Efficacy of ivermectin against Strongyloides stercoralis in humans.

Okinawa Prefecture is an endemic area of Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Since treatment of this infection remains unsatisfactory, we evaluated the efficacy of ivermectin. Twenty-three patients were treated with a single oral dose of ivermectin (mean +/- SD, 105.5 +/- 20.8 mcg/kg of body weight), followed by a second dose two weeks later. The rate of cure was 85.7% at 2 weeks after the first treatment, and 90.5% at 2 weeks after the second treatment. Side effects occurred in 2 patients (8.7%), but they were mild and transient. The results indicate that ivermectin might be useful and relatively safe for the therapy of Strongyloides stercoralis infection as an alternative to thiabendazole or mebendazole.

[Study on the genesis of atopic dermatitis--atopic dermatitis and IgE].

For the purpose of investigating how IgE is correlated in the genesis of Atopic dermatitis (abbreviated as AD) micronizing method of RIST (necessary serum 10 microliter) was utilized. Serum IgE obtained from 369 cases AD, age ranged from 1 month old to 52 years old were studied. In 78 cases, IgE of the objects' parents were also studied as well. Serum IgE of the healthy control, age ranging from 3 days old to 49 years old, were studied and made comparison with those of the objects. Analysis was made in accordance with the factors like age, complication, disease type and prognosis. RAST (house dust, mite, egg, milk) and SKIN TEST (Scratch test) were carried out in order to observe the correlation between serum IgE and Specific IgE or to see the possible induction of eczematous lesion by specific IgE. The following were obtained as conclusion. Serum IgE of AD will show high level in significant manner in comparison with the healthy control from the time of infantile period. Low IgE group will show high rate of improvement after 3 years period of time. High IgE of parents will more or less affect serum IgE of their child or children. Correlation between serum IgE and the severity of AD is not noted in the infantile period but significant in the adult period. In the Scratch test immediate type of reaction could not induce eczematous lesion of AD. Induction of eczematoid reaction in AD was noted with high incidence following the Scratch test of Candida antigen. From the above it is assumed that in AD, although serum IgE level is high, induction of eczematous lesion could not be made by skin invasion of specific IgE antigen to the skin, pruritus by immediate type of reaction following release of chemical mediator will bring the tearing off the skin by scratch and invasion to the epidermis of inflammation inducing materials like human dander, sweat, bacteria or mycological agents eczematous lesion will start to take place.

Eruptive vellus hair cysts--a facial variant.

A 29-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman developed over fifty asymptomatic, slate-colored macules disseminated mainly on the forehead. Histologic study revealed keratinous cysts in the dermis, lined by a few layers of epithelial cells with rudimentary hair bulb-like structures. The cysts' contents were vellus hair fragments and laminated horny material. Ultrastructural studies of the second case disclosed that the keratinization of the cyst wall was similar to that of the infundibular portion of the outer root sheath. It is suggested that our two cases are a type of follicular hamartoma. Similar follicular hamartomas, eruptive vellus hair cysts have been reported previously. The cysts were located in the chest and/or extremities and had a tendency to be eliminated transepidermally. Although these clinical features were different from ours, the characteristic histologic features were the same; therefore, our cases might be a variant of eruptive vellus hair cysts.