Pemphigus vulgaris and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

A Mexican-American patient with pemphigus vulgaris developed fatal disseminated coccidioidomycosis while on immunosuppressive therapy with systemic corticosteroids and azathioprine. Immunosuppressed patients should be carefully monitored for coccidioidomycosis as well as other systemic mycoses.

Histocompatibility (HL-A) antigens in psoriasis.

In 101 white psoriatic patients, two histocompatibility (HL-A) specificities were significantly altered from expected values. The levels of W16 and W17 were found to be substantially increased, suggesting that persons with these antigens are at increased risk of having psoriasis. Clinically distinct patient groups were also observed.

Epidermal synthesis of prostaglandins and their effect on levels of cyclic adenosine 3', 5'monophosphate.

Extracts of guinea-pig and human skin epidermis were analyzed for prostaglandins PGE1, E2, and F2alpha by radioimmunoassy, and found to contain a total of 62.0 (guinea pig) and 144.7 (human) ng/gm wet weight.