Changes in the T-wave of the electrocardiograph in urticaria

A series of cases is presented, in which non-specific primary changes in the T-waves were observed in electrocardiographs of patients with urticaria, the latter caused by drugs or other substances. In all these patients, no other abnormality was found and they were completely asymptomatic as regards cardiac involvement. A definite ‘cause and effect’ type of relationship was found between the T-wave changes and the urticaria. The mechanism of the T-wave changes remains to be investigated. Since this phenomenon disappears simultaneously with the urticaria, treatment should be determined by the urticaria, and bed rest is not indicated.     

Botulinum toxin A in the treatment of the wrinkles in the upper third of the face

The practice of botulinum toxin injections is unavoidable in the correction of facial aging. In effect botulinum toxin allows to erase dynamic wrinkles, by transient and reversible muscular relaxation. This is the best wrinkle treatment for the upper part of the face: glabellar lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow's feet. This technique requires a good understanding of facial muscular anatomy, in order to correctly apply the basics of injection. Every patient is unique and only a big experience will allow to refine and personalise injections.     

Ultrastructure of the Fibrous Substance in the Keratinocytes of the Epidermis in Healthy Individuals

The present findings in the epidermis of healthy individuals suggest that the fibrous substance in the keratinocytes is subjected to an individual differentiation as the cells move from stratum basale through strata spinosum and intermedium to stratum coreum. In the basal cells the fibrous substance consists of opaque tonofilaments, mostly aggregated in dense tonofibrils, but also occurring randomly scattered and in loose tonofibrils (fibrous substance of basal-cell type). In most cells the fibrous substance undergoes differentiation: a) in stratum spinosum into compact tonofibrils with no individual tonofilaments visible (fibrous substance of spinous-cell type), b) in stratum inter-medium into compact tonofibrils with intensely stained regions or keratohyalin (fibrous substance of intermediate-cell type), and c) in stratum corneum into tonofibrils with a keratin pattern (fibrous substance of horny-cell type). There are also keratinocytes in which the fibrous substance undergoes only an incomplete differentiation, with the appearance of horny cells with a fibrous substance of spinous-cell type, intermediate-cell type or horny-cell type with keratohyalin. Finally, there are keratinocytes in which the fibrous substance does not undergo any differentiation at all, but which display a fibrous substance of basal-cell type throughout the entire epidermis.     

Transient immune deposits in the papillary dermis and in the epidermis

Summary To have a further insight into the localizations of immune deposits in the skin the reversed passive and the passive Arthus reactions were carried out in the foot-pads skin of guinea-pigs using horseradish peroxidase as antigen. The transient localizations of immune deposits in the papillary dermis and in the epidermal cell layer were observed in the skin of the reversed passive Arthus reaction, but not in the skin of the passive Arthus reaction. Following the immune deposits in the papillae including the capillary walls and the dermo-epidermal junction, the papillary dermis became widened, swollen, and edematous, being infiltrated by PMN's. In the epidermal layer, the immune deposits were found as fine granular aggregates adhering to the epidermal cells or to the dendritic cells. Although the immune deposits disappeared promptly from the papillae and the inflammatory reactions were slightly and transient, the epidermal cell layer became thickened, and several mitotic figures of the epidermal cells were observed.     

抗氧化剂在白癜风治疗中的应用进展

 氧化应激作为白癜风重要的病因学假说,在白癜风的病程中起始发和推动作用。目前白癜风的治疗方法多样,但疗效欠佳,基于白癜风的表皮氧化应激学说,抗氧化剂保护黑素细胞减少氧化应激的作用被逐渐发现,一系列的抗氧化剂也被发掘应用于白癜风的治疗并且获得满意疗效,同时联合其他疗法效果更佳。本文综述抗氧化剂在白癜风治疗中的应用进展。     

Assessing the secular trends in the transmission of HIV in Greece

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current trends in HIV transmission in Greece. METHODS: A retrospective study of HIV infected individuals reported to the Hellenic Center for Infectious Diseases Control (HCIDC) was conducted. RESULTS: Since the beginning of the epidemic in Greece and until early 1990s most cases concerned men who have sex with men (MSM). After the mid-1990s the proportion of homosexual males among HIV positive individuals decreased slightly, then was stabilised but they still remain the dominant population among HIV positive people. On the other hand, heterosexual transmission increased steadily and has become a frequent route for the spread of HIV/AIDS in recent years. Individuals originating from or travelling to countries where this mode of transmission prevails were the most frequent cases in this category. A significant proportion of cases classified as "undetermined" were also recorded and were partially attributed to the increased heterosexual transmission among people (especially women) without obvious high risk behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV/AIDS surveillance system must evolve in order to find the new unreported risk information and identify the population groups at higher risk. This will help to implement preventive policies and information campaigns addressed to target populations with special attention paid to immigrants, women, and marginalized communities.     

Experience in the use of ditrastic in the therapy of psoriasis

Forty-six patients suffering from psoriasis have been treated with ditrastic, a new drug for external application, manufactured by Orion, Finland. The drug is manufactured in the form of sticks weighing 2.4 g, containing 1.5 or 3% of dithranol, paraffin, and microcrystalline sulfur. These sticks are applied to psoriatic plaques once daily. The treatment has been effective.