Ann Dermatol Vener
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Historical Article
[Preservation of cutaneous structures of egyptian mummies. An ultrastructural study].
The recent development of studies applied to ancient materials may be explained by the application of molecular biology techniques on the extracted ancient DNA mainly the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the ultrasensitive DNA-amplification technique that hit the headlines in the late 1980s. PCR was used to amplify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), genetic material in stored tissue specimens and to document people who died in 1976. In addition, recent discoveries of mummified bodies in ice of the Tyrolean Alps or Greenland allowed a new approach in archeological studies. Mummies are a good material for investigations of ancient tissues. The studies concern the techniques of embalming, tissue preservation and palepathological aspects. In cutaneous paleopathology, mummies from Egypt, South or North America and Europe were considered. Various skin lesions were characterized: histiocytoma, Chagas' disease, smallpox, syphilis. Recently drugs (cocaine, hashish and nicotine) were extracted from skin and head hair of Egyptian mummies. Only a few studies were concerned with the ultrastructure of the skin of such mummies. ⋯ Only a few investigations were performed on the ultrastructure of the skin of the Egyptian mummies. In the majority of cases, the epidermis was not preserved. The present work demonstrates the good preservation of epidermal structures and specially desmosomes and intercellular connections. The presence of spores of bacteria was previously reported. These spores enter a highly resistant resting phase in order to survive in a dormant state for a long period of starvation or other adverse environmental conditions. Similar investigations were performed on skin obtained from Eskimo mummies preserved by the extremely cold and dry polar weather. In these conditions, the authors reported the observation of melanocytes, vessels and nerves. Additionally, biochemical investigations demonstrated the very good preservation of collagen and glycosaminoglycans of the dermal extracellular matrix.
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The occurrence of bullous pemphigoid (BP) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is uncommon. The aetiology is not clear and several abnormalities of the immune system are reported in both pathologies. ⋯ BP was confirmed histologically and immunologically. The therapy with steroids was successful and no recurrence of BP was observed after a six month follow-up.
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We report an unusual complications of prolonged contact with white spirit leading to caustic burns. ⋯ Necrosis of the skin due to prolonged contact with petrol products is well known. Usually due to the delapidating action of dissolved petrol products on the superficial hydrolipid film and subjacent cell membranes. The absence of digestive tract lesions could be explained by the rapid onset of motor diarrhoea which may have limited the time of contact and thus protected the digestive tract mucosa which has a high content of mucopoly-saccharides and a low lipid content.
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Our aim was to assess the frequency of herpetic genital infection (HSV) among men attending a human papillomavirus (HPV) screening centre. Clinical screening of a herpetic lesion was completed with biological detection of HSV by cell culture and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also evaluated the role of the male viral factor on the female partners. ⋯ This study shows that clinical examination in an HPV screening centre enabled detection of clinical HSV in 15.5 p. 100 of cases as opposed to 17 p. 100 biologically. Thus the good clinical-virological correlation shows that clinical criteria remain the principal elements for detecting viral genital infections, it therefore appears advantageous to only use the new HSV identification techniques for targeted detection. Also, herpetic genital infection is independent of human papillomavirus infection. When screening for HPV, herpetic genital infection should be taken into account as we have observed that the female partners of men with both HPV + HSV are at greater risk of presenting high grade cervical lesions.
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A patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia was treated with hydroxyurea and developed longitudinal melanonychia on 10 of 20 nails. Such intense lesions are extremely rare.