bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural asymmetry of the insula is linked to the lateralization of gesture and language
Authors: Biduła Szymon P. , Króliczak Gregory
Published: April 2015

The control of gesture is one of the most left‐lateralized functions, and the insular cortex is one of the most left‐biased structures in the human brain. Therefore, we investigated whether structural asymmetries of the insula are linked to the organization of functional activity during gesture planning. We reconstructed and parcellated the insular cortex of 27 participants. First, we tested 15 strongly left‐handed individuals because of a higher incidence of atypical organization of functions such as gesture and language in such a population. The inter‐hemispheric structural asymmetries were compared with the lateralization of activity for gesture in the supramarginal gyrus (the hotspot of signal increase regardless of the gesturing hand) and Broca's area (the hotspot of signal increase for language production). The more pronounced leftward structural asymmetries were accompanied by greater left‐hemisphere dominance for both of the studied functions. Conversely, an atypical, bilateral or rightward functional shift of gesture and language was accompanied by an attenuated leftward asymmetry of the insula. These significant relationships were driven primarily by differences in surface area. Subsequently, by adding 12 right‐handed individuals to these analyses we demonstrated that the observed significant associations are generalizable to the population. These results provide the first demonstration of the relationships between structural inter‐hemispheric differences of the insula and the cerebral specialization for gesture. They also corroborate the link between insular asymmetries and language lateralization. As such, these outcomes are relevant to the common cerebral specialization for gesture and language.
GRIN1 mutations cause encephalopathy with infantile‐onset epilepsy, and hyperkinetic and stereotyped movement disorders
Authors: Ohba Chihiro , Shiina Masaaki , Tohyama Jun , Haginoya Kazuhiro , Lerman‐Sagie Tally , Okamoto Nobuhiko , Blumkin Lubov , Lev Dorit , Mukaida Souichi , Nozaki Fumihito , Uematsu Mitsugu , Onuma Akira , Kodera Hirofumi , Nakashima Mitsuko , Tsurusaki Yoshinori , Miyake Noriko , Tanaka Fumiaki , Kato Mitsuhiro , Ogata Kazuhiro , Saitsu Hirotomo , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: April 2015

Objective

Recently, de novo mutations in GRIN1 have been identified in patients with nonsyndromic intellectual disability and epileptic encephalopathy. Whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis of patients with genetically unsolved epileptic encephalopathies identified four patients with GRIN1 mutations, allowing us to investigate the phenotypic spectrum of GRIN1 mutations.

Methods

Eighty‐eight patients with unclassified early onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs) with an age of onset <1 year were analyzed by WES. The effect of mutations on N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors was examined by mapping altered amino acids onto three‐dimensional models.

Results

We identified four de novo missense GRIN1 mutations in 4 of 88 patients with unclassified EOEEs. In these four patients, initial symptoms appeared within 3 months of birth, including hyperkinetic movements in two patients (2/4, 50%), and seizures in two patients (2/4, 50%). Involuntary movements, severe developmental delay, and intellectual disability were recognized in all four patients. In addition, abnormal eye movements resembling oculogyric crises and stereotypic hand movements were observed in two and three patients, respectively. All the four patients exhibited only nonspecific focal and diffuse epileptiform abnormality, and never showed suppression‐burst or hypsarrhythmia during infancy. A de novo mosaic mutation (c.1923G>A) with a mutant allele frequency of 16% (in DNA of blood leukocytes) was detected in one patient. Three mutations were located in the transmembrane domain (3/4, 75%), and one in the extracellular loop near transmembrane helix 1. All the mutations were predicted to impair the function of the NMDA receptor.

Significance

Clinical features of de novo GRIN1 mutations include infantile involuntary movements, seizures, and hand stereotypies, suggesting that GRIN1 mutations cause encephalopathy resulting in seizures and movement disorders.
Status of invasive alien plants included in EPPO Lists in Turkey
Authors: Arslan Z. F. , Uludag A. , Uremis I.
Published: April 2015

Turkey is one of the richest areas in the middle latitudes in terms of plant diversity. It has approximately 12 000 plant species and a great number of new species are being added each year. However, invasive alien species have not yet been fully considered in Turkey and only two plant species are in Turkey's quarantine list (Arceuthobium spp. and Eichhornia crassipes). EPPO is an intergovernmental organization responsible for cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region and maintains the A1 and A2 Lists of pests recommended for regulation (A1 species are absent from the EPPO region, A2 species are present but of limited distribution), the List of Invasive Alien Plants, the Observation List of invasive alien plants and the Alert List. Eichhornia crassipes, Heracleum persicum, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Ludwigia peploides, Polygonum perfoliatum and Solanum elaeagnifolium are among the species which were recorded in Turkey and are included in the EPPO A2 List. Species recorded in the EPPO List of invasive alien plants which are present in Turkey are: Acroptilon repens, Ailanthus altissima, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (= A. elatior), Carpobrotus edulis, Cortaderia selloana, Cyperus esculentus, Paspalum distichum (= P. paspalodes), Oxalis pes‐caprae and Sicyos angulatus. Azolla filiculoides and Rhododendron ponticum are listed in the EPPO Observation List of Invasive alien plants and Miscanthus sinensis, listed in the EPPO Alert List, are also recorded in the Turkish flora.
Does Innovation Success Influence Social Interactions? An Experimental Test in House Sparrows
Authors: Preiszner Bálint , Papp Sándor , Vincze Ernő , Bókony Veronika , Liker András
Published: April 2015

