[Perforating granulomatous folliculitis in Becker's nevus (author's transl)]. / Folliculitis granulomatosa perforans in einem Becker-Naevus.

Acneform lesions strictly confined to a Becker's nevus were observed in a 18-year-old man. Histologically, a granulomatous folliculitis with partial destruction of the epithelial root sheath and follicular cysts with focal penetration of keratin into the surrounding dermis were present, ruling out acne vulgaris. The concept of Becker's nevus as a complex nevogenic process, affecting ectodermal, neuroectodermal, and mesenchymal structures, also in terms of dysfunction of the pilary complex, is suggested.

[8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP)-a new galenic form and its relation to 8-MOP serum levels (author's transl)]. / 8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) in neuer galenischer Zubereitung und seine Beziehung zum 8-MOP-Serumspiegel.

A bioequivalence study was performed with two different 8-MOP preparations. Thirty-eight patients participated in the investigation. We compared a product already marketed containing a micronized powder in hard gelatine capsules with a new product in soft gelatine capsules containing the 8-MOP in a solution. With the new galenic preparation the serum level obtained was 3.2 (P less than or equal to 0.01) times higher than with the old product. Thus, the improved resorption out of the solution was mainly responsible for these results.

[Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Increased serum activities in patients with dermatological diseases (author's transl)]. / Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE). Erhöhte Enzymaktivitäten im Serum bei dermatologischen krankheiten.

Serum activities of ACE were investigated in 40 patients with dermatological disease and in nine patients with sarcoidosis. The method of Cushman and Cheung, modified according to Lieberman, was used. Both sarcoidosis patients and patients with dermatological diseases showed marked elevations of ACE-activity. The increase in ACE-activity might result from inflammation and immunological events.

[Subcutaneous Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens infection in man--report of the first case in Austria and review of the literature (author's transl)]. / Subkutane Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens-Infektion beim Menschen--Erste Fallbeschreibung in Osterreich und Ubersicht der Literatur.

A 39-year-old female patient developed migratory skin nodules 4 months after a vacation in Greece. The patient observed a total of 17 nodules moving over the trunk to the left thigh, where a subcutaneous lesion was excised, yielding a parasite measuring 0.5 mm X 7 cm. It was classified as Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens. Since this is the first case observed in Austria, an exact description of subcutaneous dirofilariasis, its geographical distribution and a review of the literature is presented.

[Benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne vulgaris (author's transl)]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit Benzoylperoxyd in der Behandlung der Acne vulgaris.

63 patients suffering from predominantly papulo-pustular acne vulgaris were treated with 5-10% benzoyl peroxidegel over a period of 2-4 months. The skin condition showed marked improvement in 80% of the patients. Two patients developed cutaneous allergy. Benzoyl peroxide is the therapy of choice for the inflammatory form of acne vulgaris. Systemic tetracyclines need not be given concomitantly. Autoradiographic studies revealed that benzoyl peroxide also has a truly sebostatic effect.

[Penicillamine-induced elastosis perforans serpiginosa and pulmonary cyst in Wilson's disease (author's transl)]. / Penicillamin-induzierte Elastosis perforans serpiginosa mit Lungenzyste bei Morbus Wilson.

A large air cyst was removed from the right lung of a 29-year-old female patient with Wilson's disease and penicillamine-induced perforating elastosis, the cyst first appearing after 9 years of treatment with penicillamine. Since, on the one hand, the microscopic and ultrastructural changes in the elastic tissue of the lungs were identical to those observed in the skin, both in areas of clinically-demonstrable elastosis perforans serpiginosa and clinically unaffected skin and, on the other hand, no other pulmonary disease was demonstrable to account for the development of the cystic lesion, it is concluded that penicillamine is the causative factor by means of extensive alteration of the elastic tissue. The morphological changes in the elastic fibres are so characteristic that it is easy to distinguish penicillamine-induced elastosis perforans serpiginosa from the idiopathic variant.

[Oculodermal melanocytosis (nevus of ota) and blue nevus (author's transl)]. / Okulodermale Melanozytose (Nävus Ota) und blauer Nävus.

Report is made of a patient having concurrently an Ota nevus and a blue nevus. The dermal melanocytes showed a marked formation of large intracytoplasmatic vacuoles. Reference to the important role of an "extracellular sheath" is made. The nearly identical ultrastructural characteristics of dermal melanocytes in various dermal melanocyte disorders seems to imply a common pathological origin in their development.

[Topically applied thiabendazole in the treatment of creeping eruption (cutaneous helminthiasis) (author's transl)]. / Lokalbenhandlung der "creeping eruption (Larva migrans nematosa) mit Thiabendazol.

Two patients with creeping eruption (cutaneous helminthiasis) on the feet contracted during a vacation in Ceylon were treated successfully by topical application of thiabendazole 50% in a paste destined for oral use in veterinary medicine. The preparation was applied once daily under occlusive dressings. There was no skin irritation. Prompt healing occurred after 3 and 6 days respectively. Because systemic thiabendazole therapy is frequently associated with toxic side effects, topical application seems to be the treatment of choice for creeping eruption caused by nematodes.

Hidroacanthoma simplex with in situ porocarcinoma. A case suggesting malignant transformation.

A case of hidroacanthoma simplex, suggesting malignant transformation into porocarcinoma in situ is reported. It represents further evidence that epidermotropic eccrine carcinoma may originate from the acrosyringium. This lesion demonstrates that the upper portion of the dermal eccrine duct may participate in the oncogenesis of hidroacanthoma simplex. It may also provide the missing link in the chain of evolution of benign eccrine poroacanthoma into porocarcinoma.

