Immediate-type latex hypersensitivity in a hairdresser

Hairdressers commonly develop contact dermatitis caused by either skin irritants or allergens to which they are exposed. Those using latex gloves are also at risk of developing immediate hypersensitivity reactions to latex. We present a hairdresser with hand dermatitis, primarily as a result of immediate-type hypersensitivity to latex causing contact urticaria, diagnosed with radioallergosorbent testing. Only three previous studies have reported latex allergy in hairdressers. This condition needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in hairdressers presenting with hand dermatitis and a history of wearing either rubber or disposable latex gloves.     

Primed for addiction: A critical review of the role of microglia in the neurodevelopmental consequences of adolescent alcohol drinking

Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational substances worldwide, with drinking frequently initiated during adolescence. The developmental state of the adolescent brain makes it vulnerable to initiating alcohol use, often in high doses, and particularly susceptible to alcohol-induced brain changes. Microglia, the brain parenchymal macrophages, have been implicated in mediating some of these effects, though the role that these cells play in the progression from alcohol drinking to dependence remains unclear. Microglia are uniquely positioned to sense and respond to central nervous system insult, and are now understood to exhibit innate immune memory, or “priming,” altering their future functional responses based on prior exposures. In alcohol use disorders (AUDs), the role of microglia is debated. Whereas microglial activation can be pathogenic, contributing to neuroinflammation, tissue damage, and behavioral changes, or protective, it can also engage protective functions, providing support and mediating the resolution of damage. Understanding the role of microglia in adolescent AUDs is complicated by the fact that microglia are thought to be involved in developmental processes such as synaptic refinement and myelination, which underlie the functional maturation of multiple brain systems in adolescence. Thus, the role microglia play in the impact of alcohol use in adolescence is likely multifaceted. Long-term sequelae may be due to a failure to recover from EtOH-induced tissue damage, altered neurodevelopmental trajectories, and/or persistent changes to microglial responsivity and function. Here, we review critically the literature surrounding the effects of alcohol on microglia in models of adolescent alcohol misuse. We attempt to disentangle what is known about microglia from other neuroimmune effectors, to which we apply recent discoveries on the role of microglia in development and plasticity. Considered altogether, these studies challenge assumptions that proinflammatory microglia drive addiction. Alcohol priming microglia and thereby perturbing their homeostatic roles in neurodevelopment, especially during critical periods of plasticity such as adolescence, may have more serious implications for the neuropathogenesis of AUDs in adolescents.     

Successful chemotherapy for cystosarcoma phyllodes in a young woman

Cystosarcoma phyllodes is a rare neoplasm of the breast. The tumor contains both stromal and epithelial elements. Local excision or simple mastectomy is usually curative. Most recurrences are local and can be controlled with excision. We treated a 23-year-old woman in whom disease had metastasized to the lungs with six courses of doxorubicin hydrochloride and cisplatin at three-week intervals and achieved complete remission.