bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gravel at Moreton-in-the-Marsh (Gloucestershire)
Authors: Buckman S. S.
Published: October 2009

T
he
Author describes certain gravels of Triassic debris and flints at Moreton-in-the-Marsh, with special reference to an upper bed wherein the fragments are mostly in a vertical position, some of them having their heavier ends uppermost. He theorizes that the vertical materials were the droppings from melting ice floating down a large river. This river, formed out of one or more of the original consequents of the Thames system, existed before the valley of the Warwickshire Avon had been excavated. By one branch, possibly the upper Trent, it drained the Pennine range; by another, possibly the upper Severn, the Welsh hills. Ice formed in the upper waters—in these highlands—enclosing debris, and when a thaw occurred, it floated down to the lower parts of the river.

The Author notices certain filets obtained from the gravels. Those from the upper bed are sharply angular, even most finely pointed, and are quite unabraded. They strengthen the theory of ice-transport, and it is evident that they have not been moved by stream-action since their deposition, otherwise they would show signs of wear. The flints from the lower bed do seem to point to some such condition of subsequent removal : they have their edges worn, and are in some cases battered, and peculiarly flaked as if artificially worked.

The Author surmises that the date of the gravel, if formed by a river-system as supposed, is Pliocene.
The Geology of Nyasaland
Authors: Andrew A. R. , Bailey T. E. G.
Published: October 2009

I. I
ntroduction
.

I
n
the past several African travellers have explored parts of what is now known as Nyasaland, and have given a brief account of its geology, while in more recent years comparatively detailed geological work has been carried out in neighbouring countries. A short summary of these researches is given below:—

1865.—Livingstone (1) spent most of his time outside of the Protectorate, but he also travelled to the southern end of Lake Nyasa, and for a short distance on its west coast. He discovered the coal at Tete in Portuguese East Africa. He also reported coal from the neighbourhood of Port Herald. His description would lead one to think that coal occurred on the slopes of Malawe Hill, though really there is none nearer than 6 miles away.

1881.—Stewart (2) passed up the shores of Lake Nyasa, and discovered coal in the Zindira Stream (Chesindire), near the mouth of the Malawe or Southern Rukuru River.

1881.—Joseph Thomson (3) passed through what is now German territory to the north of Nyasaland, and found there a large development of volcanic rocks, near the northern end of the lake.

1882.—An expedition (4) was sent out to study the resources of Portuguese East Africa. Its members were chiefly occupied with the district near Tete, from the coal-seams of which Prof. Zeiller identified eleven species of fossil ferns.

1888.—Drummond (5) discovered the sedimentary beds with Karroo fossils at Mpata, near Karonga.

1890.—Prof. T. Rupert Jones (6) described the fossils obtained by Drummond, and compared
The Metallogeny of the British Isles
Authors: Finlayson Alexander Moncrieff
Published: October 2009

I. I
ntroduction
.

T
he
recent development of the geographical method of studying ore-deposits is due to Prof. L. de Launay, who first pointed out its application in 1897. His later works on this plan include examinations of the ore-deposits of Africa, Italy, and Siberia. His object is to delineate the various regional types of ores, and to show their intimate genetic relation with tectonics and with petrographic provinces, the regional types being termed ‘metallogenetic provinces’. The same method has been applied by Dr. J. Malcolm Maclaren in his ‘uriferous provinces’. We have thus, in the science of ore-deposits, the application of methods analogous to those exemplified in Suess's ‘Antlitz der Erde,’—methods which aim at correlating detached observations, and bringing our knowledge of the ore-deposits of an area into relation with our knowledge of its geological structure.

In the present paper an endeavour is made to work out the distribution of ore-deposits in the British Isles, and to determine the relationship of the ores to the tectonics of the country, and to the distribution of igneous rocks therein. Prof. de Launay's nomenclature has been followed, and I wish here to express my thanks to him for his kindness in corresponding with me on the subject.

The modern analytical classifications of ore-deposits, while nominally on a genetic basis, involve, as subdivisions, factors of varying importance—genesis, form, mineralogy, and structure. The essential and accidental features are liable to be confused, and the latter unduly emphasized. Further, there is a tendency to make the deposits,
The Volcano of Matavanu in Savaii
Authors: Anderson Tempest
Published: October 2009

T
he
Samoa or Navigator Islands are a group in the Western Pacific, lying in 13½° to 14° S. lat. and 168° to 173° W. long. They are some 350 miles north of Tonga, and between 400 and 500 miles north-east of Fiji. From Auckland (New Zealand) the sailing distance is 1560 miles, and from San Francisco about 4400.

The group consists of nine islands, in addition to rocks and islets, but only four are of any notable size, namely: Upolu, Savaii, Tutuila, and Manua. The two first-named belong to Germany and the two last-named to the United States. They are mountainous, but at the same time well wooded, and are all, with the exception of Rose Island, volcanic, and for the most part surrounded with coral-reefs. They are disposed in a linear direction from north-west to south-east, and a line drawn from the volcanic region of New Zealand and thence through White Island, Pylstaart, the Kermadecs, and the Tonga Islands, all of which contain volcanoes active or extinct, would pass through the group. It is probable that each of these lines marks a fold-fissure or line of weakness of the earth's crust. It is noteworthy that a volcanic eruption took place in the Tonga Group at the same time as the great eruption of Tarawera in New Zealand, in June 1886.

