[Removal of tattoos with the Nd:YAG laser].

Irradiation of 20 tattoos using the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (energy density 3-5 J/cm2, asymmetrical pulse shape with 50% energy output in 18 ns, spot size 3 mm in diameter) gave the impression that black ink tattoos can be completely removed without scarring. Some patients needed several treatments. The results continued to improve even some months after the irradiation.

[Green lacewing larvae (Chrysopidae) as accidental ectoparasites of the human].

The larvae of green lacewings (Chrysopidae) may occasionally attack man as temporary ectoparasites, causing papular reactions similar to those produced by gnat bites.

[Peroral nickel provocation in nondyshidrosiform and dyshidrosiform nickel eczema].

The flare-up of pompholyx-type nickel eczema induced by oral nickel challenge has been dealt with in several publications. To compare the reactivity of non-pompholyx and pompholyx-type nickel eczema, we challenged three groups of female volunteers (7 with non-pompholyx-type and 12 with pompholyx-type nickel eczema plus 10 control subjects without nickel allergy) with an oral dose of 2.5 mg nickel.

[Peroral long-term treatment of psoriasis using fumaric acid derivatives].

Oral treatment of psoriasis on an outpatient basis, using a preparation containing fumaric acid derivatives, was evaluated as initial monotherapy (3 months) and as long-term basic therapy (12-14 months) in 13 and 11 patients, respectively. The course of the disease was analysed in each individual case. After completion of both parts of the trial, half of the patients that had only responded poorly to conventional antipsoriatic therapy showed a significant improvement which occurred after several weeks of treatment.

["Aqua-SUP" in chronic palmoplantar dermatoses].

In 11 of 15 patients suffering from chronic dermatoses of the palms and soles (psoriasis inversa, palmoplantar pustulosis, palmoplantar hyperkeratotic eczema and idiopathic pompholyx), an improvement was achieved with "aqua-SUP" therapy. Trials using this therapeutic modality, which is a combination of balneotherapy and selective UV phototherapy (SUP), have only rarely been reported so far. In addition, five patients received internal medication (mainly aromatic retinoid) that had previously not been effective enough, three of them in combination with local corticosteroids.

Dithranol: further investigations on the structure-activity-relationship. The new series of the 10-mono-alkyldithranol derivatives.

The in vitro stability of 10-ethyldithranol (1,8-dihydroxy-10-ethyl-9(10H)-anthracenone) and its effects on healthy and psoriatic skin is investigated. 10-Ethyl-dithranol as a representative of the new class of 10-alkyldithranol derivatives neither stains nor irritates and has no antipsoriatic activity at all. This is due to the relatively stable substituent at carbon 10 which enables the fast oxidation processes necessary for the antipsoriatic effect.

Interaction of hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles.

The hepatocyte membrane asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) was extracted from rabbit liver, purified, and then incubated with preformed vesicles of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine. The association of protein with lipid was dependent on vesicle size and the best results were achieved with small vesicles of about 20 nm diameter. The ligand binding capacity of ASGP-R-vesicle complexes was also measured and found to be approximately sevenfold greater than free receptor in aqueous buffer and twofold greater than receptor solubilized in Triton X-100.

[Acquired cutis laxa (elastolysis generalisata)].

Following glomerulonephritis with subsequent anasarca and repeated penicillin treatments, generalized cutis laxa developed in a forty-year-old patient. Progressive signs of pulmonary emphysema appeared in the same period. Additionally, a monoclonal gammopathy was detected during extensive examination.

Identification of an amino acid essential to the normal assembly of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus polyhedra.

We compared the DNA sequence of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus polyhedrin gene with that of the polyhedrin gene from a morphology mutant called M5. A single point mutation was found at the BamHI restriction site within the polyhedrin coding sequence. This point mutation caused a substitution of leucine for proline at amino acid 58 in the M5 polyhedrin.

[Tolerance and immunogenic effect of preventive influenza vaccination in patients with chronic lung diseases].

Seventy eight patients with chronic lung diseases were once or repeatedly vaccinated against influenza with a bivalent inactivated vaccine. The vaccination was well tolerated. Systemic reactions and transitory deterioration of the lung disease were exceptional.

[Aromatic retinoid--oral photochemotherapy in chronic vegetating pyoderma].

We report the successful trial of RePUVA in a patient who had suffered from chronic vegetating pyoderma for 5 years and who had responded poorly to the preceding treatments.

High doses of antigen-nonspecific IgG do not inhibit pemphigus acantholysis in skin organ cultures.

A patient suffering from severe pemphigus vulgaris was treated using large-volume plasma exchange in combination with an immunosuppressive regimen. As some recent reports have shown evidence that polyclonal, polyspecific human IgG in high doses through the i.v.

Nucleotide sequence of the p10 polypeptide gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

A portion of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome lying within the EcoRI-P region of the physical map has been sequenced. Previous studies employing Northern blotting and in vitro translation had shown that this region encoded the gene for a "late" 8-10K polypeptide [D. Z.

[Current findings on drug eruptions].

Drug eruptions are the result of a systemic application of medicaments. They depend on immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms. With the exception of a few medicaments, skin tests with drugs are not very reliable.