bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human arylamineN‐acetyltransferase 2 polymorphism and susceptibility to allergic contact dermatitis
Authors: Nacak Muradiye , Erbagci Zulal , Aynacioglu A. Sukru 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground N‐acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism may be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic contact dermatitis.Objective The present study was designed to evaluate whether acetylation polymorphism plays a role in the susceptibility top‐Phenylenediamine (PPD) sensitization.Methods The frequencies of sevenNAT2point mutations, namely G191A, C282T, T341C, C481T, G590A, A803G, and G857A, and genotypes were determined by PCR/RFLP in a total of 70 patients with allergic contact dermatitis to PPD and 100 control subjects with no history of allergy, atopy, lung disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer.Results Genotypes coding rapid acetylation were detected in 52.9% and 37.0% of patients with contact dermatitis and control subjects, respectively (P = 0.04). The frequency of theNAT2*4 allele andNAT2*4/*4 genotype, coding for rapid acetylation, were also significantly higher in the contact dermatitis patients than in the control subjects (P = 0.003).Conclusion Our results suggest an association between rapid acetylation polymorphism and susceptibility to PPD sensitization.
Prevalence and awareness of melasma during pregnancy
Authors: Moin Athar , Jabery Zahra , Fallah Nader 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis of the face. There is little information on its prevalence during pregnancy in Iran.Objective  To determine the prevalence and awareness of melasma during pregnancy at the Shahed University Hospitals of Tehran, Iran.Methods  A cross‐sectional study was carried out by clinical examination and questionnaire on 400 pregnant women.Results  The prevalence of melasma was 15.8%[95% confidence interval (CI) 12.3–19.4]. Malar pattern was seen in 65.9% of cases, whereas 33.8% of the patients had a centrofacial pattern. No case with a mandibular pattern was found. Positive family history of melasma was present in 54.7% of the cases. There was a statistically significant relation between melasma and ethnicity, phototype and grade of parity. However, no significant relation was observed between melasma and use of sunscreens, history of thyroid or liver disorders, trimester of pregnancy or phenotype (eye and hair color). 11.3% of the patients declared that they have developed melasma after using OCP Oral Contraception. Patients had little awareness of the etiology of melasma. In fact, 68.8% of the patients had no knowledge of its etiology. The effective factors or etiologies for melasma were stated as: 14.5% pregnancy, 9.8% sun exposure, 4.9% liver disorders, 4.9% nutrition and 1.6% sex of newborn.Conclusions  Our study confirms that melasma is common among pregnant women in Tehran, Iran. They had a low level of awareness of the etiology of melasma. There is a need for educational programs on the etiology and prevention of melasma in Iranian women.
How are solar keratoses treated by general practitioners in Australia?
Authors: Streeton Catherine L. , Gospodarevskaya Elena , Harris Anthony H. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  This study aimed to obtain clinical and economic information about patterns of treatment of solar keratoses (SKs) by general practitioners in Australia. The study design was a retrospective survey relating to the treatment of patients presenting to their doctor with previously untreated SKs.Methods  Data were collected between May and June 2000, from a sample of doctors who were asked to randomly select two SK patients from their medical records and complete a self‐administered postal questionnaire. Information about treatment types, number of visits, treatment complications, and specialist referrals were directly extracted from the patient records.Results  A total of 156 patients were recruited to the study (61% male) who had been treated for a total of 251 SKs (average 1.6 lesions/patient). The most common treatment employed was cryotherapy (63%). Excision was also commonly used (18%). Five per cent of patients were treated with a mixture of excision and cryotherapy. Topical agents were not commonly employed. Of those patients who consulted a doctor, 9% were referred to a specialist for diagnosis or treatment, of which 57% were referred to a dermatologist.Conclusion  The typical number of doctor visits varied from 1.9 to 4.6 with a range of cost per patient of AUD$55.13–249.70 depending on complexity of the case and the need for referral.