Savaii is the westernmost and also the largest of the group. It is 48 miles long and at least 25 miles wide, but the interior has never been surveyed.
The Denudation of the Western End of the Weald
Authors: Bury Henry
Published: October 2009

I. I
ntroduction
.

T
he
old ‘sea-cliff’ theory of Wealden denudation, which regarded the escarpments as the direct result of marine action, has long disappeared, and no one now doubts that the main physical features of this district have been produced by subaërial agencies. Beyond this, however, there is but little unanimity. Whether the subaërial process has been continuous since early Oligocene times; whether it can be divided into two cycles, with a peneplain between; or whether the removal of the top of the dome has been assisted by marine planation, are questions so undecided that, except on the one point already mentioned, geologists are perhaps in no closer agreement as to the physical history of the Wealden area than they were thirty years ago.

In the second section of this paper the older lines of evidence are reviewed, and in places supplemented by new arguments, tending to show that the theory of marine planation is the one which, on the whole best, embodies the observed facts. In the third section the history of the four western rivers (Wey, Mole, Arun, and Adur) is examined, and the same inference drawn. Whether this explanation holds good for other parts of the Wealden area must be left to future investigation.

The expression ‘plane of marine denudation’ is said by Foster & Topley (5, p. 473, footnote) to have been first used by Ramsay in 1847; but the words themselves are not to be found in the abstract of his paper to which they refer
On the Fossil Flora of the Kent Coalfield
Authors: Arber E. A. Newell
Published: October 2009

I. Introductory.

In the present paper I give the results of an examination of the fossil floras of the cores of ten further borings in the Coal Measures of the central, northern, and eastern portions of the Kent coalfield, which have been completed during the last seven years. As a rule, plant-remains proved to be abundant in these cores, and they have furnished invaluable evidence as to the geological structure of the coalfield. The whole of these new borings penetrated much deeper into the Coal Measures than those initiated at an earlier period in Kent, and thus the evidence of the fossil floras has proved to be much more complete than in the case of the cores already recorded. In several instances the borings proved the entire thickness of the Coal Measures, as developed in those particular areas, and in one locality as much as 2705 feet of measures were proved.

One boring, Barfreston, where +2103 feet of Coal Measures were proved, lies in the central area, and so does the Tilmanstone sinking, from which a few plants were also obtained. Next, we have a group of six borings in the northern region, including Goodnestone (with +1718 feet of Coal Measures), Woodnesborough (1549 feet), Mattice Hill (1076 feet), Trapham (1651 feet), Walmestone (1201 feet), and Stodmarsh (1075 feet). Lastly, there are three borings in a more easterly direction, Maydensole (+2565 feet), Ripple (2287 feet), and Oxney (2705 feet). The fossil plants which I have collected, as the result of a
On the Development of
Tragophylloceras loscombi
(J. Sowerby)
Authors: Spath Leonard Frank
Published: October 2009

I. Introduction.

As is well known, few localities are so productive of well-preserved Liassic ammonites as the cliffs at Lyme Regis and Charmouth. They have furnished a considerable proportion of the types of Lower Liassic ammonites created nearly a century ago in ‘The Mineral Conchology of Great Britain,’ and one of these types, fortunately one of those the figures of which were good enough to allow of correct interpretation by later authors, is
Ammonites loscombi
J. Sowerby (1817). During a prolonged investigation of the Liassic succession at Charmouth, Mr. W. D. Lang (1913) has collected abundant fossil material with particular reference to its exact stratigraphical horizon, and I am indebted to him for permission to study the ammonites. In this material,
Tragophylloceras loscombi
is represented by hundreds of specimens (chiefly young), and a study of the ontogeny of that interesting ammonite forms the basis of the present paper. The bearing of certain important facts brought out in this study upon the phylogeny of the genus
Tragophylloceras
, and the speculations on the connexion of the latter with allied lineages, will prove, it is hoped, of general interest.

Sowerby stated that his ammonite came from the ‘Blue Lias,’ but gave no further details. The type-specimen, which is preserved in the British Museum (Geological Department, No. 33425), shows the bluish limestone-matrix, iridescent pearly layer, and general mode of preservation of the specimen figured by Wright (1880) (B.M. C 2205) and stated to be a ‘very characteristic fossil of the “Green Ammonite Bed,” Middle
The Sequence of Lavas at the North Head, Otago Harbour, Dunedin (New Zealand)
Authors: Marshall Patrick
Published: October 2009

I. General Geology.

The North Head of Otago Harbour is situated in lat. 45° 47′ 30″ S. and in 170° 45′ long. E. It is 13 miles distant from the city of Dunedin, in a north-easterly direction. The head is a precipitous cliff facing nearly due east in its southern portion; but, bending slightly westwards in its northern portion, it runs from south 15° east to north 15° west, and therefore in this portion faces 15° to the north of east.

