Selenium in whole blood and plasma is decreased in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis

Concentrations of selenium in whole blood and plasma in 113 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were compared with those in 104 healthy reference subjects. Most of the patients (85%) had had their psoriasis for at least 10 years and all had previously been treated with PUVA baths. Selenium concentrations both in whole blood and plasma were decreased both in male and female psoriasis patients. Male psoriatics 20-49 years old and women with disease of long duration (greater than 20 years) had particularly low selenium concentrations in whole blood. The lowest whole blood values were found in a subgroup of male patients with widespread disease of long duration who had also required treatment with methotrexate and/or retinoids to control their disease. The blood selenium in patients who also had psoriatic arthritis or arthralgia did not differ from those without such symptoms.     

Propolis-induced contact allergy

Six patients with contact dermatitis to propolis are reported (3 women, 3 men; mean age 57 years). All three men had eczema on their hands and had acquired their sensitization in the course of bee keeping. The women had been sensitized by propolis contained in ointments of various kinds. Upon patch testing all six patients reacted to propolis and four also to Peruvian balsam. While ten flavonoids were test-negative, a cinnamic acid ester (1.1-dimethylallyl-3',4'-dihydroxy cinnamic acid ester) isolated both from propolis and from poplar buds was positive in two out of three patients; this may be the major allergen.     

Asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis triggered by fungal infection: therapeutic effects of terbinafine.

We report 2 atopic patients suffering from tinea unguium caused by Trichophyton rubrum. In addition, both patients had symptoms of allergies: one had perennial rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma, the other had chronic dermatitis of the face and neck. In both cases, their allergy symptoms improved dramatically during oral therapy with the antifungal agent terbinafine (250 mg/day) and relapsed after its discontinuation.     

Skin changes in alimentary zinc deficiency caused by artificial infant food

We report on 2 non-related newborn children who developed erythematosquamous skin eruptions on both their faces and the extensor sides of their fingers at the 4th and 10th week after birth, resp. Both children had been fed upon hypoallergenic formulas since birth. Serum investigations revealed decreased zinc levels: 0.4 and 0.17 mg/l, resp. (normal values: 0.59-0.96 mg/l). Following zinc substitution with zinc sulphate 10 mg daily for 3 days, the serum zinc levels of both children had increased to normal values and remained stationary during continued treatment with 3 mg zinc daily. The skin eruptions disappeared a few days after the start of treatment.     

Isotretinoin-associated pseudoporphyria

We present two patients who developed pseudoporphyria whilst taking isotretinoin (Roaccutane). At that time, both patients were receiving other agents which could be incriminated as causing their pseudoporphyria. However, it is significant that these other agents had been longstanding and that the porphyria-like cutaneous changes did not develop until after the introduction of the isotretinoin (Roaccutane). In both cases, withdrawal of the isotretinoin resulted in clinical improvement of their cutaneous signs. The interaction of isotretinoin and another agent, rather than isotretinoin independently, may be involved in the development of pseudoporphyria.     

Nickel sensitivity and the course of atopic dermatitis in adulthood

The course of dermatitis was followed in nickel-sensitive and nickel-negative atopic and non-atopic patients. Manifest dermatitis was seen in 70% of the nickel-allergic and in 64% of the nickel-negative female atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. Those atopic subjects who had minor symptoms in their teens suffered more from dermatitis if they had developed nickel allergy (p less than 0.025). Hands and the head region were the most common sites for current dermatitis in both groups.     

An association between non-gonococcal urethritis and bacterial vaginosis and the implications for patients and their sexual partners.

OBJECTIVES: The aetiology of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) in a considerable proportion of men remains unaccounted for. We wished to investigate the possible aetiological role of bacterial vaginosis (BV), the commonest cause of abnormal discharge in women, in this condition. METHODS: We carried out two studies. In the first, case-control, study, we recruited men with and without NGU and examined their female partners for evidence of BV. The second, cohort design, study which ran concurrently with the first study involved recruiting women with and without BV and examining their male partners for evidence of NGU. The diagnoses of both NGU and BV were made microscopically to include symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in both disease categories. RESULTS: In the case-control study 51 couples were recruited. Of these 39 men had NGU and 12 (31%) of their female contacts had BV. In contrast, of 12 men without NGU, only one (8%) of the female partners had BV (odds ratio 4.89, 95% CI: 0.51-42.27). When only Chlamydia trachomatis negative patients were considered, the odds ratio for an association between BV and NGU was increased to 6.77, 95% CI: 0.73-62.68). Thirty eight couples were recruited to the cohort design study. Of 17 women with BV, 12 (71%) of their male partners had NGU. In contrast, of 21 women without BV, seven (33%) of their male partners had NGU (p = 0.049, odds ratio 4.8). When only C trachomatis negative patients were considered, the significance of the association was increased (p = 0.037; odds ratio 5.42). CONCLUSIONS: An association exists between NGU and BV, and vice versa. If BV arises de novo the findings could help to explain the development of urethritis in stable sexual relationships.     

