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.     

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.     

Psychiatric patients and their response to experimental stress

Serum levels of Epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), heart rate (HR), skin conductance reaction (SCR) and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured in schizophrenic, endogenous depressed and anxiety patients as well as in normal controls. Conditions were rest, noise and a mental arithmetic (MA) task. Schizophrenic and depressed patients had an attenuated HR response to MA. Moreover, Schizophrenic patients also had higher NE base level and the highest NE secretion during noise. Anxiety and depressed patients showed significantly lower phasic electrodermal activity (SCR) throughout the whole trial, exclusively anxiety patients had significantly higher tonic electrodermal activity (SCL). These findings indicate that autonomous reactions discriminate between patient groups and controls as well as between each other.     

Visual versus computer evaluation of thiopental-induced EEG changes in temporal lobe epilepsy

Thiopental-induced EEG beta activity was analyzed both visually and by computer in 33 patients with complex partial epilepsy. Studies were done in 16 patients with depth electrodes in limbic structures and 17 patients with scalp and sphenoidal electrodes. The percentage of drug-induced change in beta activity was quantified by computer using spectral analysis. The statistical significance of asymmetries between homologous sites in the amount of change was determined. The spatial distribution of significant asymmetries was used for localization and compared with the results of independent visual analysis of the thiopental EEG. Concordance between computer and visual evaluation occurred in 10 of 17 scalp/sphenoidal and 10 of 16 depth electrode tests. The accuracy of visual and computer localization was determined by comparing them with locus of itcal EEG onset, interictal spikes, and positron emission tomography. In scalp/sphenoidal studies, computer analysis indicating asymmetry appeared more likely to correlate with independent clinical criteria than visual analysis. In depth studies the reverse appeared to be true. Scalp/sphenoidal tests yielded positive results in 25-30% of patients whereas depth electrode tests were positive in 50-70% of patients. The results indicate that computer analysis of surface thiopental tests is an accurate and useful supplement to visual evaluation of these tests.     

Das Elektrokardiogramm des gesunden Frühgeborenen,Neugeborenen und Säuglings

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 5 Textabbildungen.     

Tumor inhibiting properties of stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl) ethylenediamine]dichloroplatinum(II)-complexes, Part II: Biological properties

The activity of stereoisomeric [1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine] dichloroplatinum(II)-complexes (1-PtCl2,R,S; 2-PtCl2, R,R/S,S; 3-PtCl2, R,R; 4-PtCl2, S,S) on several tumor models (MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cell line; P 388 leukemia, mouse; L 1210 leukemia, mouse; L 5222 leukemia, rat; Ehrlich ascites tumor, mouse--wildtype; cisplatin-, etoposide-, cyclophosphamide-, and daunomycin-resistant, resp.) is described. For comparison the analogous [1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylendiamine]dichloroplatinum (II)-complexes (5-PtCl2, R, S; 6-PtCl2, R,R/S,S; 7-PtCl2, R,R; 8-PtCl2, S,S) and cisplatin are used. 1-PtCl2 to 4-PtCl2 (OH in 3,3'-positions) show their maximum antitumor effect at lower doses than 5-PtCl2 to 8-PtCl2 (OH in 4,4'-positions). 2-PtCl2 and 6-PtCl2 (R,R/S,S) are more active than 1-PtCl2 and 5-PtCl2 (R,S). 4-PtCl2 and 8-PtCl2 (S,S) are superior to 3-PtCl2 and 7-PtCl2 (R,R). On the L 5222 leukemia 2-PtCl2 (R,R/S,S), 4-PtCl2 (S,S) and 8-PtCl2 (S,S) markedly surpass cisplatin. Strong effects are produced by 2-PtCl2 to 4-PtCl2 on the Ehrlich ascites tumor (wildtype, cisplatin-, etoposide-, cyclophosphamide-, and daunomycin-resistant, resp.). The combination of 4-PtCl2 with cisplatin results in a weakly synergistic effect.