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The article presents the summaries of the papers presented at the British Association of Dermatologists Fifty-fourth Annual Meeting, 1974 and Franco-British Reunion. Koilonychia is most commonly seen as a sign of iron deficiency anaemia. It also occurs as an isolated congenital anomaly, as a temporary normal phenomenon in young children and in association with Raynaud's phenomenon. The pruritus of obstructive jaundice is thought to be due to bile salt retention. The correlation between serum bile salt concentration and pruritus is poor however, and so far as we know, the effect of the individual bile salts on the skin has never been tested.

The article focuses on colloid milium which are small translucent yellowish lesions on skin. Samples of colloid materials and collagen and elastin were taken from patients with colloid milium and examined by means of paper chromatography. Hydroxyproline was found to be absent from the colloid and from a mixture of serum proteins or from individual serum protein fractions, but was present in both collagen and elastin. Acidic and basic amino acids were present in elastin and collagen. Glutamic acid was also found to be present in both collagen and elastin.

The effect of 3 different sampling techniques on forehead surface lipid biochemistry was investigated. Samples obtained by either a sponge method or by ether washings contained significantly more free fatty acid and cholesterol and less triglyceride, wax ester and squalene than did samples collected by absorbent papers. The reasons for these differences are discussed and it is suggested that more careful attention to detail is necessary in the sampling and handling of surface lipids before biochemical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technique of Sellotape stripping was used to investigate the role of the stratum corneum in modifying sebum excretion rate and skin surface lipid composition. All experiments were performed on the forehead. The stratum corneum influences the rate of sebum excretion as Sellotape stripping produced a significant increase in sebum excretion rate, but this effect was abolished by systemic antibiotics. Skin surface lipid composition, when sampled by absorbent papers, was not influenced by Sellotape stripping, but when sampled by an ether-soaked sponge after Sellotape stripping, had a lessened epidermal lipid contribution. Thus the stratum corneum modifies skin surface lipid composition when sampled by an organic solvent. Absorbent papers may be preferable to other sampling techniques on the forehead in the investigation of the role of sebaceous biochemical factors in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method introduced by Strauss and Pochi (1961) for measuring the rate of sebum secretion has been critically investigated and a number of sources of error defined. These are choice and preparation of absorbing papers, the technique of sebum collection, weighing, and the ambient humidity. A decrease in the absorbency of the paper during the collection was not found. Modification of the method with careful attention to detail has increased the reproducibility of the results and there is good agreement of the results on both sides of the forehead and in collections made over a 7-week period. The amount of sebum collected in the first 3-hr. period was greater than in subsequent 3-hr, periods but there was a direct linear relationship between the amounts collected in the first 3 hr, and subsequent 3-hr, periods. The view that the method measures the sebum secretion rate is critically discussed in the light of this observation. It is suggested that the amount of sebum collected may be more directly related to the pool of sebum already secreted, Since the size of this pool is related to the rate of sebum secretion the method provides an indirect measure of this function, Until we know more precisely what we are measuring we prefer to use the descriptive term rate of sebum excretion". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on the research paper "Paper Chromatography of the Sweat," by H. Wohnlich. By paper chromatography the author has demonstrated in the sweat all those amino acids found by Corting in skin dialysate and in addition, for the first time, the presence of cystine, methionine, aspartic and glutamic acid and glycine, and the probable presence of proline and oxyproline. The cystine he demonstrates in psoriasis sweat by protracted paper chromatography and a phenol-free solution.

This article presents information related to the sensitization to facial tissues with urea-formaldehyde resin. The soft paper tissues used by women to remove cosmetics are sometimes impregnated with urea-formaldehyde resins to give them greater strength when wet. These resins are potential sensitizers.

The article focuses on a study related to dermatoses among office workers. Thirty-six of 1213 patients with proved industrial dermatitis were office workers. The causes which were developed are--carbon paper, dyes, liquid soap, etc.

This article presents information on a study on the plasma changes in skin diseases by paper chromatography by researchers F. kaiz, P. Telner, J.H. Quastel and S.F. Van Straten. This was a reprint of a paper read at the Tenth International Congress of Dermatology in London in 1952.

The article presents information on a study related to dermatology. The study "Paper Electrophoresis of Serum Proteins in Selected Dermatoses," presents a description of the technique; a comparison of it with that of Tiselius and the findings in 69 patients with dermatomyositis.

The article focuses on medical research related to free amino acids in cantharides blister and serum. Paper chromatography showed the same values in artificial blisters and serum.

Highlights the Joint Meeting of the Dowling Club and the Skin Microbiology Club in Middlesex, England. Participants; Sponsors of the meeting; Venue.

