Background Despite recent insights into its aetiology, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains an intractable and

Cell migration is mediated by a group of chemotactic cytokines called chemokines: low molecular weight molecules that have been shown as important leukocyte chemical attractants to sites of inflammation and infection. Eotaxin-1, also called CCL11, was first described in 1994, as a highly specific eosinophils chemokine. Many cell types including lymphocytes, macrophages, bronchial smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and eosinophils, are able to produce this chemokine, predominantly after cytokine stimulation, however little is known about its expression in human skin in vivo. Eotaxin-1 also regulates the chemiotaxis and, in some conditions, activation of basophils, mast cells and T lymphocytes. Chemokine receptors are named from their ligand families, thus the CC chemokine eotaxin-1 binds to the CCR3 receptor which is expressed on eosinophis, mast cells, Th2 type lymphocytes and even on keratinocytes. It seems that eotaxin-1 is one of the most important cytokines involved in tissue inflammation playing a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic airway diseases (asthma and rhinitis), in inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal allergic hypersensitivity and recently it has been proposed as a therapeutical target for these conditions. Our group has studied the role of eotaxin-1 in the pathogenesis of two skin conditions: dermatitis herpetiformis and AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis, demonstrating that this chemokine, together with Th2 type cytokines (IL-13 and IL-4) is important in cell recruitment, inflammation and tissue damage; moreover eotaxin has proven to paly an important role in other skin conditions such as, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigoid gestationis, atopic dermatitis and allergic drug reactions Recent advances in the understanding of eotaxin-1-mediated mechanisms of chemotaxis in allergic and inflammatory conditions may predict that therapeutic antagonism is achievable. This paper will focus on the role that eotaxin and its receptor play in the pathogenetical mechanism in a number of dermatologic diseases, some of which, like atopic dermatitis, may benefit from the introduction of novel and more selective therapeutic options.

There remains uncertainty about the appropriate nosological status of SMPTCL, which some authors consider to be a pseudolymphoma. However, this study suggests a significant difference in the prevalence and pattern of follicular T-helper cell markers between this tumor and lymphoid proliferations known to be reactive.

We report a 22-year-old woman who developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) immediately after an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced mononucleosis infection. The link between these two conditions has long been suspected. The close temporal relationship, the course of the pathological events and the development of immunological changes in this case provide further evidence supporting the hypothesis that EBV infection could work as a trigger in some cases of SLE, particularly if the patient is genetically susceptible.

Four hundred and fourteen cases of early gastric cancer (EGC), diagnosed between 1977 and 1993, were studied. The percentage of EGC increased from 1977 to 1984, but thereafter remained more or less stable, despite a continuous increase in the number of endoscopic examinations. Three hundred and ninety-six patients were followed up. Twenty-nine patients died from the tumour, giving a 5-year survival rate of 82.8 per cent. The 'large' size type of EGC, the presence of submucosal penetration, and lymph-node metastasis showed a highly significant association with a lower survival rate. A small number of patients died despite the presence of 'favourable' prognostic factors. Other still unknown factors may therefore be important in determining the aggressive behaviour of certain EGCs.

Our results seem to suggest the involvement of MMPs in microinvasive carcinomas, which show also low proliferative activity and p53 expression, whether other factors seem to be more important in widely invasive carcinomas.

Early lesions of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) may present as a mild lichenoid tissue reaction, occasionally together with basilar epidermotropism, mimicking early cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF) variant. We report a case of extragenital LSA in which both histological patterns were present in the same clinically homogenous and stable lesion. A 27‐year‐old man presented with a history of white atrophic plaques on the trunk. A biopsy of an abdominal lesion revealed epidermal thinning, a superficial perivascular lymphoid cell infiltrate with focal epidermotropism, mild nuclear atypia and perinuclear halos. Immunophenotyping showed decreased CD5 and CD7, with a slight predominance of CD8‐positive T‐lymphocytes. All these changes were suggestive of MF. However, a repeat biopsy 3 months later from the same stable plaque revealed features diagnostic of LSA. LSA mimicking early MF histologically has been reported in genital skin. Conversely, MF may clinically and histopathologically resemble LSA. With gene rearrangement studies, clonal proliferation may not be detected in early MF but has been reported to occur in LSA. Awareness of the histopathologic spectrum of LSA within a stable plaque is important to avoid a potential diagnostic pitfall, and should prompt a repeat biopsy. Suchak R, Verdolini R, Robson A and Stefanato CM. Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimicking cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: report of a case.

The image shows the presence of a dense, nodular, and diffuse infiltrate in the dermis. Note the presence of germinal centers (hematoxylin-eosin, original magnification ×20).