Association between the clinical and histopathological classifications of actinic keratosis and the efficacy of topical imiquimod treatment.

We investigated the association between the clinical and histopathological classifications of actinic keratosis (AK) and the efficacy of topical imiquimod treatment. Forty patients (55 lesions) with AK were treated with topical 5% imiquimod and the efficacy of imiquimod for AK was evaluated based on the clinical/histopathological changes. The complete remission (CR) rates in patients with the different clinical classifications of AK were 85.

X-linked dominant protoporphyria: The first reported Japanese case.

A 12-year-old boy with photosensitivity since 3 years of age presented with small concavities on both cheeks, the nasal root and the dorsal surface of both hands. According to the clinical features, erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) was suspected. Urine and blood samples were tested for porphyrin derivatives, which revealed a markedly elevated level of erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and a diagnosis of EPP was made.

Dermatomyositis as a complication of interferon-α therapy: a case report and review of the literature.

Autoimmune disorder is one of the important side effects of interferon-α therapy. Some polymyositis cases as complication of interferon-α therapy were reported, but dermatomyositis were rarely. We report a case of dermatomyositis as a complication of interferon-α therapy for hepatitis C.

Immunohistochemical analysis of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in human melanoma in comparison with skin squamous cell carcinoma.

Alkylating agents, often used for chemotherapy in patients with melanoma, can produce O(6)-alkylguanine (O(6)AG) which is related to tumor cell killing after treatment with alkylating agents. O(6)AG is effectively eliminated by O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (O(6)MGMT) and its level is correlative to the resistance to alkylating agents. However, little is known about the relationship of O(6)MGMT to the characteristics of melanoma.