Occupational contact dermatitis to hydrangea

Two female commercial hydrangea growers, from separate nurseries, presented with similar hand and facial dermatitis. Both had a hand dermatitis affecting particularly the first three fingers and backs of both hands and complained of a recurrent facial dermatitis affecting the forehead, around both the eyes and bridge of nose. They related their dermatitis to their work. Patch tests confirmed allergy to all components of hydrangeas including petal, leaf and stem. Avoidance resulted in resolution of their dermatoses. Allergy to hydrangeas has been reported previously although infrequently.     

Resolution of oral lichenoid lesions after replacement of amalgam restorations in patients allergic to mercury compounds

The significance of contact allergy in patients with various oral symptoms was studied. Positive patch-test reactions to mercury compounds were found in 21/91 patients. Of these, 18 had lichenoid lesions in oral mucosa in close contact to amalgam fillings, and three patients with contact allergy had neither amalgam fillings in their teeth nor visible oral lesions. Amalgam replacement was carried out in 15/18 symptomatic patients. The fillings were replaced with gold in three cases, composite resin fillings in six, glass ionomer in three and both gold and composite materials in three cases. In 10 patients there was complete replacement and in five it was restricted to the fillings adjacent to the mucosal lesions. After a mean follow-up period of 3.2 years a complete cure was seen in seven patients, each of whom had had all their fillings changed. A marked improvement occurred in six patients, and there was no change in two.     

系统性硬皮病患者皮肤克隆成纤维细胞胶原代谢的异质性

目的在克隆水平上研究系统性硬皮病(SSc)和正常皮肤成纤维细胞(FB)胶原代谢异质性的特点。方法以皮肤克隆FB作为研究对象,采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR法检测其Ⅰ,Ⅲ型前胶原和基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-1,MMP-3)mRNA水平;采用酶联免疫吸附法检测其细胞培养上清中Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的表达,筛选出具有不同胶原合成能力的异质性克隆,分析其胶原代谢的特点。结果 SSc和正常皮肤克隆FB的胶原代谢均具有异质性,SSc患者克隆FBⅠ,Ⅲ型前胶原mRNA水平的异质性较正常人大(F=20.540,P=0.000;F=6.822,P=0.012),SSc患者Ⅰ型前胶原mRNA高表达克隆的比例高于正常人(48.0%vs14.3%);SSc和正常皮肤克隆FB细胞培养上清中Ⅰ型胶原蛋白水平与其mRNA水平均存在正相关关系(r=0.873,P=0.000;r=0.538,P=0.039)。结论 SSc和正常皮肤克隆FB的胶原代谢均具有异质性。     

Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura: first case reports from Nepal

Two young Nepalese females, aged 34 and 17 years, presented with multiple small brown macules in a reticulate pattern on the distal extensor aspects of their limbs. The first patient's daughter also had similar lesions. The second patient had similar lesions on her eyelids and palmar pits as well. The clinical diagnosis of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAK) was made in both the patients and was confirmed histopathologically. These are the first case reports of this condition from Nepal.     