The cliff has an altitude of 530 feet at its highest point almost in the middle of the section, and throughout its length it is more than 300 feet high, except at the southern end, where it slopes somewhat gradually to the sand-hills which skirt its base. The lower part of the southern end of the cliff is partly obscured by scree-slopes and blown sand, and for 200 yards from its northern extremity the lower part of the cliff is hidden beneath an immense slip. Elsewhere, for a length of a mile and a half, the cliff presents a surface that is almost perpendicular, and it thus affords a remarkably clear section nearly bare of vegetation and quite free from all those difficulties of interpretation that are always associated with folding and faulting. This cliff was briefly mentioned in a previous paper of mine, published in the Quarterly Journal of this Society in 1906 (vol. lxii, p. 417). In this description the general nature of the succession was indicated.
The Evolution of the Liparoceratidæ
Authors: Trueman Arthur Elijah
Published: October 2009

I. Introduction.

The ammonites dealt with in this paper are characteristic of the uppermost zones of the Lower Lias (Charmouthian), and they are of three general types, namely:—

(1)

A Capricorn form, evolute slender whorls (serpenticone) with stout simple ribs.

(2)

An involute form with swollen whorls (sphærocone), bituberoulate, generally known as
A. striatus
or
A. bechei
.

(3)

A form intermediate between these two, with Capricorn inner whorls, the outer whorl swollen, with more numerous slender ribs bearing two rows of tubercles (usually known as
A. heterogenes
).

In order to name some ammonites collected at Lincoln, apparently similar to those called
A. striatus
, the relationships of these types were studied; it presently became clear that the classification of these ammonites, and the correlation of the beds in which they occur, needed to be considerably revised, and that such a revision must be preceded by an investigation of all available ammonites composing the family Liparoceratidæ. With this in view, a large number of these fossils was collected from practically all the English exposures, their precise horizons were noted, and developmental and sutural evidence was examined. The present paper includes the main results of this work. Several new specific names are proposed, but only where this is necessary to define a series: future work may show that many of the intermediate forms mentioned must also receive separate names, but, as this paper is mainly concerned with establishing the lineages and their geological ranges,
A Report on some Karroo Reptiles from the Luangwa Valley, Northern Rhodesia
Authors: Boonstra Lieuwe D.
Published: October 2009

Towards the end of 1935 Dr. F. Dixey was kind enough to send to me for identification 48 cases of fossils which he had collected in the Luangwa Valley, Northern Rhodesia.

As a whole, the collection is disappointing. This is partly due to the difficult conditions under which Dr. Dixey had to collect and to the nature of the fossilization. Dr. Dixey describes the former in his paper on the upper Luangwa Valley (
Q.J.G.S.
xciii, p. 66).

As to the nature of the fossilization, the specimens I have examined appear to indicate that most of the skeletons were disarticulated and scattered over small mudflats. Around the bones a fine mud collected, to form nodules of varying sizes. These nodules are composed of an extremely intractable, fine-grained, ferruginous mudstone, which is difficult to remove from the bone. Almost always, the surface of the bone also is removed when attempting to chip the matrix away. The result is that in most cases it has not been possible to trace the majority of the sutures of the skulls. Further work in this area may reveal localities where the fossils are contained, not in nodules, but in the softer country rock, from which better preserved and more easily preparable specimens can be obtained. Nevertheless, palaeontologists will be grateful to Dr. Dixey for his discovery of a new locality yielding Karroo reptiles.

Owing to the nature of the material, I am dealing with the specimens in numerical order, using Dr. Dixey's field numbers, but omitting
The Upper Khirthar beds of North-West India
Authors: Davies Lewis Merson
Published: October 2009

I. Introduction

The type locality for the Upper Khirthar beds of India is the “Spin tangi” (or “white gorge”), a ravine traversing a prominent ridge in north-eastern Baluchistan; so it may be as well to recall the main facts regarding the Eocene sequence there, which was said by R. D. Oldham (1890b, pp. 94–6; 1892, pp. 21–4) to consist, in ascending order, of Dunghan Limestone, Ghazij Shales and the Spintangi Group.

This designation does not seem to be applicable to an Eocene formation. It first appears on a map (Oldham 1890a, facing p. 58), where an area largely composed of Cretaceous outcrops is coloured as “Dunghan Limestone”. Similarly, when first described in the text (1890b, p. 94), this limestone is said to form “the greater portion, if not the whole” of Dunghan Hill, and to be from 1500 to 1800 feet in thickness. Dunghan Hill appears to be entirely composed of Mesozoic rocks; and the “Dunghan Limestone” probably represents the whole Cretaceous sequence following the Neocomian belemnite bed, and may range from the Turonian to the Maestrichtian inclusive. The Geological Survey of India seems to have accepted Dunghan Hill as the type area for this formation (
vide
Holland and Tipper 1913–6, p. 46), and referred it to the Cretaceous. Oldham himself stated that the Dunghan Limestone contains “characteristically cretaceous forms” such as “
Crioceras, Baculites
and
Ammonites
” (1893, p. 291); while the supposed “nummulites” in it, to which Oldham (
loc. cit.
) and Griesbach (1893, p. 115) referred, were afterwards said by
Pleistocene gravels of the Cotswold sub-edge plain from Mickleton to the Frome Valley
Authors: Tomlinson Mabel E.
Published: October 2009

I. Introduction

The district with which this paper is concerned is defined by the rivers Avon and Severn on the north and west and by the escarpment of the Cotswolds from Mickleton to the Frome valley on the east.

