[History of the German-Japanese Society of Dermatology].

The relationships between German and Japanese dermatology are traditionally very strong. This fact led Professor Hornstein and Professor Nishiyama to organize joint meetings of dermatologists from both countries. The first meeting of the German-Japanese Society of Dermatology was held in Erlangen, Germany, following the 16th World Congress of Dermatology in 1967.

Corrigendum: Progress in thermomechanical control of steel plates and their commercialization.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1088/1468-6996/13/2/023001.].

Progress in thermomechanical control of steel plates and their commercialization.

The water-cooled thermomechanical control process (TMCP) is a technology for improving the strength and toughness of water-cooled steel plates, while allowing control of the microstructure, phase transformation and rolling. This review describes metallurgical aspects of the microalloying of steel, such as niobium addition, and discusses advantages of TMCP, for example, in terms of weldability, which is reduced upon alloying. Other covered topics include the development of equipment, distortions in steel plates, peripheral technologies such as steel making and casting, and theoretical modeling, as well as the history of property control in steel plate production and some early TMCP technologies.

English version of the concluding report published in 2001 by the Advisory Committee on Atopic Dermatitis Severity Classification Criteria of the Japanese Dermatological Association.

The Japanese Dermatological Association established an advisory committee in 1995 to develop a severity scoring system for atopic dermatitis (AD). Its interim and concluding reports were published in Japanese in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology (108: 1491-1496, 1998 and 111: 2023-2033, 2001). Because of the strong demand for an English version, we have decided to publish the reports in English.

English version of the interim report published in 1998 by the members of the Advisory Committee on Atopic Dermatitis Severity Classification Criteria of the Japanese Dermatological Association.

The Japanese Dermatological Association established an advisory committee in 1995 to set up severity scoring systems for atopic dermatitis (AD). Its interim report was published in Japanese in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology (108: 1491-1496, 1998) by Chairman Hikotaro Yoshida. Because of the strong demand for an English version, we have decided to publish the report in English.

[A case of anaphylaxis caused by abalone diagosed with prick by prick test].

A 30-year-old man exhibited systemic edema, dyspnea and wheal immediately after eating raw fish and cuttlefish served on an abalone shell. He had history of anaphylaxis after eating abalone and beef 4 years ago and had avoided shellfish including abalone since then. He also had past history of bronchial asthma and anaphylaxis due to shrimp.

Odontogenic focal infection could be partly involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis as exacerbating factor.

Background: A focal infection has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of various skin diseases, but, to date, not atopic dermatitis (AD). The objective of the study was to clarify whether the odontogenic focal infection (OFI) could be recognized as one of the exacerbating factors in AD.

Methods: Forty-three patients with AD whose skin conditions were resistant to conventional therapy were examined.

Airborne contact dermatitis due to Japanese cedar pollen.

Contact dermatitis caused by airborne antigen is a well-recognized problem. Previously, airborne contact dermatitis after contact with Japanese cedar pollen [Japanese cedar pollen dermatitis (JCPD)] has been reported in Japan. However, there is still no diagnostic test to evaluate contact dermatitis due to Japanese cedar pollen.

Fas- and FasL-deficient mice are resistant to the induction of bleomycin-induced scleroderma.

We have recently shown that apoptosis is induced in the lesional skin in a murine scleroderma model by local bleomycin injections, and the apoptotic pathway was mainly mediated by Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) signaling. To further investigate the involvement of apoptosis in scleroderma, we examined whether the induction of dermal sclerosis is suppressed in Fas-deficient (lpr) and FasL-deficient (gld) mice. Results of histological examination showed that the induction of dermal sclerosis by bleomycin treatment was significantly suppressed in both lpr and gld mice, in comparison with wild-type mice.

The SYT-SSX fusion protein down-regulates the cell proliferation regulator COM1 in t(x;18) synovial sarcoma.

Chromosomal translocations are frequently associated with soft-tissue sarcomas. Fusion proteins generated by such translocations often play critical roles in tumorigenesis. Therefore, it is important to understand the function of the fusion protein to develop therapeutic interventions.

Prostaglandin D2 plays an essential role in chronic allergic inflammation of the skin via CRTH2 receptor.

PGD(2) plays roles in allergic inflammation via specific receptors, the PGD receptor designated DP and CRTH2 (chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells). We generated mutant mice carrying a targeted disruption of the CRTH2 gene to investigate the functional roles of CRTH2 in cutaneous inflammatory responses. CRTH2-deficent mice were fertile and grew normally.