In group‐living animals, individuals may benefit from the presence of an innovative group‐mate because new resources made available by innovators can be exploited, for example by scrounging or social learning. As a consequence, it may pay off to take the group‐mates' problem‐solving abilities into account in social interactions such as aggression or spatial association, for example because dominance over an innovative group‐mate can increase scrounging success, while spatial proximity may increase the chance of both direct exploitation and social learning. In this study, we tested whether the individuals' innovation success influences their social interactions with group‐mates in small captive flocks of house sparrows (Passer domesticus). First, we measured the birds' actual problem‐solving success in individual food‐extracting tasks. Then, we manipulated their apparent problem‐solving success in one task (by allowing or not allowing them to open a feeder repeatedly) while a new, unfamiliar group‐member (focal individual) had the opportunity to witness their performance. After this manipulation, we observed the frequency and intensity of aggression and the frequency of spatial associations between the focal individuals and their manipulated flock‐mates. Although flock‐mates behaved according to their treatments during manipulations, their apparent problem‐solving success did not affect significantly the focal individuals' agonistic behaviour or spatial associations. These results do not support that sparrows take flock‐mates' problem‐solving abilities into account during social interactions. However, focal individuals attacked those flock‐mates more frequently that had higher actual problem‐solving success (not witnessed directly by the focal individuals), although aggression intensity and spatial association by the focal birds were unrelated to the flock‐mates' actual success. If this association between flock‐mates' actual innovativeness and focal individuals' aggression is not due to confounding effects, it may imply that house sparrows can use more subtle cues to assess the group‐mates' problem‐solving ability than direct observation of their performance in simple foraging tasks.
Individual and Group Personalities Characterise Consensus Decision‐Making in an Ant
Authors: Cronin Adam L.
Published: April 2015

Non‐human animals can exhibit idiosyncratic behaviour across individuals in much in the same way as humans. Animals with specific personalities may have advantages in some environments, and this idiosyncrasy may thus be of considerable ecological and evolutionary importance. In group‐living organisms, personality can occur at the level of the group as well as that of the individual. However, at present, we have very little understanding of the possible benefits of group‐level personality, and how this is linked with individual personality. In this study, I examine the influence of individual and group personality during the process of colony migration in the Japanese ant, Myrmecina nipponica. These ants use a consensus decision process to decide among alternatives when searching for a new home. Individuals contribute to this process by scouting for new nest sites, recruiting nestmates by laying pheromone trails, and carrying brood to the new site, although whether these roles are consistent among individuals and how roles are distributed within and between colonies remain unclear. Individual contributions to the nest‐site selection process were quantified over five repeated relocations in five colonies. Results demonstrate that contributions to the relocation effort were highly skewed within the colonies and that individuals were consistent in their contributions over repeated relocation events. Furthermore, the distribution of effort differed between colonies, indicating that intercolony differences in composition of behavioural types resulted in colony‐level personality. While these differences did not lead to any detectable difference in relocation performance between colonies in the simple experimental arrangement used, colony personality could influence decision outcomes in more complex environments.
Experimental test of the Invasional Meltdown Hypothesis: an exotic herbivore facilitates an exotic plant, but the plant does not reciprocally facilitate the herbivore
Authors: Meza‐Lopez Maria M. , Siemann Evan
Published: April 2015

Ecosystems with multiple exotic species may be affected by facilitative invader interactions, which could lead to additional invasions (invasional meltdown hypothesis). Experiments show that one‐way facilitation favours exotic species and observational studies suggest that reciprocal facilitation among exotic species may lead to an invasional meltdown. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to determine whether reciprocal facilitation occurs in wetland communities.

We established communities with native wetland plants and aquatic snails. Communities were assigned to treatments: control (only natives), exotic snail (Pomacea maculata) invasion, exotic plant (Alternanthera philoxeroides) invasion, sequential invasion (snails then plants or plants then snails) or simultaneous invasion (snails and plants).

Pomacea maculata preferentially consumed native plants, so A. philoxeroides comprised a larger percentage of plant mass and native plant mass was lowest in sequential (snail then plant) invasion treatments.

Even though P. maculata may indirectly facilitate A. philoxeroides, A. philoxeroides did not reciprocally facilitate P. maculata. Rather, ecosystems invaded by multiple exotic species may be affected by one‐way facilitation or reflect exotic species’ common responses to abiotic factors or common paths of introduction.
From deep to shallow fluid reservoirs: evolution of fluid sources during exhumation of the Sierra Almagrera, Betic Cordillera, Spain
Authors: Dyja V. , Hibsch C. , Tarantola A. , Cathelineau M. , Boiron M.‐C. , Marignac C. , Bartier D. , Carrillo‐Rosúa J. , Ruano S. Morales , Boulvais P.
Published: April 2015

