Patterns of basal cell keratin 14 expression in Bowen's disease: a possible marker for tumour progression.

BACKGROUND: Bowen's disease is a well-established in situ malignancy of the epidermis. The keratin expression in Bowen's disease has been studied in many reports. However, the patterns of keratin (K) 14 expression in each case have not been closely examined. OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the pattern of expression of K14 has a relationship with tumour progression, we analysed the expression patterns of K14 in relation to the nature of tumour cells, comparing tumour cells in direct contact with the dermis, tumour cells separated from the dermis, and tumour cells invading into the dermis. METHODS: Twenty-seven tissue sections from 22 patients were stained with anti-K14 antibody, as well as with antilaminin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining to evaluate the conditions of the basement membrane. Staining patterns of K10 and integrin beta1, and their relationships with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 staining patterns, were also examined. RESULTS: Tumour cells with no, or with obscured, basement membranes always showed positive staining for K14, while those with continuous (intact) basement membranes usually did not. Of 10 sections showing dermal involvement of Bowen's disease, five were K14 positive and five were K14 negative. All of these K14-positive sections with dermal involvement showed negative or obscured laminin and PAS staining. Most of the sections having K14-negative tumour cells with dermal involvement showed K14-positive lining cells with continuous staining with laminin and PAS-positive basement membranes. K10 was reciprocally expressed with K14 in most of the sections. Integrin beta1 was expressed in the basal layers of non-tumour epidermal cells, but not in tumour cells. Ki-67 and PCNA were expressed at high frequencies in tumour cells, clearly demarcating tumour cells from non-tumour cells. CONCLUSIONS: Tumour cells separated from the dermis by lining cells were K14 negative with PAS- and laminin-positive basement membranes around them; tumour cells without lining cells were K14 positive with or without continuous basement membranes. K14 expression may be a marker of tumour progression in Bowen's disease.

Treatment of nevus of Ota by Q-switched ruby laser.

The effectiveness of the Q-switched ruby laser was investigated in 38 patients with nevus of Ota at more than 10 months after the first irradiation. In 14 patients who were followed-up for a mean of 25.2 months after the first treatment, the effectiveness was evaluated as "excellent" in eight patients (57%), "good" in four patients (28%), and "fair" in two patients (14%). The mean number of irradiation treatments was 7.3 in the "excellent" group, 4.2 in the "good" group, and 3.0 in the "fair" group. In 24 patients who were followed-up for a mean of 13.6 months after the first treatment, the effectiveness was evaluated as "excellent" in eight patients (33%), "good" in 12 patients (50%), and "fair" in four patients (16%). The mean number of irradiation treatment was 5.7 in the "excellent" group, 5.2 in the "good" group, and 2.5 in the "fair" group. Even after repetitive irradiations, good results without scarring were noted in all cases except one where a slight inverted scar was developed. The effective rate tended to be higher in patients who underwent more irradiation treatments and were observed for a longer period of time. Satisfactory cosmetic results were achieved after Q-switched ruby laser therapy for nevus of Ota.

Unilateral dermatomal superficial telangiectasia.

A three-year-old boy with unilateral dermatomal superficial telangiectasia (UDST) is the first reported case with skin lesions in two non-adjacent areas (dermatomal areas of Trigeminal2 and L4-5). In this case, onset occurred at an early age, the onset was eight months after an operation, and the liver function was normal; therefore we believe it is congenital, even though the patient had undergone an extensive right hepatectomy to remove a hamartoma in his liver at the age of four months.

Ultrastructure of acetylcholinesterase containing striato-nigral neurons transporting HRP retrogradely.

The fine structure of striato-nigral efferent neurons, retrogradely labeled with HRP, was studied. The neuron showed a medium sized ovoid or tri-angular perikaryon. Short or medium lengthened granular endoplasmic reticula, having a tendency to wind and pile up in stacks were observed. This neurons corresponds to a type III neuron according to our classification [4,5]. The neuron showed reaction products, indicating AChE activity, in the granular endoplasmic reticula and plasma membrane.