[The graves of well-known dermatologists]. / Gräber von bekannten Hautärzten.

The location and condition of the graves of 48 famous dermatologists are identified. Brief personal data is presented for all the physicians. In seven instances, more detailed information about the dermatologists and their tombstones is provided to illustrate the value of graves as culture sites worthy of both honor and preservation.

[Scleredema diabeticorum. Report of 4 cases]. / Scleroedema diabeticorum. Ein Bericht über vier Fälle.

We report on four patients who developed thickened skin on the neck and back after a long history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Pathogenesis, histology and methods of treatment are discussed.

The influence of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 on IgE production in B lymphocytes of patients with atopic dermatitis. A possible criterion for selection of patients for interferon therapy.

The regulation of IgE production in B lymphocytes of patients with atopic dermatitis by interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was studied. IL-4 stimulated IgE production in vitro in B-cells of healthy donors and of children with atopic dermatitis, but had only a marginal effect on the high basal level of IgE production by lymphocytes from adult patients with atopic dermatitis. The addition of IFN-gamma prevented in all cases the stimulation of IgE synthesis induced by IL-4. The production of IgG and IgM was differently influenced. These results indicate that the in vitro production of IgE by mononuclear cells from adult patients is more resistant to the regulatory effects of IL-4 and IFN-gamma than is that in B cells of children with atopic dermatitis. We propose that a previous in vitro test of the responsiveness of IgE-producing B cells to IFN-gamma may be used to select patients with atopic dermatitis for treatment with IFN-gamma.

[The ultrastructure of interdigitating cells in atopic eczema]. / Zur Ultrastruktur der interdigitierenden Zellen beim atopischen Ekzem.

Electron microscopy was used in investigations of interdigitating reticulum cells of axillary lymph nodes sampled from patients with atopic eczema in different clinical stages. The ultrastructure of these cells was found to differ clearly from that of cells under largely normal conditions. For example, the lumina of the so-called tubulovesicular structures (TV) were clearly reduced. Considerable lobulation of peripheral cytoplasm was an additional finding recorded from the acute clinical stage, while in terms of cellular morphology (interdigitation) contact with T-lymphocytes was obviously reduced. Cytoplasmic processus were clearly decreased in the chronic stage.

[Psoriasis therapy with the aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason)]. / Zur Therapie der Psoriasis mit dem aromatischen Retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason).

At three University Departments of Dermatology (Berlin, Leipzig, Erfurt) of the GRD, 63 psoriatics (46 men, 17 women) were treated with aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (Tigason) up to a maximum of 84 weeks. In 34 of these cases, photochemotherapy was additionally applied. This combination resulted in a more rapid healing than Tigason alone. The average initial dose amounted to 1 mg per kg body weight. Only in cases of psoriatic erythroderma, the treatment started with a daily rate of 25 mg Tigason. The maintenance dose came to 50 to 25 mg daily. On account of deterioration of the cutaneous condition and/or heavy itching, the treatment had to be discontinued in 4 cases. Side effects as cheilitis, rhagades, loss of hair, and onycholysis disappeared after reduction of the dose. Our study confirmed the good therapeutical effect of Tigason with the various forms of psoriasis.