Sweet's syndrome associated with pigmented villonodular synovitis

Sweet's syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) was first described in 1964. The typical symptoms of Sweet's syndrome are high temperature, peripheral leucocytosis, painful cutaneous rashes (papules, plaques) and arthralgia. Sweet's syndrome has particularly been described in association with neoplastic, infectious and immunological diseases. The pathogenesis of Sweet's syndrome can be explained by a reaction to an antigenic structure with accumulation of immunological complexes and liberation of inflammatory mediators. For the first time we report on a patient with Sweet's syndrome and pigmented villonodular synovitis, which is believed to play the antigenic role in the Sweet syndrome.     

Infiltration of sarcomas into the hip joint: comparison of CT,MRI and histologic findings in 67 cases

We analyzed the incidence, route, and characteristics of hip joint infiltration in pelvic or proximal femoral sarcomas. 67 patients with a sarcoma that originated around the hip joint (50 pelvic and 17 femoral) were included in this study. Preoperative CT and MRI were matched with the histological findings in tumor specimens. Tumor infiltration into the hip joint was suspected on the basis of preoperative imaging in 29 patients due to articular cartilage disruption, diffuse signal changes in the acetabulum or femoral neck, signs of a tumor in the joint, or markedjoint effusion. Of these 29 patients, 15 showed tumor invasion on histological examination. 12 of 31 chondrosarcomas, none of 12 Ewing's sarcomas, and 3 of 24 osteosarcomas infiltrated into the hip joint (p = 0.008). 10 of 26 low-grade sarcomas and 5 of 41 high-grade sarcomas infiltrated into the hip joint (p = 0.02). The joint infiltration rate of the chondrosarcomas was related to their size. Of 10 tumors originating in the acetabulum, 9 penetrated through or around the osseous-ligamentous junction and one through the acetabular cartilage. In 5 proximal femur lesions, all infiltrated the joint through the femoral neck, 3 of them also through the ligamentum teres.     

Plasma exchange: a controlled study of the effect in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and scleroderma

Six female patients with stage I and II vascular scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon were treated with plasma exchange and placebo plasma exchange. Placebo exchange consisted of the return of the patient's own separated plasma. No consistent long-term objective improvement was demonstrated in patients treated with either plasma exchange or placebo plasma exchange. Immediate increases in pulse volume, digital blood pressure, and skin temperature occurred in some patients with both procedures. Mechanisms of change remain unexplained, and further study is warranted.     

Serum IgE in dermatitis and dermatosis: an analysis of 497 cases.

Serum IgE values from 497 patients with various forms of dermatitis, dermatosis, and tinea pedis were analyzed statistically and compared with values from 95 normal controls. The median and geometric mean values were significantly elevated (except in acne without atopy, lichen planus, and tinea pedis), even after exclusion of patients with a history of atopy or of cutaneous reaction to food or drugs. Serum IgE levels and atopic dermatitis have a close correlation. A modest positive correlation (p approximately equal to .05) appeared between the log serum IgE level and peripheral blood absolute eosinophil count in 80 cases of atopic dermatitis. A unique group of adult nonatopic patients had acquired generalized dermatitis and markedly elevated serum IgE levels (greater than 12,000 ng/ml). Our results suggest that, in most common dermatologic disorders, elevated serum IgE is a secondary phenomenon rather than a primary causative factor.     

Herbicoline – Neue Acylpeptidantibiotika mit antimyzetischer Aktivität gegen Dermatophyten: Herbicolins – New Acylpeptide Antibiotics with Antimycetic Activity against Dermatophytes*

Zusammenfassung: Aus einem Stamm von Erwinia herbicola wurde ein Acylpeptid–Herbicolin A - isoliert, das antifungische Aktivität aufwies. Die antimyzetische Wirkung von Herbicolin A (methan. Lös. 1 mg/ml) wurde quantitativ in vitro an frisch isolierten Stämmen von Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum und Microsporum canis geprüft. In Plattendiffusionstests auf Sabouraudagar wurden Hemmhöfe von 20–35 mm für 10 mcg Herbicolin A beobachtet. Die minimalen Hemmkonzentrationen (MHK) in Reihenverdünnungstests (Iso-Sensitest Broth) lagen bei 0,2–0,6 mcg/ml. Summary: From a strain of Erwinia herbicola an acyl peptide – herbicolin A – was isolated, which revealed antifungal activity. The antimycetic activity of herbicolin A (methan. sol. 1 mg/ml) was quantitatively tested in vitro using freshly isolated strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum canis. With the agar diffusion test on Sabouraud agar inhibition zones of 20–35 mm were observed for 10 mcg herbicolin A. The minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) in serial dilution tests (Iso-Sensitest Broth) were 0.2–0.6 mcg/ml.     

Treatment of inflammatory and proliferative skin diseases]

Treatment of inflammatory and proliferation dermatoses can now be accomplished with pharmacologic agents which inhibit production of mediators or their actions. The immune system can be stimulated by thymosin, imidazo drugs, BCG, corynebacterium parvum and idoxyuridine. Immune complex diseases may be treated with corticosteroids, clofazimine, sulfonamides, antimalarial drugs, and nicotinic acid. Low dose, safe immunosuppressive therapy can successfully control scleromyxedema, guttate parapsoriasis, histiocytosis X, Kaposi's sarcoma, and Sézary syndrome.