Episodic erythema gyratum repens with ichthyosis and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis without signs of internal malignancy

Two patients with typical lesions of erythema gyratum repens, peripheral ichthyosis, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and nail changes are described. A non-specific erythrodermic eruption of several weeks' duration had preceded the typical lesions. No signs of internal malignancy were found and the typical gyrate lesions disappeared within some weeks with full restitution of all skin lesions within 6-8 months.     

Cryosurgery in cutaneous leishmaniasis

Thirty patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis were treated with cryotherapy using a CO₂ cryomachine and all were cured without noticeable scarring within 4–5 weeks, with no relapse. Histopathological examination showed that cryotherapy eradicated all parasites in less than 1 hour. Leishmania tropica, L. ethiopica and L. brasiliensis are all markedly thermosensitive and thus cryotherapy seems parasiticidal to all types. Adequate cryotreatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis will preclude the development of mucocutaneous extension, and its use in mucocutaneous disease is also recommended.     

Chimerism in skin of bone marrow transplant recipients

Sera of 154 recipients of renal allografts were studied for transplantation heterophile (T-H) antibodies by means of immunodiffusion, mixed agglutination (MA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). T-H antibodies were found by immunodiffusion against bovine red blood cell (BRBC) extracts (15%) and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) extracts (12%): The specificity of antibodies to BRBC was shown to be distinct from that of antibodies to SRBC. Both of these T-H antibody types were absorbable by guinea pig kidney ( GPK ) tissue sediments and, therefore, they could be classified into the GPK -positive group of heterophile antibodies. The MA test was successfully employed to demonstrate directly T-H antibodies combining with antigens of GPK . Results of the MA inhibition studies and those of EIA indicated that some of the BRBC antibodies are directed to antigens of asialo-high molecular-weight glycoprotein of BRBC.     

Acute otomastoiditis and its complications: role of CT

Acute bacterial (suppurative) otomastoiditis responds to antibiotic treatment; radiologic study is required only when there is clinical suggestion of coalescent mastoiditis, intracranial complications, or an underlying chronic disease. Computed tomography (CT) is the method of choice for evaluating otogenic intra- or extra-cranial complications. CT scans can show stages of disease progression when infection has spread by way of soft tissue, blood, and bone pathways into the dural venous sinuses, meninges, labyrinth, facial nerves, epidural and other intracranial spaces. When there is clinical suggestion of acute coalescent mastoiditis, a CT scan of the temporal bone can confirm the presence of rarefying osteitis, coalescence of the air cells, and subperiosteal abscess.