BACKGROUND Corneocytes of the nail plate, like those of the stratum corneum, generate cornified envelopes (CEs) of cross-linked protein that can be visualized readily after removal of non-cross-linked protein by detergent extraction. Defective CE formation occurs in epidermal scale and hair in transglutaminase 1 (TGM1)-negative lamellar ichthyosis (LI) and has been proposed as a diagnostic aid ...

We report the identification of mutations in a non-syndromic autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) in a new gene mapping within a previously identified locus on chromosome 19p12-q12, which has been defined as LI3 in the OMIM database (MIM 604777). The phenotype usually presents as lamellar ichthyosis and hyperlinearity of palms and soles. Seven homozygous mutations including five mis...

Sir, Guiscafre et al have reported two cases of meningitis due to Haemophilus influenzae type b tesistant to ampicillin and chloramphenicol.' In their report they say 'since 1980 eight cases of meningitis. have been reported'. This is not true. In previous reports we have drawn attention to the explosive increase of multiply resistant strains of H. influenzae type b causing invasive and non-inv...

The epidermal water barrier resides in the stratum corneum (SC) and is dependent on a highly organized network of multi-lamellar membranes comprised of a critical lipid composition. The SC membranes are formed from precursor membranes packaged in cytoplasmic lamellar bodies in the stratum granulosum and delivered to the SC by exocytosis. An abnormal lipid composition of the SC membranes often r...

Ichthyosisis an infrequent clinical entity worldwide with an incidence of 1:600,000 births. It can be one of the two types: collodion baby and Harlequin fetus or malignant keratoma (most severe form). The clinical manifestations in either form are thick and hard skin with deep splits. Affected babies are born in a collodion membrane, a shiny waxy outer layer to the skin that is shed 10 - 14 day...

BACKGROUND Collodion phenotype is a term applied to the condition affecting a newborn involving a parchmentlike membrane covering the whole body surface (collodion membrane). This presentation is common to several different forms of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses, including nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NCIE), lamellar ichthyosis (LI), and harlequin ichthyosis (HI...