[Cowden disease: report of 8 cases in 2 families (author's transl)].

These 8 cases of multiple hamartoma syndrome are the first reported in Switzerland. Two men aged respectively of 65 and 28 years presented a cobblestone appearance of the gingiva and of the tongue ("pebbly tongue"), which suggested Cowden disease. This diagnosis was confirmed by the discovery of numberous skin lesions, a thyroid goiter, gastrointestinal polyposis, and a mild skelettal dysmorphosis.

Microcylinders of endoplasmic reticulum in histiocytes in patients suffering from Degos' syndrome and dermatomyositis.

Rare intracytoplasmic membranous inclusions derived from the endoplasmic reticulum were observed in the histiocytes of one case of Dego' syndrome and one case of dermatomyositis. Cross-section and longitudinal sections made it possible to establish a three-dimensional model in which both microcylinders and layers of rolled-up double membranes appear.

[Guinea pig nipple as a model for the investigation of melasma (author's transl)].

The nipples of male tan guinea pigs were used to test the effects on the skin of oral contraceptive pills and drugs. The daily topically applied doses were 1/2,000 of a pill. After 3 weeks, the nipples treated with solutions of ethinyloestradiol-containing pills had grown (200-300%), the epidermis showed acanthosis (150-250%) and strong hyperpigmentation.

[Cowden's disease. A report on two cases in Swiss families (author's transl)].

Described by Lloyd and Dennis in 1963, Cowden's disease is a familial affection in which are found associated lesions of the buccopharyngeal mucosa (papillomatosis, papules, scrotal tongue), various types of skin lesions (verruciform keratotic papules, papilloma, lipoma, angioma, etc...

[Digestive manifestations of Rendu-Osler's disease (author's transl)].

Unlabelled: Rendu-Osler disease, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a genetic disorder, autosomal dominent. Telangiectasia of the skin, face, trunk, upper and lower extremities are associated with angiomas of the oral and nasopharyngal membranes, lips, tongue and internal organs (intestine tract, liver, spleen, blood, lung, brain). They are source of melena, hematemesis, hematuria, hemoptysis with severe anemia.

[Blue rubber bleb nevus (author's transl)].

Unlabelled: Hereditary dysembryoplasia, the B. R. B.

Comparative trial of an antihistamine, mequitazine, and placebo.

Forty patients suffering from a dermatological condition suitable for treatment with an antihistamine were studied in a double-blind randomized trial to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of mequitazine and placebo. Over a period of 2 weeks, patients received either 5 mg mequitazine twice daily or placebo. Where justified, patients were also given concomitant topical treatment but only with a hydrating cream or ichthyol paste.

Stewart-Treves syndrome: the histopathological evolution of epithelial metastases.

Clinical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural observations in a patient who developed all the characteristics of the Stewart-Treves syndrome 25 years after mastectomy has convinced the authors that the neoplasm arises as a glandular metastasis after an initial phase of sclerosis and that the neoplastic cells are of myoepithelial type.

[Ultrastructural study of the Dego's disease (report of a new case and literature review) (author's transl)].

An observation of a new case of Degos' disease in a 42 year old woman presenting a merely cutaneous symptomatology, enabled to perform a detailed ultrastructural study of vascular lesions, nerves, infiltrate and perivascular fibroblasts. The episodic clinical evolution with various formation periods of vascular lesions, the frequency of virus-like inclusions in the endothelial cells and fibroblasts, as well as C3 deposits and the presence of intracytoplasmic cylinders in the histiocytes, suggest a common physiopathologic mechanism with the autoimmune diseases. A bibliographic review accompanies the clinico-pathological study.

[Essential melanic pigmentation of the mouth and the lips].

Lenticular or linear, buccal or labial, slate-coloured or melanic black spots are noticed in healthy subjects with no racial, hormonal or drug factor. Histological examination shows a pigmentary excess of the basement membrane without anomaly or dystrophy or nevus cells. Ultrastructural study shows a great number of intracyto-plasmic melanosomes, isolated or in group in all the keratinocytes in the third inferior part of the epidermis.