Dual diagnosis of Pemphigus and pemphigoid. Retrospective review of thirty cases in the literature.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus and pemphigoid are two distinct groups of autoimmune blistering diseases. There are many reports of the simultaneous presence of clinical and serological features of both diseases in the same patient. OBJECTIVE: This study is a retrospective review of the present literature on reports of patients with features of both pemphigus and pemphigoid. We recommend that these patients be considered as having a dual diagnosis. METHODS: A review of the English language, peer-reviewed literature was conducted on patients described with features of pemphigus and pemphigoid. Available data on clinical profile, histology, immunopathology, treatment, follow-up and outcome were studied in 30 patients. They were divided into three groups: (1) bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris, (2) mucous membrane or cicatricial pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris and (3) bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus foliaceus. RESULTS: In all three groups, most patients had a clinical phenotype resembling both diseases. In 17 patients with bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris, 83% had a skin biopsy consistent with bullous pemphigoid, 70% had direct immunofluorescence studies typical of bullous pemphigoid and sera of 83% had antibodies typical of pemphigus vulgaris on indirect immunofluorescence. In 10 patients with mucous membrane or cicatricial pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris, a histology of mucous membrane pemphigoid was reported in 60% of the patients, direct immunofluorescence studies typical of mucous membrane pemphigoid were reported in 70% of the patients and in 80%, autoantibodies characteristic of pemphigus vulgaris were observed. In 3 patients with bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus foliaceus, the histologies were consistent with bullous pemphigoid, direct immunofluorescence was typical of pemphigus foliaceus and their sera had both autoantibodies. The majority of the 30 patients required long-term high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents to control their disease. Three patients with bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris (18%) died due to effects of prolonged immunosuppression. CONCLUSION: We characterize a group of patients who have clinical, histological and immunopathological features of bullous or mucous membrane or cicatricial pemphigoid with serological features of pemphigus. These patients did not achieve a prolonged clinical remission by conventional therapy. It is possible that early identification of these patients may improve their prognosis.     

Effects of two telephone survey methods on the level of reported risk behaviours

OBJECTIVE: Reporting bias due to social desirability is an important consideration in carrying out surveys on sensitive issues. The study compared the frequency of self reported sensitive behaviours and response rates between the conventional "telephone interviewer method" (TIM) and a combined interviewer and computerised data capturing method (telephone interviewer and computerised questionnaire method, or TICQM). METHODS: A total of 580 males and 582 females were recruited and randomly assigned to either of the two methods in a cross sectional study. The overall response rate was about 51.6%. RESULTS: While the two methods both had high completion and low item non-response rates, the TICQM respondents reported higher frequencies of sensitive risk behaviours. Sexually active female respondents interviewed by the TICQM were more likely to report that their sex partners were their steady boyfriend, instead of their husband; and were also more likely to admit that they had had "one night stand" experiences or had undergone an HIV antibody test, when compared with their counterparts in the TIM group. Similar contrasts were observed for sexually active male respondents, that the TICQM group were more likely to report that they had had sexual intercourse with female sex workers or non-regular sex partners. Sex differences in the strength of association were observed between some studied behaviours (for example, HIV testing and substance abuse) and modes of data collection. CONCLUSION: The choice of data collection method has a significant impact on the results of sensitive studies; special attention should be given to designing the study and interpreting the results.     

Epidemiology of tinea pedis and toenail tinea unguium in worshippers in the mosques in Adana, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatomycosis and the risk factors in those who perform their prayers in the mosques in the city center of Adana Province. The diagnosis of dermatomycosis was made on the basis of direct microscopy and/or culture in addition to clinical findings. Among 461 subjects, 136 (29.5%) had tinea pedis, 23 (5.0%) had tinea unguium, and 21 (4.5%) had both infections simultaneously, with a resulting total of 180 (39.0%) cases of dermatomycosis. The causative agents by frequency were: Trichophyton rubrum (67.0%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (31.1%), and Candida albicans (1.9%). The prevalence of the foot dermatomycosis was found to be high among those who practiced ablution 3-5 times a day and did not dry their feet immediately, who used rubber shoes, and/or who shared their shoes. Pedal dermatophyte infection seems to be a major problem among the adult Muslim male population regularly attending mosques especially in 5th and 6th decades of life.     

Natural history of cervical epithelial abnormalities in patients with vulval warts. A colposcopic study

The natural history of intraepithelial abnormalities of the cervix associated with human papillomavirus infection was investigated in a prospective study of 50 women with vulval warts, of whom 28 had colposcopic evidence of a cervical epithelial abnormality and 22 a normal cervix. Of the 28 with a cervical abnormality, 26 were re-examined by colposcopy after three months; the epithelial abnormality had persisted in 23 women. Nineteen women who had initially shown abnormality by colposcopy were re-examined six months after their first attendance; the epithelial abnormality had persisted in 14 women. Of the 22 women who initially had a normal cervix, 19 were re-examined after three months; the cervix remained normal in 18, but an epithelial abnormality had developed in one. Fourteen women who initially had a normal cervix were re-examined six months after their first attendance; the cervix was still normal in 11, but an epithelial abnormality had developed in three. Colposcopically directed biopsy specimens were obtained from 21 women who showed an epithelial abnormality; of these, evidence of wart virus infection was present in four, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in two, both conditions in 13, and no abnormality in two. It is concluded that lesions of the cervix associated with wart virus infection show little evidence of short term regression.     