The combination of structural, geochemical and palaeotopographic data proves to be an efficient tool to understand fluid transfers in the crust. This study discriminates shallow and deep fluid reservoirs on both sides of the brittle–ductile transition under an extensional regime and points out the role of major transcurrent fault activity in this palaeohydrogeological setting. Palaeofluids trapped in quartz and siderite–barite veins record the transfer of fluids and metal solute species during the Neogene exhumation of the Sierra Almagrera metamorphic belt. Ductile then brittle–ductile extensional quartz veins formed from a deep fluid reservoir, trapping metamorphic secondary brines containing low‐density volatile phases derived from the dissolution of Triassic evaporites. During exhumation, low‐salinity fluids percolated within the brittle domain, as shown by transgranular fluid inclusion planes affecting previous veins. These observations indicate the opening of the system during Serravalian to early Tortonian times and provide evidence for the penetration of surficial fluids of meteoric or basinal origin into the upper part of the brittle–ductile transition. During exhumation, synsedimentary transcurrent tectonic processes occurred from late Tortonian times onwards, while marine conditions prevailed at the Earth's surface. At depth in the brittle domain, quartz veins associated with haematite record a return to high‐salinity fluid circulation suggesting an upward transfer fed from a lower reservoir. During the Messinian, ongoing activity of the trans‐Alboran tectono‐volcanic trend led to the formation of ore deposits. Reducing fluids caused the formation of siderite and pyrite ores. The subsequent formation of galena and barite may be related to an increase of temperature. The high salinity and Cl/Br ratio of the fluids suggest another source of secondary brine derived from dissolved Messinian evaporites, as corroborated by the δ34S signature of barite. These evaporites preceded the main sea‐level drop related to the peak of the salinity crisis (5.60–5.46 Ma).
SOLITARY TRICHOEPITHELIOMA WITH PROMINENT CYSTIC STRUCTURES
Authors: Ohkohchi Kyoko , Tagami Hachiro
Published: April 2015

We describe a case of solitary protruding trichoepithelioma on the chin of a middle‐aged man that attained a large size in a relatively short period of time. Histologically, it showed a unique architecture consisting of tumor nests proliferating around a huge central keratinizing cyst and along sweat retention cysts.
PITYRIASIS ROSEA GIBERT AND MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE INFECTION
Authors: Ishibashi Akira , Ueda Ikuyo , Fujita Keiichi
Published: April 2015

In the patients with pityriasis rosea (Gibert), who came to our hospital in the period from November of 1979 to May of 1981, cold hemagglutinin (CHA), complement fixation (CF) and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) antibodies against Mycoplasma pneumoniae were observed. In 6 out of 30 cases, the CF titer was 1: 32 or higher and CHA 1: 128 or higher, indicating the presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection; 22 cases were serologically positive and only 8 cases were negative for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

These results suggest that cases with pityriasis rosea may possibly be caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, although not all cases are serologically positive.
STRUCTURE AND EPITOPE SPECIFICITY OF HUMAN MELANOMA‐ASSOCIATED ONCOFETAL ANTIGEN gp87 ANALYZED WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
Authors: Liao Shuen‐Kuei , Leung Wai‐Choi , Kanamaru Tetsuzan
Published: April 2015

Monoclonal antibodies provide one of the most powerful molecular‐recognition tools now available to the field of tumor immunology and other branches of biomedical research. Examples of applications of murine monoclonal antibodies to the epitope and structural analysis of a human melanoma‐associated oncofetal antigen gp87 are described.
PHOTOAGGRAVATION OF ACUTE FEBRILE NEUTROPHILIC DERMATOSIS (SWEET'S SYNDROME)
Authors: Horio Takeshi
Published: April 2015

Phototests were carried out in a patient with acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome). The action spectrum of positive phototests was in the UVB range. Abnormal papular reaction was observed at uninvolved skin exposed to 5 MEDs with sun lamps. The cutaneous lesions were reproduced at the site of previous involvement and also in skin adjacent to existing lesion by 5 MED‐exposure. Another patient developed the disorder shortly after extensive sun exposure. These findings suggest that Sweet's syndrome may be provoked or aggravated by sunlight.
ABNORMALITIES OF FECAL FLORA IN PATIENTS WITH ACRODERMATITIS ENTEROPATHICA
Authors: Ishibashi Yasumasa , Nakabayashi Yasuharu , Kukita Atsushi , Benno Yoshimi , Mitsuoka Tomotari
Published: April 2015

Fecal flora in two female patients with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) were investigated in connection with the efficacies of zinc sulfate and Entero‐Vioform (EV). The following results were obtained.

Drastic deviations from normal were found in the bacterial distributions in the feces of patients before treatment. In particular, Eubacterium, one of the commonest anaerobic bacteria in normal human feces, was not detected.

This characteristic finding was not altered by administration of zinc sulfate, although all clinical symptoms in the patients clearly improved.

The administration of EV, however, did return the numbers of this organism to almost normal levels, with clear improvement of clinical symptoms similar to that obtained with zinc sulfate.

These results suggest that intestinal flora may play an important role in the absorption of zinc from ordinary diets.
GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN METABOLISM IN ATROPHIED SKIN FROM A PATIENT TREATED WITH LONG‐TERM ADMINISTRATION OF CORTICOSTEROIDS
Authors: Konohana Akira , Tajima Shingo , Nishikawa Takeji , Hatano Hitoshi
Published: April 2015

Skin tissue and explant culture were used to investigate glycosaminoglycan (GAG) metabolism in the atrophied skin of a patient treated with long‐term oral corticosteroids. Total GAGs per dry weight were almost the same in the atrophied and control skin. Hyaluronic acid was increased 1.5 times above the control values. Dermatan sulfate decreased to 3% of the total GAGs in the atrophied skin; in the controls dermatan sulfate content was 30%. In the skin explant culture experiment, the synthetic activity of dermatan sulfate in the atrophied skin was higher than in the controls. These results suggest that the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate in atrophied skin is modulated by corticosteroid, which causes thinning, fragile skin.
CYTODIAGNOSIS OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA BY THE TOUCH‐FLUORESCENCE METHOD
Authors: Morishima Takafumi , Kanematsu Shuichi , Fukada Eishun , Hanawa Shigeru , Nagashima Noriyasu
Published: April 2015

