Flow cytometry of lesional skin enhances the evaluation of cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.

Background: Cutaneous B-cell lymphoproliferative lesions can pose diagnostic challenges. This study investigates the utlility of flow cytometry in 42 cases of suspected cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

Methods: All available cases were reviewed [World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) classification].

Nevi with site-related atypia: a review of melanocytic nevi with atypical histologic features based on anatomic site.

A subset of melanocytic nevi share features with melanoma and nevi with architectural disorder but are biologically inert and to date do not appear to portend an increased risk for the development of malignancy. These benign nevi with certain atypical histologic features cluster among specific anatomic sites and are thus designated nevi with site-related atypia. We categorize these lesions into four main groups: acral, genital, special site and conjunctival, based on anatomy and relative prevalence of specific atypical histologic features.

Transformation of cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma following 15 years of indolent behavior.

Subcutaneous gamma/delta (gamma/delta) T-cell lymphoma is a rare lymphoma, characterized by its unique immunophenotype and clinical course. It has been shown to behave more aggressively than its counterpart bearing the alpha/beta receptor and has recently been removed from the subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma category for this very reason. We present a case of a patient with a 15-year running diagnosis of panniculitis.

Mucocutaneous bullous amyloidosis with an unusual mixed protein composition of amyloid deposits.

We describe a case of fatal systemic amyloidosis presenting with mucocutaneous bullous lesions in a patient with IgA kappa monoclonal gammopathy. The amyloid plaques were composed of an unusual mixture of immunoglobulin kappa light chain and amyloid A proteins. Whereas oesophageal and oropharyngeal blisters are known to occur in several types of bullous dermatoses, to our knowledge this is the first report of oesophagopharyngeal blisters complicating bullous amyloidosis.

Composite tissue allotransplantation: classification of clinical acute skin rejection.

Background: Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) is a recently introduced option for limb replacement and reconstruction of other nonreconstructible tissue defects. As with recipients of other allotransplants, CTA recipients can experience rejection episodes that are presumed to be mediated by immune mechanisms similar to those affecting solid organ grafts. However, a systematic examination of this process has not been performed, and there are no standardized criteria for the description of severity or type of rejection.

Histopathologic diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease: National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease: II. Pathology Working Group Report.

This consensus document provides an update for pathologists and clinicians about the interpretation of biopsy results and use of this information in the management of hematopoietic cell transplantation patients. Optimal sampling and tissue preparation are discussed. Minimal criteria for the diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are proposed, together with specific requirements for the diagnosis of chronic GVHD.

Composite tissue allotransplantation: classification of clinical acute skin rejection.

Background: Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) is a recently introduced option for limb replacement and reconstruction of other nonreconstructible tissue defects. As with recipients of other allotransplants, CTA recipients can experience rejection episodes that are presumed to be mediated by immune mechanisms similar to those affecting solid organ grafts. However, a systematic examination of this process has not been performed, and there are no standardized criteria for the description of severity or type of rejection

Methods: We collected biopsies from human limb allografts and abdominal walls in various stages of rejection for histological and immunohistochemical analysis to formulate a CTA rejection scheme.

The effect of topical tretinoin on tissue strength and skin components in a murine incisional wound model.

Background: Vitamin A derivatives modulate the inflammatory phase in wound healing. Retinoic acid can restore decreased tensile strength and collagen content in steroid- or diabetes-impaired wounds. It is hypothesized that retinoic acid can lead to accelerated healing with improved breaking strength in unimpaired incisional wounds.

Treatment of anogenital warts in children with topical 0.05% podofilox gel and 5% imiquimod cream.

A retrospective analysis of 25 infants and young children with anogenital warts was performed by chart review and telephone interview. Fifteen of 17 patients treated with podofilox 0.5% gel and 6 of 8 patients treated with imiquimod 5% cream improved or cleared with therapy.

Distribution of Langerhans cells in human hair follicle.

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we mapped and quantified the distribution of Langerhans cells (LCs) within the follicular epithelium of normal human skin in serial horizontal sections. Ten skin biopsies from disparate, disease-free sites from individuals of various skin types were stained with antibody to CD1a. LCs concentrated in the infundibular epithelium (x=16.

Thermal injury in the elderly. The limited need for nursing home care.

Although it appears that survival has been increased and hospital stays have been decreased in elderly patients with burn injuries, limited information is available on the functional status of these patients at the time of discharge from the hospital. Because this information is necessary to assess more fully the success or failure of current modes of therapy, we have reviewed the records of 99 surviving patients with burn injuries over the age of 55 years. These patients had a mean age 71.

Tissue response to surface-treated tantalum implants: preliminary observations in primates.

Samples of capacitor grade tantalum were surface-treated by a variety of methods. These surface treatments allowed testing of the same basic material which was mill-finished, metallurgically polished, electrochemically oxidized, sintered with a porous surface, and glow-discharged. Surface characterization was accomplished by contact angle measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy-dispensed x-ray analysis, and internal reflection spectroscopy.