Clinical and Experimental Dermatology

FRANCÉS, C.; BRANCHET, M. C.; BLÉTRY, O.; LEFEVRE, CH.; BOISNIC, S.; KERN, P.; GODEAU, P.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00637.xpmid: 3208433

HARRISON, P.V.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00638.xpmid: 3061688

SummaryThirty‐four patients had split‐skin grafts applied to varicose leg ulcers, previously unresponsive to conservative mangement. Follow‐up of patients after 1–5 years revealed that an assessment of risk factors prior to surgery is important. Those patients with fewer risk factors had a higher ulcer healing rate and lower mortality from natural causes. An assessment of risk factors might he helpful to determine whether to continue conservative management or consider more active management of a patient with a non‐healing varicose leg ulcer.

GRATTAN, C.E.H.; PEACHEY, R.D.; BOON, A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00639.xpmid: 3061689

SummaryEleven of 12 cases with erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp gave a history of antecedent physical or infective trauma. We propose that this clinical disorder may be a non‐specific inflammatory response to injury of ageing and sun‐damaged scalps.

COX, N.H.; MORE, I.A.; McCRUDEN, D.; JONES, S.K.; ONG‐TONE, L.; FINLAY, A.Y.; FRIER, B.M.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00640.xpmid: 3208434

SummaryClinically normal buttock skin of 20 diabetic and eight control subjects, aged 16–30 years, was examined using electron microscopy. The number of layers of cellular material in vessel walls, external to the endothelial cell, was increased in patients with a long duration of diabetes, but was never more than two layers in control subjects. Prominent collagen deposition in the wall of dermal blood vessels was observed only in diabetic skin. No ultrastructural features were significantly related to recent glycemic control, or with the presence of identified microvascular complications of diabetes. The difficulties involved in the interpretation of electron microscopy of diabetic‐skin arc discussed. Routine electron microscopical examination of clinically normal diabetic skin provides little information of clinical value on an individual basis.

GOH, C.L.; CHIA, S.E.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00641.xpmid: 3208435

SummaryThe skin irritability of 38 volunteers (23 males, 15 females), of different ethnic groups, to sodium lauryl sulphate, 2%, aqueous, was studied by measurement of skin water vapour loss (SVL). The mean SVL values of unirritated skin of females (2·9 g water/m2/h) was significantly lower than males (5·5 g water/m2/h) (P < 0·001); the mean values between the different ethnic groups were not significantly different. The mean SVL values of irritated skin of males and females were not significantly different; the values for Chinese were significantly higher than Malays (P < 0·05), hut not significantly different between Chinese and Indians and between Malays and Indians. The irritation index (which is defined as the difference of SVL value between irritated and unirritated skin over SVL value of unirritated skin) was significantly lower in males (4·6 g water/m2/h) than females (12·4 g water/m2/h) (P < 0·01). It was not significantly different between the various ethnic groups. It appears that the skin irritability (to SLS 2% aqueous) of males and females differs. Female skin appeared to be more irritable compared to male skin. The skin irritability of different ethnic groups appeared the same.

ANN, CHENG‐CHUNG; LIN, CHRANG‐SHI; WONG, CHU‐KWAN

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00642.xpmid: 3208436

SummaryWe present a 38‐year‐old man with nodular amyloidosis and diabetes mellitus. Skin biopsy showed massive amyloid deposition in the dermis. Immunohistochemical study revealed that amyloid deposits contained amyloid of Kappa light‐chain origin and P component. Under electron microscope, vascular changes were noted in addition to amyloid deposits. The origin of nodular amyloidosis and its relationship to diabetes mellitus is discussed in this report.

WEISMANN, K.; KNUDSEN, E.A.; PEDERSEN, C.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00643.xpmid: 2974764

SummaryTwo patients suffering from ARC and AIDS developed extensive whitening of toe nails caused by infection with T. rubrum. The lesions may serve as a clinical clue to the diagnosis of HIV‐infection with immune deficiency.

HINDSON, T.C.; SPIRO, J.G.; COCHRANE, H.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00644.xpmid: 3208437

SummaryThree cases of diffuse granuloma annulare involving 20–40%, of body surface area and of varying duration were treated with PUVA. All improved clinically and one has remained clear for 3·5 years after cessation of therapy.

SHEHADE, S.A.; JOYCE, H.J.; KUMARARATNE, D.S.; HODGSON, C.; JOHNSON, G.D.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00645.xpmid: 3061687

SummaryWe report a case of poorly differentiated transitional cell carcinoma associated with generalized vesiculo‐bullous eruption with histological features of bullous pemphigoid. This was associated with the presence of an unusual complement‐fixing autoantibody against the cytoplasm of epidermal basal cells. The skin eruption responded to oral prednisolone therapy.

DUHRA, P.; GRATTAN, C.E.H.; RYATT, K.S.

doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1988.tb00646.xpmid: 3145160

SummaryA case of lupus vulgaris is presented with an unusually rapid evolution and numerous tubercle bacilli on histology. The merits of different chemotherapeutic regimes are discussed.