bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mastocytosis with skin manifestations: current status
Authors: Katsambas Andreas D. , Karpouzis Anthony J. , Koumantaki‐Mathioudaki Elma , Jorizzo Joseph L. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAimTo review our present knowledge about mastocyte origin, mastocytosis classification and management.MethodsLiterature review.ResultsMastocytoses are chronic and recurrent disorders with symptoms which might either be limited only to the skin or to internal organs as well. The mastocytes, coming from bone marrow progenitor cells, migrate to tissues where they participate in inflammation and in cellular immunity as well as in the metabolism of connective and osseous tissues. Their proliferation causes the appearance of mastocytoses. The classification of the clinical manifestations of the mastocytoses into cutaneous, reactive (under the influence of the degranulator factors) and systemic disease, facilitates dialog among clinicians. Determination of prognosis and appropriate therapeutic regimens depend on individual features.ConclusionsMastocytosis diagnosis is verified by histological study of skin lesion biopsy material. Management is symptomatic and unfortunately does not eradicate the disease.
Atypical herpes simplex can mimic a flare of disease activity in patients with pemphigus vulgaris
Authors: Hale Elizabeth K. , Bystryn Jean‐Claude 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe present a 69‐year‐old white woman with pemphigus vulgaris limited to the oral mucosa who presented with oral pain and difficulty swallowing of 2 days duration, followed by multiple irregular ulcers arising from normal mucosa with no grouping of individual lesions – herpes simplex should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions that appear suddenly in patients with PV, particularly if the lesions fail to respond to an increased dose of corticosteroids.
Metastatic ulcerative penile Crohn's disease
Authors: Corazza M. , Ughi G. , Spisani L. , Virgili A. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractMetastatic Crohn's disease (MCD) is a cutaneous granulomatous reaction which affects patients with bowel disease in areas of the skin distant from the affected bowel. Penile involvement is a very uncommon observation. We report a case of penile ulcerative MCD in a 37‐year‐old man, which requested surgical management. The lesion developed during reactivation of the bowel disease.
Achilles foot screening project: preliminary results of patients screened by dermatologists
Authors: Roseeuw D. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjective Presentation of the preliminary results from the foot screening project, ‘Achilles”, conducted in spring of 1997 and 1998 in several European countries. At the EADV congress, only the preliminary results of the study, i.e. patients screened by dermatologists, were presented.Subject Foot diseases, especially fungal infections (tinea pedis and onychomycosis).Methods A questionnaire and a mycological examination in patients visiting a dermatologist for disorders irrespective of their foot problems.Results The proportion of patients with foot diseases visiting a dermatologist was high (58%). In the total population, fungal infections were the most prevalent clinically diagnosed foot diseases (35%), especially onychomycosis (23%) and tinea pedis (22%). The prevalence of foot diseases increased with advancing age and more men as compared with women had fungal infections of the feet. The most prevalent predisposing factors were vascular disease and sports participation. In subjects with onychomycosis, the big toenail was affected most often. Twenty‐three percent of the participants with clinically diagnosed tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis had infection of both the skin and the nail. The most frequently isolated pathogen was Trichophyton rubrum. Patients with onychomycosis often reported quality of life problems, especially pain and discomfort in walking.Conclusion The preliminary results of this pan‐European study show that epidemiological studies can give a better idea of foot diseases in dermatological patients. The results indicate a need to pay more attention to foot disease, to predict and prevent future diseases and complications. The most frequent foot diseases were fungal infections, especially onychomycosis, which affects the quality of life of the patients. More results will be available in 1999.
