Identification of Decedents by Restoring Mummified Fingerprints: Forensic Dermatology in the Investigation of Mummy Dermatoglyphics.

Fingerprints are created by elevations and depressions on the fingertip pads. Each person has their own unique fingerprints which can be used in the identification of that individual when alive, during the immediate postmortem period, or even after the digits have become mummified. Mummification can occur naturally; it can be partial (such as localized to only the hands and feet, extensive, or complete. Obtaining fingerprints after the skin has become mummified can be attempted while the digits remaining intact with the hand; however, the digits may need to be removed from the hand and the finger pads may also need to be separated from the underlying bone to secure an adequate fingerprint. Frequently, the mummified tissue needs to be rehydrated; numerous solutions have been used that increase the turgor of the digits, provide softening and pliability of the tissue, and enhance the details of the finger pad ridges. An aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (either combined with acetic acid or combined with 95 percent ethanol and distilled water) was found to be most effective for rehydration. Thereafter, various techniques can be attempted to obtain the fingerprint. These include the traditional method of inking and rolling of the finger or photographing the finger. Powders (such as aluminum powder, black fingerprint powder, white cornstarch-based powder, or fluorescent powder) can be used to enhance the ridge features; adhesive tape can be pressed against the powdered digit and the print pattern preserved by applying the adhesive tape to a clear transparency sheet. In addition, molds (using modeling clay or silicone rubber) and casts (using plaster of Paris, dental casting materials, or putty) can be made of the digits; either the molds or the casts or both can be photographed with or without prior application of fingerprint powder. Transillumination, using a fiber optic light source to illuminate the epidermis and underlying remaining dermis of a scraped and defleshed finger pad can be used to demonstrate the finger ridge pattern when the photographing the tip of the digit. In summary, forensic dermatology can have an integral role in obtaining fingerprints from mummified digits, which can be successfully used for the identification of the decedent.

Introducing the Bender Sign for the Diagnosis of Intergluteal Cleft Skin Disorders.

Dr. Benjamin Bender (1908-1996) was a longtime Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine. Some 45 years ago, he coined the eponym Bender sign, which describes the discovery of cutaneous diseases that involve the gluteal cleft by having patients bend over and then manually separating the buttocks. Bender's eponym was created as a humorous pun involving his name "Bender" with the "bending" of the patient. This contribution formally introduces this delightful eponym into the dermatology literature and highly recommends its adoption as a teaching tool to remind students of the importance of examining the intergluteal cleft area, which can often harbor a variety of skin disorders, such as psoriasis. A second Bender sign, referred to as Bender sign #2, is also presented, which describes the sparing of the nose when the face is rubbed and inflamed from neurodermatitis. This contribution pays tribute to Dr. Benjamin Bender who his students beloved as a master teacher of dermatology.

Jewish Women in Dermatology.

We highlight the contribution of notable Jewish women in American Dermatology. While not intended to be a thorough listing, we selected nine representatives as examples of early pioneering women in American dermatology, research, political leaders, authors and journal editors, and teachers and role models. All struggled to overcome professional barriers to women in medicine: many experienced antisemitism, especially those forced to flee Nazi Germany. Despite persecution and upending their lives, they rebuilt their careers and made outstanding contributions to dermatology.

The Tiber Island in the history of Dermatology and Venereology including the curious history of "K syndrome", the fictitious disease that scared the Nazis.

The Tiber Island in Rome has a rich history as a center of worship and healthcare. Its origins date back to ancient times, with the establishment of the Temple of Asclepius marking its role in healing practices. Over centuries, it evolved into a hub for medical innovation and refuge during epidemics and conflicts. During World War II, the Fatebenefratelli Hospital on the Tiber Island played a pivotal role in sheltering Jews from Nazi persecution. Using a fictitious disease termed "K syndrome," doctors helped endangered Jewish patients to evade capture and deportation to concentration camps by exploiting Nazi fears of contagion. Patients diagnosed with "K syndrome" were shielded from apprehension, highlighting the hospital's innovative tactics to save lives amidst wartime atrocities. This episode underscores the hospital's courageous efforts and its enduring legacy as a beacon of compassion in the face of adversity.

