PubMed · 17223902
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E M Wain, C M Stefanato. 2007. Four millimetres: a variable measurement?. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07663.x
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BACKGROUND: The dermatological features and skin biopsy findings of short-term thallium intoxication have been described. However, the correlation between the dermatological findings and the thallium concentration, the prognosis of peripheral neuropathy, and a cutaneous nerve biopsy study are lacking. OBSERVATIONS: Two patients initially developed perioral numbness, erythematous facial rashes, and polyneuropathy after ingesting thallium-containing water. Severe diffuse alopecia was noted, and a skin biopsy specimen revealed parakeratosis and vacuolar degeneration of the basal layer. Examinations of the hair mount demonstrated a tapered appearance of the anagen root. A serial cutaneous nerve biopsy study showed a loss of epidermal nerves 7 weeks and even 1 year after the thallium intoxication. A toxicology survey disclosed a high concentration of thallium (about 3124 mg/L) in the water. The clinical dermatological features subsided completely, but polyneuropathy with severe painful feet persisted. The blood and daily urinary thallium concentrations decreased slowly in the following 3-month period. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical dermatological features subsided completely, but painful polyneuropathy persisted. The series cutaneous nerve biopsy specimens showed persistent damage to the sensory nerve endings. The disappearance of the dermatological features and the appearance of Mees lines correlated with the decrease of blood and urinary thallium concentrations.
Mice with conditional gene deletions have been extremely valuable in allowing investigators to study the genes of interest in a tissue-specific manner. The Cre-loxP recombination system provides a powerful tool to produce targeted rearrangements of particular genes. The keratin 5-Cre recombinase (K5Cre) transgenic mouse line has been used to generate skin specific gene deletions. We found that the K5Cre mice display a unique phenotype when bred to homozygosity. The K5Cre(+/+) mice have a wavy hair coat and curly whiskers. Histologically, the hair follicles appear disoriented. Over time, the K5Cre(+/+) mice develop patches of alopecia. These mice are also runted when compared to wild-type controls. Fostering the K5Cre(+/+) pups to wild-type mothers results in normal weight gain, suggesting a maternal defect in milk production. When the K5Cre(+/+) mammary glands were examined, we not only found a significant decrease in the number of mammary branches in the virgin females, but also a greater number of quiescent alveoli units in the lactating glands. When the K5Cre(+/+) mice were bred to v-Ha-ras (Tg . AC) transgenic mice, the resulting Tg . AC(+/-) K5Cre(+/+) offspring were utilized in a chemically induced skin carcinogenesis model. The mice were treated with 2.5 microg of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) weekly for 10 wk. No difference was observed in the time to onset of papilloma formation, the number of papillomas and the average papilloma volume between the Tg . AC(+/-) K5Cre(+/+) mice and their corresponding controls. Surprisingly, however, the K5Cre(+/+) papillomas displayed an accelerated tendency to malignant progression; in addition, the frequency of malignant transformation of the papillomas is significantly enhanced. Although the K5Cre(+/+) mice resemble waved-1 and -2 mutants, the molecular basis for the K5Cre(+/+) phenotype is probably different. In conclusion, we discovered a unique phenotype associated with the K5Cre(+/+) transgenic line.
An oestrogen receptor pathway that regulates the telogen-anagen hair follicle transition in mice has been described. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether fulvestrant, a pure oestrogen receptor antagonist, would cause hair regrowth in Pomeranian dogs with hair cycle arrest (alopecia X). Eleven Pomeranian dogs with hair cycle arrest were randomly assigned to receive two intramuscular injections of either 10 mg kg(-1) fulvestrant (n = 6) or an equal volume of saline (n = 5) 1 month apart. Complete blood count, chemistry panel, and urinalysis were monitored prior to the first injection and monthly for 2 months. Dogs were evaluated each month for degree of hair growth, percentage of body affected, and quality of new hair growth. Three control dogs received fulvestrant after the completion of the study. In addition, one control dog and one treatment dog received two subcutaneous injections of 20 mg kg(-1) fulvestrant 1 month apart. No dogs that received 10 mg kg(-1) fulvestrant had any evidence of hair regrowth. The control dog that received 20 mg kg(-1) fulvestrant had substantial hair regrowth 1 month after the first injection. No adverse effects from the treatment were noted. Fulvestrant does not appear to be a feasible treatment for dogs with hair cycle arrest (alopecia X) when administered intramuscularly at 10 mg kg(-1). A higher dose of fulvestrant requires more investigation but may be cost-prohibitive.