bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Secular trends in the epidemiology of pediculosis capitis and pubis among Israeli soldiers: a 27‐year follow‐up
Authors: Mimouni Daniel , Grotto Itamar , Haviv Jacob , Gdalevich Michael , Huerta Michael , Shpilberg Ofer 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground  Pediculosis capitis and pubis are not mandatorily reported diseases in most countries. Thus, the reported rates of these diseases in large populations are usually inaccurate and based on estimations.Objective  To describe the global epidemiology of pediculosis capitis and pubis in the Israeli Defense Force.Methods  We analyzed the data obtained from the routine and mandatory reporting of every individual case of pediculosis capitis and pubis to the Army Health Branch Epidemiology Department since 1972 and 1973, respectively.Results  During this period, epidemics of pediculosis capitis and pubis were observed between 1973 and 1985 and 1972 and 1987, with 17.7‐ and 3.9‐fold increases in incidence, respectively. These two epidemics were followed by a sharp decline in morbidity (113.6‐ and 13.6‐fold between 1981 and 1999 and 1984 and 1999, respectively) to the present.Conclusions  A number of factors could be responsible for the observed decline in morbidity, e.g. socioeconomic, pharmacologic, environmental, or prevention policy modifications. The rates of pediculosis capitis and pubis have continuously declined since the last epidemic of 1972–1987, indicating the influence of these and possibly other factors.
Cutaneous protothecosis
Authors: Cho Baik Kee , Ham Sang Hee , Lee Jun Young , Choi Jee Ho 
Published: March 2003

A 63‐year‐old Korean woman presented with erythematous plaques on her right forearm. The lesion had developed 4 months previously as pruritic papules and scaly patches, and grew slowly coalescing to eczematous plaques. Examination showed thick scaly erythematous plaques with multiple erosions and minute pustules over the right forearm (Fig. 1). Her past history included hypertension and chronic arthritis of her knees requiring intermittent corticosteroid therapy over a period of 15 years. Routine laboratory evaluations (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), urinalysis, renal and liver function) and chest X‐ray studies were negative or within normal limits. The biopsy specimens of the plaque revealed mild acanthosis and mixed inflammatory infiltrates with some round spores in the dermis, which showed multiple morula‐like sporangia containing many endospores on periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) and Gomori's methenamine silver (GMS) staining (Fig. 2). Scraping of the lesion with potassium hydroxyde examination showed no specific findings, but the tissue culture revealed creamy yeast‐like colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) in room temperature within 48 h, and the colonies showed characteristic sporangia with morula‐like appearance on lactophenol cotton blue staining. The biochemical evaluation using a Yeast biochemical card (Vitec®, bioMérieux, France) identified the organisms as Prototheca wickerhamii, which assimilated galactose, trehalose, glycerol and glucose on the kit. Oral itraconazole (200 mg/day) for 8 weeks resulted in complete healing with remaining mild pigmentation, and there was no evidence of recurrence over the following 12 months.Scaly erythematous and eczematous plaque on the right forearmimageBiopsy specimen showing mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates in the dermis (H&E, × 200) and multiple morula‐like sporangia on Gomori's methenamine silver staining (inset, × 200)image
Can smoking and/or occupational UV exposure have any role in the development of the morpheaform basal cell carcinoma? A critical role for peritumoral mast cells
Authors: Erbagci Zülal , Erkiliç Suna 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground The stroma of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is rich in mast cells. Morpheaform BCC has been reported to contain many more mast cells than the other types of BCC. However, pathogenesis and clinical relevance of this observation are currently unclear. Smoking and ultraviolet (UV) exposure have recently been suggested to be related to the development of morpheaform BCC.Methods With a retrospective study, we aimed to investigate the possible roles of smoking and occupational UV exposure in the development of morpheaform BCC through the quantification of peritumoral mast cells. Our case population consisted of 34 patients with morpheaform BCC and 50 patients with solid BCC. After identification of mast cells with toluidine blue stain, a mast cell index was determined in each case.Results Mean mast cell index of morpheaform BCCs was significantly higher than that of solid BCCs (P < 0.02). Increased mast cell indices were associated with smoking (P = 0.003), but not with UV exposure (P > 0.05), irrespective of the tumor type. Morpheaform BCC was significantly more frequent in smokers compared to solid BCC (P < 0.05). In the cases with morpheaform BCC, mean mast cell index of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P = 0.02). Mean mast cell index of smokers with morpheaform BCC was also significantly higher than that of the smokers with solid BCC (P = 0.04). Ultraviolet exposure alone had no significant influence on mast cell indices, nor on the frequency of morpheaform BCC.Conclusion We suggest that smoking can play a key role in the differentiation of BCC toward its sclerosing form, through the increased peritumoral mast cell numbers.
