Isolation of dermatophytes from the skin of asymptomatic cats and dogs in Fukui, Japan was performed to investigate the prevalence of dermatophytes in these animals. From November 13^th 2012 through December 1^st 2014, asymptomatic cats (n＝296) and dogs (n＝170) brought to Yamada Animal Hospital, and asymptomatic cats (n＝46) and dogs (n＝5) cared for in the Fukui Health and Welfare Center animal shelter, Fukui City were examined. The prevalence of dermatophytes isolated from cats and dogs in the animal clinic was 0.34% (1/296) and 0% (0/170), respectively, and that in the Fukui Health and Welfare Center was 0% (0/46) and 0% (0/5), respectively. The dermatophyte isolated from the cats was identified as Microsporum (M.) canis. During this period, symptomatic cats (5) and dogs (2) were diagnosed with dermatophytosis caused by M. canis. In five of these animals, the pathogen origin was speculated to be a temple with a large number of cats, or a local pet shop, and the other two cases were thought to be secondary infections from cohabiting animals. These results indicated a very low prevalence of dermatophytes in asymptomatic cats and dogs in Fukui, and animals with M. canis infection may be due to environments housing several animals in overcrowded conditions. In the present study, using a cotton swab was compared with using a toothbrush for sampling these animals. No significant differences in colony counts or number of fungal species isolated were found among these methods. Thus, we suggest that cotton swab sampling is an easy-to-perform, sensitive method for isolation of dermatophytes from cats and dogs.Skin Research, 14: 166-170, 2015

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　A 36-year-old woman at 32 weeks' gestation of her sixth pregnancy was admitted to our hospital. She had been diagnosed with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) during her second pregnancy when 27 years old. Erythematous macules with itching had appeared on her abdomen at week 28 of her pregnancy, and had gradually spread across her entire body. At the first visit, edematous erythemas with severe itching on her abdomen, and pruritic erythematous papules on her extremities were observed. Histopathological findings revealed perivascular mononuclear infiltrates in the upper and mid-dermis. Based on these findings, PUPPP was diagnosed. Eruptions and itching were improved gradually by oral and topical corticosteroids. She delivered a healthy female baby at week 37, and her pruritus and eruptions disappeared within 7 weeks after the delivery. PUPPP is a benign pruritic inflammatory skin disorder that usually affects primigravidae in their third trimester of pregnancy. Recurrence of PUPPP in subsequent pregnancies is rare, and this is the first report in Japan.Skin Research, 14: 171-174, 2015

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　A 77-year-old woman suffering from coughing and chronic sinusitis received treatment at a nearby clinic when her symptoms had exacerbated. She had developed thickening of the nails of all digits and retardation of nail growth since 2012. Parts of her nails had become yellowish, and she was diagnosed with yellow nail syndrome; however, no treatment was provided. She then consulted our clinic for treatment. The clarithromycin we first prescribed failed to take effect. A steroidal cream we prescribed next similarly had no effect. Finally, we prescribed Shini-seihai-to, a Chinese herbal medicine for respiratory diseases, which improved all of her symptoms, including her sinusitis and yellow nails. In previous cases, the improvement of yellow nail syndrome was accompanied by the improvement of respiratory diseases, suggesting that the pathogenesis of yellow nail syndrome may have a close relationship with that of respiratory disease.Skin Research, 14: 175-178, 2015

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　A 24-year-old man presented at our hospital for the treatment of yellowish-white papules on the bilateral upper eyelids that had appeared four years earlier. Cryotherapy had been applied to the lesions several times, but the tumors had not disappeared. At the first presentation, we recognized a pea-sized flat-topped papule and a rice-sized rounded papule on his left and right upper eyelids, respectively. A biopsy specimen revealed minute calcified deposits in the upper and mid dermis. We diagnosed the lesions as subepidermal calcified nodules (SCNs) clinically and histopathologically. SCNs are usually treated by surgical excision, and have also been reported to be treated by CO₂ laser. In the present case, two courses of CO₂ laser treatments were applied to the lesions, which were subsequently successfully healed, leaving small scars and pigmentation. As SCNs tend to appear on the faces of young patients, the use of a CO₂ laser is a cosmetically useful treatment for SCN.Skin Research, 14: 179-182, 2015

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　A 60-year-old woman presented with a cutaneous nodule with tenderness on her right heel. She had first noticed it when approximately 30 years old, but left it without treatment. The nodule grew larger, and the tenderness worsened over the three years prior to presentation. At presentation, she had an elastic, hard, partially hyperkeratotic, dome-shaped nodule measuring 26×22×11mm in size on the heel. The nodule was excised under local anesthesia. No recurrence has occurred so far. Histopathology of the nodule showed a clearly demarcated eosinophilic portion comprised of proliferating spindle-shaped cells. The spindle cells were arranged concentrically around the vessels in the nodule and were positive for alpha SMA, and stained in red with Masson's trichrome staining. Small calcified nests surrounded by collagen fiber were scattered within the nodule. Thus the patient was diagnosed with angioleiomyoma involving calcification. Although such tumors are usually painful, calcification over time and a relatively high pain threshold of the heel may have resulted in the present case experiencing no pain.Skin Research, 14: 183-187, 2015

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