Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Ott.
From "alligator people" to "porcupine boys," the ichthyoses have been a distinctly recognizable entity for thousands of years. Recent improvements in biochemical and genetic research have allowed more scientific delineation of this class of diseases. This article covers the latest in pathophysiology, the major classes of ichthyoses, many of the newer minor ones, prenatal diagnosis, and treatment options.
Symptoms of the Sézary syndrome are described in a case history. Sézary's syndrome is a lymphoproliferative process of the skin, which eventually develops into an erythrodermia. Strange lymphocytes with a cerebriform chromatin structure, often with T-cell characteristics, circulate in the blood stream. In few instances they are also found in lymphnodes and bone marrow. This primarily benign disease can become malignant, possibly due to an overaggressive cytostatic therapy. Besides the hitherto unknown endogenous causes, exogenous factors cannot be excluded.
Based on histology and electron microscopy, a series of Papova virus acanthomas consisting of 300 common warts and Condylomata acuminata as well as primary efflorescences of 7 typical and 7 questionable cases of Epidermodysplasia verruciformis have been classified. Four cytological types expressing different cytopathogenic viral actions were established. Typ 4 ("basophilic foamy giant keratinocytes") seems to be specific for Epidermodysplasia verruciformis which thus can be differentiated histologically against ordinary warts (type 1-3).
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Results of treatment of psoriasis and various keratinizing dermatoses with an orally effective, aromatic retinoid are presented. Results in 39 of 55 psoriatic patients ranged from satisfactory to excellent. All side effects are restricted to hypervitaminosis A. The therapeutic margin of this new retinoid is clearly better than that of natural vitamin A and vitamin A acid preparations and other previously tested synthetic retinoids. Even after long-term treatment of 14 patients for more than 2 years no side effects of vital importance have as yet appeared.
Development and problems connected with the surgical treatment of hyperhidrosis are considered. 32 patients were operated according to the method of Préaux. The results are good, both cosmetically and with regard to the diminution of the excessive sweat production.
The 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates in 353 well documented cases of malignant melanoma in stages I, II and III are discussed in relation to condition of the patient when the disease was diagnosed, methods of treatment and the histological classes of CLARK and MIHM. The different forms of therapy (X-ray followed by excision, excision followed by X-ray, X-ray alone, excision alone) produce similar recovery rates. Significant differences observable are due to variations in the patients' condition (differences in the malignancy index). Histological classification confirms the benign nature of lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) in comparison with nodular melanoma (NM).
In a follow-up study of 48 young men who had been surgically treated for cryptorchidism before puberty testicular function was assessed by examining the genitalia, testicular volume, secondary sex characteristics, semen, plasma luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations after luteinising hormone-releasing hormone stimulation, and plasma testosterone concentrations. Clinical androgen effects were normal. The mean testicular volume of both testes was in the low normal range in those who had had unilateral cryptorchidism and below normal in those who had had bilateral cryptorchidism. Of 37 patients whose sperm counts were recorded (14 bilateral) six showed azoospermia (all bilateral), five had severe oligospermia (four bilateral), and 10 had moderate oligospermia (one bilateral). In nearly all those who had had bilateral cryptorchidism and most of those who had had unilateral cryptorchidism plasma gonadotrophin levels were increased. Four cases of possible partial LH deficiency were identified. Plasma testosterone concentrations were normal in all except two patients.
A case of the rare Sézary syndrome is described. The Sézary syndrome is a lymphoproliferative disorder of the skin, the lymph nodes, and to a smaller extent the bone marrow, which begins with erythrodermia. In the blood, strange circulating lymphocytes with a "cerebriform" chromatin structure and T-cell properties are found. The disease is primarly benign but may become malignant. The origin is unknown. Endogenic and exogenic factors are considered and relationships to other cutaneous lympho-proliferative diseases and treatment are discussed.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The retinoic acid derivative Ro 10-9359 has been tested in 24 patients with psoriasis. In all patients the therapeutic activity was good to excellent. The symptoms of the hypervitaminosis A syndrome were slight to marked. The ratio between the therapeutic effectiveness and the side effects was favourable only in cases with severe psoriasis.
Vitamin A acid has a prophylactic and a therapeutic effect on chemically induced benign and malignant epithelial tumours in mice. Vitamin A acid, given orally, leads to a regression of established skin papillomas. Skin carcinomas too are influenced to a certain degree. Furthermore this substance, administered prophylactically, prevents or delays the appearance of skin papillomas and carcinomas. The mechanism of action is discussed.