[A case of "late-onset" anaphylaxis caused by fermented soybeans; Natto].

Natto is a Japanese traditional food made from fermented soybeans. We report a case of anaphylaxis caused by natto and review the literature. The patient was a 22-year-old man who showed systemic eruption with itching and pectoralgia about 10 hours after eating a meal containing natto.

STAT-6-mediated control of P-selectin by substance P and interleukin-4 in human dermal endothelial cells.

P-Selectin expressed on endothelial cells contributes to acute and chronic inflammation by promoting leukocyte tethering/rolling. Despite increasing evidence of P-selectin expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, the regulatory mechanisms of P-selectin expression on dermal endothelial cells in skin diseases are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate increased expression of P-selectin in dermal vessels of regional skin in urticaria and atopic dermatitis.

Japanese cedar pollen as an exacerbation factor in atopic dermatitis: results of atopy patch testing and histological examination.

Atopy patch testing with Japanese cedar pollen extract has been used to investigate patients with atopic dermatitis whose condition is exacerbated by contact with Japanese cedar pollen. Comparative atopy patch testing, scratch tests, and assays for total IgE and specific IgE were performed in 74 patients with atopic dermatitis, 5 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and 15 control subjects. A skin biopsy was performed on any sites that were positive to Japanese cedar pollen patch test.

Psoriasis arthropathy and HLA-B51: report of 5 cases.

Psoriasis arthropathy (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy characterized by the association of arthritis with psoriasis. Although the precise mechanisms of PsA still remain obscure, several genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to play important roles. HLA-B51 has been strongly associated with Behçet's disease; however, its association with PsA has not been documented.

Multiple cutaneous fibrous histiocytomas in association with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Cutaneous fibrous histiocytomas are usually regarded as superficial lesions and commonly known as dermatofibromas; however, unusual cases histologically showing fibrohistiocytic proliferation extending into the deeper dermis or subcutaneous tissues are occasionally experienced. Some authors propose this type as benign fibrous histiocytoma of the skin, distinct from dermatofibroma. We describe herein a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed multiple nodules on the face, trunk and extremities.

Mycosis fungoides presenting as pigmented purpuric eruption.

A case of pigmented purpuric eruptions evolving to mycosis fungoides during the 4-year follow-up period is described. Clinical manifestation was characterized by petechial lesions with irregular shaped, diffusely pigmented plaques partly sharing morphological similarities with chronic pigmented purpura. Histologically, lymphocytes infiltrated around the capillaries of the superficial dermis with extravasated erythrocytes as well as into the epidermis to form Pautrier microabscesses.

Nodular scleroderma: increased expression of connective tissue growth factor.

Background: Nodular scleroderma is a fibrosing reaction, presenting well-defined, firm, raised nodules, which resembles keloid. Recent studies suggest that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is involved in the fibrotic process, and its expression is increased in many fibrosing diseases.

Objective: In this study, we report 3 cases of nodular scleroderma, and the expression of CTGF is also investigated.

Synthesis of {alpha}(1,3) fucosyltransferases IV- and VII-dependent eosinophil selectin ligand and recruitment to the skin.

Selectins mediate the initial adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells in many contexts of inflammation-dependent leukocyte recruitment. The glycans that contribute to P- and E-selectin counterreceptor activity arise through glycosylation reactions in which the terminal steps are catalyzed by alpha(1,3) fucosyltransferases (FTs). We examined how selectin ligand activities are controlled in eosinophils by characterizing FT expression profiles and regulatory mechanisms in eosinophils isolated from human blood.

Basophils play a critical role in the development of IgE-mediated chronic allergic inflammation independently of T cells and mast cells.

The recruitment of basophils into the sites of allergic inflammation is often observed. However, no definitive evidence has been provided that basophils are crucially involved in the pathogenesis of chronic allergic disorders. Here, we show that basophils are responsible for the development of IgE-mediated chronic allergic inflammation independently of T cells and mast cells.

Humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody treatment of multicentric Castleman disease.

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by systemic lymphadenopathy and constitutional inflammatory symptoms. Dysregulated overproduction of interleukin-6 is responsible for the clinical abnormalities. This multicenter prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a humanized anti-human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor monoclonal antibody (MRA) in patients with MCD.