[Squamous cell carcinoma of the leg in an octogenarian woman]. / Confrontation anatomo-clinique. Carcinome spinocellulaire de la jambe chez une octogénaire.

An octogenarian woman developed lesions of the leg suggesting the diagnosis of cutaneous cancer at the dermatological examination. A biopsy revealed the carcinomatous nature of the neoplasm. An additional immunohistochemical examination was performed for scientific purposes. The neoplastic structures were not surrounded by a basement membrane and its framework of collagen IV. The dermal dendrocytes were abundant in the peritumoral stroma. This situation was previously interpreted as a favourable prognostic factor.

[How I prevent erysipelas and its consequences and recurrences]. / Comment je préviens...un érysipèle, ses consequences et ses récidives.

Erysipelas is a serious infection of the skin. In case of delay in initiating adequate antibiotic treatment, complications, sometimes dismal, can supervene. In addition, erysipelas shows a tendancy to recurrences. The prevention of an episode of erysipelas calls for correct personal hygiene and adequate use of topical antiseptics in case of skin effraction, even when minimal. When erysipelas is established, a rapidly initiated antibiotic treatment for a prolonged period prevents streptococcal gangrene complications. Elastic contention of any leg edema from venous or lymphatic origin and prophylactic antisepsis of discrete wounds help in preventing erysipelas recurrences.

[Undesirable reactions from contact with marine organisms]. / Réactions indésirables au contact d'organismes marins.

The contact of some marine organisms with the skin may prove to be traumatic and sometimes very dangerous. Some coelenterates, fishes, urchins, sea snakes, cephalopods, molluscs and other sea organisms are responsible for dermatological lesions, associated or not with toxic or allergic reactions exhibiting systemic effects.

Climacteric skin ageing of the face--a prospective longitudinal comparative trial on the effect of oral hormone replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: It is still a matter of debate whether HRT improves the physical quality of sun damaged skin. OBJECTIVES: To compare in a prospective longitudinal study the effects of climacteric aging controlled or not by HRT upon the tensile properties of facial skin. METHOD: A total of 140 women aged 40-52 years were enrolled in the study. The HRT group comprised 90 volunteers and a control group encompassed 50 non recipient volunteers. Yearly measurements of tensile functions of facial skin were performed for 5 years. A computerized suction device equipped with a 2-mm diameter hollow probe derived tensile variables quantifying skin distensibility, viscosity and elasticity. RESULTS: Climacteric aging was characterized by increased skin distensibility (1.1% per year) and viscosity (1.3% per year) mirrored by a decrease in elasticity (1.5% per year). HRT helped mitigate such changes. However, the HRT efficacy was not similar in all volunteers. Groups of good and poor responders were clearly identified as far as benefit on skin elasticity was concerned. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effect of HRT upon climacteric skin aging of the face is confirmed, at least in a subgroup of menopausal women.

[Winter skin diseases]. / Les dermatoses hivernales.

Winter climate is prone to induce cutaneous and systemic alterations mediated by cold. Xerosis due to the impairment of the desquamation process is not rare on the limbs. Chilbain results from reversible alterations of the dermal vasculature. Cold panniculitis is the consequence of lipid crystallization within adipocytes. More dramatic issues occur when cold exposure extends beyond skin. They are represented by frostbite and body hypothermia. Intensity and duration of cold exposure combined with wind speed, altitude and environmental hygrometric value govern the potential type of low temperature-dependent pathology. Ultraviolet irradiation can also induce cutaneous lesions during winter time.

Chemical warfare casualties and yperite-induced xerodermoid.

Chemical warfare agents have been used in recent conflicts. We present a review of the clinical manifestations of mustard gas casualties and we studied the histological presentation of cutaneous lesions. Four groups of alterations were recognized, namely (a) alterations of keratinocytes, (b) epidermal hyperplasia with or without atypia, (c) alterations of the melanocytic system, and (d) structural changes of the dermis.

Histologic study of delayed reactions to coelenterates.

We studied by immunohistochemistry three cases of delayed envenomation by coelenterates. The most prominent features were the grouping of human leukocyte antigen-DR-positive cells with Langerhans cells (S-100 positive) and helper/inducer T lymphocytes (Leu-1+, Leu-3+, and Leu-4+). This indicates the possibility of a type IV immunoreaction in the delayed cutaneous lesions caused by coelenterates.

Acute reactions to coelenterates.

Many coelenterates can injure human skin by means of their nematocytes. Our study was based upon clinico-pathological confrontations and was also conducted in vitro with sea anemones. Most acute reactions were toxic in nature and induced sublethal and lethal alterations of the keratinocytes with swelling of their cytoplasms and pyknosis. Another reaction found in 1 patient revealed an acantholytic disruption of the epidermis associated with intercellular deposits of IgG. These lesions were different from the late or recurrent reactions to coelenterates.

Cyanoacrylate skin surface stripping: an improved approach for distinguishing dysplastic nevi from malignant melanomas.

We present a novel approach for improving the management of patients with pigmented neoplasms including malignant melanomas and dysplastic nevi. A cohort of 215 dysplastic nevi and malignant melanomas was studied by cyanoacrylate skin surface stripping (CSSS) and conventional histology. Presence of atypical melanocytes was found in the stratum corneum in more than 95% of malignant melanomas and was always absent in dysplastic nevi. We conclude that this non-invasive technique is rapid, easy to perform, and inexpensive. Its specificity and sensitivity are high enough to be considered by clinicians as an aid for distinguishing dysplastic nevi from malignant melanomas. We recommend this ancillary technique as a screening procedure though not as a substitute for conservative excisional biopsy, when doubt persists in the diagnosis of atypical pigmented neoplasms.

[Spinocellular epitheliomas infiltrated by polynuclear eosinophils]. / Epithéliomas spinocellulaires infiltrés par des polynucléaires éosinophiles.

The infiltration of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas by eosinophils is of rare occurrence. This phenomenon resembles the infiltration of other neoplasms with eosinophils. The proliferative rate of these neoplasms is then reduced.