New non-invasive method for evaluation of the stratum corneum structure in diseases with abnormal keratinization by immunofluorescence microscopy of desmoglein 1 distribution in tape-stripped samples.

The corneodesmosomes in the stratum corneum are critical for the maintenance of stratum corneum integrity. To evaluate the normal and diseased keratinization states in the epidermis, we studied the distribution of desmoglein 1 (DSG1), a major component of corneodesmosomes, in samples of the stratum corneum obtained by tape stripping, a non-invasive method. Samples were collected from lesional skin of four patients with psoriasis and three with lichen planus, and from non-lesional skin of three volunteers.

Antibody titers to desmogleins 1 and 3 in a patient with paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with follicular dendritic cell sarcoma.

Background: Most paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) cases reported to date have been associated with lymphoproliferative neoplasms. Patients with PNP have autoantibodies against the plakin family (eg, envoplakin and periplakin). Antibodies against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) and Dsg1, antigens for classic types of pemphigus, have also been reported to play an important role in the initial stage of PNP.

Skin eruptions associated with microscopic polyangiitis.

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic vasculitis histologically characterized by small-vessel involvement. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (especially anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies) (MPO-ANCA) are often positive in serum. Although the skin is affected in 20-70% of patients, the precise description has been limited.

Distribution of an antifungal drug, itraconazole, in pathological and non-pathological tissues.

An antifungal drug, itraconazole (ITZ) is effective for chromomycosis patients, but the distribution of ITZ and its metabolite, hydroxy-intraconazole (OH-ITZ) is unclear in pathological tissues. This study investigated how much ITZ and OH-ITZ accumulated in the lesional tissues of chromomycosis and non-lesional skin after oral treatment with ITZ. We determined the concentrations of ITZ and OH-ITZ in the lesional tissues of chromomycosis by Foncecaea pedrosoi and non-lesional skin after oral treatment with a total dose of 2.

Cellular phone dermatitis with chromate allergy.

Background: A patient with allergic contact dermatitis caused by hexavalent chromium plating on a cellular phone has already been reported.

Objectives: This study described the clinical characteristics and results of patch tests in 8 patients with contact dermatitis possibly caused by handling a cellular phone.

Patients: The 8 patients were 4 males and 4 females aged from 14 to 54 years.

Two-year follow-up study after human parvovirus B19 infection.

Background: Acute human parvovirus B19 (B19) infection induces systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like symptoms. It has been controversial whether B19 infection causes SLE and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objectives: This study prospectively investigated whether symptoms of B19 infection persisted for more than 2 years and whether persistent symptoms contributed to the development of SLE and RA.