Importance of the direct fresh examination in the diagnosis of cutaneous sporotrichosis.

Background: To date the direct fresh examination has not been considered, except by a few authors, as a valid laboratory procedure for the diagnosis of cutaneous sporotrichosis.

Methods: Forty-two patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis (36 lymphangitic and six fixed) were studied. Pus was obtained through digital compression of opened lesions followed by collection with a spatula and examination of the material between the slide and the coverslip.

Immunohistochemical study of nerve fibres in basal cell carcinoma.

Few studies have been made about the influence of the autonomous nervous system on the proliferation of malignant cells. The aim of this work was to investigate if there is any relationship between the aggressiveness of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and the presence of nerve fibres. We studied 20 samples of BCC, classified in two groups: non aggressive and aggressive, according to current criteria of malignancy.

Cole disease: hypopigmentation with punctate keratosis of the palms and soles.

Cole disease is an uncommon disorder characterized by distinctive cutaneous hypopigmentation and punctate keratosis of the palms and soles. It is a congenital skin disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. We report two patients from a family with 15 members, 5 of whom were affected.