Circulating polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) levels rise in proportion to the metastatic potential of the tumor in 13762NF mammary adenocarcinoma tumor-bearing rats. These tumor-elicited PMNs (tcPMNs) secrete high levels of the basement-membrane-degrading enzymes, type IV collagenase and heparanase, suggesting that metastatic tumor cells stimulate neutrophilia so that the tcPMNs might assist tumor cell extravasation during metastasis. To test this hypothesis, purified proteose peptone-elicited PMNs from peritoneal exudate, circulating normal PMNs, and tcPMNs were evaluated for their effects on in vitro invasive and in vivo metastatic potentials of syngeneic 13762NF mammary adenocarcinoma tumor cells. tcPMNs caused a dose-dependent increase in invasion through a reconstituted basement membrane barrier in an in vitro invasion assay. At PMN:tumor cell ratios of 30:1, invasion potential significantly (P < 0.05) rose to 26-fold, 40-fold, and 37-fold for poorly metastatic MTLn2 cells, higly metastatic MTLn3 cells, and moderately metastatic MTF7 cells, respectively. In contrast, purified proteose peptone-elicited PMNs and circulating normal PMNs did not sgificantly alter invasive potential. Intravenous coij'ections of purified proteose peptone-elicited PMNs did not change the number of experimental lung metastases, but tcPMNs at ratios to 50:1 significantly raised the mean number of metasass 23-fold for MTLn2, 3-to 4-fold for MTLn3, and 1.6-to 1.8-fold for MTF7. These results demonstrate that tcPMNs contribute to the metastatic propensity of mammary adeocarcinoma clones by increasing efficiency of invasion through basement membrane. Although polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) are not the predominant circulating leukocyte population in normal rats, PMNs are the predominant population in humans. Neutrophils have been seen in close association with metastatic human and animal tumor cells in vivo at the primary tumor (10) and within the vasculature (17). The observation that the level of circulating PMNs increases to 50-fold as the primary tumor proliferates and the observation that tumor-elicited PMNs (tcPMNs) secrete high levels of type IV collagenase and heparanase and are noncytotoxic and noncytostatic (9), combine to suggest that tcPMNs may enhance the ability of tumor cells to extravasate, hence to metastasize.The results presented here demonstrate that tcPMNs, but not normal circulating PMNs (cPMNs), augment the ability of a tumor cell to penetrate a basement membrane-like matrix in vitro and to form lung colonies in vivo.MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals. Cell Lines and Tissue Culture. 13762NF rat mammary adenocarcinoma clones MTLn2, MTLn3, and MTF7 were grown and maintained as described (10, 18). Briefly, cells were grown in a-modified minimum essential medium (aMEM) supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum. Cells were subcultured when the plates became 70-80% confluent by using 0.25% trypsin solution.Isolation and Purification of PMN. Purified proteose peptone-elicited PMNs (ppPMNs) were obtained by injecting syngen...

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a common hair disorder characterized by a pustular foreign body inflammatory reaction that is induced by ingrown hairs of the facial and submental (barbea) regions after regular shaving. It occurs predominantly in black males, while it is rather rare and usually far less severe in Caucasian males. Black individuals have a higher propensity of developing PFB due to their genetic predisposition for curly hair which inherently possesses a much higher risk of growing back into the skin than straight or wavy hair. The PFB process is, however, not gender dependent nor restricted to the face, but can occur in any skin region once regular shaving, plucking, or other traumatic means of hair removal are instituted. Through a family study and a large-scale investigation of randomly sampled PFB-affected and -unaffected individuals, this study demonstrates that an unusual single-nucleotide polymorphism, which gives rise to a disruptive Ala12Thr substitution in the 1A alpha-helical segment of the companion layer-specific keratin K6hf of the hair follicle, is partially responsible for the phenotypic expression and represents an additional genetic risk factor for PFB.

Dermatitis from contact with carpet, larder, and hide beetles (family Dermestidae) is a seemingly uncommon or underrecognized hypersensitivity reaction to the specialized hairs on the larvae of certain dermestid beetles. The erythematous papulovesicular dermatitis that may result from such contact can be mistakenly construed as evidence of bites of bedbugs or other arthropods or infestation with scabies mites or can be the basis for a diagnosis of delusory parasitosis. We present a case of dermestid dermatitis in a 2-year-old girl and provide a review of the current literature.

Military dermatology encompasses all cutaneous manifestations that present to medical officers in a deployed situation, either in peacetime or in war. Medical officers in a field environment cannot avoid facing cutaneous quandaries. This article briefly highlights the omnipresent threat of cutaneous disease. It follows with a cost-effective look at periodically deploying a dermatologist to Bosnia. Volumes of historical data clearly justify the assignment of a dermatologist as a special consultant staff officer to every corps or theater medical staff. Despite this data, only two U.S. Army units in our present table of organization and equipment will have a dermatologist (60L) available for periodic direct-field consultation and teaching. After review of the historical data and the Stabilization Force-Bosnia statistics presented here, the table of organization and equipment restructuring that is required to meet the challenges of tomorrow will be clear. A dermatologist must be deployed as a theater or division consultant.

Effort-related chronic compartment syndrome (ERCCS) of the lower extremity is often misdiagnosed, requiring repeated visits to the physician and subsequent delay in definitive treatment. The most significant causes of chronic leg pain in physically active individuals are stress fractures, shin splints, and "exercise-induced" or effort-related chronic compartment syndrome. In patients susceptible to ERCCS, the fascial compartments are too small to accommodate the associated 20% increase in muscle mass that typically occurs with heavy exercise. The increased pressure within a small unyielding compartment limits circulation and subsequent muscle function. The only appropriate conservative treatment is cessation of the offending activity. Early suspicion of the condition is paramount, because the definitive treatment is fasciotomy. ERCCS has only recently been recognized, and therefore it may be underdiagnosed. Family physicians and general medical officers caring for otherwise healthy soldiers and athletes should be aware of ERCCS so that prompt orthopedic referral for evaluation and definitive treatment will not be delayed.