The activity of the enzyme 2', 3'-cyclic AMP 3'-phosphohydrolase is significantly greater in the 'involved' psoriatic skin than in the 'uninvolved' psoriatic skin or in skin samples taken from persons having clinically normal skin. Although the physiological function of this enzyme is not established, it is possible that, besides being associated with myelin, it may also play some role in cell proliferation and maturation, probably at the membrane level.
Three cases of epidermolysis bulbosa letalis are described. The infants were born within 10 miles of one another and the three mothers were related, but showed no evidence of the disease. The fathers also were apparently healthy. At birth all the infants had bullous skin lesions. These progressed in spite of meticulous nursing care, massive doses of antibiotics, corticosteroid therapy and increased dietary protein. The babies became pyrexial and the levels of serum albumin decreased markedly. At necropsy none of the infants had any significant lesions apart from the skin. It therefore seems that loss of serum albumin and electrolytes, and dermal sepsis were responsible for the deaths. Corticosteroid therapy appeared to be of no value. Replacement of lost fluids, on the other hand, would seem to be logical in such cases and should probably be a routine procedure. Abnormalities were observed in the histology of the skin. The earliest lesion was a vesicular degeneration of the basal cells of the epidermis, followed by cleavage at the dermoepidermal junction. In the opinion of the authors, these early lesions produce a diagnostic histologic picture differing from other bullous dermatoses, except possibly some of the other variants of epidermolysis bullosa. A study of the epidermis in future cases of this disease by histochemistry or electron microscopy is likely to elucidate further the nature of the congenital defect in the basal part of the epidermis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.