In the north of the area, the low ground or sub-edge plain which lies between the hills and the Avon is broken by Bredon Hill. This hill is an outlier of the Cotswolds capped by Inferior Oolite and separated from the main escarpment by a broad vale of Lower Lias clay some six miles wide in the north, between Ashton under Hill and Broadway, but narrower towards the southern end, where the outliers of Dumbleton Hill (Middle and Upper Lias) and Oxenton Hill (Middle and Upper Lias with a small capping of Inferior Oolite) occupy some of the space between Bredon Hill and the escarpment. The north and east of this vale is drained northwards by a small stream, the Isbourne, which rises south of Winchcomb and joins the Avon at Evesham. The Carrant and Tirle brooks drain the south-west part of the vale on the south side of Bredon Hill and join the Avon near Tewkesbury.

South of Tewkesbury, the sub-edge plain varies from about three to seven miles in breadth and is broken by the Upper and Middle Lias outliers of Churchdown Hill and Robin's Wood Hill. Numerous small streams drain from the Cotswolds to the Severn, the largest being the river Frome, which flows through Stroud to join
A Prolongation of the Postspike Afterhyperpolarization Following Spike Trains Can Partly Explain the Lower Firing Rates at Derecruitment Than Those at Recruitment
Authors: Wienecke J. , Zhang M. , Hultborn H.
Published: October 2009

The original motivation for this study was the observation in previous human experiments that the motor neuron firing frequency (recorded from the motor units in the EMG) was lower at derecruitment than that at recruitment, with slow linearly varying voluntary contractions. Are the lower firing rates at derecruitment correlated with a change in the postspike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) after preceding spike trains? This question was investigated by intracellular recordings from cat motor neurons in both unanesthetized and anesthetized preparations. The firing frequencies at recruitment and derecruitment were compared during slow triangular current injections mimicking the slow linearly varying voluntary contractions in humans. There was a lower frequency at derecruitment in almost all motor neurons (83 of 86 motor neurons; mean = 3.35 Hz). Thus intrinsic mechanisms play an important role for the lower frequencies at derecruitment. This was independent of whether the current injection had activated persistent inward current (PIC; plateau potentials, secondary range firing). It was found that a preceding spike train could prolong the AHP duration following a subsequent spike. The lower rate at derecruitment matches the prolongation of the AHP. However, a quantitative comparison between the lowest firing frequency and AHP duration for individual motor neurons reveal that the predicted lowest firing frequency does not match the absolute AHP duration; the lowest frequency is lower than that predicted from AHP duration in fast motoneurons and higher than expected in slow motoneurons. It is suggested that these deviations are explained by the presence of synaptic noise as well as recruitment of PICs below firing threshold. Thus synaptic noise may allow spike discharge even after the end of the AHP in “fast” motor neurons, whereas synaptic noise and PICs below spike threshold tend to give higher minimum firing frequencies in “slow” motor neurons than predicted from AHP duration.
On the Differential Operators with Periodic Matrix Coefficients
Authors: Veliev O. A.
Published: October 2009

We obtain asymptotic formulas for eigenvalues
and eigenfunctions of the operator generated by a
system of ordinary differential equations with
summable coefficients and quasiperiodic boundary
conditions. Then by using these asymptotic formulas,
we find conditions on the coefficients for which the number of
gaps in the spectrum of the self‐adjoint differential operator
with the periodic matrix coefficients is finite.
Distinct MicroRNA Alterations Characterize High- and Low-Grade Bladder Cancer
Authors: Catto James W.F. , Miah Saiful , Owen Helen C. , Bryant Helen , Myers Katie , Dudziec Ewa , Larré Stéphane , Milo Marta , Rehman Ishtiaq , Rosario Derek J. , Di Martino Erica , Knowles Margaret A. , Meuth Mark , Harris Adrian L. , Hamdy Freddie C.
Published: October 2009

Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCC) is a common disease that arises by at least two different molecular pathways. The biology of UCC is incompletely understood, making the management of this disease difficult. Recent evidence implicates a regulatory role for microRNA in cancer. We hypothesized that altered microRNA expression contributes to UCC carcinogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we examined the expression of 322 microRNAs and their processing machinery in 78 normal and malignant urothelial samples using real-time rtPCR. Genes targeted by differentially expressed microRNA were investigated using real-time quantification and microRNA knockdown. We also examined the role of aberrant DNA hypermethylation in microRNA downregulation. We found that altered microRNA expression is common in UCC and occurs early in tumorogenesis. In normal urothelium from patients with UCC, 11% of microRNAs had altered expression when compared with disease-free controls. This was associated with upregulation of Dicer, Drosha, and Exportin 5. In UCC, microRNA alterations occur in a tumor phenotype–specific manner and can predict disease progression. High-grade UCC were characterized by microRNA upregulation, including microRNA-21 that suppresses p53 function. In low-grade UCC, there was downregulation of many microRNA molecules. In particular, loss of microRNAs-99a/100 leads to upregulation of FGFR3 before its mutation. Promoter hypermethylation is partly responsible for microRNA downregulation. In conclusion, distinct microRNA alterations characterize UCC and target genes in a pathway-specific manner. These data reveal new insights into the disease biology and have implications regarding tumor diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. [Cancer Res 2009;69(21):8472–81]
Quality of Life Improvements Attributed to Combination Therapy with Oral and Topical Mesalazine in Mild-to-Moderately Active Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Connolly M.P. , Poole C.D. , Currie C.J. , Marteau P. , Nielsen S.K.
Published: October 2009

