Anetoderma. Anetoderma, the primary type.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R L Spielvogel.
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Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) is a unique vascular tumor characterized histologically by epithelioid endothelial cells. A case of EH arising from the dermis and presenting as a nodule of the palm is described. To our knowledge, this is the third report of a cutaneous presentation of EH and the first report of a patient with this rare neoplasm with solitary cutaneous involvement. A review of the literature is also presented.
This study compares two techniques for making cultured skin substitutes: a composite graft made of human fibroblasts and keratinocytes on a collagen-glycosaminoglycan membrane (CG) and a cultured epidermal cell sheet graft (CEG), without a dermal component. The "take" and quality of these cultured skin substitutes were evaluated by placing them on full-thickness, excised wounds of athymic mice. These cultured skin substitutes were placed onto 2-X-2-cm wounds created on athymic mice. Mice were sacrificed at days 10, 20, and 42 with histologic sections obtained for light, electron, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemical microscopy. "Take" was determined separately by a direct immunofluorescent stain for human leukocyte ABC antigens. There were ten mice of each graft type with at least two animals sacrificed at each time point. Results showed positive "take" for all animals. Grossly, there was little difference between the two graft types, with the CEG having occasional blister formation. By light microscopy, the CEG had a dissociation of dermis from epidermis until day 42, which was never apparent with the CG. By day 42, the CG had increased dermoepidermal interdigitations similar to rete ridges, with a mature epithelium. Neither of these findings were seen with the CEG. Immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical microscopy for type IV collagen and laminin, as well as electron microscopy, showed similar retardation of basement membrane formation with the CEG. Using this model, the composite graft had significant advantages over the epidermal sheet graft in the closure of full-thickness wounds.
BACKGROUND: Measurement of serum 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol glucuronide (3 alpha-diolG) has been proposed as a useful biochemical marker of peripheral androgen metabolism. Is 3 alpha-diol G a useful biochemical marker of peripheral androgen metabolism and does it correlate with degree of facial hirsutism? OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess possible correlation between serum 3 alpha-diol G and degree of facial hirsutism and to compare serum 3 alpha-diol G levels with levels of other commonly measured serum androgens. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive women with facial hirsutism were studied, and serum concentrations of 3 alpha-diol G, testosterone (total, free, and biologically active portions), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione were measured. RESULTS: There was no correlation between serum 3 alpha-diol G levels and degree of facial hirsutism. There was a correlation between levels of 3 alpha-diol G and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (p less than 0.01), biologically active testosterone (p = 0.01), free free testosterone (p less than 0.02), and androstenedione (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum 3 alpha-diol G concentrations have no correlation with degree of facial hirsutism and do not provide additional information over the commonly measured androgens.
Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a neutrophilic dermatosis primarily affecting the eccrine glands, and most commonly seen in patients undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of a malignancy. Rapid diagnosis may avert unnecessary changes in therapy to treat conditions which clinically mimic NEH. We describe a patient who developed NEH on three separate occasions provoked by two different chemotherapeutic agents--cytarabine and mitoxantrone. The lesions were morphologically distinct and differed in their anatomical distribution during each episode. The response to intravenous corticosteroids was dramatic, but lesions recurred after their withdrawal. This case illustrates the potential diversity of clinical lesions in a single patient with NEH, and its response to systemically administered corticosteroids.
Cutaneous calcification is classified into four types: dystrophic, idiopathic, tumoral, and metastatic. We present a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus undergoing hemodialysis who noted large plaque-like cutaneous calcifications in the axillae and groin. Some plaques occurred in association with striae related to prior corticosteroid therapy for the patient's underlying systemic disease. This case is unusual because of the clinical presentation, its demonstration of both dystrophic and metastatic types of calcification, and histologic calcification of elastic fibers simulating pseudoxanthoma elasticum.
Antiandrogens have been found to be effective in the treatment of acne and hirsutism. Cyproterone acetate has been used in Europe for many years, but in the United States it has only been approved as an orphan drug to treat severe hirsutism. Spironolactone is approved in the United States for its antialdosterone effect but not for its antiandrogenic effect, although it is widely used for the latter purpose. While cyproterone is a more effective drug than spironolactone, it is more likely to produce undesirable side effects.
The design of a skin-substitute must address the need for a dermal component, as this mesenchymally-derived tissue is important in maintaining the integrity and function of skin. An in vivo study was undertaken to assess the use of two biodegradable meshes, polyglycolic acid and polyglactin-910, as carriers for cultured human fibroblasts in a living dermal replacement. The consistent vascularization and epithelialization of these grafts placed on athymic mice showed that this has potential in re-creating the dermis in a skin-substitute.