Two cases of primary cutaneous melanoma with a granulomatous lesion were examined by the touch‐fluorescence method. This method makes it possible to demonstrate the melanogenic activity of melanoma cells within 30 minutes. The present study indicated that the touch‐fluorescence method using preparations from the outer surface of a lesion is helpful in preoperative diagnosis of malignant melanoma and that the same method using preparations from the cut surface is valuable in quick diagnosis of melanoma during surgery.
THE ADHESION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS TO CULTURED CELLS
Authors: Kawashima Takeshi
Published: April 2015

In this study, the author observed the adhesion of Staphylococcus (St.) epidermidis to three kinds of cultured cells—human epidermal cells (JTC‐17), human synovial cells (McCoy) and mouse connective tissue cells (L). In the same manner, St. aureus, Micrococcus (M.) luteus and Pseudomonus (Ps.) aeruginosa adhered to the cells, but Escherichia (E.) coli did not. Heat killing M. luteus decreased its adhesiveness, and heat killing Ps. aeruginosa eliminated its ability, but the adhesion of Staphylococci was not altered by the heat treatment. The adhesiveness of living bacteria was also evaluated by a colony forming unit (CFU) counting study. St. epidermidis adhered to the same extent as St. aureus, which is reported to adhere to epithelial cells through fibronectin. Human plasma fibronectin (Fn) treatment inhibited the adhesiveness of St. epidermidis to JTC‐17 cells. This suggests that St. epidermidis may have a receptor for Fn as St. aureus does.
ANTI‐HAIR KERATIN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY (HKN‐2)
Authors: Tazawa Toshio , Ito Masaaki , Ito Kaoru , Shimizu Naoya , Sato Yoshio
Published: April 2015

BALB/c mice were immunized with human hair fibrous proteins. Then their spleen cells were fused with Sp2/0‐Agl4 mouse myeloma cells. Antibody‐producing hybridomas were selected by ELISA method and cloned by limiting dilution. A monoclonal antibody was chosen and designated as HKN‐2. Immunohistochemically, on frozen sections of normal human skin, HKN‐2 was found to recognize the suprabasal cells of epidermis and hair follicle, the cells in the keratogenous zone of hair shaft, the sebaceous cells and the ductal and myoepithelial cells of sweat glands. The basal cells of the epidermis and lower hair follicle, hair matrix cells and secretory cells of sweat glands did not react with HKN‐2. An immunoelectron microscopic method showed that the positive reaction to HKN‐2 was located on the tonofilaments in the cytoplasm. It was concluded that there might be a common antigenic determinant between hair and other skin epithelial tissues. A complexity in keratin manifestation in each epithelial tissue of the skin was suspected.
RECURRENT ECZEMA HERPETICUM IN AN ADULT
Authors: Hata Seiichiro
Published: April 2015

A case of recurrent Kaposi's varicelliform eruption caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 was presented in a man with atopic dermatitis. The generalized vesicular eruptions first developed during his twenty sixth year. Four years later the same vesicular lesion as wide as the first attack developed and was improved in a shorter period.
SEASONAL PREVALENCE OF ERYTHEMA INFECTIOSUM
Authors: Saburi Yasuo , Takahashi Toyozoh , Okuda Kenji
Published: April 2015

During the five years from 1979 to 1983, seasonal variations in epidemics of erythema infectiosum was studied. The peak incidence appeared in April in 1981 and 1983, in May in 1979, and in June in 1980 and 1982. These results suggest that the disease is a springtime one.
LICHEN SCLEROSUS ET ATROPHICUS IN CHILDREN
Authors: Muramatsu Tsutomu , Kitamura Wataru , Sakamoto Kuniki
Published: April 2015

A 7‐year‐old girl with lichen sclerosus et atrophiais on her back was reported. The lesion showed a complete clinical cure after one year of topical corticosteroid therapy without any significant atrophy. The prognosis of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus in children is better than that in adult cases, so spontaneous resolution could not be ruled out.
CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBUNGUAL MELANOMAS IN JAPAN
Authors: Miura Shunsuke , Jimbow Kowichi
Published: April 2015

This study reported 2 cases of subungual melanomas and analyzed, based on a questionnaire survey of 108 cases, clinical characteristics of Japanese subungual melanomas in relation to trauma history. We found (a) that subungual melanomas comprice about 10% of all cutaneous melanomas in Japan, (b) that 75% of them occur on fingers, particularly on the first finger, (c) that there is not a significant relationship between trauma history and occurrence or anatomic site of subungual melanomas, except for those of the right first finger where young males predominate and (d) that no differences exist in the histopathological types between the groups with and without trauma history. The relatively high incidence of subungual melanomas in Japanese appears to be related to genetic background and not directly to frequent exposure to trauma.
INFLUENCE OF ROUTE ON THE INDUCTION AND PERSISTENCE OF DELAYED TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ALLOANTIGENS
Authors: Tamaki Kunihiko , Furue Masutaka
Published: April 2015

The influence of the route on the induction and persistence of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to alloantigens by epidermal cells (EC) and spleen cells (SC) was investigated. Subcutaneous (sc) or intraperitoneal (ip) administration of EC and SC induced DTH reactions but the DTH reaction by the ip route was weaker than that obtained by the sc route. Time course experiments have shown that DTH reactions induced by EC lasted at least 30 days, whereas DTH induced by ip injection of SC fell to an undiscernible level by day 14. DTH induced by sc injection of SC was significant at day 14, but became undiscernible by day 30. Intravenous (iv) injection of both EC and SC induced hyporesponsiveness after subsequent sensitization with allogeneic cells.