Correlation between pH and irritant effect of cleansers marketed for dry skin
Authors: Baranda Lourdes , González‐Amaro Roberto , Torres‐Alvarez Bertha , Alvarez Carmen , Ramírez Victoria 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground Although it is important that dermatologists and the general population know the irritation potential of products marketed for dry skin used for body cleansing, this information is not usually available.Objective To assess the irritative effect of different soaps and liquid cleansers recommended for sensitive skin. To study the correlation of the irritation effect of each substance with its pH and with the presence or absence of syndet in the product.Methods Seventeen products marketed for dry skin and 12 common soaps used by the general population were studied. Fresh soap emulsions (8%) were applied to the volar side of the right forearm of 30 individuals with sensitive skin for 5 consecutive days using aluminum chambers. The appearance of irritation (erythema, scaling and fissures) was recorded, scored, and expressed in an Irritation index (IrIn). The pH of each solution was measured.Results Products with a low IrIn were White DoveTM (Dove, Lever Pond’s, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Dove BabyTM, CetaphilTM (bar) (Cetaphil, Gulderma Lab., Forth Worth, TX, USA), Dove liquid cleanser for handsTM, Dove pinkTM, and AdermaTM (Adenma, Pierre Fabre, Dermo‐Cosmetique, Boulagne, France). Most corresponded to syndet products. Among the most used brand‐name soap, Camay ClassicTM (Camay, Procter & Gamble de Mexico, México, U.F.) had the lowest IrIn. Dove BabyTM was the only product with a neutral pH. A significant correlation between pH and the IrIn of cleansers was found (P < 0.006).Conclusions Most products recommended for sensitive skin have a considerable irritation effect, which is related to the pH of the product. Better regulation of advertisement specifications including the pH level and type of cleanser contained is necessary for the majority of soaps and cleansers.
En coup de sabre
Authors: Sehgal Virendra N. , Srivastava Govind , Bajaj Promila 
Published: March 2003

A man born in 1961 was apparently well until his marriage in May 1986. In August of that year, his attention was drawn to the presence of a reddish patch over the right forehead. It was initially asymptomatic. It continued to progress to form an apparent linear furrow extending from the receding hairline to the vertex and temporal part of the scalp. At this juncture, the patient experienced moderate pain when laughing. Five years later the patient experienced a constant boring pain affecting the right eyeball. Consultation with an ophthalmologist led to sacrificial enucleation of the right eye despite the lack of a precise diagnosis. Nevertheless, the initial condition continued to progress causing disfigurement of the right side of the face. Examination of the face was marked by perceptible asymmetry. A linear atrophic plaque in the form of a furrow was identified on the right side of the forehead extending from the eyebrow to the vertex and temporal part of the scalp. The skin over the furrow was taut and bound down (Fig. 1). A hematoxylin and eosin‐stained section prepared from the lesion revealed marked thickening of the dermis. The collagen bundles were hypertrophied and closely packed together. The staining was homogeneously eosinophilic. It was largely devoid of inflammatory infiltrate. The changes in the blood vessels were conspicuous by narrowing of the lumina, thickening of the walls, and a sparse perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Pilosebaceous units were completely absent, whereas a few atrophic pulled‐up sweat glands were located in the mid‐dermis. Similar changes were observed in the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis was largely atrophied, with flattening of the rete ridges.En coup de sabre: linear scleroderma occupying the frontoparietal part of the scalp and associated with facial hemiatrophyimage