A recent study demonstrated that hirsute women with irregular menses had higher levels of serum androgens that hirsute women with regular menses. To investigate this finding, we measured total testosterone, biologically active testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in 51 hirsute women with regular menses and compared the levels found to those found in 28 hirsute women with oligomenorrhea. There was no significant difference in the degree of facial hirsutism between the two groups. Oligomenorrheic women had significantly higher levels of free testosterone (p less than 0.02) and biologically active testosterone (p less than 0.05). The other androgens did not differ significantly between the two groups. The free fractions of testosterone are the metabolically active forms of the hormone and their levels are a function of the rates of production and clearance of testosterone that are elevated in states of hyperandrogenism. This study confirms that hirsute women with oligomenorrhea have higher levels of free and biologically active testosterone than those with regular menses.
This study addresses the development of an animal model for human giant congenital nevomelanocytic nevi (GCNN). Skin grafts were made from 1) non-involved split-thickness skin from a 12-month-old GCNN patient, 2) nevus split-thickness skin from the same GCNN patient, 3) nevus full-thickness skin, and 4) cadaveric human split-thickness skin. For groups 1) and 2), human epidermal and dermal cells were enzymatically isolated and expanded in tissue culture. Composite grafts were made by placing the cultured dermal cells into a collagen-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) matrix, followed by placement of the epidermal cells onto the opposite, laminated side of the matrix. All grafts were placed onto full-thickness wounds of athymic mice and biopsies were obtained from 6 to 38 weeks later for light microscopy including S-100 immunoperoxidase staining, and electron microscopy. The GCNN cultured skin mice (group 2) developed black, raised skin in the healed wounds. None of the group 1 mice developed lesions, grossly or histologically. All of the nevus full-thickness mice retained the nevus grossly. Histopathologic examination at 38 weeks of the black, raised plaques of group 2 demonstrated a reconstituted dermis similar to group 3. Nevus cells were larger and more epithelioid in the upper dermis, as seen with true GCNN. These nevomelanocytes were not seen in the dermis at 24 weeks, suggesting that the nevus cells migrated from the epidermal component of the cultured graft to the dermis during this time frame (24-38 weeks). The melanocyte identity of these cells was confirmed with S-100 immunoperoxidase staining and electron microscopy. These findings are unique to this composite cultured graft system. The ability to culture specific types of melanocytes and place them int skin substitutes on athymic mice provides a basis for the study of GCNN and melanocyte biology in vivo.
The unique occupational dermatologic disorders of musicians are reviewed and compiled to provide the clinician with a reference list. Our results were obtained by a survey of 24 members of a professional symphony orchestra. The results of the survey revealed a significant incidence of occupationally related skin problems in musicians.
Differences in skin pigmentation may significantly affect light penetration during photodynamic therapy. This study evaluated the effect of skin pigmentation on dermatotoxic reaction to photodynamic therapy utilizing the photosensitizer dihematoporphyrin ether. Black and white guinea pigs were given 10 mg/kg of dihematoporphyrin ether, depilated, and treated 48 hours after injection with 30 mW/cm2 of 514-nm light. Eschar formation was observed on white skin at an average light dose of 26 J/cm2, whereas black skin showed similar changes at 58 J/cm2. Microscopically, superficial necrosis corresponded to the gross changes noted. Our results agree with data describing the difficulty of treating pigmented lesions such as malignant melanoma with photodynamic therapy. This further suggests that higher light doses may be required to treat superficial lesions and produce skin photosensitivity in dark-skinned individuals.
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A 31-year-old man from Yemen presented with a 6-month history of a nonhealing ulcerated plaque on his right elbow. Initial evaluation included hematoxylin-and-eosin and Giemsa stains of a skin biopsy specimen. These preparations were interpreted as consistent with leishmaniasis, but no organisms were seen. A second biopsy specimen was obtained for culture on special media. A touch preparation demonstrated amastigotes, and cultures demonstrated leishmanial organisms at 2 weeks. The touch preparation as a rapid means of diagnosing leishmaniasis is discussed in detail, and a review of leishmanial disease and treatment is presented.
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Frey's syndrome is a form of gustatory hyperhidrosis that develops following surgery, trauma, or disease of the parotid gland area. Several theories have been proposed to explain the resulting symptomatology. Treatment often is difficult or ineffective. An unusual case is presented involving a patient with delayed onset of symptoms who responded well to topical application of 20% aluminum chloride in anhydrous ethyl alcohol.
Two representative cases of familial Muir-Torre syndrome are presented. Multiple benign sebaceous neoplasms in both cases and a solitary keratoacanthoma in one were successfully treated with oral isotretinoin. Low-dose maintenance therapy has stabilized the cutaneous manifestations in the two patients, and no new epithelial neoplasms have appeared. This report emphasizes (1) the rationale for the use of isotretinoin in the Muir-Torre syndrome and (2) the potential for a familial pattern of inheritance and a possible association with the cancer family syndrome. It speculates on the prevention of future internal malignancies in Muir-Torre syndrome patients by maintenance oral isotretinoin treatment.
Five patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis are described. Four of these patients acquired leishmaniasis in Texas. Four cases represent acute cutaneous leishmaniasis, and one case probably represents chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis. The classification and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis are reviewed. One patient in this report was successfully treated with topical antimony cream. Cutaneous leishmaniasis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of nonhealing ulcerated papules and nodules even in patients who do not have a foreign travel history.