Psoriasis in childhood and adolescence: evaluation of demographic and clinical features

BACKGROUND: The present study was aimed to define the gender ratio, familial occurrence, age of onset, precipitating factors, clinical types, nail and joint involvement of psoriasis in childhood and adolescence in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 61 children with psoriasis under 18 years old were evaluated retrospectively, for age, gender, age of disease onset, family history, concomitant disease, the clinical type of psoriasis, clinical localization, nail and joint involvement and treatment modalities. RESULTS: Of the patients, 23 (37.70%) were boys and 38 (62.30%) were girls. Mean age was 9.28 +/- 4.02 years in girls and 11.18 +/- 3.85 years in boys (9.96 +/- 4.03 years in all children). Mean age at the onset of the disease was 6.81 +/- 4.11 years in girls and 7.03 +/- 4.28 years in boys (6.89 +/- 4.14 years in all patients). In 14 (23%) cases, a positive family history was detected. The most frequent probable triggering factors were upper respiratory tract infections (14.8%) and positive throat culture for A group ss-hemolytic streptococcus (21.3%). Frequency of emotional stress and psychiatric morbidity were 54% and 9.8%, respectively. The most frequent localizations at onset were trunk (44.3%), extremities (54.0%), and scalp (36.0%). Three children (4.9%) had a history of dissemination from psoriatic diaper rash. In total, 51 (83.6%) patients presented with psoriasis vulgaris, eight (13.1%) with generalized pustular psoriasis, and the remaining two (3.3%) with erythrodermic psoriasis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of psoriasis among dermatological patients in childhood and adolescence was 3.8%. The disease tends to appear earlier in girls than boys. The authors suggested that stress and upper respiratory infections are the most important triggering factors in childhood and adolescence psoriasis.     

Predictive value and limitations of animal models for human transplantation: do we need more models for facial transplantation?

Animal models have traditionally provided the basis for preliminary investigation of new techniques prior to trials taking place in human subjects. The timing of when to proceed with human trials is difficult, as the accuracy of preclinical models can only be determined with hindsight. This review outlines the progression from transplantation in animal models to man. Now that many transplant procedures are well established, it is possible to assess the predictive value and limitations of animal models. These results are of great importance in the current debate about composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) and in particular facial transplantation. This progression of CTA from animal models to man is outlined and compared with early renal, cardiac, and liver transplants. There is some evidence to suggest that animal models may have been misleading in CTA and that this has effectively delayed the transition to humans. The role for animal models in facial transplantation, which is currently making the step to clinical trials, is discussed.     

Does prophylactic sotalol and magnesium decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass surgery: a propensity-matched analysis

Background  

Atrial fibrillation can occur in up to 40% of patients undergoing coronary surgery.     

Hospital Episode Statistics and trends in ophthalmic surgery 1998 – 2004

Background  

Hospital episode statistics (HES) is a UK national database for the National Health Service (NHS), now available online. The purpose of this study was to observe trends in ophthalmic operations performed during the period from 1998 to 2004, using this data.     

The immunolocalisation of the neuroendocrine specific protein PGP9.5 during neurogenesis in the rat.

We have examined the immunolocalisation of the protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 during neurogenesis in the rat embryo. PGP9.5 was first present at 11.5 days gestation (E11.5): all morphologically recognisable nerve cell bodies and fibres were immunoreactive. In routinely processed, wax-embedded tissues, using a standard immunocytochemical technique, PGP9.5 polyclonal antibody specifically demonstrated the developing nervous system and primitive adrenal chromaffin cells.