Biomedical subjects
P W Copeman
Publications and source records attributed to P W Copeman.
Melanocyte mutation in halo naevus and malignant melanoma?
Halo naevus cells on frozen sections react with sera from patients with benign halo naevus or with malignant melanoma. Halo naevus cells also react with our specifically absorbed heterologous antihuman malignant melanoma antiserum (RAMMA). Since the cytoplasm of all the naevus cells within the halo naevus react with sera from patients with malignant melanoma, this implies that the entire population of melanocytic cells in the mole has undergone mutation, because non-pathological skin melanocytes do not react.
Thymosin-inducible 'null' cells in atopic eczema.
Thirty children with atopic eczema were compared with an equal number of age-matched healthy children. The mean peripheral blood T-lymphocyte level was lower in the eczema group (mean 1,197/mm2 as against 1,702/mm3; P = 0 . 003). This difference was abolished in vitro by thymosin, a thymic hormone extract. Positive correlations were found between eczema severity and: eosinophilia; hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E; but not T lymphopaenia. Thymosin-inducible T-cell (Ti) counts correlated with plasma IgE levels, suggesting that these Ti cells may be immature suppressor T cells. If this T-cell deficiency represents inadequate suppression of IgE responses, then a trial of treatment with thymosin appears to be warranted.
Significance of malignant melanoma antigen (melanoma specific protein) in the urine.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cryofibrinogenaemia and skin ulcers: treatment with plasmapheresis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cleopatra's needle: dermatology's weightiest achievement.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Familial lichen planus. Another disease or a distinct people?
When lichen planus strikes families, a very rare happening, it is likely to afflict younger members, to erupt more acutely, extensively, and gravely, attacking also nails and mucous membranes, and to recur. Ten patients with familial lichen planus, two each from five distinct Caucasian families, the parents of whom were unrelated by birth, were found to be carrying HLA-B7 statistically more frequently than in the normal population or in those with the characteristic forms of lichen planus. We hint that their genotype might have rendered them susceptible to a pathogen that precipitated their disease.
Melanoma cytoplasmic humoral antibody test. A diagnostic adjunct.
Detecting a high titre of antibody directed against the cytoplasm of malignant melanoma cells can help: To diagnose pigmented skin lesions with awkward histopathological signs. The test is positive in about half of the early primary malignant melanomas and in all actively regressing halo naevi. It is negative in benign juvenile melanoma. To prognosticate and provide a continuing assessment of the course of the disease in patients with known malignant melanoma. The test becomes negative when malignant melanoma metastasizes. To alert patients in danger, such as those who have extensive pigmented naevi or have a family history of malignant melanoma, of the supervention of the disease.
Chronic intravascular coagulopathy with? pyoderma gangrenosum.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
New non-steroid non-antibiotic skin medicaments.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Livedo reticularis. Signs in the skin of disturbance of blood viscosity and of blood flow.
The clinical sign of livedo reticularis derives from stasis of blood in the superficial venous drainage systems of the skin. Many factors can delay the flow of de-oxygenated blood away from the skin, notably hyperviscosity of the blood itself and obstruction due to disease affecting dermal arteries, capillaries, or venules.
Cutaneous angiitis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.