bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alopecia neoplastica due to metastatic breast carcinoma vs. extramammary Paget's disease: mimicry in epidermotropic carcinoma
Authors: Haas N , Hauptmann St 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTClinically similar skin diseases can exhibit phenotypic mimicry as demonstrated here for alopecia neoplastica. An 89‐year‐old female patient had been treated for scalp eczema for several years until biopsy revealed pagetoid carcinoma. Her clinical history showed a mastectomy 20 years ago. For that reason the differential diagnosis was extramammary Paget's disease or epidermotropic metastasis of the breast carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity of MUC1, indicating that the latter is the case.
Update on detection, morphology and fragility in pili annulati in three kindreds
Authors: Giehl KA , Ferguson DJP , Dawber RPR , Pittelkow MR , Foehles J , De Berker DAR 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  Pili annulati is an inherited hair shaft abnormality with a wide range of clinical expression.Objective  We have examined closely three kindreds to reveal levels and character of expression of the phenotype and supplement current literature on the threshold for detection and aspects of hair shaft fragility.Patients and methods  Eleven cases of pili annulati from three families were included in a clinical and morphological study. All cases were assessed clinically and by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of hair shafts. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (four patients) and amino acid analysis (three patients) were undertaken on clinically overt cases.Results  Examination by light microscopy with a fluid mountant was more sensitive than clinical examination, increasing the detection rate by 120%. Microscopic examination revealed that the characteristic periodic bands become less frequent distally in the hair shaft. Microscopic features of weathering were found in two cases, adding pili annulati to the list of structural hair shaft dystrophies that may weaken hair and dispose to weathering. Amino acid analysis of the hair of three patients with pili annulati showed elevated lysine and decreased cystine content compared to 12 normal controls, consistent with the reduced threshold for weathering.Conclusion  Careful light microscopy with fluid‐mounted hair is needed to detect subjects mildly affected by pili annulati. Expression of the phenotype varies widely between individuals, between hairs and within hairs of the same individual, where ageing of the hair diminishes detectable features.
Circumscribed juvenile pityriasis rubra pilaris
Authors: Arnold AW , Buechner SA 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTWe report the case of a 20‐year‐old woman with a 10‐year history of circumscribed juvenile‐onset pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP, type IV). Our patient had well‐defined keratotic follicular papules on an erythematous base located on the extensor aspects of the extremities and dorsal aspects of the feet but no involvement of the palms and soles. Although most cases of type IV PRP follow a favourable course with spontaneous resolution of the lesions, this case demonstrates that circumscribed juvenile PRP can be more persistent and lasts several years.
Kaposi's varicelliform eruption in an HIV‐positive patient after laser resurfacing
Authors: Rodriguez‐Serna M , Mercader P , Pardo J , Fortea‐Baixauli JM , Aliaga A 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTKaposi's varicelliform eruption (KVE) is an infection produced by the cutaneous dissemination of herpes virus type 1 or 2. Usually this disease has been described in atopic patients. In this report we present an HIV‐positive woman with a Kaposi's varicelliform eruption that started after skin resurfacing with a laser. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption after laser resurfacing. The immunodepressed status of the patient may have played a role in her infection.