Background/Aim: To investigate patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in data collected from a multinational randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing oral mesalazine (4 g) + topical mesalazine enema (1 g) to oral mesalazine alone (4 g). Methods: HRQoL was collected using the EQ-5D at baseline and weeks 2, 4 and 8. The EQ-5D assesses mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Scores from each dimension were reported individually, and converted into a weighted health state which reflects an individual’s perception of their health condition. Results: At week 4, a significant HRQoL improvement was observed for patients on mesalazine enemas compared to placebo enemas, with EQ-5D scores of 0.906 and 0.838, respectively (p < 0.05). Mesalazine enema was found to reduce the probability of impairment at week 4 for mobility (p = 0.049) and anxiety/depression (p = 0.048), and was of borderline significance for pain/discomfort (p = 0.053); there was also an increased probability of influencing HRQoL changes for mobility (p < 0.005), usual activities (p < 0.005), pain/discomfort (p < 0.005) and anxiety/depression (p < 0.005), based on reported HRQoL problems at baseline. Conclusions: Including 1 g mesalazine enemas with 4 g oral mesalazine significantly improved HRQoL in patients with active ulcerative colitis. The improvement in QoL of patients with UC preceded clinical remission, and this underlines the importance of including QoL instruments in clinical studies.
Narrow Band Imaging Applied to Pleuroscopy for the Assessment of Vascular Patterns of the Pleura
Authors: Ishida Atsuko , Ishikawa Fuzuki , Nakamura Miho , Miyazu Yuka M. , Mineshita Masamichi , Kurimoto Noriaki , Koike Junki , Nishisaka Takashi , Miyazawa Teruomi , Astoul Philippe
Published: October 2009

Background: Narrow band imaging (NBI), which enhances blood vessels, is a new endoscopic technology for diagnosing malignancies, but it has not been investigated for pleuroscopy. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of NBI applied to pleuroscopy for detecting malignant lesions by assessing vascular patterns of the pleura. Methods: From May 2006 to September 2008, 45 patients with undiagnosed pleural ef-fusion underwent pleuroscopy using a pleura-videoscope with white light (WL) and NBI under local anesthesia. For this prospective study, 73 biopsy specimens were obtained from sites where images under both WL and NBI were recorded and classified regarding vascular patterns. Results: Of the 73 lesions, WL showed blood vessels in 32 lesions, and NBI in 52 lesions (WL vs. NBI; p = 0.0014). The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in the detection of irregular vascular patterns, e.g. blood vessels with irregular caliber or punctate vessels indicating malignant lesions, were 60.3, 76.5 and 55.4% in WL, and 80.8, 85.3 and 76.9% in NBI, respectively, resulting in a significant increase in NBI (p = 0.0106 for accuracy and p = 0.0494 for specificity). For flat lesions, NBI revealed a higher accuracy rate (90.6%) in the detection of irregular vascular patterns indicating malignant lesions. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that NBI applied to pleuroscopy displayed blood vessels significantly better than WL. NBI was useful to detect irregular vascular patterns suggesting malignant lesions, especially for flat lesions. Therefore, NBI was considered useful in the selection of optimal biopsy sites by assessing vascular patterns.
Circumscribed Pilary Dysembryoplasia of the Palms
Authors: Camacho F. , Cámpora R.G.
Published: October 2009

The published 9th case of circumscribed pilary dysembryoplasia of the palms is presented. Differences between this case and Becker’s pigmented hairy nevus, congenital smooth muscle hamartoma, circumscribed acquired hypertrichosis and pigmented nevus are discussed.
Photodermatitis Due to Nifedipine: Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Zenarola P. , Gatti S. , Lomuto M.
Published: October 2009

We describe 2 cases of severe photosensitivity dermatitis following the use of nifedipine for arterial hypertension. In both cases casual rechallenge with nifedipine confirmed that this drug was the causative agent.
Persistent Light Reaction Associated with Photoallergic Contact Dermatitis to Musk Ambrette and Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Fragrance Mix
Authors: Megahed M. , Hölzle E. , Plewig G.
Published: October 2009

A 57-year-old man suffering from persistent light reaction with photocontact allergy to musk ambrette and contact allergy to fragrance mix was evaluated. A lowered minimal erythema dose to UV-B (MED-UV-B) was seen. Reactions to long-wave UV-A and visible radiation were normal. A skin biopsy from one MED-UV-B, taken 24 h after irradiation, showed acute spongiotic dermatitis.
IgA Pemphigus foliaceus: A Case Report
Authors: Zillikens D. , Miller K. , Hartmann A.A. , Burg G.
Published: October 2009

An 84-year-old male with a 4-week history of vesiculobullous eruptions was diagnosed clinically and pathologically to suffer from pemphigus foliaceus. Amazingly, direct immunofluorescence demonstrated intercellular IgA deposits in the whole epidermis. The patient did not respond to a regimen of fluocortolone and azathioprine but rapidly improved under dapsone. The few reported dermatoses with intraepidermal IgA deposits do not form a homogeneous group. In the following, their spectrum will be outlined. It is important to distinguish these dermatoses from IgG pemphigus, since they require a different therapy.
Treatment of Pemphigus vulgaris with Ciclosporin
Authors: Bondesson L. , Hammar H.
Published: October 2009