Experiments using congenic strains of mice, EC treated with anti‐Ia antiserum and complement, and grafted skin revealed that H‐2, non‐H‐2, or Ia disparities were sufficient to induce DTH. Epidermal LC played an important role in DTH induction.

Taken together, these results indicate the importance of LC in DTH induction and suggest the differing contributions of antigen presenting cells in the skin and other tissues in both induction and persistence of allo‐DTH reaction.
BULLOUS DERMATOSIS OF HEMODIALYSIS
Authors: Matarredona Jaime , Martín Roberto , De Salamanca Rafael Enriquez , Sendagorta Enrique , Matesanz Rafael , Perpiña Julia , Ortuño Joaquín , Ledo Antonio
Published: April 2015

Bullous dermatosis developed in three patients with renal failure who were on maintenance hemodialysis. On clinical and histological grounds, skin lesions were indistinguishable from those of porphyria cutanea tarda. A highly sensitive fluorimetric thin‐layer chromatographic technique was used for assay of porphyrin levels in plasma, urine, feces and dialysate. The porphyrin metabolism alterations observed in our three patients were not sufficiently uniform to be considered the cause of the bullous dermatosis. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activities in red cells were also within normal limits. No other common etiological factors could be identified in our patients.
GALACTOSE‐REACTING AGGLUTININS TO SPOROTHRIX SCHENCKII
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroto , Ishizaki Hiroshi
Published: April 2015

Agglutinins to Sporothrix schenckii were produced in rabbits by immunization with Aspergillus fumigatus. Agglutination of S. schenckii cells was inhibited by D‐galactose but not by D‐mannose. Indirect immuno‐scanning electron microscopy using rabbit anti‐A. fumigatus serum and ferritin conjugated goat anti‐rabbit IgG serum showed considerable labelling of ferritin particles at the cell surface of S. schenckii; this behavior was inhibited by D‐galactose but not D‐mannose. These results suggested that galactose determinants were present at the cell surface of S. schenckii and that agglutinins to S. schenckii were divided into two groups, galactose‐reacting antibodies as well as the already recognized rhamnose‐reacting ones.
CYTOFLUOROMETRIC STUDY OF EPIDERMAL CELL PROLIFERATION INDUCED BY ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF AROMATIC RETINOID
Authors: Nomura Hirofumi , Hachisuka Hiroshi , Sasai Yoichiro
Published: April 2015

The rate of cell proliferation in the basal cell layer after oral administration of aromatic retinoid was investigated with the cytofluorometric method. Guinea pigs were fed aromatic retinoid in daily doses of 5 mg/kg body weight for a period of 14 days. Epidermal cell suspensions were fractionated on colloidal silica polyvinylpyrrolidon to obtain a relatively pure fraction of basal cells. After being smeared on glass slides, they were stained with acridine orange. At 1 day after the administration, there was no change in the DNA distribution pattern. However, G0/G1 ratio decreased strikingly. By 3 days, there was an increase in S cells. These results suggest that epidermal cell proliferation by oral administration of retinoid is due to the increase of cycling cells.
A UNIQUE ERYTHERMALGIA IN A PATIENT WITH VON RECKLINGHAUSEN NEUROFIBROMATOSIS
Authors: Kikuchi Ichiro , Inoue Shouhei , Tada Shigeru
Published: April 2015

We report a 58‐year‐old female patient with von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis who developed a condition similar to that of erythermalgia in many respects, especially on her hands. The distress worsened upon exposure to cold and improved when warmed. She felt pain over the hands restricted to the time of urination when her bladder was full. It was found that her distress was felt when blood was unstably forced through partial closing of abnormal a‐v shunts into diseased blood vessels of the distal extremities and that the a‐v shunts of this patient apparently worked differently.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCALIZATION OF ANIONIC SITES IN THE RAT SKIN DEMONSTRATED WITH CATIONIC PROBES
Authors: Kazama Takashi , Kihara Itaru , Oite Takashi , Shimizu Fujio , Ito Masaaki , Sato Yoshio
Published: April 2015

For the purpose of demonstrating ultrastructurally the distribution of anionic sites in the rat skin, we applied two polyethyleneimines of different molecular weights and ruthenium red by the perfusion or immersion method. Using each cationic probe, sites were observed as electron dense particles along both the epidermal and interstitial sides of the lamina densa in the dermo‐epidermal junction and the interstitial side of the periendothelial lamina densa in the dermal capillary. The ordered distribution of the anionic sites may function to transport fluid and macromolecular substances through these particular compartments.
GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN SYNTHESIS IN DERMATOFIBROSARCOMA PROTUBERANS
Authors: Maekawa Yoshihiro , Nogami Reiko
Published: April 2015

A sliced tumor of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans was labelled with 3H‐glucosamine in Ham's F12 medium with 10% fetal calf serum at 37°C in 5% CO2 with 95% air for 24 hours. Electrophoresis of extracted glycosaminoglycan was undertaken on cellulose acetate strips. The radioactive content of the separated glycosaminoglycan in the tumor was counted and compared with the glycosaminoglycan of normal skin. A larger amount of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate was synthesized in dermotofibrosarcoma protuberans than in normal skin.