This article presents information on a study which focuses on idiopathic hyperlipemia and primary hypercholesterinaemic xanthomatosis. An intravenous injection of 100 mg. heparin does not alter the electrophoretic appearances in a normal fasting serum. In alimentary, nephrotic and idiopathic hyperlipaemia heparin accelerates the lipoprotein and makes a small fraction of it run ahead even of the albumen. Similar changes are observed in normal sera that have been stored. The particles responsible for the turbidity in alimentary hyperlipaemia all move at the same velocity, namely that of the alpha-globulin, but in the idiopathic condition they have various mobilities. The clearing effect of heparin is attributed to its favouring the binding of lipoids to protein.

A Study has been made of the transepidermal water loss and its sodium and potassium content in normal and psoriatic skin. The results show a preservation of the electrolyte barrier in active psoriasis despite serious impairment of the water barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the occurrence in seven patients of localized ulceration of the lower lip due to the oral administration of various drugs. It is suggested that such ulcers achieve importance by affecting the same area of the lip in the same age group as squamous-cell carcinoma from which they must therefore be distinguished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents abstracts of various research papers related to dermatology published in different journals. In the research paper "Congenital Ectodermal Dysplasia of the Anhidrotic Type," the author describes two families. In the first, ten out of seventy members were affected, four partially and six with the full syndrome, including abnormal dentition and absence of lacrymal secretion. According to the research paper "Observations on the Peripheral Blood-Flow in Chronic Lupus Erythematosus" slight departures from the normal can be demonstrated in the reflex hyperaemia and tissue-turgor changes which take place in the finger on application of heat to the legs.

This article focuses on the joint meeting of European Society for Dermatological Research and the Society for Investigative Dermatology, held in Amsterdam, from May 17-19, 1972. The interest of the meeting was sustained by the uniformly high quality of the papers both as far as content and presentation were concerned. Speakers were concise and fluent and there was a welcome air of professionalism about all the sessions. Many of the papers were on pharmacological topics. There were few papers concerning specific diseases although there was one entitled "Epidermal Kinetics in Lichen Planus."

Presents a letter to the editor about sebaceous gland secretion.

The article presents information about the 2nd Franco-British Reunion organized by the British Association of Dermatology which took place in London, England during July 20-21, 1956. The first day was occupied by eight papers related to dermatology, four of which were read by our French guests and four by British members. The nest morning a clinical meeting was held at Saint Thomas's Hospital at which 41 dermatological cases were demonstrated and afterwards discussed. The principal speakers were dermatologist G. B. Dowling and dermatologist Alice Carleton proposed the health of the guests.

This article reports that the 48th annual meeting of the British Association of Dermatology was held in Aberdeen, Scotland during July 11-13, under the Presidency of T. E. Anderson. The meeting was very well attended and the numerous guests included many members of the Norwegian Dermatological Society, two of whom, Knut Wereide, the President, and H.K. Krogh, presented papers. The papers were read in the comfortable and well appointed lecture theatre of the Department of Chemistry. The number of papers submitted was larger than ever before, reassuring evidence of the vigorous activity in clinical and laboratory research in Great Britain.

The article focuses on the book "Pemphigus: Occupational Dermatoses Due to Chemical Sensitization," edited by E. Liebner and E. Flórián. The book is a collection of 141 papers read at the Congress of the Hungarian Dermatological Society in 1965. The papers are published in English, French, German and Russian. Short summaries in English are provided for the Russian papers but not for those in the other languages. Two main themes are dealt with. Pemphigus and allied disorders and Occupational Dermatoses due to chemical sensitization.

The article presents information on the first international society of tropical dermatology held in Naples, Italy during the week commencing June 8, 1964 in the Palazzo dei Congressi, Mostra d'Ottremare. Two halls were used simultaneously during the Congress, a main hall with very comfortable seating accommodation for one thousand persons and equipment for simultaneous translation into five languages, and a small halt with less comfortable seating and no translators. There were 520 participants from over 50 countries, and altogether about 130 papers were presented. The translators were at times sorely tried by speakers who attempted to read a 30-minute paper in the 10 minutes allowed, and one cannot help but conclude that brevity is foreign to the natures of many of those who speak at international medical congresses.

The article presents information on the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the British Association of Dermatology. The meeting was held in Cambridge, England, on June 24, 25 and 26 under the presidency of C. H. Whittle. Next day morning was devoted to a discussion on patch testing in which papers were read by S.C. Gold, C.D. Calnan, J.B. Lyon, H.T.H. Wilson and Brian Russell. On Saturday morning there was a demonstration of thirty-three clinical cases of varied and considerable interest. Douglas Freshwater was presented with the Golf Challenge Cup which he had wrested from a Scottish holder during the afternoon.