Patterns of skin manifestations and their relationships with CD4 counts among HIV/AIDS patients in Cameroon
Authors: Josephine Mbuagbaw , Issac Eyong , George Alemnji , Ngole Mpoudi , Albert Same‐Ekobo 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Skin manifestations are common clinical features among HIV/AIDS‐positive patients. Their frequencies, patterns and associated factors have been shown to vary from region to region. The present study is aimed at documenting skin manifestations and their relationships with CD4 cell counts among HIV/AIDS patients in Cameroon.Methods  This study lasted for 16 months (from September 2001 to December 2002).After informed consent, data on skin disorders, HIV status, CD4 and viral load were obtained by physical examination and laboratory methods.Results  Of the 384 subjects studied, 236 (61.5%) were females and 148 (38.5%) were males. Up to 264 (68.8%) patients presented with at least one type of skin problem. Generalized prurigo, oral candidiasis, herpes zoster, and vaginal candidiasis were the most common skin problems. Mean CD4 cell count (128 ± 85 cells/mm3) and mean viral load (79,433 copies/mL) in patients with herpes zoster were higher (P < 0.001). Patients with oral candidiasis and vaginal candidiasis had significantly lower (109 ± 127 cells/mm3, P < 0.02) and higher (131 ± 85 cells/mm3, P < 0.05) mean CD4 cell counts, respectively. Prurigo was associated with higher mean viral load (31,623 ± 20 copies/mL, P < 0.04). Viral lesions were associated with high mean CD4 cell count (123 ± 83 cells/mm3, P < 0.001). Kaposi's sarcoma and parasitic lesions (crusted scabies) were both, respectively, associated with lower mean CD4 cell counts [(78 ± 66 cells/mm3, P < 0.001) (6 ± 0 cells/mm3, P < 0.04)].Conclusion  We conclude, first that skin problems are common in HIV‐infected individuals in Cameroon and that patients with advanced stages of these problems have relatively very low mean CD4 cell counts. Second, that mucocutaneous disorders like vaginal candidiasis and herpes zoster occur early in HIV infection while Kaposi's sarcoma is common in advanced HIV infection.
Development and evaluation of sesamol as an antiaging agent
Authors: Sharma Shringi , Kaur Indu Pal 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAging comprises various changes that occur in living organisms with the passage of time, leading to increased system entropy, loss of homeostasis and eventually death. Of the various theories proposed, the free radical theory of aging states that it is the shift in antioxidant/pro‐oxidant balance that leads to increased oxidative stress, dysregulation of cellular function and aging. It has been proved that accumulated damage by free radicals produced by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation results in extensive damage to the soft skin tissues, which is commonly known as “photoaging”. Although the human body has built‐in antioxidant mechanisms to suppress uncontrolled free radicals, these mechanisms may at times fail due to overwhelming production of toxic radicals. This is where supplemental antioxidants can play a vital role in restoring the balance, lack of which produces visible wrinkling and premature aging. Sesamol, a highly acclaimed antioxidant, was selected as a suitable antioxidant to investigate in this study, and is for the first time shown to counter UV‐induced oxidative stress (in terms of both biochemical and histopathological changes) in mouse skin. The source of radiation was a 300‐W UV lamp, and mice of the lacca strain were chosen as an animal model for this study. Free radical levels generated were estimated using the Ohkawa method for estimation of lipid peroxidation in animal tissues. The results from biochemical and histopathological investigations clearly confirm that the sesamol formulation is effective in preventing photodamage (lesions, ulcers and changes in skin integrity) due to chronic UV exposure.
