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Regulatory T cells (Tregs), identified by the expression of CD4, CD25 and Foxp3, together with immunosup-pressive macrophages, such as CD163+ M2 macropha-ges, are involved in maintaining peripheral tolerance. The aim of this study was to elucidate the involvement of Tregs and CD163+ macrophages in invasive and non-invasive extramammary Paget's disease. The presence of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs, CD163+ M2 macrophages and matrix metalloproteinase-9+ cells was examined im-munohistologically in fixed sections of lesionai skin from 10 patients with non-invasive extramammary Paget's disease and 7 patients with invasive extramammary Paget's disease. Fewer CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs were observed in non-invasive extramammary Paget's di-sease than in invasive extramammary Paget's disease. In contrast, higher numbers of CD163+ macrophages and metalloproteinase-9+ cells were detected only in invasive extramammary Paget's disease. These findings suggest that the induction of immunosuppressive cells in extra-mammary Paget's disease differs according to the tu-mour stage. Key words: regulatory T cells; Foxp3; CD163; macrophages; matrix metalloproteinase-9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 40-year-old Japanese man with a history of a developing nodule located on the leg. Histological findings showed that atypical big cells densely infiltrated by the upper dermis to the subcutaenous tissue having minimal involvement of the overlying epidermis. Southern blot analysis from a biopsy of the skin showed immunoglobulin heavy chain gene's monoclonal rearrangement.

The occurrence of opportunistic infections is not rare during the treatment of connective tissue diseases, including dermatomyositis because of the patient's immuno-suppression. We describe here cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that affected two of our patients with dermatomyositis. CMV infection has not been considered to be a frequent event in dermatomyositis, and its significance for disease progression has not been sufficiently recognized. Our case reports demonstrate the importance of close monitoring of such patients and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy to manage a suspected CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case report of a 38-year-old man who visited the hospital after suffering from a 6-month history of pruritic eruptions in his body and was treated for hypohidrosis. The patient underwent a skin biopsy from the abdomen and axilla which revealed a dense infiltration of mononuclear cells of eccrine glands due to anti-dermicidin antibodies. The article also discusses the use of Th17 cells as immune effectors in autoimmunity in various autoimmune disease.

A letter to the editor is presented about the case of a 2-year-old girl diagnosed with unilateral focal dermal hypoplasia resulting from a novel mutation in the PORCN gene.

A letter to the editor is presented about the case of a 68-year-old Japanese woman with Sjögren syndrome who was diagnosed with granulomatous pigmented purpuric dermatitis.

The article presents a case of a 37-year-old Japanese woman with a two-year history of subcutaneous nodule and severe tenderness in the nasal root. The patient underwent physical examination and his incision biopsy specimen revealed the monomorphous proliferation of bland spindle cells. She was then diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The article also discusses the treatment of DFSP with CyberKnife Radiosurgery.

The article presents a case study of a 62-year-old Japanese man with a three-year history scalp bleeding nodule. Biopsy showed that tumour cells proliferated primarily in the dermis, which forms solid pattern nests and pagetoid epidermal up migration, particularly at the hair follicle. The tumour comprised primarily of neoplastic cells having abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, large nuclei with cytological pleomorphism and macronucleoli.

The article presents a case study of an 83-year-old Japanese man with a history of asymptomatic, pedunculated nodule on the right cheek. Biopsy specimen from his cheek showed sheets of small cells having hyperchromatic nuclei that extend throughout the dermis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumour cells were primarily positive for CK20, weakly positive for Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, and negative for Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and CD20.

The article presents a case study of a girl with erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome. The physical examination of the patient shows superficial ulcer with pustules and crusts which is extended from the frontal scalp to the parietal scalp. It points out that her EPDS was treated with topical tacrolimus and calcipotriol and oral nimesulide and isotretinoin.

The article presents a case study of an old Japanese man with a band-like pigmented area on only the right side of his chest. The patient underwent an examination and found out that the pigmented plaque appeared more wrinkled than the surrounding normal skin, presenting a reticular pattern dotted with hypopigmented spotty areas. Despite that, the patient were not required any treatment for his skin lesions.

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses a medical case study of a 12-year-old Japanese girl who has developed a eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

A letter to the editor is presented entitled "Eosinophilic Granulomatous Reaction after Intradermal Injection of Hyaluronic Acid," published within the issue.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Intramuscular Triamcinolone Acetonide for Lupus Millaris Disseminatus Faciei," that was published in the March 8, 2007 issue.

A letter to the editor is presented citing research findings from a case of apocrine hidrocystoma on the finger of a patient.

A letter to the editor is presented citing research findings on the control of the progression of CD8+ mycosis fungoides using pegylated interferon.

A letter to the editor is presented citing research findings from a case of linear melorheostotic scleroderma without melorheostosis.

The article presents a case study of a 90-year-old Japanese woman who has experienced brownish nail pigmentation and nail deformity. The woman was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) which is said to be the most common type of skin cancer. She underwent surgical operation in which her fingernail along with the pigmentation was taken out.