HLA‐DQ3 is associated with idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, whereas HLA‐DR8 is not, in a group of renal transplant patients
Authors: Arrunategui Adriana , Trujillo Rodolfo A. , Marulanda Maria P. , Sandoval Fabian , Wagner Adriana , Alzate Alberto , Falabella Rafael 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground  The etiology of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) remains uncertain; however, solar exposure and heredity have been proposed as causative factors.Objective  To explore the genetic predisposition to the development of IGH.Methods   A comparative case–control study was performed at a dermatology department at a university hospital. Forty‐seven subjects (22 renal transplant patients and 25 controls) were enrolled. Clinical examination and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) determination were performed.Results   In the group of subjects with HLA‐DQ3 (10/13, P = 0.025), there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) positive association for the presence of IGH; in the group of subjects with HLA‐DR8 (6/6, P = 0.023), there was a statistically significant negative association for the presence of IGH.Conclusions   The presence of HLA‐DQ3 in patients with IGH suggests a genetic basis in a group of renal transplant subjects. HLA‐DR8 was found in patients without IGH, and it could play a role as a “protective factor” preventing subjects from developing IGH.
Necrotizing gangrene of the genitalia and perineum
Authors: Cabrera Hugo , Skoczdopole Luis , Marini Mario , Della Giovanna Patricia , Saponaro Alberto , Echeverría Cristina 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground  Necrotizing gangrene of the genitalia and perineum is a fulminant, life‐threatening condition. This infection is usually polymicrobial and may be idiopathic or secondary to local trauma or surgery. Histologically, it is characterized by obliterative endarteritis and thrombosis of the subcutaneous vessels, fascial necrosis, and leukocytic infiltration. Mortality rates of 25–75% have been reported. Most cases of necrotizing gangrene begin insidiously, with scrotal discomfort and malaise. Later, erythema, increasing pain, and swelling, associated with fever and chills, develop. A biopsy is useful to confirm the clinical diagnosis and to obtain culture samples. Ultrasound imaging may reveal gas or testicular involvement and may help to distinguish this infection from other causes of scrotal pathology.Materials and methods  Fifteen patients with necrotizing gangrene of the genitalia and perineum, seen at the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Sections of our Institutions between 1994 and 1999, are described.Results  This series included 11 men (73%) and four women (27%), aged 39–68 years (mean, 51 years). In our series, Clostridium perfingens, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus viridans, Acinetobacter baumani, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans were isolated. Hemodynamic stabilization and monitoring were performed in all patients. Intravenous antimicrobial therapy was promptly instituted. In most cases, two or more drugs were used. Concurrent surgical debridement of all necrotic areas was always required. When needed, split‐thickness skin grafts were used to cover the penile shaft. Expanded mesh grafts were used to reconstruct the vulva and other denuded beds. The survival rate in this series was 87%.Conclusions  Necrotizing gangrene of the genitalia and perineum continues to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The usual polymicrobial infection with vascular involvement demands hemodynamic stabilization, systemic antimicrobial therapy, and surgical debridement. In some patients, genital, perineal, and abdominal wall reconstruction is also required.