Treatment of a few severe cases of pemphigus vulgaris with ciclosporin has been reported. We describe a patient with pemphigus vulgaris of more than 3 years’ duration who did not respond to prednisolone treatment in high doses nor plasmapheresis or pulse therapy with methylprednisolone. When therapy with ciclosporin (5.0 mg/kg/day) in combination with prednisolone (1.4 mg/kg/day) was given, clinical improvement was present after 1 week, and almost complete remission was seen after 11 weeks. We did not observe any side effects during 1 year of treatment except hypertrichosis and hypomagnesemia.
Melagenina
Authors: Nordlund James J. , Haider Rebat
Published: October 2009

The placenta should be an excellent source of factors which might be efficacious in the treatment of vitiligo. Proof, however, for that hypothesis is lacking. Numerous claims have been made about Melagenina. It would appear to be nontoxic if we were to assume that the medication does not contain infectious agents. The ease of application certainly is of value for patients with vitiligo who wish to try some therapy for their disease. Practically, it is very costly to travel to Cuba and to export Melagenina. The cost of shipping on airplanes plus import duties make the price very high. Unfortunately the inconvenience of the travel and the costs cannot necessarily be offset by the claims to efficacy. The biochemistry, assays for biological activity and the pharmacology studies as reported do not stand up to rigorous and acceptable scientific standards. The medication clearly needs further and intensive study. Now that the barriers between countries are being dismantled, it is hoped that the Cuban team will be able to travel to other laboratories outside of Cuba where they can continue animal studies as well as studies on melanocytes growing in culture. In addition, it is hoped that they will be able to share more about the pharmacology, the chemistry, the isolation and other chemical properties of the medication. These results can be published and will stand up to scrutiny by the world’s medical and scientific community. Until that time, patients and their physicians must recognize the uncertain quality of the claims as well as the high financial cost and potential risk of using Melagenina either within or outside of Cuba.
Syringoacanthoma: An Acrosyringeal Tumour
Authors: Myskow Michael W. , Gawkrodger David J. , O’Doherty Conor St.J. , McLaren Kathryn M.
Published: October 2009

Syringoacanthoma is a rare benign appendage tumour derived from the intraepidermal portion of the acrosyringium. We report its occurrence in 3 women. In each case the tumour clinically most resembled a seborrhoeic keratosis. Its importance histopathologically lies in the need to differentiate it from conditions such as malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, intraepidermal carcinoma, Paget’s disease and metastasis, which may all show intraepidermal spread.
Lichen planus Induced by Flunarizine
Authors: Suys E. , De Coninck A. , De Pauw I. , Roseeuw D.
Published: October 2009

A 56-year-old man developed lichen planus while taking flunarizine, a di-fluorinated derivate of cinnarizine. Induction of lichen planus by cinnarizine therapy has been described but the precise etiopathological mechanism is unclear. Although flunarizine is widely prescribed, lichen planus induced (?) by this drug has, to our knowledge, never been reported.
Diseased Skin Models in the Hairless Guinea Pig: in vivo Percutaneous Absorption
Authors: Moon K.C. , Wester R.C. , Maibach H.I.
Published: October 2009

We observed hydrocortisone and benzoic acid absorption in relation to experimentally induced in vivo damaged skin models in the hairless guinea pig. Radioactivity of the drugs in urine was calculated as absorbed dose. Both drugs have different patterns of excretion in urine. D amaging the skin abolished some barrier function and increased the absorption of both model drugs. With cellophane-tape-stripped skin, the absorption was increased 3 times and 2 times for each drug, respectively. Irritation with 2% sodium lauryl sulfate increased absorption by a ratio of 2–4 times. Defatting with chloroform/methanol (2:1) mixture increased absorption to the greatest extent (5- and 2.7-fold). The possible mechanism of a delipidization effect was considered in view of a visible skin lesion and inflammatory reaction. Precautions are proposed for those with damaged/diseased skin in dealing with topical medications or handling solvents.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma: Retrospective Study of 67 Cases with the Classical Form
Authors: Friedman-Birnbaum Rachel , Weltfriend Sara , Katz Ilan
Published: October 2009

The records of 67 Israeli patients with classical Kaposi’s sarcoma treated at Rambam Medical Center were analyzed retrospectively for clinical and laboratory data. As expected, all except 1 patient were of Jewish origin. There was a male predominance with a ratio of 2.2:1. The age of onset was mostly during the 5th to 7th decades of life. The course of the disease was usually slow and indolent. As has been already noted, we found a higher frequency of diabetes mellitus (16.4%). Although a high frequency of second primary malignancy was seen in our patients, this was less so than that described in an American series, 15% as compared to 37% respectively. The most frequent second malignancy was that of the lymphoreticular system. No serologic evidence for an association with types of herpes virus infection has been found. No alterations in humoral and cellular immunity were demonstrated. These data show similar clinical findings with those described in other series, besides the lower frequency of a second primary malignancy. Some discordance with that described before concerning the relationship with cytomegalovirus infection and Tcells subsets was also noted.
A Case of Quadrantic Capillaropathy
Authors: Higgins E.M. , Cox N.H.
Published: October 2009

A case of transient pigmented purpuric dermatosis in an unusual segmental distribution is presented, and possible aetiological factors discussed.
A Vegetating Variety of Pemphigus foliaceus
Authors: Takemiya Masataka , Shiraishi Satoshi , Miki Yoshiharu
Published: October 2009