Chlamydia trachomatis and male infertility: chlamydia‐IgA antibodies in seminal plasma are C. trachomatis specific and associated with an inflammatory response1
Authors: Ochsendorf F.R. , Özdemir K. , Rabenau H. , Fenner Th. , Oremek R. , Milbradt R. , Doerr H.W. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackgroundThere is controversy over the role of asymptomatic genital tract infection by Chlamydia trachomatis, its optimal diagnosis, and its place in the etiology of male infertility.ObjectiveComparision of direct detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in semen with the presence of chlamydia‐antibodies in seminal plasma and serum, together with parameters of the spermatogram, in men of infertile relationships.Study designProspective clinical study.SettingUniversity hospital tertiary referral center.Subjects and methodsTwo groups of consecutive andrological patients (n = 89 and n= 36) were investigated as follows: semen analysis, including concentration of granulocyte‐elastase; detection of C. trachomatis in semen samples and first void urine by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen‐ELISA (Celisa®); detection of chlamydia antibodies in serum and seminal plasma by recombinant antibody‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (rELISA®) and of Chlamydia trachomatis specific antibodies by the ImmunoComb®‐Chlamydia‐Bivalent test.ResultsIn 2/125 (1.6%) semen samples Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was detected by PCR. Genus specific anti‐chlamydia‐IgA was found in 12/122 (9%) of the seminal plasmas. This IgA appeared to be specific for C. trachomatis. Seminal plasmas with chlamydia‐IgA antibodies showed higher PMN‐elastase levels than IgA negative samples (P < 0.04). Chla‐mydia‐IgG antibodies were present in 27/89 (30%) of the sera, but in only five of these 27 sera (19%) were the antibodies detected specific for C. trachomatis. There were no associations between any of these variables and the parameters of the routine semen analysis.ConclusionIgA‐chlamydial antibodies in seminal plasma appeared to be specific against C. trachomatis and were associated with an inflammatory response in the male genital tract.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis arising on lichen sclerosus et atrophicus
Authors: Rubio Juan Francisco Paricio , Revenga Arranz Francisco , Alfaro Torres Jorge , Ramirez Gasca Teresa 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSquamous cell carcinoma of the penis arising on lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is rarely reported. A case is described in a 63‐year‐old man who had been diagnosed of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus 3 years before. The previously reported cases, the association of these diseases in women and men, and the possible pathogenesis are discussed.
Primary tuberculosis of the penis
Authors: Rossi Riccardo , Urbano Francesco , Tortoli Enrico , Trotta Michele , Zuccati Giuliano , Cappugi Pietro 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe present a case of primary tuberculosis of the inner lining of the prepuce in a 63‐year‐old man. The condition resembled carcinoma. The diagnosis was based on histopathology and on M. tuberculosis culture. Successful treatment was by a combined medical and surgical approach. The rarity of the case is emphasized.
Unilateral eruptive vellus hair cysts occurring on the face
Authors: Lew B‐L , Lee M‐H , Haw C‐R 
Published: September 2006

AbstractEruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHC) are small, cystic papules that usually occur on the chest and extremities. Their aetiology is unknown. Fewer than 10 cases of a variant form of EVHC that occur exclusively on the face have been reported. We describe a case of EVHC limited to the right side of the face. To the best of our knowledge, no case of unilateral EVHC has been reported.
Treatment of poikiloderma of Civatte with the pulsed dye laser: a series of patients with severe depigmentation
Authors: Meijs MM , Blok FAA , De Rie MA 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackground  Pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment is widely used for poikiloderma of Civatte. Some adverse events in small numbers of patients have been reported. Guidelines for treatment of poikiloderma of Civatte do not exist.Objective  To report the occurrence of persistent depigmentation as a late adverse event in a series of patients with poikiloderma of Civatte after treatment with PDL.Methods  Eight patients (seven women and one man, mean age 48 years) with poikiloderma of Civatte were treated with PDL using a 585‐nm wavelength and a fixed pulse duration of 450 µs. In all patients one or two test PDL patches were performed and reviewed after 3 months. All of the patients tolerated the testing without complications. Subsequent treatments were undertaken at intervals of 3 months.Results  All patients were treated with fluences between 3.5 and 7 J/cm2, using a 7‐ or 10‐mm spot size. All patients had a good result with respect to clearing of the vascular component. Nevertheless, six of them, treated with 5–7 J/cm2, reported severe depigmentation 4–11 months after treatment. Two patients treated with lower fluences (3.5–5.5 J/cm2) did not report this depigmentation.Conclusions  Great care is needed when PDL treatment is used for poikiloderma of Civatte. Pigment changes have been incidentally mentioned as late complications but have not been well documented as the late depigmentation has been in this series. It is advisable to use fluences as low as possible, and not exceeding an upper limit of 5 J/cm2, on a 10‐mm spot size. More research is needed to define an optimal pulse duration.
