The peripheral nervous system comprises the autonomic and sensory (afferent) nervous systems. Major advances in our understanding of the autonomic and sensory transmission and function include the recognition of the phenotypic expression of a variety of transmitters and modulators that often coexist in individual neurons, the concept of co-transmission and chemical coding, the evidence for local effector functions of primary afferent nerves, and the discovery of plasticity of both the autonomic and the sensory nervous system during development, aging, diseases states, and inflammation. Co-transmission or plurichemical transmission, which indicates the release of more than one chemical messenger from the same neuron, enables autonomic and sensory neurons to exert a fine and highly regulated control of various functions such as circulation and immune response. The concept of chemical coding, in which the combination of transmitters/modulators is established, allows the identification of functional classes of neurons with their projections and targets. In addition to transmitters and modulators, autonomic and sensory neurons express multiple receptors, including G-proteincoupled and ion-gated receptors, further supporting the complexity of autonomic and sensory transmission and function. Autonomic neurons regulate the internal environment and maintain multiple homeostatic functions, and sensory neurons act as receptive structures that activate their targets in response to stimulation but also exert effector functions including the control of blood flow and vascular permeability, maintenance of mineralized tissue, and regulation of gene expression. Neurophysiology of painThe nociceptive system supports two sensory functions, pain and itch. Itch has often been regarded as a minor form of pain. Recently, it has been shown, however, that the pruritic system is supported by its own peripheral and central neuronal pathways which are closely associated, although antagonistic in some POMC processing in human melanocytes has been widely documented, and the a-MSH/MC1R/cAMP cascade has been implicated in the control of pigmentation. Only very recently, a role of b-endorphin, one cleavage product of b-LPH, has been demonstrated to influence melanocyte growth, dendricity and melanin biosynthesis via the m-opiate receptor. However, much earlier, it was shown that b-MSH, the other cleavage product of b-LPH, controls melanogenesis and melanin transfer in amphibians. To date, a specific receptor for b-MSH has not been identified. Earlier POMC processing has been found in melanosomes. Therefore, an MC1R-independent role of a-MSH was postulated and demonstrated in control of 6-tetrahydrobiopterin (6BH 4 )inhibited tyrosinase. Utilizing the depigmentation disorder vitiligo, we were now able to follow the fate of epidermal POMC processing in the presence of mM levels of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). In vitiligo epidermal PC2 and 7B2 protein expression is increased, whereas a-MSH, b-MSH and b-endorphin are significantly decreased. Analys...

The ZRKL of the DDG for the first time presents epidemiologic data from Germany, allowing comparison with other nations for the study of etio-logical factors and socioeconomic influences. Further, the ZRKL supports the development of uniform and quality-oriented diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options. Finally, the ZRKL provides a foundation for future intensive study of clinical and scientific questions regarding cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas.

Aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous CD8(+) lymphoma is a distinct lymphoma that warrants inclusion as a distinct entity in future revisions of lymphoma classifications.

The lymph nodes are generally the first extracutaneous manifestation in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, their early involvement is difficult to assess. The aim of our study was to define the diagnostic and prognostic value of T-cell clonality analysis for a more precise assessment of lymph node involvement in CTCL. T-cell clonality was determined by 2 independent polymerase chain reaction (

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) represents an intriguing cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with a histologic appearance resembling malignant lymphoma. This finding strongly contrasts with the benign clinical course of the disease. However, in 10% to 20% of cases, LyP can precede, coexist with, or follow malignant lymphoma. In these cases, the same T-cell population has been shown to be present in the LyP as well as in the associated lymphoma. In most LyP cases, there is-despite the sometimes extremely long course of the disease-no evolution of a secondary lym-

Verrucous carcinoma should be distinguished from typical squamous cell carcinoma. The clinicopathological features, differential diagnosis, and therapy are discussed here together with the molecular biologic aspects of the tumor.

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We report the successful topical treatment of focal epithelial hyperplasia (Heck's disease) with interferon-beta (Fiblaferon gel). Topical treatment with interferon-beta appears to be an effective, simple, non-invasive, cheap and low-risk alternative to other invasive or surgical therapeutic modalities.