Iron, copper, and zinc concentrations in normal skin and in various nonmalignant and malignant lesions.

The concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) in the skin have been noninvasively determined in vivo by diagnostic x-ray spectrometry. The skin of healthy controls was divided into two major groups based upon the distribution of the concentrations of these elements. In the face and upper neck, the following wet weight concentrations were recorded: Fe, 14.2 +/- 3.3 ppm; Cu, 1.3 +/- 0.3 ppm; and Zn, 6.7 +/- 1.1 ppm. In the chest, abdomen, arm, axilla, and lower neck, the concentrations of these elements were as follows: Fe, 10.2 +/- 2.5 ppm; Cu, 0.8 +/- 0.3 ppm; and Zn, 4.5 +/- 1.7 ppm. In most lesions of solar dermatitis, solar keratosis, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, variable elevations of Zn and Fe (up to significant levels) were recorded in most of the contralateral, apparently uninvolved skin. In the majority of pigmented nevi and malignant melanomas, the levels of Fe and Zn were elevated. In some of these, the Cu concentration also was increased.

[The tendon test of the tibial nerve in Hansen's disease]. / Tendon-test del nervio tibial en el mal de Hansen.

Seventeen patients, presenting Hansen's disease, were studied by the Tendon-test. Nine presented pathological answers and 4 did not answer at all, probably due to serious damage. So the amount of pathological answers reached to 76.5% (13 patients). On the other hand, the answer of two patients was considered within the limits and they were classified with the normal answering patients that reached to 23.5% (4 patients). In order to find out if the tibial nerves are also injured simultaneously wit the ulnar and the median ones, it is advisable to employ this method in a larger number of patients and in a different social-geographical environment.

[Hansen's disease and cancer]. / Hanseniasis Y Cáncer.

The number of patients treated for hanseniasis and cancer in Israel is not sufficient for a statistical analysis. A general conclusion about the incidence of cancer in hanseniasis patients has not been reached. The data presented may be perhaps useful for a comparison with those of other researchers interested in the subject.

Lack of wrinkle formation in the fingertips of patients with Hansen's disease. Confirmation of previous observations.

Immersion of a hand in water at 38-40 degrees C for half an hour was performed in two phases with a one year interval in 38 patients with Hansen's disease and 20 controls. In all 20 controls wrinkles were produced. However, 32 of the 38 patients failed to show wrinkles in the fingertips. In 12, who participated in both phases, results of the second test confirmed those of the first. This may be an indication of irreversible damage. Due to the small number of individuals tested, no conclusions may be drawn in reference to groups and types of the disease. Provided that these results can be confirmed in larger groups of patients, this method could prove to be a tool in the diagnosis of Hansen's disease. Since the test is very easy to perform, it would be of great value in areas far from specialized medical centers.

Hanseniasis y cancer. / Hansen's disease and cancer

El numero de enfermos tratados de hanseniasis y cancer, en Israel, no es suficiente para un analisis estadistico. No se llego todavia a una conclusion general sobre la incidencia de cancer en pacientes de hanseniasis. Los elementos presentados en este trabajo pueden ser utiles para una comparacion con aquellos de otros investigadores interesados en el assunto

Lack of wrinkle formation in the fingertips of patients with Hansen's disease. Confirmation of previous observations.

Em uma experiencia, realizada em duas etapas com intervalo de um ano, manteve-se imersa uma das maos de 38 hansenianos e de 20 individuos, que formaram o grupo controle, em agua a temperatura de 38 a 40o.C, durante meia hora. Em todos os 20 componentes do grupo controle, observou-se a formacao de rugas nas pontas dos dedos.Contudo, em 32 dos 38 portadores de hanseniase, nao ocorreu a formacao de rugas. Em 12 destes pacientes, que participaram das duas fases, os resultados do segundo teste confirmaram os do primeiro, sugerindo danos irreversiveis. Porem, nao de pode obter nenhuma conclusao com relacao a grupos e tipos da doenca devido ao pequeno numero de individuos testados. Por outro lado, devido a sua facil aplicacao, esse metodo podera tornar-se em um meio de diagnostico de hanseniase

Tendon-test del nervio tibial en el mal de Hansen. / Tendon-test of tibial nerve in Hansen's disease

De un total de 17 enfermos hansenianos examinados por tendon-test, se obtuvo respuesta claramente patologica en 9. En otros 4 no hubo respuesta alguna, y cabe suponer que ello se debe al serio estado patologico del nervio. El total de respuestas patologicas llegaria asi a 76,5% (13 enfermos). En otros dos pacientes la respuesta fue limitrofe, y se los clasifico junto con los dos pacientes que dieron respuesta normal, alcanzando asi el porcentaje a 23,5% (4 enfermos). A fin de verificar si los nervios tibiales son atacados al mismo tiempo que los ulnares y medianos, se recomienda practicar este metodo no traumatico en un numero superior de enfermos, y en otro ambiente socio-geografico

Lepromatosis difusa de Lucio-Alvarado-Latapí con fenómeno de Lucio. Primer caso en el general Oriente

Se analisan caso de lepromatosis difusa primaria de Lucio-Alvarado-Latapí, con leprorreacción necrosante (fenómeno de Lucio). Es el primer caso reportado en el área geográgica de los autores.

[Absence of the formation of wrinkles of the finger tips in leprosy]. / Fehlende Faltenbildung der Fingerkuppe bei Lepra.

Soaking of the hand of leprosy patients in water of 38 degrees--40 degrees C during half an hour does not lead to the formation of wrinkles, in contrast to healthy individuals. We tend to relate this lack of wrinkles to the damaged nerve ends which are often found in leprosy patients. The number of investigated individuals is small and repeated experiments are therefore required. Should the above results be established, the soaking test could serve as an additional tool for the diagnoses of leprosy.

Iron content of skin before and after thalidomide treatment of lepra reaction. A preliminary report.

THe concentration of copper, zinc and iron in the skin of patients suffering from lepra reaction was measured by diagnostic X-ray spectrometry (DXS) at the sites of the lesions before and after treatment with thalidomide. The results were compared with the levels of these elements in the skin of healthy individuals. No significant changes in the copper level of leprous skin were found. The zinc levels showed significant elevations in some lesions with no apparent trend. The iron level in the affected areas had highly elevated values in all cases of lepra reaction. However, in contrast to the fast clinical improvement which followed the treatment with thalidomide, the iron levels did not decrease for prolonged periods.

In vivo measurements of iron, copper and zinc in the skin of prurigo nodularis patients treated with thalidomide.

The concentration of iron, cooper and zinc in the skin of patients with prurigo nodularis was measured by diagnostic X-ray spectrometry before and after treatment with thalidomide. Before treatment, larger skin lesions were associated with significantly higher zinc levels and higher iron levels than the smaller ones. Upon treatment the zinc and iron content in these lesions decreased towards normal range. Copper values were found to be within the normal range in lesions before and after thalidomide treatment.

Psoriasis and other common dermatoses in leprosy.

The medical records of all 309 leprosy patients who have been under the care of the Government Hospital for Hansen's disease in Jerusalem, Israel during the last 30 years, were surveyed. None of the patients showed clinical evidence of psoriasis on numerous examinations conducted during periods of follow-up of up to more than 4 decades. If this finding proves to be reproducible also in other groups of leprosy patients in other regions of the world, this would suggest that psoriasis is very rare among leprosy patients and that psoriatic subjects might have a natural protection against the development of leprosy. This could possibly be explained as the result of the hyperactivity of the reticuloendothelial and phagocytic systems which seems to be an integral part of the psoriatic constitution.