Bacterial vaginosis in a cohort of Danish pregnant women: prevalence and relationship with preterm delivery, low birthweight and perinatal infections
Authors: Svare JA , Schmidt H , Hansen BB , Lose G 
Published: September 2006

Objective  To determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the second trimester of pregnancy in a Danish population using the Schmidt criteria and to examine whether BV was associated with subsequent preterm delivery, low birthweight or perinatal infections.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a University Hospital, Denmark.Population  Three thousand five hundred and forty pregnant women aged 18 years or more.Methods  A smear from the vagina was obtained from all women, air‐dried and stored for subsequent diagnosis of BV. After rehydration with isotonic saline, the smear was examined in a phase‐contrast microscope at 400×, and the numbers of lactobacilli morphotypes and small bacterial morphotypes were counted. A score for BV was calculated according to the method described by Schmidt. The outcome of pregnancy from 20 weeks of gestation was examined in the 3262 singleton pregnant women who were included in this study before 20 weeks of gestation. The relationship between BV and adverse outcome of pregnancy was examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.Main outcome measures  Prevalence of BV, preterm delivery (<37 weeks), low birthweight (<2500 g), preterm delivery of a low‐birthweight infant and clinical chorioamnionitis.Results  The prevalence of BV was 16%, and the rate of preterm delivery was 5.2% in the study population of 3262 singleton pregnant women who were included before 20 weeks of gestation. Mean birthweight was significantly lower in infants of women with BV than in infants of women without BV (3408 versus 3511 g, P < 0.01). Univariate analyses showed that BV was marginally associated with preterm delivery but significantly associated with low birthweight, preterm delivery of a low birthweight infant, indicated preterm delivery and clinical chorioamnionitis. Multivariate analyses, which adjusted for previous miscarriage, previous preterm delivery, previous conisation, smoking, gestational diabetes, fetal death and preterm premature rupture of membranes, showed that BV was significantly associated with low birthweight (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.3–2.9), preterm delivery of a low‐birthweight infant (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.6–3.9), indicated preterm delivery (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.1) and clinical chorioamnionitis (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.1).Conclusions  The prevalence of BV determined using the Schmidt criteria in the early second trimester of pregnancy was similar to that found in similar studies. The presence of BV before 20 weeks of gestation was an independent risk factor for delivery of an infant with low birthweight, preterm delivery of a low‐birthweight infant, indicated preterm delivery and clinical chorioamnionitis.
The Effect of New Insurance Coverage on the Health Status of Low‐Income Children in Santa Clara County
Authors: Howell Embry M. , Trenholm Christopher 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To examine whether providing health insurance coverage to undocumented children affects the health of those children.Data Sources/Study Setting. The data come from a survey of 1235 parents of enrollees in the new insurance program (“Healthy Kids”) in Santa Clara County, California. The survey was conducted from August 2003 to July 2004.Study Design. Cross‐sectional study using a group of children insured for one year as the study group (N=626) and a group of newly insured children as the comparison group (N=609). Regression analysis is used to adjust for differences in the groups according to a range of characteristics.Data Collection. Parents were interviewed by telephone in either English or Spanish (most responded in Spanish). The response rate was 89 percent.Principal Findings. The study group—who were children continuously insured by Healthy Kids for one year—were significantly less likely to be in fair/poor health and to have functional impairments than the comparison group of newly insured children (15.9 percent versus 28.5 percent and 4.5 percent versus 8.4 percent, respectively). Impacts were largest among children who enrolled for a specific medical reason (such as an illness or injury); indeed, the impact on functional limitations was evident only for this subgroup. The study group also had fewer missed school days than the comparison group, but the difference was significant only among children who did not enroll for a medical reason.Conclusions. Health insurance coverage of undocumented children in Santa Clara County was associated with significant improvements in children's health status. The size of this association could be overstated, since the comparison sample included some children who enrolled because of an illness or other temporary health problem that would have improved even without insurance coverage. However, even after limiting the study sample to children who did not enroll for a medical reason, a significant association remained between children's reported health and their health coverage. We thus cautiously conclude that Healthy Kids had a favorable impact on children's health.
