CD38- and Leu6-positive cells in dermal lesions of mycosis fungoides.

The phenotypes of mononuclear cells in 16 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) (8 were in tumor stage and 8 in pretumor stage) were tested by ABC immunochemical technique. The results showed that the percentage of CD38 and Leu6(+) cells in tumor stage was higher than that in pretumor stage. CD38 was identified to be a marker of the immature lymphocytes. The change of CD38 might be helpful in staging MF and predicting the prognosis of the disease. In addition, Leu6(+) cells, oval or round in shape and without dendritic processes were found in tumor stage, suggesting that they might be immature lymphoid cells. This feature needs further investigation.

CaSO4:Dy and LiF:Mg, Cu, P thermoluminescent dosimeters for environmental monitoring in ambient areas of a nuclear power plant.

This paper describes CaSO4:Dy and LiF:Mg, Cu, P which were used for ambient environmental monitoring before the nuclear power plant operation in Guangdong Daya Bay, China, in 1991. Since LiF:Mg, Cu, P was first used as an environmental dosimeter in this laboratory, the intercomparison of both thermoluminescent dosimeters, including laboratory irradiation and environmental exposure in Beijing reference spots, was conducted in cooperation with National Institute of Metrology and Laboratory of Industrial Hygiene, measured values of both thermoluminescent dosimeters were in agreement with the error being less than +or- 2% for the laboratory irradiation. The results of measurement by both thermoluminescent dosimeters were quite in agreement with environmental reference exposure rates measured by a pressurized ionization chamber. The largest error of CaSO4:Dy environmental monitoring results in Daya Bay also showed that the differences of measurement results between two thermoluminescent dosimeters were not significant. The experiment results indicated that LiF:Mg, Cu, P was a good environmental dosimeter.

Deep dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum: report of two cases.

Two patients presenting with subcutaneous nodules, plaques, papules and ulceration caused by Trichophyton rubrum are described in this report. The first case was a 46-year-old woman referred with erythema and desquamation over her trunk, hands and feet for 30 years, progressing to nodules and ulceration over her trunk, arms and scalp for the last 2 years. The second case was a 34-year-old man who presented with a 2-year-history of itchy, erythema and desquamation over the trunk, progressing to papules, nodules and cyst around his ear, on the neck and scalp for 1 year. The diagnoses were suspected after direct microscopical examinations of the discharge materials, which revealed the presence of hyaline hyphae. The histological examinations showed granulomatous inflammatory infiltrates with fungal elements in the dermis including epithelioid cells, giant cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils, and the periodic acid-Schiff stain showed hypha within the granulomas. Cultures of puncture materials, skin biopsies and nails confirmed the diagnosis identifying T. rubrum. Antifungal therapies with itraconazole were successful in both patients, the lesions were completely clear with atrophic scars after 3 months. Side effects were not noticed during the medication. We discuss the clinical types of granulomatous cutaneous lesions caused by dermatophyte infections and evaluate the therapeutic effect of itraconazole.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial cutaneous infection confirmed by biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequencing of hsp65 gene.

We report a woman in whom a slow-growing scotochromogenic strain of Mycobacterium was cultured from skin lesions. According to its phenotypic and biochemical characteristics we could predict only that it might be M. szulgai, M. scrofulaceum or M. gordonae. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the hsp65 gene and subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis on the isolated strain showed that its restriction pattern differed from both M. scrofulaceum and other scotochromogenic species. Ninety-nine per cent similarity was detected between the isolated strain and M. gordonae by sequencing of the hsp65 gene. This result suggests that the isolated strain may be either a slow-growing scotochromogenic Mycobacterium most resembling M. gordonae or a novel mycobacterial species.