Gynaecological causes of acute abdominal pain: an update

Acute abdominal pain is common and accounts for 5–10% of all emergency department admissions. The extensive nature of the differentials can make the definitive diagnosis challenging, particularly in women of childbearing age. There is often a conundrum as to whether the emergency is of gynaecological or surgical origin: delay in diagnosis can result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article explores the history, examination and investigation of women presenting with acute abdominal pain. It considers common gynaecological causes, including those found in pregnancy.     

Influence of intense light stimulation on trigeminal and cervical pain perception thresholds

Thirty-three migraineurs and 23 healthy controls were submitted to pressure algometry before and after light-induced discomfort was elicited by progressive light stimulation in a monoblind fashion. Pressure algometries were performed on the emergence of the supraorbital, infraorbital, mental and greater occipital nerves, and over the temporal muscles, always throughout the same sequence and from right to left. Measurements were carried out before and immediately after light stimulation and after 10 min of the second algometry. The final result for each site measured at each time-point was the mean of the three measurements. Light stimulation was carried out progressively until light-induced discomfort was reported, to a maximum of 20,000 lux. A heat-blocking glass protected patients' eyes. Migraineurs presented significant and persistent drops in pain perception thresholds after light stimulation, at all sites tested (P = 0.002 to < 0.0001). These drops were not seen in controls, in whom, conversely, a less significant increase was seen on right infraorbital and left temporal muscle sites. Our results indicate that in migraineurs, light may have a relevant role in trigeminal and cervical pain perception thresholds.     

Exploring the association between cardiovascular and other disease‐related risk factors in the psoriasis population: the need for increased understanding across the medical community

There is abundant and accumulating evidence on the classification of psoriasis as a systemic disease that exhibits a host of co‐morbidities. As a consequence, the second Interdisciplinary Conference on Co‐morbidities and Lifestyle Modification, convened by the International Psoriasis Council, has concluded that specialist physicians, primary care physicians and dermatologists are faced with an opportunity to impact, not just psoriasis disease understanding and management, but overall patient well‐being. The conference panel was represented by the disciplines of dermatology, cardiology, rheumatology, epidemiology, endocrinology, hepatology and gastroenterology, and medical specialists with particular expertise in obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammation and genetics. The multiple co‐morbidities associated with psoriasis were reviewed with a view to identify possible mechanisms linking psoriatic disease with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Consensus was established on the association of psoriasis with other co‐morbidities and disease states. Consequently, there is a significant opportunity for specialist and primary care physicians to collaborate with dermatologists in the management of the overall health of psoriasis patients. First, there is an important need for physicians to routinely screen psoriasis patients for the multiple susceptibility risk factors and co‐morbidities associated with psoriasis. Second, the design and implementation of lifestyle modification plans including exercise, diet and the limitation of alcohol and tobacco intake, will not only benefit their general medical health but also their psoriasis.     

Skin disorders in chronic psychiatric illness

Background Chronic psychiatric patients are prone to develop skin diseases. However, epidemiological data are scarce. Objective To describe the prevalence of skin complaints and dermatological disorders in residential psychiatric patients. Methods Ninety‐one randomly chosen patients of the residential wards of a general psychiatric hospital completed a short, structured interview concerning skin disease and underwent a physical examination of the skin. Results Of the examined patients, 69% reported symptoms of skin disease in the month prior to the interview and 77% had skin disorders at physical examination. In 34 (37%) patients, skin disorders were diagnosed, which were not mentioned in the interview. Patients with diabetes had infectious skin disease more often than their fellow patients [odds ratio (OR) 10.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.40–49.75]. Moreover, overweight patients had infectious skin disease more often (OR 7.4; 95% CI: 1.38–39.3). Women reported more skin complaints (OR 6.4: 95% CI: 1.67–24.2), and also had skin problems other than infection, tumours or dermatitis more frequently (OR 3.7; 95% CI: 1.34–10.14). Clozapine use was associated with benign neoplasms of the skin. The nature of this association remains unclear and merits further investigation. Conclusions Many chronic psychiatric patients have skin problems. Clinical examination of the skin is important to discover these problems. Patients with diabetes mellitus are particularly at risk for skin infections. Because of their relationship with overweight and diabetes mellitus, atypical antipsychotics may be partly responsible for these serious complications. Only a few other relationships between psychiatric medication and specific skin problems were found.