The qualitative and quantitative changes in glycosaminoglycan in the stroma suggest that it is unlikely to metastasize to the regional lymph nodes and internal organs.
DERMATAN SULFATE IS THE MAJOR GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN SYNTHESIZED BY CULTURED GUINEA PIG SKIN FIBROBLASTS
Authors: Nakamura Toshitaka , Shinkai Hiroshi
Published: April 2015

Fibroblasts from guinea pig skin were incubated with [3H] glucosamine. The cells secreted [3H] galactosamine‐labeled compounds predominantly as dermatan sulfate, which accounted for 65–75% of the total glycosaminoglycans. The majority production of dermatan sulfate was observed regardless of the composition of the culture medium, cell growing phase or age of animal. The labeled glycosaminoglycans were identified by enzymatic (chondroitinase ABC, chondroitinase AC and hyaluronidase) or nitrous acid treatment, followed by fluorography of two‐dimensional electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes. The molecular weight of the newly synthesized dermatan sulfate from medium of a confluent stage was calculated as 15,000 to 17,500 from molecular sieve chromatography. The radioactive dermatan sulfate was treated with chondroitinase ABC, yielding 68.4% ΔDi‐4S, 16.2% ΔDi‐6S, 13.3% ΔDi‐OS and 2% di‐sulfated hexuronosyl‐N‐acetylhexosamine units. Chondroitin sulfate was detected on a cellulose acetate membrane as a minor component in the culture medium from the cell growing stage. It was not detected in medium from a confluent stage. Organ culture of guinea pig skin or cell culture of human skin fibroblasts incorporated [3H] glucosamine mainly into hyaluronic acid. About 90% of newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans was accounted for by hyaluronate.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF “NYLON CLOTHS FRICTION DERMATOSIS” IN JAPAN
Authors: Tanigaki Takehiko , Hata Seiichiro , Kitano Yukio , Sano Shigeharu
Published: April 2015

A survey of nylon cloths friction dermatosis (NCFD) was taken by gathering information by a questionnaire sent to university hospitals in Japan. The replies were obtained from 44 hospitals (55% recovery) reporting 158 patients. Pigmentation was noted mainly on the skin over the trunk bones and extremities. The pigmentation was distributed over more than two regions in most of the patients. Along with the clinical and histological features, a history of repeated friction, usually with nylon towels or scrub brushes, was required for diagnosis. A few months after discontinuing the use of nylon towels or scrub brushes, NCFD disappeared or improved in 15% of the patients.
SUBUNGUAL AMELANOTIC MALIGNANT MELANOMA
Authors: Nakamura Shinichi , Nishihara Kiyoshi , Hoshi Kenji , Itoh Fumiyuki , Nakayama Keiji
Published: April 2015

A 52‐year‐old man with subungual amelanotic malignant melanoma was reported. He had a dome‐shaped tumor on his right thumb nail bed without any involvement. Clinically, we considered various diseases including amelanotic malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, granuloma pyogenicum, and other granulomas. Histological features of the skin biopsy taken during the first visit suggested squamous cell carcinoma. We still considered the possibility of amelanotic malignant melanoma, however, and the specimens taken during the radical operation were examined histologically and histochemically and a diagnosis of subungual amelanotic malignant melanoma was determined.
The Inhibitory Effect of Selenium on Mice Inoculated with B16 Melanoma Cells
Authors: Hanada Katsumi , Satoh Shizuo , Sawamura Daisuke , Hashimoto Isao , Katabira Yasuo
Published: April 2015

The influence of selenium dioxide on the in vitro and in vivo growth of transplantable B16 melanoma was studied. In the in vivo study, melanoma tissues showed a decrease in development of tumor growth and a tendency toward higher levels of free radical signal (ESR). Cultured B16 melanoma cells revealed a marked disturbance of cell growth especially in the solution with a high dose of selenium.

These results may indicate that selenium has an antitumorigenic effect on B16 melanoma cells.
Sweat Gland Necrosis in Drug‐Induced Coma
Authors: Rocamora Antonio , Matarredona Jaime , Sendagorta Enrique , Ledo Antonio
Published: April 2015

We report herein characteristic traumatic skin lesions with blisters and sweat gland necrosis in a case of drug‐induced coma in which direct immunofluorescence demonstrated deposits of immunoglobulin and C3 in dermal vessels. The significance of our direct immunofluorescence findings is discussed.
Dyskeratosis Congenita
Authors: Singh Kamlender , Kolalapudi Seetharamanjaneyule
Published: April 2015

A case of dyskeratosis congenita has been documented for the first time in an Indian patient. It began soon after birth with the formation of bullae at traumatic sites, masquerading as epidermolysis bullosa. Nail changes and pigmentary changes appeared simultaneously at the age of 4 years. This seems to be the seventh reported case resulting from a fourth consanguineous marriage.
A Case of Male SLE—With Special Reference to Familial Occurrence and HLA
Authors: Maki Tokiyo , Saida Yoko
Published: April 2015

A male case of SLE who showed the female pattern of clinical findings was reported with special reference to his family history and HLA typing. One of the HLA haplo‐types of the patient corresponded to that of his sister, who had an identical disease. The result of this study suggests that genetic factors other than the HLA system might play roles in the development of SLE.
Neuron‐Specific Enolase (NSE): A Specific Marker for Merkel Cells in Human Epidermis
Authors: Masuda Tetsuo , Ikeda Shigeo , Tajima Kimiko , Kawamura Taro
Published: April 2015

Clear cells aggregated on the tip of crista profunda intermedia (CPI) are deduced to be Merkel cells (MK) by summarizing the results reported by previous authors. Among epidermal clear cells, only MKs stain positively with the Abidin‐Biotin‐Peroxydase Complex (ABC) method for neuron‐specific enolase (NSE).
Organ Culture of Skin of Rabbits and Guinea Pigs: Maintenance of Complete Keratinization and Effect of Lithium on Keratinization
Authors: Kondo Shigeo , Hozumi Yutaka
Published: April 2015