IgAs Against Acetaldehyde‐Modified Red Cell Protein as a Marker of Ethanol Consumption in Male Alcoholic Subjects, Moderate Drinkers, and Abstainers
Authors: Hietala Johanna , Koivisto Heidi , Latvala Jaana , Anttila Petra , Niemelä Onni 
Published: September 2006

Background: Alcohol abuse has been shown to result in the production of antibodies against acetaldehyde‐modified epitopes in proteins. However, as yet, only limited information has been available on the clinical usefulness of such responses as markers of hazardous drinking.Methods: We developed an ELISA to measure specific IgAs against acetaldehyde‐protein adducts. This method was evaluated in cross‐sectional and follow‐up studies on male heavy drinkers with a current ethanol consumption of 40 to 540 g/d (n=40), moderate drinkers consuming 1 to 40 g/d (n=25), and abstainers (n=16). The clinical assessments included detailed interviews on the amounts and patterns of ethanol consumption and various biochemical markers of alcohol abuse and liver function.Results: The mean antiadduct IgAs (198±28 U/L) in the alcohol abusers were significantly higher than those in the moderate drinkers (58±11 U/L, p<0.001) or abstainers (28±8 U/L, p<0.001). The values of moderate drinkers were also higher than those in abstainers (p<0.05). The amount of ethanol consumed during the period of 1 month preceding blood sampling correlated strongly with antiadduct IgAs (r=0.67, p<0.001). The sensitivity (73%) and specificity (94%) of this marker were found to exceed those of the conventional laboratory markers of alcohol abuse in comparisons contrasting heavy drinkers with abstainers although not in comparisons contrasting heavy drinkers with moderate drinkers. During abstinence, antiadduct IgAs disappeared with a mean rate of 3% per day. In additional analyses of possible marker combinations, antiadduct IgAs, together with CDT, were found to provide the highest sensitivity and specificity.Conclusions: Measurements of antiadduct IgAs may provide a new clinically useful marker of alcohol abuse, providing a close relationship between marker levels and the actual amounts of recent ethanol ingestion.
Role of β‐Endorphin, Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone, and Autonomic Nervous System in Mediation of the Effect of Chronic Ethanol on Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Activity
Authors: Boyadjieva Nadka , Advis Juan P. , Sarkar Dipak K. 
Published: September 2006

Background: We have recently shown that alcohol feeding suppresses natural killer (NK) cell cytolytic activity partly by decreasing the function of hypothalamic β‐endorphin (β‐EP) neurons. The neuronal mechanism by which hypothalamic β‐EP communicates with the spleen to regulate the action of ethanol on NK cells is not known. In the present study, we evaluated the roles of β‐EP neurons, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) neurons, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in regulation of the ethanol effect on splenic NK cell cytolytic function.Methods: Male rats were fed an ethanol‐containing liquid diet or control diets. These rats were used to determine the hormone release from the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus or used to determine the splenic NK cell cytolytic function after PVN administration of CRH or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of a ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine. The release of hormones from the PVN was measured using the push–pull perfusion method. Splenic cytolytic activity was determined using the 4‐hour 51Cr release assay against YAC‐1 lymphoma target cells.Results: Alcohol feeding decreased the amount of β‐EP but increased the amount of CRH in the push–pull perfusate (PPP) samples collected from the PVN. When exogenous β‐EP was perfused into the PVN, it suppressed the release of endogenous CRH found in PPP samples of the PVN. Conversely, perfusion of an opiate antagonist naltrexone into the PVN increased the levels of endogenous CRH in PPP samples of the PVN. In addition, administration of exogenous β‐EP in the PVN stimulated the cytolytic function of NK cells, an action that was antagonized by CRH as well as by ethanol. Corticotropin‐releasing hormone and ethanol alone also had an inhibitory action on NK cells. Finally, the ganglionic blocker used prevented the effect that ethanol, β‐EP, and CRH had on NK cells. These data suggest that ethanol inhibits the function of NK cells partly by suppressing the influence of the β‐EP–CRH–ANS signal to the spleen.