Three Dermatologists Who Were Nominated for a Nobel Prize: Albert Neisser, Erich Hoffmann, and Aaron B. Lerner.

During the past 125 years, three dermatologists have been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Albert Neisser (1855-1916), Erich Hoffmann (1868-1959), and Aaron B. Lerner (1920-2007). Neisser was nominated 22 times for his discovery of the gonococcus and for his work on the serologic testing for syphilis through complement fixation. Hoffman was nominated three times for his role in the discovery of Treponema pallidum. Lerner was nominated twice, once for his work on melanocyte-stimulating hormone and a second time for his work on melatonin. Although neither Neisser, Hoffmann, nor Lerner won the Nobel Prize, it is still a notable accomplishment that each of them was nominated multiple times for this prestigiousaward. This contribution highlights the lives and careers of these three distinguished dermatologists, including the landmark discoveries they made that led to their being nominated for a Nobel Prize.

Eponyms that honor Jewish dermatologists: A celebration and a remembrance, Part three: Jewish physicians who practiced during the Holocaust and in its aftermath.

Part III of this contribution continues to celebrate the many contributions that Jewish physicians have made to advance the specialty of dermatology, as reflected by eponyms that honor their names. Part I covered the years before 1933, a highly productive period of creativity by Jewish dermatologists, especially in Germany and Austria. The lives of 17 Jewish physicians and their eponyms were described in Part I. Part II focused on the years of 1933 to 1945, when the Nazis rose to power in Europe, and how their anti-Semitic genocidal policies affected leading Jewish dermatologists caught within the Third Reich. Fourteen Jewish physicians and their eponyms are discussed in Part II. Part III continues the remembrance of the Holocaust era by looking at the careers and eponyms of an additional 13 Jewish physicians who contributed to dermatology during the period of 1933 to 1945. Two of these 13 physicians, pathologist Ludwig Pick (1868-1944) and neurologist Arthur Simons (1877-1942), perished in the Holocaust. They are remembered by the following eponyms of interest to dermatologists: Lubarsch-Pick syndrome, Niemann-Pick disease, and Barraquer-Simons syndrome. Four of the 13 Jewish physicians escaped the Nazis: Felix Pinkus (1868-1947), Herman Pinkus (1905-1985), Arnault Tzanck (1886-1954), and Erich Urbach (1893-1946). Eponyms that honor their names include nitidus Pinkus, fibroepithelioma of Pinkus, Tzanck test, Urbach-Wiethe disease, Urbach-Koningstein technique, Oppenheim-Urbach disease, and extracellular cholesterinosis of Karl-Urbach. The other seven Jewish physicians lived outside the reach of the Nazis, in either Canada, the United States, or Israel. Their eponyms are discussed in this contribution. Part III also discusses eponyms that honor seven contemporary Jewish dermatologists who practiced dermatology after 1945 and who continue the nearly 200 years of Jewish contribution to the development of the specialty. They are A. Bernard Ackerman (1936-2008), Irwin M. Braverman, Sarah Brenner, Israel Chanarin, Maurice L. Dorfman, Dan Lipsker, and Ronni Wolf. Their eponyms are Ackerman syndrome, Braverman sign, Brenner sign, Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, Lipsker criteria of the Schnitzler syndrome, and Wolf's isotopic response.

Edouard Manet's portrait of Jeanne Duval: Did Manet portray the disease of which he died?

In 1862, the French artist Edouard Manet painted a portrait of Jeanne Duval, then age 42, who was suffering from a paralyzed leg. Manet depicts her stiffly reclined on a sofa with her foot seemingly disjointed from her body. Duval later became blind. Around 1875, Manet himself began to develop leg pains and an unsteady gait, which progressed in severity until he died of complications of his disorder, during 1883, at age 51. This contribution reviews the clinical information available concerning the neurologic disorders of both the subject and artist and the differential diagnosis for each case, with a focus on whether neurosyphilis may have accounted for their respective illnesses. This contribution also pays tribute to Irwin M. Braverman, MD, who is being honored in this special issue of Clinics in Dermatology for his many contributions to dermatology and for demonstrating how the study of art can be a valuable teaching tool to improve the observational skills of medical students. A Special Message from the Author to Irwin M. Braverman, MD.

