Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Therapeutic attempts.

In 2 patients with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, we were able to show that the hypoplastic eccrine glandular elements may give rise to normal eccrine glands both anatomically and functionally, after repeated local application of acetylcholine. The perspectives of our findings for the therapeutic management of the anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia are discussed and special attention is paid to the genetic background of the defect as well as the possible mode of action of acetylcholine.

Sweat gland function in dermatophytosis.

In 54 cases of dermatophytosis, sweat gland disturbances and their possible mechanisms were studied. The basic perspiratory malfunction was intense hypohidrosis, with some hyperhidrotic phenomena being observed at particular points of the exanthem (margin and disc) in a few cases. It is worth noting that in 51.85% of the cases, hypohidrotic phenomena were also observed in areas of normal skin adjacent to the lesions. One of the most important forms of perspiratory disturbances was the closure of sweat ducts at the keratin level. The inflammatory process in the dermis may also affect gland function. Finally, there is a discussion of the significance of perspiratory disturbances in relation to special aspects of the disease.

Antigenic alterations in tumors of epidermal origin.

One hundred tumors of epidermal origin were studied by means of indirect immunofluorescence technique with sera from patients with proven pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. We found that in tumors of epidermal origin, there was a loss of antigenicity of the intercellular substance and basement membrane; this was minimal for benign tumors, greater for premalignant tumors, and very clear for malignant tumors. We also found a gross correlation between the histologically proven malignancy of squamous cell carcinoma and the grade of antigenic loss; both for the intercellular substances and for the basement membrane antigens. However, this did not yeild definite results in the group with basal cell carcinoma. With regard, especially, to the intercellular substance antigen, it seemed to be completely independent of histologic type of basal cell carcinoma. We found that the duration of the epidermal tumor did not correlate with the percentage of intercellular substance and basement membrane antigenic loss. This suggested that the antigenic loss was an early feature of neoplastic behavior. The deeper parts of the malignant tumors in the dermis showed a lower percentage of antigenicity for both antigens.

Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Greece.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease endemic in Greece. Cases collected between the years 1975 and 1979 are analyzed from a clinico-epidemiologic point of view. Prevalence is highest in the Ionian islands and Crete. The disease most commonly affects individuals 10 to 20 years of age. The exposed parts of the body are most commonly involved, particularly the face. The period of highest incidence is mid-winter.

Local hyperhidrosis.

A case of local hyperhidrosis at the ulnar aspect of the left forearm-carpal region with exacerbation, especially during summer, is presented. The sweat function is normal on the remainder of the body. This case is rare, and few similar cases are known in the literature. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.

Single oral dose of epicillin combined with probenecid in the treatment of gonorrhoea.

Two hundred and sixty male patients with gonorrhoea, allocated to 4 unequal groups, were treated with one single oral dose of: (a) 2 g epicillin plus 1 g probenecid, (b) 2 g epicillin alone, (c) 1 g epicillin, 1 g cephradine plus 1 g probenecid, and (d) 1 g epicillin and 1 g cephradine. The last 3 groups acted as controls. Follow-up, with cultures of urethral discharge, was carried out over a 2-week period in all patients. The most satisfactory results were in the group of patients receiving epicillin plus probenecid, a 97% cure rate being achieved, with urethral discharge disappearing within 24 hours of treatment.

Evaluation of a topical steroid antibiotic combination (halcinonide-neomycin-amphotericin) in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis and inflammatory dermatoses.

Halcinonide-neomycin-amphotericin (HNA) cream was evaluated in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis and inflammatory dermatoses. The anti-candidal properties of HNA were assessed in a parallel comparison with iodochlorhydroxyquin-hydrocortisone (I-HC) as the control drug. The overall therapeutic response with HNA was excellent in 38 (95%) of 40 patients as compared to 17 (43%) of 40 treated with I-HC. In 50 patients treated for psoriasis, eczematous dermatitis, or neurodermatitis, HNA was evaluated in a paired comparison with hydrocortisone (HC). The overall therapeutic response with HNA was excellent in 36 (72%) patients as compared to 18 (36%) with HC. There were no adverse reactions with HNA or the control drugs.

Scleredema of Buschke with IgA deficiency.

We describe here a case of Scleredema of Buschke in a female patient aged 63 with IgA deficiency. The disorder appeared after an acute episode of tonsillitis, followed by non-pitting, woody hardness of the skin of the face, neck, shoulders and upper part of the trunk. The disorder resolved after 5 months of penicillin treatment.

Immunohistochemistry in lichen planus.

An immunohistochemical study has been undertaken on 25 biopsy specmens taken from lichen planus lesions, using antisera against human fibrin, immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 (B1C/B1A) complement component. The findings of the present research are discussed and evaluated in relation to the problem of the etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Double blind trial in the treatment of herpes simplex and herpes zoster with adenine arabinoside and idoxuridine.

In a double blind trial adenine arabinoside (Vidarabine) and Idoxuridine (IDU) were tested in herpes simplex and herpes zoster infections. Adenine arabinoside covered 19 patients with HSV and 6 with HZ while IDU 19 with HSV and 6 with HZ. From the statistical analysis it was found that Vidarabine acts shorter than IDU in HSV P less than 0.01, while in HZ no significant difference P less than 0.5 was found, possibly due to the small number of patients tested.

A clinical and histological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Sixty-five cases of proved cutaneous Leishmaniasis have been studied on clinical, histological and laboratory grounds. A new histological classification is proposed and emphasis is given to specific histological changes and their correspondence to distinct clinical signs.

[Pityriasis versicolor in Greece and its predisposition factors]. / Pityriasis versicolor in Griechenland und ihre Prädispositionsfaktoren.

The age and seasonal incidence of 2610 patients with pityriasis versicolor in Greece were studied. Determination of the pH of Na and K ions of the sweat and the microbiol flora of the skin of pityriasis versicolor patients was undertaken. Besides these the effectiveness of a 1% selenium disulfid suspension was tested. The results indicate that the age groups of 20-29 and 30-30 years are mostly affected by the disease. A high incidence of the skin manifestation was noted during the summer and fall months. A difference of the pH of the sweat between pityriasis versicolor and healthy controls was observed, but no difference was found in the Na and K ions of the sweat among these two groups. Neither did the microbial flora from the skin lesions of patients and from corresponding sites of controls show any difference. The high relapse in this experiment indicates the relative ineffectiveness of selenium disulfid preparations when used as a 1% suspension in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor.

Thin-layer chromatography of phospholipid components of normal and psoriatic epidermis.

The phospholipid pattern of human epidermis from 23 psoriatic patients and from 14 healthy individuals has been determined using lipid thin-layer chromatography. An increased amount of total phospholipids and statistically significant differences in some phospholipid components were found in psoriatic patients as compared to healthy controls. These abnormalities may be related to the altered architecture of the plasma membranes and their surface coats observed in psoriatic keratinocytes.