Alcohol Consumption, Alcoholics Anonymous Membership, and Homicide Mortality Rates in Ontario 1968 to 1991
Authors: Mann Robert E. , Zalcman Rosely Flam , Smart Reginald G. , Rush Brian R. , Suurvali Helen 
Published: September 2006

Background: Research has shown a strong link between alcohol use and a variety of problems, including violence. Parker and colleagues have presented a selective disinhibition theory for the link between alcohol use and homicide (and other violence) that posits a causal relationship that is also influenced by other situational and contextual factors. This model is particularly well suited for aggregate‐level investigations. In this study, we examine the impact of alcohol factors, including consumption measures and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) membership rates, on homicide mortality rates in Ontario, and test predictions derived from the selective disinhibition model.Methods: Time series analyses with ARIMA modeling were applied to total, male, and female homicide rates in Ontario between 1968 and 1991. The analyses performed included total alcohol consumption, spirits consumption, beer consumption, and wine consumption. Missing AA membership data were interpolated with cubic splines.Results: For the total population and males, homicide rates were significantly and positively related to total alcohol consumption and to the consumption of beer and spirits. They were also negatively related to AA membership rates in the analyses involving spirits and wine and positively related to unemployment rates in the analyses involving beer, wine, and total alcohol. Among females, none of the measures were significant predictors of homicide mortality rates.Conclusions: These data provide important support for the selective disinhibition model and confirm important relationships between per capita consumption measures and homicide mortality rates, especially among males, seen in other studies. Additionally, the results for AA membership rates are consistent with the hypothesis that AA membership and treatment for misuse of alcohol can exert beneficial effects observable at the population level.
Growth factors and cytokines in autologous platelet concentrate and their correlation to periodontal regeneration outcomes
Authors: Christgau M. , Moder D. , Hiller K.‐A. , Dada A. , Schmitz G. , Schmalz G. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract:Aim: To determine the concentration of naturally available biologic mediators in autologous platelet concentrates and their correlation with periodontal regeneration outcomes.Material and methods: In 25 patients with two intra‐bony defects each, an autologous platelet concentrate (APC) was prepared by a laboratory thrombocyte apheresis technique pre‐operatively. Both defects were treated using a bioresorbable guided tissue regeneration‐membrane in combination with tricalciumphosphate (TCP). In the test defect, APC was additionally applied. In the APC, platelets were counted and the levels of growth factors and cytokines were determined by ELISA. Correlations between the platelet counts or the growth factor/cytokine levels and the potential clinical and radiographic regeneration outcomes due to APC were calculated after 3, 6, and 12 months.Results: The APC contained 2.2 × 106 platelets/μl, which was 7.9 times more than in the venous blood. Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I), platelet‐derived growth factor‐AB (PDGF‐AB), PDGF‐BB, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were found in the APC, whereas interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL‐4, and IL‐10 were not detectable. The regression analysis showed a weak correlation between the platelet counts or the growth factor levels and the clinical and radiographic regeneration outcomes (r20.4).Conclusion: Autologous platelet concentrate contains relatively high concentrations of PDGF‐AB, PDGF‐BB, TGF‐β1, and IGF‐I, but their potential influence on periodontal regeneration remains unclear.