Prevalence and relevance of the positivity of skin prick testing in patients with chronic urticaria

Many patients with chronic urticaria (CU) worry that foods or other allergens are responsible for their urticaria. Skin prick testing (SPT) may be one of the investigations used to provide a clear illustration. The purpose of our study was to assess the prevalence of positivity of SPT to food allergens and aeroallergens and their relevance in patients with CU, in order to demonstrate the diagnostic value of SPT in CU. We retrospectively reviewed case record forms of patients with chronic ordinary urticaria who underwent SPT in the Urticaria Clinic, Siriraj Hospital, during the period 2000-2004. The studied allergens included 16 food allergens and 12 aeroallergens. Eighty-eight patients were enrolled. The prevalence of positive SPT among patients with CU was 47.7%. Patients who had personal histories of atopy had statistically significant positive SPT results compared with patients who had negative SPT. Of 88 patients, 26 patients (30%) gave positive results to food allergens, 36 patients (41%) gave positive results to aeroallergens and 20 patients (22.7%) gave positive results to both food and aeroallergens. One-third of the subjects (34.6%) who had positive SPT results to food allergens had clinical relevance of food allergy in some systems but only one patient had clinical relevance of food-induced urticaria. Half of the patients who had a history of aeroallergen sensitivity gave a positive SPT response for aeroallergens; however, there was no clinical relevance to their CU. Our study showed that the prevalence of positive SPT to food allergens and aeroallergens in patients with CU was common but had little clinical relevance to CU.     

Epidemiologic characteristics of two different populations of women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and their male partners.

Two groups of women under the age of 26 with chlamydial infection (A-asymptomatic women from a screening program, B-traditional STD clinic patients) and their partners were compared with respect to history of STD, sexual behavior, contraception, and indices for income and social welfare expense. The mean number of partners was 1.3 in group A and 1.8 in group B. Women in group B, in spite of more frequent condom use, demonstrated greater risk behavior both with respect to STD and to unwanted pregnancy and also had higher indices for social welfare expense. More group A partners than group B partners were asymptomatic and chlamydia negative. Group B partners also more often had low income as well as high social welfare expense indices. In both groups, complicated chains of transmission were found, and the need for expert contact tracing in both types of patient groups is stressed.     

Digital photography for patient counseling in dermatology – a study

Objectives To evaluate the use of digital photography in dermatology as an aid to patient counseling and follow‐up. Materials and methods Two hundred patients attending the dermatology Out‐Patient Department at our centre over a 1‐year period were included. Half the group, randomly assigned (G1), had their clinical photographs taken and were counseled using basic imaging software, their images and other relevant images regarding their disease and possible treatment outcomes. The control group (G0) was counseled without using any kind of imaging. Patient satisfaction was scored in both groups after the initial counseling session and then after 2 months. Results The test group (G1) gave statistically significant higher scores at both readings compared with the control group (G0). Conclusion Digital imaging can be a very effective tool for the dermatologist for patient counseling.     

Natural history of cervical epithelial abnormalities in patients with vulval warts. A colposcopic study.

The natural history of intraepithelial abnormalities of the cervix associated with human papillomavirus infection was investigated in a prospective study of 50 women with vulval warts, of whom 28 had colposcopic evidence of a cervical epithelial abnormality and 22 a normal cervix. Of the 28 with a cervical abnormality, 26 were re-examined by colposcopy after three months; the epithelial abnormality had persisted in 23 women. Nineteen women who had initially shown abnormality by colposcopy were re-examined six months after their first attendance; the epithelial abnormality had persisted in 14 women. Of the 22 women who initially had a normal cervix, 19 were re-examined after three months; the cervix remained normal in 18, but an epithelial abnormality had developed in one. Fourteen women who initially had a normal cervix were re-examined six months after their first attendance; the cervix was still normal in 11, but an epithelial abnormality had developed in three. Colposcopically directed biopsy specimens were obtained from 21 women who showed an epithelial abnormality; of these, evidence of wart virus infection was present in four, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in two, both conditions in 13, and no abnormality in two. It is concluded that lesions of the cervix associated with wart virus infection show little evidence of short term regression.