A method for maintaining epidermal structure without causing initial parakeratosis or necrosis in organ culture of skin explants was described. Split thickness skin specimens from the ears of rabbits and guinea pigs were put in diffusion chambers made of millipore filters, which were then submitted to a roller tube culture at 15 rpm and 32°C. The culture medium was Eagle's minimum essential medium with Hanks salts supplemented with 20% fetal calf serum. The gas phase was a critical factor for the culture: in air + 5% CO2 (gas phase A), the rabbit skin explant (thin epidermis) was maintained without epidermal parakeratosis or necrosis for about 14 days, while the guinea pig skin explant (thick epidermis) tended towards its epidermal parakeratosis or necrosis. In two other gas phases, 50% O2 + 45% N2 + 5% CO2 (gas phase B), and 95% O2 + 5% CO2 (gas phase C), explants from the two animals were well maintained without epidermal parakeratosis or necrosis for about 14 days. The addition of LiCl (≧1 mM) caused the skin specimens of both animals to become parakeratotic; 10 μg/ml dexamethasone and 10 mM KCl antagonized the LiCl effect but 10 mM MgCl2, 0.1 mM N6, 2′‐O‐dibutyryladenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (db cAMP) and 0.1 mM N6, 2′‐O‐dibutyrylguanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic monophosphate (db cGMP) did not.
A Simplified Disc Technique for Quantitating Mouse DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis: Circadian Rhythms
Authors: Yoshino Kazuhiro , Oba Kenkichi , Maibach Howard I.
Published: April 2015

1) A modified disc technique has been developed for quantitating DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in epidermal hairless mouse skin and utilized in examining circadian rhythms. 2) The modified epidermal assay for DNA synthesis, utilizing dissolution of epidermis before scintillation counting, yields three times the specific activity than does the original disc technique. The modified disc technique also gives satisfactory results for RNA and protein synthesis. 3) The incorporation of 3H‐thymidine (3H‐TdR) into DNA was highest from 23:00 to 03:00. RNA synthesis, as measured by 3H‐uridine (3H‐UR) incorporation, and protein synthesis, as measured by 3H‐leucine (3H‐Leu) and 14C‐histidine (14C‐His) incorporation, did not show any obvious circadian rhythm.
Prognostic Significance of Initial Skin Lesions in Epidermotropic Cutaneous Lymphoma
Authors: Yamamura Teiichi , Yoshikawa Kunihiko , Aozasa Katsuyuki
Published: April 2015

The prognostic significance of initial skin lesions was studied in thirty cases of epidermotropic cutaneous lymphoma. The numbers of patients with initial erythema, papules, or nodule or tumors were 22 (72%)‐Group I, 6 (20%)‐Group II, and 2 (7%)‐Group III, respectively. Nodules or tumors developed earlier in Group II patients than in Group I patients; the percentages of tumor death were 83% in the former and 25% in the latter. The Group I patients had a more favorable 2‐year survival rate (72%) than did the Group II patients (0%) (p<0.025). It is suggested that the macroscopic appearance of initial skin lesions, either erythema or papules, is a useful prognostic marker.
Effect of Plant Worm Extract on Mouse Hair Growth
Authors: Ogawa Hideoki , Ogura Kyoichi , Ishigouoka Hiroshi , Suwa Yoshihide , Tanaka Takaharu , Yoshizumi Hajime
Published: April 2015

Topical application of plant worm extract (Chinese drug, dong chong xia cao) caused a dose‐dependent acceleration of hair growth on the dorsal resting hair of shaved C3H mice. The original extract, which was extracted from 3 g of plant worm with 400 ml of 75% ethanol, and a 10‐fold concentrate were significantly effective in accelerating hair regrowth. Even a 100‐fold diluted extract shortened the anagen time of terminal hair growth. The hair regrowth activity of the extract was also highly significant when compared with two solutions containing some other effective ingredients for hair regrowth. The extract did not show any apparent acute toxicity in the mice. No mutagenicity was detected. No systemic or local side effects attributable to the plant worm extract were evident.
Hirsutoid Papillomas of Vulvae
Authors: Kohda Hiromu , Hino Yuwao , Fukuda Hidezo
Published: April 2015

Condylomata acuminata‐like lesions of the vulvae were observed in a 28‐year‐old woman. They were located on the interior borders of the labia minora and were filiform, smooth, flesh‐coloured and asymptomatic. Histologically, these lesions showed a rich vascular network surrounded by connective tissue. They appear to be identical to hirsutoid papillomas of the glans penis, as they share the same embryological location. To our knowledge, this is the first report of condylomata acuminata‐like lesions of the labia minora in Japan.
Circulating Immune Complexes in Recurrent Oral Ulcers
Authors: Sun Andy , Wu Ying‐Chin , Liang Lu‐Chuan , Kwan Hsueh‐Wan
Published: April 2015

Serum immunoglobulins (IgG, M, A), serum complements (C3, C4) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were measured in forty‐five patients with recurrent oral ulcers (ROU) and in forty‐one healthy controls. The serum levels of immunoglobulins in patients with ROU were significantly higher than normal values. Similar to the pattern during infections, the levels of IgM and IgA gradually decreased as the disease entered the late stage and then returned to normal; the IgG level remained significantly high in the convalescent stage.