A 77-year-old man was seen with florid, vegetating nodules in the umbilical, axillary and inguinal areas, scaly erythema in the trunk and fragile nails. Histologically, marked to moderate acanthosis and papillomatosis with intraepidermal abscesses composed of acantholytic cells eosinophils and neutrophils were seen in the vegetating lesions which showed intercellular IgG deposit by the direct immunofluorescence technique. There were no circulating pemphigus antibodies. The lesions were successfully treated by topical corticosteroids. However, flaccid bullae with hypopyon showing subcorneal acantholysis and intercellular IgG deposits continued to develop. After 31/2 years, circulating pemphigus antibody of IgG2 subclass was demonstrated.
Antiphospholipid Antibodies and Necrotizing Purpura
Authors: Naldi Luigi , Marchesi Lorenzo , Finazzi Guido , Locati Francesco , Cainelli Tullio
Published: October 2009

A 30-year-old woman with recurrent necrotizing purpura on the legs which did not fit, to our knowledge, within any distinctive pathological entity, is described. Laboratory investigations disclosed a mild thrombocytopenia and antiphospholipid antibodies, i.e. lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin. Cutaneous lesions maybe an early marker of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
Hypotrichosis with Keratosis pilaris: Electrophoretical Study of Hair Fibrous Proteins from a Patient
Authors: Dekio S. , Nagashima T. , Watanabe Y. , Jidoi J.
Published: October 2009

S-carboxymethylated (SCM) fibrous proteins from the scalp hair of a patient with hypotrichosis with keratosis pilaris (HTKP) and from that of a normal individual were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis. One SCM fibrous protein component was different electrophoretically in the HTKP patient. It is suggested that the brittleness of the HTKP hair might result from this alteration of the fibrous protein composition of the hair.
Frequency of Acquired Melanonevocytic Nevi and Their Relationship to Skin Complexion in 939 Schoolchildren
Authors: Sigg Christian , Pelloni Francesco
Published: October 2009

In 939 schoolchildren aged 8–16 years skin complexion was determined by a system of seven categories. Anamnestic data concerning tanning ability and history of sunburns, however, were not considered owing to their obvious unreliability in children. Mean nevus count was 17.97 was significantly higher in boys than in girls and increased with age. There was a clear relation of mean nevus number and skin complexion: in fair skin type nevi are most frequent decreasing in number by increasing of pigment content. Additionally, children with freckles have higher mean nevus count in every category of skin complexion. All literature data critically reviewed as dealing with mean mole count are not comparable in several respects. In different races however such studies may serve as a basis for subsequent investigations concerning the questions of probably increasing number of melanonevocytic nevi.
Influence of Topically Applied Betamethasone-17-Valerate on Cell Cycle Kinetics of Human Anagen Hair Determined by DNA Flow Cytometry
Authors: Schell H. , Kiesewetter F. , Pausch C. , Arai A. , Katsuoka K. , Hornstein O.P.
Published: October 2009

In 47 healthy volunteers betamethasone-17-valerate (0.1% solution and cream) was topically applied twice daily on the scalp skin. After 7 and 14 days treatment, anagen hairs were plucked in each volunteer from both treated and untreated contralateral scalp areas. Cell cycle analysis of plucked anagen hairs was performed by means of DNA flow cytometry. Already after topical betamethasone-17-valerate application for 7 days, cell kinetic changes were found showing a slightly significant decrease of S and G2 + M cell percentages and a significant increase of G₀/1 cell percentages. The present study demonstrates the possibilities of DNA flow cytometry to study the pharmacological effects on cell kinetics of plucked human anagen hairs.
Polymorphonuclear Leucocyte Chemotaxis in Response to Leukotriene B4 in Treated and Untreated Psoriatics
Authors: Green C.M. , Ferguson J. , MacLeod T.M. , Millar B.W. , Raffle E.J.
Published: October 2009

Various chemoattractants have been implicated in the aetiology of the polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) migration into the epidermis seen in early lesions of psoriasis. Using an underagarose technique, the in vitro chemotactic responses of PMN to the arachidonic acid lipoxygenase product leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were assayed in five groups of subjects: normal healthy volunteers (n = 12), untreated psoriatics (n = 11) and psoriatics treated with topical tar (n = 12), PUVA (n = 11) and UVB phototherapy (n = 10). No significant difference was observed between the responses of control subjects and of untreated psoriatics, nor between the untreated psoriatic group and the PUVA- and UVB-treated groups, respectively. However, comparison of the tar-treated and untreated groups revealed a significantly increased chemotactic response to LTB4 in the tar-treated group (p < 0.01).
Lethal Course of X-Linked Dominant Chondrodysplasia punctata in a Male Newborn
Authors: De Raeve L. , Song M. , De Dobbeleer G. , Spehl M. , Van Regemorter° N.
Published: October 2009

We report a newborn with some manifestations of chondrodysplasia punctata. Additional abnormalities were hydrocephalus, bilateral syndactyly of the fourth and fifth fingers and toes, absence of the middle phalanx of all toes, hypoplasia of the second and third phalanges of all fingers and cryptorchidism.This observation suggests that we are possibly dealing with a rare male case of X-linked dominant chondrodysplasia punctata.
Metastatic Malignant Melanoma Arising from a Common Blue Nevus in a Patient with Subacute Cutaneous Lupus erythematosus
Authors: Modly Charlotte , Wood Colin , Horn Thomas
Published: October 2009

