Proliferative changes of epidermal cells in lesions of cutaneous leishamaniasis

In 35 parasitologically proven zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, the histopathological and immunohistochemical picture were studied. The haematoxylin and eosin stain, the monoclonal antibodies for T and B lymphocytes, peroxidase anti-peroxidase for P53 protein, and Feulgen staining for DNA imaging cytometry to DNA contents and S-phase [DNA synthesis of cycling cells were evaluated. The out-come results revealed that P53 and S-phase fraction and DNA content must be in mind when dealing with a human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Consequently, the early detection of any nuclear mutation and cellular proliferation in the skin leishmaniasis lesion[s] must be taken into consideration to avoid the miserable formation of the skin cancer

Keratosis lichenoides chronica: lichen planus variant or disease entity? Clinical, immunohistopathological and electron microscopic study

The aim of this work was to perform a comparative, clinical, routine, histologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study on 4 cases of keratosis lichenoides chronica [KLC] and 12 cases of lichen planus [LP] to see whether KLC is a variant of LP or is a distinct entity. The clinical findings in the studied KLC cases showed keratotic violaceous papules and psoriasiform plaques. The histopathological findings showed lichenoid and spongiotic pattern of inflammation. The electron microscopic findings showed many degenerating keratinocytes that culminate in the colloid bodies. Also, colloid bodies were seen between collagen bundles. The horny layer was thickened and showed parakeratotic lamella that appeared as corneocytes containing lipid droplets. In conclusion, KLC is most probably a special entity with characteristic clinical and immunohistological features different from LP, although some points of interest are similar between them

Eucalyptus globulus [camphor oil] in the treatment of human demodicidosis

Demodex folliculorum [follicular or demodicid mite] is a zoonotic obligatory parasite with clinical manifestations ranged from normal infestation to complicated ones. Treatment of human facial demodicidosis with freshly prepared camphor oil with or without glycerol dilutions gave complete cure with concentrations of 100%, 75% and 50%. Incomplete cure, but marked drop in infestation density was achieved with diluted camphor oil at concentrations 25-20%. Camphor oil application proved to be safe with no side effects

Ant allergy in Benha district Qualyobia governorate, Egypt

Individuals from Banha City and some adjacent villages were presented with various degrees of skin allergy. Children spending the night sleeping on the floor were suffered from generalized lymphadenopathy with or without fever. The patients were successfully treated with carbolic acid [1:25]. Oral anti-histamine [H1] and systemic antibiotics were indicated in the complicated cases. In the concrete houses of the patients, a huge number of the large ants [mainly Catagliphus bicolar] were found. Spreading or burning dried leaves of camphor tree proved to be effective against the ants. Discussion also focused on the medical importance of ants

Toxocara canis as a cause of chronic urticaria

93 patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and 62 apparently healthy controls were investigated by ELISA for the presence of Toxocara antibodies in their sera as well as for eosinophilic blood count after taking complete history and thorough clinical examination. All were proved to be free of any other parasitic infections. Results showed the presence of Toxocara antibodies in 58.1% of chronic urticaria patients with a highly significant association between the two diseases. Hepatomegaly and eosinophilia were the most related manifestations. Treatment of 10 patients with mebendazole resulted in complete cure of urticaria in 4 patients, improvement in 3 and no benefit in 3