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Balanitis is a descriptive diagnosis for a heterogeneous group of infectious or inflammatory dermatoses which have to be differentiated from malignant conditions. Balanitis is caused not only by Candida spp. and bacterial infections, including anaerobic bacteria: viral infections, parasites and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) also have to be considered. Lichen planus, psoriasis and contact dermatitis can characteristically lead to inflammatory conditions of the glans penis. In addition to a complete skin examination, a thorough patient history with respect to topically applied products and sexual behavior is essential. Infections must be treated and the glans penis should be kept dry. It is important to ensure a balanced genital hygiene in patients. As a last resort therapeutic circumcision can be considered for most forms of chronic balanitis.

The clinical presentation of fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails is varied and sometimes presents a confusing clinical picture. The main objective is to rapidly institute diagnostic measures to avoid delays in therapy with potential expansion of the infection. A variety of laboratory tests are required. Classical methods are based on microscopy, different culture procedures, and histologic examination. Genotypic approaches to detection and identification of fungal pathogens have become very rapid and sensitive, making them additional options for routine diagnosis.

In 1956 Klingmüller first described the trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS), which was named by Giedion ten years later. The syndrome includes a combination of typical hair, facial and bone abnormalities with variable expression allowing the further distinction of three subtypes. In a 37-year old patient with TRPS type I who reportedly had reduced hair growth length, clinically fine and brittle hair were found. Scanning electron microscopy revealed widely spaced cuticular scales. Quantitative measurement of the biomechanical properties of the hair showed a significant increase in the viscous parameter. This could be a result of decreased disulfide bridges and increased halogen bonds in the keratin matrix of the hair. In dermatological practice patients with TRPS often present because of hair abnormalities. Because of premature arthrosis due to skeletal abnormalities, occupational counseling is advised.Congenital heart problems, kidney abnormalities and endocrinological problems are rare, but should be sought in the symptomatic individual. Apart from mild hair care and avoidance of additional physical or chemical injuries due to hair cosmetic procedures,there is no treatment for the hair defects.

The periungual fibromas in tuberous sclerosis are also known as Koenen tumors. Joannes Henricus Maria Koenen was born on March 10, 1893, in Eindhoven and died in Bois-le-Duc May 29, 1956. From 1910 to 1918 he studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam. Then he worked as a physician at the "Coude-water" asylum in Rosmalen and from 1929 in the "Voorburg" asylum in Vught. In 1932 he published his publication concerning a family with tuberous sclerosis in which photographs of periungual fibromas are shown. His thesis in 1933 at the University in Leiden was titled "Imbecility in children. Its Importance in pedagogic and social regard, by reason of an investigation in some communities in Noord-Brabant". Later he was appointed director of a state mental institution. The periungual fibromas in tuberous sclerosis were first described by Richad Kothe in Munich in 1903.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of single irradiation either with UVA (dosage: 50 J/ cm2) or UVB (dosage: 1 MED) on surface structure and viscoelastic properties of human skin. Biophysical measurements by means of profilometry and cutometry were carried out on normally sunprotected skin areas directly before and 24 hours after irradiation. UVA induced neither measurable changes in skin surface structure (expressed by the profilometrically calculated parameters of roughness Ra and RzDIN and the parameter Wt reflecting depths of furrows) nor in its viscoelastic properties (expressed by the cutometrically calculated ratio Uv/Ue reflecting viscosity and the ratio Ur/Uf reflecting biological elasticity). However, a single erythemogenic dose of UVB radiation was followed by significant increase in the depths of furrows, increase in viscosity and decrease in biological elasticity.

Tyrosinase mRNA produced by melanoma cells can be detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) with fine-needle tissue punctures. Fine-needle punctures from six suspected skin and lymph node metastases in three patients with malignant melanoma were analysed via rt-pcr for tyrosinase mRNA. All the suspected metastases were surgically removed and histologically examined separately. In each case the rt-pcr results and the histological diagnosis corresponded. This less invasive and highly sensitive method could prove to be a useful alternative in the diagnosis of melanoma metastasis.

Patients with anti-SSA(Ro)-positive Sjögren's syndrome (SS)/lupus erythematosus (LE) overlap are a immunogenetically, serologically and clinically homogeneous group; what they have in common is an increased frequency of the HLA-DR3 phenotype, demonstrating SSA(Ro) antibody activity and the typical annular, polycyclic, erythematous lesions of subacute cutaneous LE. The sicca symptoms of SS may develop long after the cutaneous lesions of LE have been present, or vice versa, as well as vasculitic, purpuric, and Sweet's syndrome-like lesions. The elderly, predominantly female patients are at enhanced risk for pulmonary and neurological disease, but glomerulonephritis occurs infrequently. We present an 81-year-old, SSA(Ro) antibody-positive and HLA-DR3-positive woman with SS/LE overlap syndrome, who had cutaneous LE for 30 years, developing sicca symptoms, vasculitic and Sweet's syndrome-like skin lesions only years after the LE symptoms. Although there is still some discussion as to whether phenotypical SS/LE overlap represents a distinct disease or is secondary SS in SLE or systemic SS with cutaneous involvement, the SS/LE overlap syndrome seems well enough delineated to be considered as a disease entity with separate implications for therapy and prognosis. Its position in the spectrum of anti-SSA(Ro) antibody- and HLA-DR3-positive diseases and its relationship to SS and to anti-SSA(Ro) antibody-positive LE are discussed.

There are more and more reports of an increase in atopic diseases, and particularly atopic constitutional neurodermatitis. In this context, evidence is accumulating that atopic constitutional neurodermatitis exhibits a dominant prevalence, particularly in children. In addition to verified genetic disposition with impairment of IgE regulation, realization factors of greatly variant quality and quantity appear to be characteristically responsible for the phenotypic expression and determination of the course of the disease. In order to definitively assess the global situation, subtle longitudinal studies on representative numbers of the population are needed, with the primary objective of obtaining parameters for real preventative measures.