Frictional injury to the skin causes inter- and intra-cellular oedema of the epidermis, and if severe produces membranous rupture and formation of an intra-epidermal blister. The appearances are consistent with direct physical damage to the cells. Both for gripping and for moving, man cannot function without friction between him and his environment. However, if this stress is prolonged or unusually severe, pathological changes occur, culminating in blisters and erosions. Human epidermis subjected to frictional stress has been studied light microscopically (Naylor, 1955; Fukuyama & Cortese, 1968), and autoradiographically (Epstein, Fukuyama & Cortese, 1969), but to date no electron microscopic studies have been published. This paper correlates the light microscopic changes with electron microscopic appearances and contrasts both with those produced by suction (Hunter, McVittie & Comaish, 1974). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes five attacks of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption which occurred during a period of 18 months in a woman with Darier's disease. Herpes simplex virus type 1 was isolated from the lesions in three of the four episodes which were studied in the laboratory and Coxsackievirus type A16 from the remaining attack. It is suggested that Coxsackievirus A16 may be a hitherto overlooked cause of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption. Infection with any one of a number of viruses may be accompanied by vesicular lesions of the skin. Herpes simplex virus and vaccinia virus arc the two most frequently found affecting established skin disease, especially atopic eczema, when the term Kaposi's varicelliform eruption is commonly used to describe the condition. Hyperkeratosis follicularis, Darier's disease, is an uncommon dyskeratosis with a characteristic clinical and histological picture and may be complicated by secondary viral infection. In most of the published reports of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in Darier's disease, herpes simplex virus has either been assumed to be the infecting agent (Bleiberg & Kiosk, 1951; Kesten, 1952; Hitselberger & Burns, 1961) or actually proven to be by virus isolation (von Weiss, Kibrick & Lever, 19655 Doeglas & Moolhuysen, 1969; Izumi & Goldschmidt, 1970). Infection with vaccinia virus has also been recorded (Gerstcin & Shelley, 1960). The purpose of this paper is to report the occurrence of five attacks of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in a patient with Darier's disease within a period of 18 months, together with the virological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the correlation between sebum excretion rate and the severity of acne. Technique for obtaining sebaceous gland sebum; Investigation on the surface lipid composition; Relation between seborrhea and acne vulgaris.

This paper advocates and illustrates the use of a camouflage clinic for patients with embarrassing skin blemishes, especially where severe psychological stress has resulted. The staff of such a clinic should have special training in the techniques employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability of dosage of dapsone required to control dermatitis herpetiformis is well known but unexplained. As a first step in the investigation of this problem this paper describes the results of estimations of serum levels and urinary excretion levels after a single oral dose of 100 mg. 35S dapsone given to patients with and without dermatitis herpetiformis. For comparison the levels were measured by radio-activity and by chemical methods. Radio-chromatographic studies were also carried out to determine the form in which dapsone circulates and is excreted. Autoradiographs of biopsies are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information the history of dermatological journals in Great Britain. The first medical periodicals were published in the seventeenth century and were adaptations of contemporary news-sheets, ephemeral and of limited circulation, designed to serve political or personal rather than scientific ends. The earliest known to have been published in Britain was "Medidna Curiosa," in 1684. The transactions of learned societies and the general medical journals published from their earliest days many papers on dermatology and what are now other specialties. The "Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Diseases of the Skin, A Quarterly Record of Dermatological Science," was published by John Churchill and Sons, of London. For about 20 years after the failure of the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine there was no journal of dermatology in Britain. The "British Journal of Dermatology," which was in its first decade, came as a specialist periodical of that time.

This paper reports the results of a survey carried out using human skin to investigate the distribution of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 16β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase over the skin surface. In common with other work, sebaceous glands were found in greater numbers in the face, scalp and thoracic region. The enzymes occur at all ages, although there was an apparent increase in activity in the 20-30 age group. The enzymes occur in both sexes, although there is a difference with the 17β-HSD, the enzyme occurring more frequently in male skin biopsies. The enzymes occur in all surface areas of the human body and differences from a previous survey are noted. In particular the enzymes are found in the scalp, the perineal region, the arms, legs and abdomen, as well as the face and chest. The difference between the localization of the 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD within sebaceous glands is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the evolution of subungual epidermoid inclusions and discusses their aetiology. They are shown to develop from the tips of the rete ridges by a process of bulbous proliferation. Ultimately they may lose their connection with the epidermis and come to lie deeply within the dermis of the nail bed. Although the lesions are usually microscopic in size they may be large and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nail bed swellings. The aetiology of these lesions is still obscure. They may follow trauma and are found in finger clubbing anti it is probable that different stimuli can produce them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]