Apocrine carcinoma of the vulva in a band‐like arrangement with inflammatory and telangiectatic metastasis via local lymphatic channels
Authors: Kiyohara Takahiro , Kumakiri Masanobu , Kawami Kenya , Kouraba Sachio , Takeuchi Akiteru , Sawai Takahiro , Lao Lin‐Min , Ansai Shinichi , Hashimoto Ken 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBackground Primary adenocarcinomas of the vulva have been classified as sweat gland carcinomas, extramammary Paget's disease, and primary breast carcinomas of the vulva. They share some common histopathologic features.Methods We describe a 72‐year‐old Japanese woman with apocrine carcinoma of the vulva and local lymphatic metastasis.Results The patient presented with a bruise on her inguinal area. Physical examination revealed a 4 cm × 7 cm, dark‐red, irregularly elevated tumor on the left labium majora. Dome‐shaped, flesh‐colored, small papulovesicles were scattered on the abdomen, accompanied by erythema and induration. The lesion showed a band‐like arrangement. General examination revealed multiple bone metastases, particularly in the spine. Microscopic examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet ring cells. A few pagetoid clear cells were present in the hypertrophic epidermis. The peripheral papulovesicles demonstrated the same histopathologic view as in inflammatory and telangiectatic, metastatic breast carcinoma. Tumor cells were positive for various ductal and glandular markers. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were not expressed. Ultrastructural findings suggested differentiation towards apocrine or mammary glands because of the presence of an apocrine process and electron‐dense mucous granules. The patient died in spite of combination chemotherapy and irradiation therapy.Conclusions We report a rare case of apocrine carcinoma of the vulva in a band‐like arrangement with local lymphatic metastasis which showed the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of inflammatory and telangiectatic carcinoma.
Quantitative Genetics of reaction norms
Authors: De Jong G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA model of the quantitative genetics of phenotypically plastic characters is developed. When genotype‐environment interaction is present, and the allelic effects contributing to any two traits are linear functions of the environment, the additive genetic variances of, and additive genetic covariance between, traits become quadratic functions of the environmental variable. The additive genetic covariance will in general change sign over some range of the environmental variable. The conditions of the mathematically special case, where additive genetic covariance has the same sign in all environments, imply structure in the pleiotropic effects of any alleles, i.e. developmental constraints can prevent additive genetic covariance changing sign. Mathematical independence of polygenic effects between traits represents in this model a lack of developmental constraints and leads to sign change in the additive genetic covariance over environments.
Auditory changes in noctuid moths endemic to a bat‐free habitat
Authors: Fullard James H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIf the ears of moths exist primarily to detect the echolocation calls of hunting bats, endemic moths in bat‐free areas (i.e., species that have evolved in the absence of the selection pressure maintaining ears) should exhibit signs of deafness. Noctuid moths from the Pacific islands of French Polynesia, a site that has never possessed bats, were sampled and electrophysiologically analysed to test this hypothesis. The auditory sensitivities of seven endemic and twelve immigrant species, captured from the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, and Hiva Oa, were compared. Both classes possess neurally responsive ears, but endemics are significantly deafer than immigrants at frequencies above 35 kHz. This form of deafness is similar to other moths presumably released from the selection pressure of bat predation. I conclude that endemic moths at this site exhibit preliminary stages of deafness and that, considering their small cellular investment, ears in moths will be lost at a slower rate than more complex sensory organs.
Molecular phylogeny of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) with a note on the placement of the Pyroloideae
Authors: Cullings Ken 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMycotrophism occurs in two ericaceous subfamilies, the Monotropoideae and the Pyroloideae. However, three aspects of the evolution of these subfamilies remain equivocal; 1) morphological, biochemical, and molecular analyses have failed to establish that the Monotropoideae is monophylectic; 2) the relationships among members of the Monotropoideae remain unresolved; 3) it is unclear whether the Pyroloideae should be included as a subfamily within the Ericaceae or treated as a separate family. To address these topics a phylogeny was constructed using a portion of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene from 22 members of the Ericaceae. Results indicate that the present Monotropoideae is polyphyletic; one species, Monotropsis ordata, is more closely related to members of the Vaccinioideae than to the rest of the Monotropoideae. This arrangement is supported by consideration of mycorrhizal type, consequently multiple origins of mycotrophic parasitism must be assumed. The relationships depicted within the Monotropoideae are nearly congruent with those depicted in Copeland's (1941) phylogeny, and morphological or biochemical characters are identified which support the relationships depicted by the molecular tree which do not agree with the morphological tree. In addition, the data indicate, although not strongly, that the Pyroloideae should be included within the Ericaceae.
