinesis, heat, and inflammation. When the current microcirculatory status is described the initial values (LDF and pO2) and their time-courses during each functional test can be used to determine the so-called post-stimulatory parameters.

[Color-coded duplex ultrasound and laser Doppler flowmetry of finger tips of healthy probands].

In the study presented, color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) and laser Doppler flux (LDF) signals from finger tips of 7 healthy individuals were recorded simultaneously. The aim of the study was to examine whether or not the results of a functional test ('deep inspiration') could also be observed with an ultrasonic Doppler. In the literature this test is known to provoke notable blood flow characteristics of the LDF ('inspiratory gasp'), a phenomenon which is caused by a sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction of acral vessels.

[Disordered cutaneous microcirculation in diabetic neuropathic foot ulcer. Is modification by retrograde transvenous perfusion therapy possible?].

Due to the high risk of amputation they involve, diabetic neuropathic plantar ulcers (DNPU) must be regarded as a late manifestation/complication of diabetes mellitus. The suspected cause of these ulcers--disturbed cutaneous microcirculation--was studied by simultaneously measuring laser-Doppler flux (LDF) and cutaneous oxygen tension (pCUO2) in 14 patients with DNPU at three differently affected sites (dorsal forefoot, ulcer edge, lower leg). Dynamic tests (arterial occlusion, local hyperthermia) as a measure of vascular reactivity showed significantly reduced pCUO2 parameters coinciding with elevated LDF values.