[Skin lesions in a 1,000 newborns. A case and control study]. / Lesiones cutáneas en un millar de recién nacidos. Estudio de casos y controles.

Cutaneous alterations are common in neonates. Nevertheless, no reliable studies exist to characterize the type and frequency of skin diseases in Mexican newborns. We carried out a prospective study for 6 month on 1,000 children to analyze cutaneous lesions present during the neonatal period in our population. Of these children, 790 (78%) were neonates admitted to the well-baby nursery, and 220 (22%) were in the sick-baby nursery. Comparison was made between the two groups. It was found that all the newborns (100%) from both groups presented from 2 to 10 different cutaneous lesion. A wide variety of skin diseases were found, but most were of a transitory nature. Birthmarks were less common and malformations even more so. By means of the X2 method, there was no statistically-significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.1).

[The Gianotti-Crosti syndrome]. / Síndrome de Gianotti-Crosti.

We present the case of a one-year-old girl with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome not associated with hepatitis-B infection. The authors carried out an extensive review of the literature about this problem and they found that it is not uncommon to see this eruption in relation with many different viral and non-viral infections. All these findings support the concept that this is actually a syndrome and not a specific disease.

Cutaneous amebiasis in children.

A 7-month-old girl developed cutaneous amebiasis of the perianal and genital areas in association with amebic dysentery. The diagnosis was based on the identification of Entamoeba histolytica by skin biopsy. She was treated with dehydroemetine and metronidazole with excellent results. This is only the eighth reported case of this disease in a child.

Actinic prurigo. The possible etiologic role of an amino acid in the diet.

Actinic prurigo is a chronic skin disease commonly associated with cheilitis and conjunctivitis. This peculiar disorder, with ethnic, genetic, environmental, clinical and histological features, represents an abnormal reaction to sunlight. It occurs in American Indians of Canada, United States and most frequently in Latin America where it involves not only indigents but also the mixed ancestry (Mestizo) population. In analogy to what is well known about pellagra, a disease also with solar influence and a deficient intake of tryptophan or niacin in diet, it is our hypothesis that actinic prurigo patients develop their disease due to, among other factors, a diet poor in proteins.

[Schönlein-Henoch purpura. A report of 55 cases]. / Púrpura de Henoch-Schönlein. Informe de 55 casos.

The clinical, histological and laboratory data from a series of 55 pediatric patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura studied at the Hospital General de Mexico in a 16-years period are presented herein. Even when there are a few clinical features in this example of Mexican children, the clinical presentation and the course of the disease are similar to what is found in the literature.

Naming acquired melanocytic nevi. Unna's, Miescher's, Spitz's Clark's.

In order to have an integrated system to classify acquired melanocytic nevi, specifically those that evolve through junctional, compound, and dermal phases, we propose to name them for those who first recognized or popularized them: Unna, Miescher, Spitz, and Clark. Historical, philosophical, and semantic justifications for an eponymic classification of acquired melanocytic nevi are presented.

What are nevus cells?

Although the term "nevus cell" was introduced nearly a century ago and is used daily in the parlance of general pathology and dermatopathology, writings about the subject indicate that agreement has yet to be reached about the nature of these cells. On the basis of all of the evidence about "nevus cells," morphological and biochemical, that has been accumulated to date, we conclude that they are simply melanocytes.

Mycetoma.

Mycetoma is the most common deep mycosis in humans. It is a chronic, progressive, and destructive disease primarily caused by actinomycetes (98%). Mycetoma involves the skin and soft tissues, often bone, and occasionally the central nervous system, lungs, and other internal organs. It is found mainly in men working in the fields of countries located in tropical areas. Management with chemotherapy (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, sulfonamides, amikacin, and others) is mandatory.

Hyperpigmentation of the clavicular zone: a variant of friction melanosis.

This paper reports on clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of 10 cases of an idiopathic form of hyperpigmentation of the clavicular zone, a peculiar entity of circumscribed, glistening, pigmented lesions affecting young Latin women. Pathologic findings consisted of focal to extensive necrosis of the epidermis, focal areas of junctional cleavage, and melanin deposition within the epidermis, dermis, and melanophages, which places this lesion within the group of brown hypermelanoses. The authors feel that friction with clothing or with scrub pads made of sedge (a very common practice amongst mexicans in the bath room) against clavicular protuberances is fundamental in its pathogenesis.

Multiple basal cell carcinomas arising in port-wine haemangiomas.

We report the case of a 49-year-old man, who had had two port-wine stains from birth, in which many basal cell carcinomas developed during his forties. The appearance of multiple basal cell carcinomas in port-wine stains has not been reported previously to our knowledge and may represent a new syndrome.

Pure cutaneous histiocytosis X.

A 38-month-old boy presented with nodules in the skin of the genital region present for 2 1/2 years. These later spread to the skin of the trunk, head, and extremities. A complete clinical workup could not reveal involvement in any other organ sites and biopsy of one of the cutaneous lesions was diagnosed as histiocytosis X. Because the child was in generally good condition, no treatment was given. Follow-up revealed that the disease had remained limited to the skin, where 15% of the lesions disappeared spontaneously.

[Merkel cell carcinoma with metastasis to the bone marrow]. / Carcinoma de células de Merkel con metástasis a médula ósea.

The information concerning the concept of Merkel cell-neuron as a mechanoreceptor is revised. We are presenting an autopsy case in which a Merkel cell carcinoma infiltrated bone marrow and provoked its hypoplasia. An analysis of the literature let us see that the behavior of this neoplasia can be quiescent, but also could be very aggressive, with development of distant metastasis to lymph node, skin, liver, brain, bone and lung. These tumors can give origin to a paraneoplasic syndrome.

[Diffuse malignant lymphoma with small cleaved cells preceded by erythroderma with non-caseous granulomatous infiltration of the skin and leukemoid reaction]. / Linfoma maligno, difuso, de células pequeñas hendidas, precedido por eritrodermia con infiltración granulomatosa no caseosa de la piel y reacción leucemoide.

This is a description of a case in a man who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma of small cleaved cells preceded by erythroderma with leukemoid reaction. Non- caseous granulomas with Langhans' cells were found in the skin biopsy. The etiologic agent was not identified until the neoplasia that killed him was demonstrated. Autopsy study showed lymphomatous infiltration in all ganglionaries groups, the skin, lungs, kidney, liver, spleen, adrenal glands and bone marrow. One of the interesting aspects of the case in the tissue reaction to the neoplastic process, a fact already described but rarely observed.