Isolated eyebrow and eyelash trichotillomania mimicking alopecia areata
Authors: Radmanesh Mohammad , Shafiei Sedigheh , Naderi Amir H. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Isolated Trichotillomania (TM) of the eyebrows and eyelashes is occasionally seen and may be mistaken for alopecia areata (AA).Objective  The clinical study of the patients with isolated eyebrows and eyelashes alopecia suggesting of TM.Patients and method  Seven children and young adult patients who referred with recalcitrant eyebrows and eyelashes alopecia were diagnosed as TM based on the clinical criteria for TM. The hair specifications for TM were include: hairs are broken at different levels, they may be tufted, tortuous and some hair fibers may be abnormally longer than others. The hair follicles may be prominent. The patients and their parents studied for psychopathology using a semistructured interview based on the Diagnostic Statistical manual of Psychiatric disorders (DSM‐1V) and maudsley inventory.Results  Our clinical study, interview with the patients and their parents and the clinical criteria used to differentiate TM from AA all support the clinical diagnosis of TM. The patients and their parents mainly suffered from obsessive‐compulsive disorders (OCD) and obsessive‐compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs).Conclusion  TM as a hair pulling habit in patients with underlying psychopathology can be considered in cases with isolated eyebrows and eyelashes alopecia when the hair are broken at different levels. And they may be malaligned, nonuniform, tortuous, and tufted.
Nicolau Syndrome: three cases and review
Authors: Luton Kelli , Garcia Carlos , Poletti Eduardo , Koester Glen 
Published: February 2006

AbstractNicolau Syndrome, also known as livedo‐like dermatitis (LLD) or embolia cutis medicamentosa (ECM), is an infrequent complication following intramuscular and intra‐articular injection of various drugs. This rare entity is characterized by severe pain and erythematous‐ecchymotic reticular lesions at the injection site, which in many cases lead to necrotic ulcers and scarring. We report three cases of Nicolau Syndrome following injection of diclofenac, penicillin G, and cyanocobalamin.
Leprosy: Two case reports from Dresden, Germany
Authors: Koch Andre , Köstler Erich , Zieger Bernd , Schönlebe Jaqueline , Haroske Gunter , Wollina Uwe 
Published: February 2006

Leprosy is very rare in Germany. In 2003, only three cases were reported. In the Department of Dermatology, Dresden‐Friedrichstadt, two cases from Asia had been diagnosed during the last 5 years, a paucibacillary tuberculoid leprosy and a multibacillary lepromatous leprosy. In both, there was a diagnostic delay of several months (3–7 months). The need for early detection of this mycobacteriosis also in nonepidemic areas of the world and the importance of a correct diagnosis by the dermatologist is hereby emphasized.
Effect of a single overnight topical application of miconazole nitrate paste on acne papules
Authors: Flagothier Caroline , Vroome Valérie , Borgers Marcel , Wang Xuemin , Cauwenbergh Geert , Piérard Gérald E. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  The classical management of acne calls for prolonged oral and/or topical treatments; however, some patients request a rapid effect to make the papules disappear within a few hours or days.Objective  To test the effect of a single overnight application of a paste containing 0.25% miconazole nitrate on acne papules, and comparison with the effect of the same but unmedicated paste.Method  Narrow‐band reflectance spectroscopy was used to assess the changes in E index (erythema) after overnight application of the pastes. In the first study, a total of 117 acne papules were assessed in 15 adolescents. Measurements of the E index were performed at 24‐h intervals for 4 days on acne papules and the surrounding normal‐looking skin. The last two assessments were performed the mornings preceding and following, respectively, a single application of the medicated paste. The second part of the study consisted of a double‐blind, split‐face study on 25 adolescents with acne. They applied each of the two formulations on a randomized part of the forehead. A total of 161 acne papules received the medicated paste and 160 received the same but unmedicated paste. Measurements were performed the mornings before and after the overnight treatment.Results  In the first part of the study, no significant daily difference was observed between the three series of pretreatment E indices, on both acne papules and normal skin. The treatment did not affect the E index of normal skin. By contrast, it decreased significantly the E index of the acne papules. The second part of the study also showed that the medicated paste significantly decreased the E index of acne papules. This effect was significantly (P < 0.05) superior to that of the unmedicated paste.Conclusion  A single overnight application of miconazole nitrate paste appears to reduce the erythematous aspect of acne papules.
Quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis: Impact of tacrolimus ointment
Authors: Kawashima Makoto 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Atopic dermatitis (AD), a significant problem in Japan, has a major impact on health‐related quality of life (QOL). The development of steroid phobia in patients with AD may restrict the therapeutic options available to these patients. Tacrolimus ointment is a safe and effective nonsteroid treatment for AD. It may be an appropriate alternative for patients with AD and steroid phobia. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of AD on QOL and to investigate the effect of tacrolimus ointment on QOL in patients with steroid phobia.Methods  Firstly, QOL scores were investigated in patients with AD and steroid phobia using the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument, WHOQOL‐26, and were compared with QOL scores from a previous study in volunteers from Tokyo, Japan. Secondly, patients with steroid phobia received tacrolimus ointment treatment for 12 weeks. Quality of life scores were assessed using WHOQOL‐26 at baseline and study end.Results  The overall mean QOL score of 106 patients with AD was significantly lower than that of 708 volunteers (3.1 ± 0.5 vs. 3.3 ± 0.5, P < 0.001). The overall QOL score improved from 2.9 ± 0.4 at baseline to 3.3 ± 0.4 following 12 weeks’ tacrolimus ointment treatment in 35 patients with AD and steroid phobia (P < 0.001).Conclusions  Atopic dermatitis significantly lowers QOL. Tacrolimus ointment is associated with a significant improvement in QOL in patients with steroid phobia, indicating that it is an effective alternative to topical corticosteroids in these patients.
Pseudo‐delusory syndrome caused by Limothrips cerealium
Authors: Guarneri Fabrizio , Guarneri Claudio , Mento Graziella , Ioli Antonino 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Limothrips cerealium (or “grain thrips”) is an insect of the phylum Arthropoda, known as parasite of plants of the family Gramineae; human infestation is not frequently described in literature.Materials and methods  We report the case of a 59‐year‐old female farmer, come to observation because of intense itching and sensation of “walking insects” on her head, with no objective cutaneous signs except lesions due to scratching. After repeated visits, in which negative results of clinical and laboratory tests suggested the diagnosis of “delusory syndrome” (Ekbom's syndrome), we finally isolated on her head some insects, identified by stereomicroscopy as L. cerealium. Careful inspection of the house of our patient allowed us to identify, as possible source of parasites, a wheat field and a deposit of grains used for animal feeding. Temporarily removing the patient from her usual environment resulted in complete clinical resolution.Results  Peculiarity of symptoms caused by this parasite and consequent problems for a correct diagnosis are discussed, as well as possible solutions.
An enigmatic disease: childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis in 2005
Authors: Savaşan Süreyya 
Published: February 2006

AbstractHistiocytic proliferative diseases, although rare, constitute a challenge for pediatric pathologists and hematologists/oncologists because of difficulties in the identification of subtypes and the lack of established standard therapies, resulting in treatment failures, recurrences, or complications. Amongst the different types of such disorders, Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) has been enigmatic to all involved, secondary to a long list of unresolved issues in pathogenesis and treatment. The fundamental dispute over its neoplastic vs. reactive nature remains unsettled. Unique features of LCH, including clonality, cases with spontaneous regression, frequent recurrences, and target tissue/organ tropism, have attracted significant interest. This article reviews the current understanding of LCH in the light of discoveries over the last few decades.
Incorporating multiple criteria into the design of conservation area networks: a minireview with recommendations
Authors: Moffett Alexander , Sarkar Sahotra 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTWe provide a review of multicriteria decision‐making (MCDM) methods that may potentially be used during systematic conservation planning for the design of conservation area networks (CANs). We review 26 methods and present the core ideas of 19 of them. We suggest that the computation of the non‐dominated set (NDS) be the first stage of any such analysis. This process requires only that alternatives be qualitatively ordered by each criterion. If the criteria can also be similarly ordered, at the next stage, Regime is the most appropriate method to refine the NDS. If the alternatives can also be given quantitative values by the criteria, Goal Programming will prove useful in many contexts. If both the alternatives and the criteria can be quantitatively evaluated, and the criteria are independent of each other but may be compounded, then multi‐attribute value theory (MAVT) should be used (with preferences conveniently elicited by a modified Analytic Hierarchy Process (mAHP) provided that the number of criteria is not large).