Eponyms and clinical entities from the land of Israel.

Seven eponyms have been pioneered by dermatologists in Israel: Brenner's sign, Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome, granulated sweetener packet sign, isopathic phenomenon of Sagher, lanolin paradox, Nakar-Ingber disease, and Wolf's isotopic response. In addition, there are three id reactions described by Israeli dermatologists: leishmanid, pediculid, and scabid. There is also the acronym PEMPHIGUS, which stands for the causative reasons for pemphigus. We celebrate these eponyms and clinical entities, which reflect the impressive progress made by dermatologists in Israel during the past century who have helped to build an academic, vibrant, and dynamic specialty in the Holy Land.

Eponyms that honor Jewish dermatologists: A celebration and a remembrance, Part two: Jewish physicians who practiced between 1933 and 1945.

This is the second installment of a three-part contribution that highlights the achievements of Jewish dermatologists as reflected by eponyms that honor their names. It covers the period 1933-1945 when the Nazis took over Germany and how the lives of 14 notable Jewish physicians, mostly in Germany, were impacted during the Holocaust. Many of them fled from the persecution, bringing their academic talents to other lands such as the United States. At least one committed suicide (Fritz Juliusberg), and three others perished in the Holocaust (Abraham Buschke, Lucja Frey-Gottesman, and Karl Herxheimer). They are remembered by eponyms including Neisser-Juliusberg pityriasis lichenoides chronica, Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome, Frey syndrome, and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. It made little difference to the Nazis that several of the 14 physicians had converted to Christianity. All were persecuted by the Nazis and had their professional careers destroyed. Two of the 14 physicians lived outside of the Third Reich (Bruno Bloch and Emanuel Libman) and were spared the suffering endured by the other 12. This tragic account of Jewish dermatologists during the Holocaust, and the eponyms that honor them, will continue in part three of this contribution.

British Royalty and Aristocracy: Their skin maladies Part II. Queen Mary II's death from hemorrhagic smallpox.

In 1694, Queen Mary II (1662-1694) died at age 32 of hemorrhagic smallpox, a rare and fatal form of the viral infection. This contribution presents the clinical features of Queen Mary II's smallpox infection. It also reviews, from a modern-day perspective, the disseminated intravascular coagulopathy involved in the pathophysiology of hemorrhagic smallpox, which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, coagulation factor deficiency, and hypofibrinogenemia.

Ceratum Galeni: An old eponym honoring Galen and his cold cream.

Ceratum Galeni is an old eponym honoring the name of Galen of Pergamum (129 to cca 216 CE) and a cold cream he described more than 1,800 years ago. We traced this eponym back to the 14th and 16th centuries in published medical texts by Guy de Chauliac (ca 1300-1368) and Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564). We also found a 4th-century reference in a medical work by Oribasius (ca 320-403 CE) to a mixture of wax and oil of roses based on Galen's cold cream formula. We present the images of a 19th-century apothecary white porcelain jar from Paris, France, on which appears the words Cerat Galeni, as well as a 20th-century oil painting by the American artist Robert Thom (1915-1979), which shows Galen administering his cold cream to a woman. Today, the composition of cold cream is formulated differently from Galen's original version, although the basic concept of cold cream as an oil and water emulsion remains the same. The widespread mention of Ceratum Galeni across the centuries and the popularity of cold creams today are striking examples of Galen's enormous influence on medicine as one of its founding fathers.

Celebrating culture in American dermatology part I: A special tribute to Dr E. A. (Billy) Hankins III, dermatologist with American Indian heritage as a minor part of his ethnic background.

This contribution honors the life of Dr E. A. (Billy) Hankins III, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist with 40 years of practice experience, now retired, having American Indian heritage as a minor part of his ethnic background. Hankins spent many years as a physician volunteer for an indigent clinic serving the urban American Indian community of the city and county of Los Angeles, California (the American Indian Free Clinic). He is a Vietnam era war veteran as well as a master sculpture taxidermist and wildlife recreation artist. He has been active for many years with the Association of American Indian Physicians, of which he is a member. Hankins is the founder and curator of vertebrate zoology and chief preparator for the World Museum of Natural History, an international, nonprofit public museum of natural history located on the campus of La Sierra University in Riverside, California. Dr Hankins' life story offers insight into American Indian culture as it relates to dermatology, and hopefully it will inspire more American Indian medical students to pursue a career in that specialty.