Although the serum complements were not depressed throughout the course of the disease, a significant amount of CIC was detected in various stages and types of ROU. The three stages of ROU showed an increase in the abnormal percentage of CIC in this order: active early stage (3/14; 21.4%), active late stage (15/39; 38.5%) and convalescent stage (6/15; 40%). Although all three types of ROU demonstrated the variable positivity of CIC [minor, 16/31 (51.6%); major, 3/8 (37.5%); and herpetiform, 3/6 (50%)], their differences were not significant stastistically. This study demonstrated an aberration of humoral immunity of a rather non‐specific nature in ROU, probably caused by an infective process. This may suggest that CIC plays only a secondary role in the pathogenesis of ROU.
Flow Cytometric Investigations of Corneocytes from Psoriatic Scales and the Effects of Ingram Therapy
Authors: Bauer Franz W. , Boezeman Jan B.M. , de Grood Rufi M. , Koopman Roland J.J.
Published: April 2015

Flow cytometry has been used to study the stratum corneum. Following mechanical disruption and propidium iodide staining for DNA, analysis of the fluorescence intensity profile permits discrimination between nucleated and anucleate corneocytes. It was established that the nucleated corneocyte from parakeratotic stratum corneum contains double‐stranded DNA in the normal diploid amount.

A model investigation is described following the normalization of the psoriatic stratum corneum during Ingram therapy. It is shown that the initially high percentage of nucleated corneocytes (50%) falls exponentially during the first weeks of therapy. The rate of normalization seems to offer a quantitative and objective approach for evaluation and optimization of therapy.
Reticular Erythematous Mucinosis Syndrome
Authors: Funai Tatsuhiko , Aoki Toshiyuki
Published: April 2015

A 71‐year‐old man visited us with asymptomatic erythematous patches of two years' duration on the sternum and right costal arch areas. Histologically there was an appreciable amount of lymphocytic infiltration around the infundibulum of the hair follicle and the dermal capillaries, but the deposition of a colloidal iron positive material was observed around the lymphocytic infiltration and between the collagen bundles to only a mild degree. Reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM) syndrome is controversial; what is its nature as a mucinosis? This case seems to be the extreme of REM syndrome in which mucin deposition was minimal.
Maintenance of Epidermal Structures of Psoriatic Skin in Organ Culture
Authors: Kondo Shigeo
Published: April 2015

A method for maintaining the epidermal structures of the normal human and uninvolved and involved psoriatic skin explants in organ culture was described. Skin explants were put in diffusion chambers made of millipore filters, which were then submitted to a roller tube culture at 15 rpm and 32°C. With a gas phase of air + 5% CO2 (phase A), both normal and psoriatic skin explants in culture showed parakeratosis or degeneration of their epidermal cells; with a gas phase of either 50% O2 + 45% N2 + 5% CO2 (phase B) or 95% O2 + 5% CO2 (phase C), they showed neither parakeratosis nor degeneration of epidermal cells and maintained their original structures for 14 days. Autoradiographically, the number of thymidine‐3H (3H‐TdR) labeled epidermal cells in organ culture was greater in involved psoriatic skin explants than in uninvolved ones. Isoproterenol‐stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels were lower in involved psoriatic epidermis of skin explants than in uninvolved ones, and plasminogen activator activity was higher in the former than in the latter. Addition of dexamethasone normalized the keratinization of the involved psoriatic explant in culture, but addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db cAMP) and dibutyryl cyclic GMP (db cGMP) did not.
Interrelationship between Biliary Dyskinesia and Chronic Urticaria, Chronic Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Nishimura Toshio
Published: April 2015

Interrelationships between biliary dyskinesia and chronic urticaria, chronic eczema and atopic dermatitis have been studied in 210 biliary dyskinesia patients and 60 normal subjects. Incidences of chronic urticaria, chronic eczema and atopic dermatitis were found more frequently in biliary dyskinesia patients than normal subjects.

Skin symptoms of these chronic urticaria, chronic eczema and atopic dermatitis cases showed significant normalization with improved gallbladder contraction rate. COMT inhibitor therapy and fat restriction were more effective for the skin symptoms and for prolonging the interval before recidivation or exacerbation of these allergic diseases than conservative therapy.
Eccrine Tubular Adenoma —A Histopathological, Histochemical, and Ultrastructural Study—
Authors: Oka Keiko , Katsumata Michio
Published: April 2015

A case of eccrine tubular adenoma on the dorsum of the right foot is presented. Histopathologically, in the central nodule of the tumor, the whole dermis was involved and the tumor islands were connected to the epidermis; in the rest of the lesion, tumor islands were observed in the upper dermis. The tumor islands were composed of cystic or alveolar structures and cell masses possessing multiple lumina. Tubules were surrounded by two or more layers of epithelium forming papillations projecting into the lumen. There were only a few basaloid islands and no sclerotic strands. The tumor cells were well differentiated. Acid mucopolysaccharides were seen in the stroma. Histochemically, phosphorylase and acid phosphatase reacted moderately. Succinic dehydrogenase gave a weak reaction and β‐glucuronidase was negative in tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, intracellular ducts with numerous microvilli, periluminal filamentous zones, and many multivesicular dense bodies surrounded by a limiting membrane were observed. Keratohyalin granules were absent. Based on these findings, the tumor reported here was considered to be an adenoma differentiating toward the eccrine duct. Some aspects resembled tubular apocrine adenoma, syringoma and basal cell tumor with eccrine differentiation, but they were most similar to papillary eccrine adenoma.