The role of environmental gradients in non‐native plant invasion into burnt areas of Yosemite National Park, California
Authors: Klinger Rob , Underwood Emma C. , Moore Peggy E. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTFire is known to facilitate the invasion of many non‐native plant species, but how invasion into burnt areas varies along environmental gradients is not well‐understood. We used two pre‐existing data sets to analyse patterns of invasion by non‐native plant species into burnt areas along gradients of topography, soil and vegetation structure in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. A total of 46 non‐native species (all herbaceous) were recorded in the two data sets. They occurred in all seven of the major plant formations in the park, but were least common in subalpine and upper montane conifer forests. There was no significant difference in species richness or cover of non‐natives between burnt and unburnt areas for either data set, and environmental gradients had a stronger effect on patterns of non‐native species distribution, abundance and species composition than burning. Cover and species richness of non‐natives had significant positive correlations with slope (steepness) and herbaceous cover, while species richness had significant negative correlations with elevation, the number of years post‐burn, and cover of woody vegetation. Non‐native species comprised a relatively minor component of the vegetation in both burnt and unburnt areas in Yosemite (percentage species = 4%, mean cover < 6.0%), and those species that did occur in burnt areas tended not to persist over time. The results indicate that in many western montane ecosystems, fire alone will not necessarily result in increased rates of invasion into burnt areas. However, it would be premature to conclude that non‐native species could not affect post‐fire succession patterns in these systems. Short fire‐return intervals and high fire severity coupled with increased propagule pressure from areas used heavily by humans could still lead to high rates of invasion, establishment and spread even in highly protected areas such as Yosemite.
Biodiversity, host specificity, and dominance by eusocial species among sponge‐dwelling alpheid shrimp on the Belize Barrier Reef
Authors: Macdonald Kenneth S. , Ríos Ruben , Duffy J. Emmett 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTAlpheid shrimp represent an abundant and diverse, but poorly characterized, component of the cryptic biodiversity of coral reefs worldwide. Sponge‐inhabiting alpheids provide a promising model system for exploring patterns of cryptic reef biodiversity because their habitats (hosts) are discrete and qualitatively distinct units. We tabulated data from 14 years of collections at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize to quantify patterns of diversity, host specificity, and dominance among sponge‐dwelling shrimp (Synalpheus), with special attention to eusocial species. From > 600 sampled sponges of 17 species, we recognized at least 36Synalpheusshrimp species. Of these, 15 (42%) were new to science. Species accumulation curves suggest that we have sampled most of theSynalpheusdiversity at Carrie Bow Cay. Diversity of sponge‐dwellingSynalpheuswas slightly higher in shallow water, probably because of greater habitat diversity, than in deep water. Host specificity was surprisingly high, with > 50% of all shrimp species found in only a single sponge species each, although some shrimp species used as many as six hosts. Cohabitation of individual sponges by multiple shrimp species was rarer than expected by chance, supporting previous distributional and behavioural evidence that competition for hosts is strong and moulds patterns of host association. The fauna of most well‐sampled sponge species was dominated, both in numbers of individuals and in frequency of occurrence, by eusocial species. Eusocial shrimp species also inhabited a significantly greater number of sponge species than did non‐social shrimp. Consequently, > 65% of shrimp in our quantitative samples belonged to the four eusocial species, and on a per‐species basis, eusocial species were 17 times as abundant as non‐social species. Our data suggest that the highly diverse sponge‐dwelling shrimp assemblage of the Belize Barrier Reef is structured by competition, and that eusociality has allowed a small number of species to dominate the sponge resource.