We describe a 66-year-old black male who first presented with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) and was later found to have malignant melanoma adjacent to a common blue nevus. The melanoma was located on the left buttock and in several left inguinal lymph nodes. Following complete resection and lymph node dissection the patient developed widespread leukoderma. To our knowledge this is the first report of malignant melanoma arising in a common blue nevus. The literature on SCLE and leukoderma in the setting of melanoma is reviewed.
Atypical Scleroderma Associated with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Nakanishi H. , Takehara K. , Soma Y. , Ishibashi Y.
Published: October 2009

A case of atypical scleroderma associated with multiple myeloma is reported. The patient was a 50-year-old male; morphea-like plaques with brownish pigmentation were scattered on the whole body and sclerodactylia-like changes, contracture of fingers and polymyositis were observed. Histological findings in the sclerotic lesions were consistent with scleroderma. One year later, M-protein (IgG, κ-chain) appeared in the serum and 3 years from the onset, the patient was diagnosed as multiple myeloma by bone marrow examination. It is speculated that abnormal immunological reactions related to multiple myeloma caused scleroderma-like lesions.
Merkel Cell Hyperplasia in Hypertrophic Varieties of Actinic Keratoses
Authors: Merot Y. , Mooy A.
Published: October 2009

Hyperplasia and dysplasia of the epidermal neuroendocrine cells (i.e., Merkel cells, MC) have been suggested in lesional skin of actinic keratosis and chronic radiation dermatitis. Because several histological types of actinic keratosis exist, we investigated the occurrence of such MC hyperplasia according to each of the histological patterns. Using an immunoperoxidase technique and the cytokeratin monoclonal antibody CAM 5.2, we counted 0.02 CAM 5.2 + cells (i.e. MC)/mm epidermis in normal-appearing perilesional skin; 0.05 MC/mm epidermis in nonhypertrophic actinic keratoses and 4.09 MC/mm epidermis in hypertrophic actinic keratoses. This number was as high as 14.40 MC/mm epidermis when hypertrophic actinic keratoses showed club-like epithelial proliferations. In contrast to normal epidermis, where MC were found isolated within the basal cell layer, MC clustered in these club-like epithelial proliferations as they did in the normal parakeratotic zone of the rabbit lip epithelium. The significance of this selective MC hyperplasia is discussed.
Value of Looking at Leukocytes in Every Case of Ichthyosis
Authors: Wolf Ronni , Zaritzky Aharon , Pollak Shlomo
Published: October 2009

A three-year old patient had ichthyosis and neutral lipid storage disease (Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome), characterized by congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma and leukocyte vacuoles. He did not show any of the internal system involvement that was found in previously described cases. Patients with this syndrome demonstrate a great variability of clinical involvement. The affliction may be very mild as in our case or it may lead to rapid death, as with the patient’s brother born a Harlequin baby, who only survived 5 days. Because of this wide spectrum of clinical variability mild cases might escape diagnosis. It is, therefore, suggested that every case of ichthyosis should have a peripheral blood smear evaluation with special attention to the morphology of the leukocytes. Our case clearly demonstrates the value of such a screening examination. Although the patient had been under treatment for almost 3 years, only screening examination of blood smears of all the patients with ichthyosis finally led to the correct diagnosis.
Detection of a Human Papilloma Virus Type 5 DNA in a Renal Allograft Patient from Scotland
Authors: Rüdlinger René , Bunney Mary H. , Smith Isobel W. , Hunter John A.A.
Published: October 2009

A renal allograft recipient with small raised red scaly lesions on a forearm is described. The clinical and histological picture was that of similar lesions reported in some epidermodysplasia verruciformis patients. Virological investigations revealed the presence of human papilloma virus type 5; this is the second report of the occurrence of this type in allograft patients. As human papilloma virus type 5 is known to have malignant potential, clinicans should be on the lookout for these banal-looking and distinctly non-warty lesions in renal transplant recipients. Close follow-up is indicated.
Generalized Eruptive Pustular Drug Rash due to Cephalexin
Authors: Jackson H. , Vion B. , Levy P.M.
Published: October 2009

A 38-year-old woman developed a generalized pustular eruption 18 h after taking an oral cephalosporin (cephalexin). After having excluded other possible pustular dermatoses, we concluded that our patient’s eruption was drug-induced.
In vivo Cross-Sectional Ultrasonic Imaging of Human Skin
Authors: Querleux Bernard , Lévêque Jean-Luc , de Rigal Jean
Published: October 2009

This paper describes a new experimental set-up allowing routine cross-sectional ultrasonic images of human skin to be obtained in vivo and presents the first high-resolution images it gives. This system is characterized by the utilization of damped, high-frequency ultrasonic transducers. This type of transducer is longitudinally driven along the skin by a stepping motor under the control of a computer, which at the same time stores the digitized reflected signals. After the acquisition sequence, the image of the skin is displayed on a video monitor after data processing of the ultrasonic signals. On the images thus obtained, fascia, hypodermis, reticular dermis, pilosebaceous units, and adventitial dermis can be visualized. Due to a lack of resolution (about 80 μm) epidermis can only be viewed on certain zones like the hand.