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This study was conducted in order to evaluate a possible protective role of seborrheic complexion and a history of acne on the development of basal cell epithelioma (BCE). For this purpose, 77 patients with this tumor were examined and asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic data and questions about skin type, eye and hair colors, sun exposure habits and a past history of acne. The nature, number and location of tumors, the texture of skin and acne scars were noted by a physician. A group of 93 age-, sex- and skin-color-matched patients served as controls. The results show a clear relationship between seborrheic features and a lower risk of developing BCE, after controlling for solar exposure using the Mantel-Haenszel summary measure. The same trend was found in patients with a history of acne. Whether ultraviolet light absorption by sebum, an anticancer activity of Propionibacterium acnes or other factors play a protective role against the development of BCE is as yet unclear.

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 T cells subsets was also noted.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes was evaluated in a group of 13 patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). All patients had a normal T4/T8 ratio, and the disease was confined to the skin of the lower extremities. A group of 5 healthy subjects served as controls. NK cell function was significantly decreased in patients as compared to controls. Our result is similar to that found in another group of patients with AIDS-related KS with lymphadenopathy and an abnormal T4/T8 ratio. This suggests that decreased NK cell function is not a result of a progressive process and might be directly involved in the development of KS.

This is a report on two cases with pemphigus vulgaris effectively controlled by dapsone. In one, dapsone was added to the treatment after a failure of combined prednisone and methotrexate therapy to control the disease completely. It is suggested that dapsone may offer a means in an attempt to minimize adverse reactions met with during the long corticosteroid regimen required in pemphigus.

A patient with a cyclic premenstrual eruption, clearing spontaneously with the menstrual flow, is reported. Hypersensitivity to endogenous progesterone in this case was confirmed by positive intradermal and leukocyte migration inhibition tests. Treatment with conjugated estrogens was followed by remission of symptoms. The importance of awareness to the possibility of progesterone autoimmune mechanisms is emphasized.

This is a report of generalized familial benign chronic pemphigus in a Negro male. The rich staphylococcal and streptococcal flora detected on the skin of this patient may have been a factor in the generalization of the process.

Eosinophilic fasciitis is an additional clinical entity to many others manifested by sclerodermic changes in the skin. A case with this process is reported. It presents vast cutaneous sclerodermic changes associated with eosinophilia, signs of muscular exertion, and a massive inflammatory infiltrate involving the lower part of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue and the muscle fascia. Prednisone therapy was followed by rapid and marked improvement.

Histocompatibility antigens (HL-A) were studied in a family with Behçet's disease (BD). All who had symptoms or signs of BD had either HL-A B5 or BW35, or both. The increased number of families with BD recently reported supports the suggestion that positive family history may assist the diagnosis of BD.

Two cases with pyoderma gangrenosum are presented. The course, in both cases, suggested that immunosuppressive therapy may play an etiological role in the disease. The first was a kidney recipient receiving prednisone and azathioprine and the second, a patient with pemphigus vulgaris who was treated with prednisone and methotrexate.