[On the biologic phenomenon of epidermotropism (author's transl)]. / Uber das biologische phänomen des epidermotropismus

The biologic phenomenon of epidermotropism is mirrored in the dynamic equilibrium between different cell types within the epidermis. In various pathological conditions, this balance may be upset, or foreign epithelial, neuroectodermal and mesenchymal tissue may selectively infiltrate epidermal or other epithelial structures. The importance of the concept of epidermal symbiosis in these conditions and resulting similarities in the clinical picture and biologic behavior are pointed out.

[Acariasis due to dermanyssus gallinae (gamosoidosis) in Vienna (author's transl)]. / Akariasis durch Dermanyssus gallinae (Gamasoidosis) in Wien.

Four cases of gamasoidosis (avian mite dermatitis) caused by Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778) were observed in a factory for optical instruments in Vienna. After removal of an infected pigeon nest outside one of the windows in a recess of the wall in front of a fan, no further skin lesions appeared. The darkening of the room during work hours could explain the activity of the mites during day time. Although gamasoidosis is mainly seen in rural areas, it is not infrequently encountered in urban settings and should always enter the differential diagnosis in the presence of pruriginous skin lesions not meeting all of the diagnostic criteria of scabies.

[ANF-negative subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus with anti-Ro antibodies. A new subset of lupus with characteristic skin manifestations]. / ANF-negativer subakuter kutaner Lupus erythematosus mit Anti-Ro-Antikörpern.

Recently a new subset of lupus erythematosus with distinct cutaneous lesions has been defined as subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The salient clinical features are transient nonscarring widespread erythematosquamous or annular eruptions on the trunk and arms, cytopenia, musculo-skeletal symptoms and sometimes mild renal and cerebrovascular disease. Although more than one half of the patients have positive antinuclear factor tests, in a smaller proportion only antibodies against the predominantly cytoplasmic antigens Ro and sometimes La can be demonstrated. Due to the negative routine serologic findings the typical cutaneous lesions assume additional importance, because they frequently allow a clinical diagnosis even in the absence of more sophisticated immunologic procedures.

Perforating lichen nitidus.

A skin biopsy from an 8-year-old boy with generalized lichen nitidus revealed a transepidermal perforating lesion never observed before in this disorder. A disturbance in dermo-epidermal interaction with alterations of epidermal cell kinetics could explain this finding in a disease which, curiously, shows many histologic features conducive to transepidermal perforation. A clear distinction should be made between primary and secondary perforating dermatoses, since perforation per se is a non-specific cutaneous reaction pattern occurring in the course of many unrelated disorders.

[Folliculitis granulomatosa perforans profunda: an independent perforating dermatosis?]. / Folliculitis granulomatosa perforans profunda--eine eigenständige perforierende Dermatose?

A peculiar perforating dermatosis was observed in two adolescent male patients consisting of a persistent, disseminated, asymptomatic, follicular, discretely hyperkeratotic papular eruption. Histologically a massive granulomatous panfolliculitis was present with partial destruction of the pilary complex and occasional perforation of hairs through the infundibular wall. Aggregations of keratin fragments were scattered throughout the corium. These histological findings clearly separate the condition from perforating folliculitis, pityriasis rubra pilaris and Kyrle's disease. Differentiation from the perforating type of keratosis pilaris is more difficult.

[Dermatoses with transepithelial perforation (author's transl)]. / Dermatosen mit transepithelialer Perforation

The histologic concept of epidermal elimination of particulate matter was formulated by Pinkus in 1954. Mehregan enlarged on this by recognizing its fundamental role in a variety of skin diseases. The importance of this epidermal reaction pattern in five "perforating" dermatoses is stressed. Also, it is shown that active participation of the corium and epithelio-mesenchymal interaction are required for the iniation of this mechanism. The histological differentiation and histogenesis of the presented dermatoses are discussed.

Granuloma annulare with transfollicular perforation.

In recent years the phenomenon of transepithelial elimination has been found to be the underlying mechanism in a variety of skin disorders. "Perforating dermatoses" may show transepidermal or transfollicular elimination or a combination of the two. A case of papular granuloma annulare is reported, where in one lesion the pilary apparatus actively participated in the elimination of necrobiotic collagen from the dermis. To our knowledge, perforating granuloma annulare with a transfollicular pathway has not previously been described. Also, a classification of perforating dermatoses is presented.

[Dowling-Degos disease with involvement of the scalp]. / Morbus Dowling-Degos mit Beteiligung des Kapillitiums.

Dowling-Degos disease is described in a 40 year-old man, involving the nape of the neck, axillary regions, scrotum, intergluteal fold and also the scalp. There was no associated hair growth anomaly. There was extensive pitting of the entire face. Dowling-Degos disease appears to result from a genetically determined imbalance of epithelial-mesenchymal regulatory mechanisms causing increased epithelial proliferation, as well as a disturbance of the maturation and differentiation of the proliferating keratinocytes.

Granuloma annulare with follicular perforation.

An instance of perforating granuloma annulare was observed in a 42-year-old female patient in which the necrobiotic material in the dermis was eliminated by a hair follicle. This had previously been described by the author in only 1 other case of perforating granuloma annulare. Transepithelial elimination may occur by the transepidermal and/or transfollicular route. Both pathways are possible in perforating granuloma annulare. Some factors are discussed which may be responsible for the predominance of one route over the other in various disorders of transepithelial elimination.