Poxes great and small: The stories behind their names.

The word "pox" indicated, during the late 15th century, a disease characterized by eruptive sores. When an outbreak of syphilis began in Europe during that time, it was called by many names, including the French term "la grosse verole" ("the great pox"), to distinguish it from smallpox, which was termed "la petite verole" ("the small pox"). Chickenpox was initially confused with smallpox until 1767, when the English physician William Heberden (1710-1801) provided a detailed description of chickenpox, differentiating it from smallpox. The cowpox virus was used by Edward Jenner (1749-1823) to develop a successful vaccine against smallpox. He devised the term "variolae vaccinae" ("smallpox of the cow") to denote cowpox. Jenner's pioneering work on a smallpox vaccine has led to the eradication of this disease and opened the way to preventing other infectious diseases, such as monkeypox, a poxvirus that is closely related to smallpox and that is currently infecting persons around the world. This contribution tells the stories behind the names of the various "poxes" that have infected humans: the great pox (syphilis), smallpox, chickenpox, cowpox, and monkeypox. These infectious diseases not only share a common "pox" nomenclature, but are also closely interconnected in medical history.

Dermatologists with extraordinary life stories: Harvey S. Moser and the 1939 voyage of the St. Louis.

Harvey S. Moser is a retired dermatologist who in 1939, at the age of 11 years, was a passenger with his family aboard the St. Louis, a German ship en route to Cuba that was carrying more than 900 Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. The passengers were denied entry to Cuba, the United States, and Canada, so the ship sailed back to Europe. Finally, Great Britain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands agreed to admit the refugees. Unfortunately, 254 of the St. Louis passengers were later murdered by the Nazis after Germany conquered the latter three counties in 1940. This contribution tells the story of the Mosers' escape from Nazi Germany, their account of events aboard the St. Louis, and how the family ultimately reached the United States on the last boat to leave France in 1940, just before the Nazi occupation of that country.

Dermatologists with extraordinary life stories: Nikolai Tsankov and his island in Antarctica.

An island in Antarctica has been named in honor of the distinguished Bulgarian dermatologist Nikolai Tsankov. This contribution tells the story of Tsankov Island, and the remarkable man behind the eponym. He has participated in multiple expeditions to Antarctica as a pioneer in studying the effects its climactic conditions on healthy skin.

Eponyms that honor Jewish dermatologists: A celebration and a remembrance, Part one: Jewish physicians who practiced before 1933.

This multipart feature celebrates the Jewish contribution to dermatology over the past 200 years, as reflected by medical eponyms that honor the names of Jewish physicians. Many of these physicians practiced in Germany and Austria after the emancipation of Jews in Europe. Part one discusses 17 physicians who practiced medicine before the Nazi takeover of Germany during 1933. Examples of such eponyms from this period include the Auspitz phenomenon, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, Kaposi's sarcoma, Koebner phenomenon, Koplik spots, Lassar paste, ital Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Unna boot. One of these physicians, Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915), became the first Jew to be awarded the Noble Prize in Medicine or Physiology, an honor he received in 1908 and shared with his fellow Jew, Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov (1845-1916). Parts two and three of this project will present the names of 30 more Jewish physicians honored by medical eponyms and who practiced medicine during the Holocaust era and its aftermath, including those physicians who perished at the hands of the Nazis.

Teenage dating abuse, rape, and violence: The dermatologist's role.

Teenage dating abuse, rape, and violence are considered major public health problems that affect the lives of millions of teenagers in the United States. Dermatologists have traditionally become involved in these cases when confronted with patients who have unexplained bruising or other skin injuries and/or sexually transmitted diseases that raise the possibility that they could be victims of sexual abuse and violence. This contribution explores the role of the dermatologist in the diagnosis and management of teen dating abuse. We suggest some screening questions that might help to broach these serious issues with teen patients when the suspicion of dating abuse arises. We also provide a list of resources and hotlines that offer advice on how best to handle teen dating abuse. Some legal issues concerning the physician's role in managing teen dating abuse, rape, and violence are also discussed.