Paternal sex in parthenogenetic planarians: a tool to investigate the accumulation of deleterious mutations
Authors: Storhas  , Weinzierl  , Michiels  
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Clonally reproducing organisms are expected to accumulate slightly deleterious mutations, and this has been demonstrated in RNA viruses, bacteria and unicellular algae. In this paper we present evidence for increased embryo mortality in obligate parthenogenetic strains of the freshwater flatworm Schmidtea polychroa, possibly indicating the action of deleterious mutations. The inheritance of this fitness defect was tested by crossing parthenogens with sexuals. This is possible because both forms are simultaneous hermaphrodites that produce fertile sperm. The resulting sexual offspring showed significantly increased embryo mortality in comparison to offspring of a sexual × sexual cross. Alternatives to a mutation explanation of these results, like the degeneration of male traits in parthenogens, are being discussed. In conclusion, these results lend support to the hypothesis that sex is advantageous to a multicellular organism because it prevents the accumulation of deleterious mutations.
Host-specific differentiation in the anther smut fungus Microbotryum violaceum as revealed by microsatellites
Authors: Bucheli  , Gautschi  , Shykoff  
Published: March 2003

Abstract
The anther smut fungus Microbotryum violaceum ( = Ustilago violacea) is a parasite of many species of the Caryophyllaceae. Its host specificity has been debated since early this century, when cross-inoculation experiments indicated the existence of host-specific lineages. Recently, on the basis of spore ultrastructure, all presumed host races were lumped within M. violaceum. To measure gene flow among natural populations of anther smuts from different host species, we used microsatellite variation at 5 loci among samples from 8 Silene, 2 Saponaria, 2 Dianthus and 1 Gypsophila species. Most of the 326 M. violaceum samples investigated originated from the Swiss Alps and close surroundings. Microsatellite variation revealed almost perfect isolation among anther smut fungi from different host species. In addition, differentiation was supported by the nonrandom distribution of null alleles among samples from different host species and host genera. Null alleles were most abundant in anther smut samples from non-Silene hosts. The resolution of genetic differentiation among anther smuts from different host species was highest in those from Silene species. Genetic relationships among samples as indicated by Neighbour-Joining analysis based on genetic distances are discussed with respect to host phylogeny and host ecology. One sample was identified as Ustilago gausseni because it had verrucose instead of reticulate spores and was collected from Silene italica. Neighbour-Joining analysis revealed that this sample was similar to the M. violaceum samples from other Silene host species. Therefore, our data question spore morphology as a reliable character for anther smut systematics.
The evolutionary potential of developmental instability
Authors: Van Dongen  , Lens  
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Whether or not developmental instability (DI) has evolutionary potential is subject to much debate. Generally, studies fail to detect significant heritability for fluctuating asymmetry (FA), a trait assumed to reflect DI. In addition, between-trait correlations in FA are low, suggesting that DI is trait- rather than individual-specific. Among the various attempts to explain these patterns, the overall weak correlation between FA and DI at the individual level has received most attention. Presently, the concept of hypothetical repeatability (R) of individual FA allows us to correct for this weak relationship, transforming patterns of FA into unbiased patterns of DI. By applying R to data presented in the literature, we show that heritability of DI remains lower than predicted but between-trait correlations in DI substantially increase after transformation. We further provide evidence that DI changes from a trait- to an individual-specific property with higher values of R. As increasing hypothetical repeatability might co-occur with increased environmental or genetic stress, we discuss the potential implications of our results for the study of evolution of stress resistance. From this we conclude that there is an urgent need for studies that compare the evolutionary potential of developmental instability under a variety of stress conditions.