In epidermis, it has been suggested, intercellular communication through gap junctions is important in coordinating cell behavior. The connexins, may facilitate selective assembly or permeability of gap junctions, influencing the distribution of metabolites between cells. Using immunohistochemistry, we have compared the distribution of connexins 26 and 43 with that of proliferating cells (Ki67 labeling) in normal epidermis, hyperplastic epidermis (tape-stripped epidermis, psoriatic lesions, and viral warts), and vaginal and buccal epithelia. Connexin 43 was abundant in spinous layers of all epidermal specimens and in vaginal and buccal epithelia. Connexin 26 was absent from the interfollicular and interductal epidermis of normal hair-bearing skin, and nonlesional psoriatic epidermis but present at very low levels in plantar epidermis. Connexin 26 was prominent in lesional psoriatic epidermis and viral warts and in vaginal and buccal epithelia. In three independent experiments connexin 26 appeared in a patchy intercellular distribution in the basal epidermis within 24 h of tape stripping, proceeding to more extensive distribution in basal and suprabasal layers by 48 h. The increase in connexin 26 preceded that in cell proliferation. In vaginal epithelium, buccal epithelium, and viral warts connexin 26 was restricted mainly to suprabasal, nonproliferating cells. In psoriatic lesional epidermis connexin 26 was also located mainly in suprabasal, nonproliferating cells. Connexin 26 was present in a patchy distribution in the basal layer of psoriatic lesional epidermis, but double labeling for connexin 26 and Ki67 showed that many connexin 26 positive basal cells were nonproliferative, suggesting that connexin 26 may be related to differentiation rather than to proliferation. These observations would be consistent with a role for connexin 26 containing gap junctions during both early and later stages of keratinocyte differentiation in hyperplastic epidermis and in vaginal and buccal epithelia.

Ros AM, Wennersten G (1986) Current aspects of polymorphous light eruption in Sweden. Photodermatology 3:298-302 Wittkowski A, Richards HL, Griffiths CE, Main CJ (2004) The impact of psychological and clinical factors on quality of life in individuals with atopic dermatitis.

The incidence of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (non-melanoma skin cancer) is increasing in the U.K., and the importance of this has been recognized in the 'Health of the Nation' target of halting the annual increase in the incidence of skin cancer by the year 2005. An accurate assessment of incidence is necessary both in meeting this target and in planning skin cancer services. We have examined the ways in which basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed and treated in Greater Glasgow and have determined how many of these tumours are, recorded by the West of Scotland Cancer Registry. Our results show that there is under-registration of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, 39 of 127 basal cell carcinomas (31%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 23-39%) and 11 of 25 squamous cell carcinomas (44%; CI 26-63%) were not registered by the cancer registry. We also showed that dermatologists rarely treat clinically suspicious tumours without obtaining pathological proof of the diagnosis. Accurate data collection by selected representative cancer registries is suggested as a possible solution.

We report two men who developed a transient perforating disorder characterized by transepidermal elimination of negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals similar to monosodium urate. This striking clinical presentation has not previously been described and we propose that it be added to the group of diseases known as the primary perforating disorders.