Supraneal cortisol function in atopic dermatitis

This work was done to study the basal secretory pattern in atopic dermatitis, by determining the basal morning and afternoon plasma cortisol levels and also to study the adrenocortical reserve in those patients using a synthetic Corticotrophin. Thirty cases of atopic dermatitis were included in the study, together with twelve normal controls. They were all subjected to estimation of their cortisol levels in the morning and afternoon and also to the long acting synacthen stimulation test. Our results can be summarized as follows: 1- The basal afternoon and morning plasma cortisol levels were within normal range in atopic dermatitis patients as compared with the normal group. The diurnal rhythm in atopic cases was maintained. 2- After administration of ACTH a statistically significant prolonged rise of plasma cortisol level was seen if compared to the control group. 3- Our results suggest that there may be either a retardation in the metabolic pathway of ACTH in the atopic dermatitis cases which leads to maintained responsiveness of the adrenal cortex, or the suprarenal of the atopic dermatitis cases may be more sensitive to ACTH leading to prolonged responsiveness of the adrenal cortex. However more study of the adrenal cortex in atopic dermatitis patients has to be done

Photochemotherapy in the treatment of post tinea versicolor hypopigmentation

Tinea versicolor is a superficial fungal infection of the skin caused by Malasezia furfur. It produces both hyper and hypopigmentation on the skin, of a disfiguring nature. After giving topical therapy for one month, photoc, hemotherapy was done to 104 cases showing hypopigmented spots in a trial to correct the cosmetic problem. Eighty six percent of the patients completely repigmented after a month or less. Twenty five control cases were given topical therapy for one month without PUVA after, these when observed four months later, still exhibited hypopigmented spots. Photochemotherapy is an easy, safe and rapid method to correct hypopigmentation following tinea versicolor, the factors leading to hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation in tinea versicolor were also discussed

Skin graft replacement of the nail bed: a radical treatment for onychomycosis of the big toe

Skin graft replacement of the nail bed of the big toe was used in 3 patients with onychogryposis [6 toes] and in 12 patients with onychomycosis [14 toes] with excellent results. The procedure is a simple outpatient one. Symptoms are cured, the cosmetic appearance is satisfactory and prolonged antifungal treatment is not necessary. We strongly recommend this treatment for cases with advanced onychomycosis affecting the big toe in which other methods have failed

Eczema of the hands in Egyptians

Fifty patients with eczema of the hands were examined both clinically and by patch testing. Twelve males [60%] and twenty females [66.6% were diagnosed as allergic contact dermatitis and gave positive results to patch testing. In the rest of the cases no positive patch tests were observed. These groups of patients were clinically diagnosed as, discoid eczema in five females [16.6%], atopic eczema in one male [5%], pompholyx in two males [10%], and unclassified eczema in 5 males [16.6%] and 5 females [25%]. The commonest sanitizer in the males proved to be potassium dichromate, while in the females the commonest sensitizer was nickel sulphate. The relationship of eczema of the hands to various sensitizers is discussed in reference to foreign authors, who have previously worked in this field