In chronic haemodialysis patients with pruritus, the calcium ion concentration in the deepest layer of the epidermis was increased, which indicated a disrupted calcium ion gradient in the skin. These findings point to a role for increased skin calcium ion concentrations in the development and/or maintenance of uraemic pruritus. However, more extensive studies in larger patient cohorts will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Summary Following extensive tattooing, a 31‐year‐old man developed symptoms similar to those of systemic sarcoidosis. Histological examination of the skin lesions, regional lymph nodes and the lung tissue revealed noncaseating granulomatous reaction. Uveitis was also observed, Electron microscopic examination of lung specimens revealed fragments of red tattoo granules. X‐ray microanalysis of the pigment granules observed in red skin and lung lesions showed elements of mercury, aluminium and silicon. The finding of tattoo pigments in the lung tissues has not been previously described.

A 76-year-old man with multiple erythematous lesions on his palms and soles which appeared following bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the subject of this case report. The lesions were not raised above the normal skin level, and there were no nodules on the erythematous lesions. The lesions had the histologic appearance of eccrine syringofibroadenoma. This condition is considered to be not a true tumor but a hyperplasia of eccrine sweat ducts following recurrent subepidermal blister formation in BP.

The influence of selenium dioxide on the in vitro and in vivo growth of transplantable B16 melanoma was studied. In the in vivo study, melanoma tissues showed a decrease in development of tumor growth and a tendency toward higher levels of free radical signal (ESR). Cultured B16 melanoma cells revealed a marked disturbance of cell growth especially in the solution with a high dose of selenium. These results may indicate that selenium has an antitumorigenic effect on B16 melanoma cells.

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