Clinico‐epidemiological features of congenital nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al‐Amro Al‐Akloby OM , Al‐Zayir AA 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  A total of 10 455 new dermatology patients were seen in the dermatology clinics of King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al‐Khobar, Eastern Saudi Arabia, between January 1990 and December 1995. We identified 21 patients with a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of congenital nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma (CNBIE). We have reviewed the epidemiological and clinical features of these patients.Objective  To document the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with CNBIE in eastern Saudi Arabia.Methods  We used the dermatology outpatient department (OPD) logbooks to identify diagnosed cases of CNBIE from new patients presenting with different dermatological problems over a 6‐year period. We used specifically designed data‐collection protocol forms to extract epidemiological and clinical data from the patients’ medical records. These were entered into a computer database and analysed using standard statistical software.Results  A total of 21 patients (five males, 16 females) with a male : female ratio of 0.31 : 1 were identified from a total of 10 455 new patients seen in our dermatology clinics over the study period. The occurrence rate of CNBIE in our clinics was 0.2%, or two per 1000 new dermatology cases. Nineteen (90%) of 21 CNBIE patients were born with collodion membranes. Eighty‐one per cent of our patients had a positive family history of CNBIE. Consanguinity among the parents of our CNBIE patients was significantly high at 95%.Conclusions  To the best of our knowledge, this preliminary study is the first report of its kind from Saudi Arabia (documenting the clinico‐epidemiological features of CNBIE patients in the Eastern Province). The high rate of parental consanguinity among the parents of our Saudi CNBIE patients may account for the high incidence rate of this genodermatosis in eastern Saudi Arabia. In comparison with results of other studies that reported a low occurrence rate of CNBIE among dermatology patients, our results were of a significantly higher rate.
A case of subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma with haemophagocytosis developing secondary to chemotherapy
Authors: Eser B , Altuntas F , Er O , Kontas O , Ferahbas A , Cetin M , Unal A 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTA 45‐year‐old woman presented with fever, generalized skin lesions and multiple lymphadenopathies. In her past history she had had six courses of cyclophosphamide and cisplatin combination chemotherapy 7 years ago because of an ovarian carcinoma. We found pancytopenia in the peripheral blood examination. Skin biopsy showed diffuse subcutaneous infiltration reminiscent of panniculitis but composed of malignant lymphoid cells that were of T lineage. Bone marrow biopsy showed normocellular myeloid tissue with abundant haemophagocytic macrophages. Subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma with haemophagocytic syndrome was diagnosed. This is the first case reported of subcutaneous panniculitis‐like lymphoma occurring secondary to chemotherapy.
Value of the clinical history for different users of dermoscopy compared with results of digital image analysis
Authors: Blum A , Hofmann‐Wellenhof R , Luedtke H , Ellwanger U , Steins A , Roehm S , Garbe C , Soyer HP 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  The clinical history of a given pigmented lesion could influence the therapeutic decision. Teledermatology and automated image analysis also hold great potential for revolutionizing dermatology services.Aim  The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of users with different experiences in dermoscopy with and without information about patients and their history compared with classification by an automated analysing system.Setting  One hundred and fifty‐seven dermoscopic images of pigmented lesions, taken and proved by histopathology at the Pigmented Lesions Clinic of the Department of Dermatology of the University Tuebingen, Germany, were included.Methods  All images were viewed by three investigators with different experience: excellent (A), average (B) and beginner (C). In the first dermoscopic classification, no information was available. After 3 months the same images were once more classified by the three investigators, now with the information about the patients and their history. The melanocytic lesions were tested by the Tuebinger Mole Analyser.Results  For user A the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy revealed no improvement on including the history (81.3% to 84.4%, 94.6% to 92.3% and 92.0% to 90.7%), whereas user B clearly improved his results (75.0% to 87.5%, 76.9% to 88.5% and 76.5% to 88.3%). No change in the sensitivity was seen by user C (84.4%), but there was a clear improvement in the specificity (69.2% to 87.7%) and diagnostic accuracy (72.2% to 87.0%). Using the computer algorithm, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 76.9% and a diagnostic accuracy of 81.9% were achieved.Conclusions  The study revealed results relevant to the use of dermoscopy: (1) continuing dermoscopic education influences the diagnostic accuracy; (2) the history is helpful for averaged users and beginners in dermoscopy; (3) digital image analysis has the highest sensitivity, but a lower specificity compared to the clinicians; and (4) digital dermoscopy could be used for store‐and‐forward systems in teledermoscopy.
Sun awareness in Maltese secondary school students
Authors: Aquilina S , Gauci A Amato , Ellul M , Scerri L 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  Studies indicate that reducing exposure to ultraviolet light during childhood and adolescence decreases the risk of skin cancer. From a young age, children need to be educated about the sun's harmful effects on the skin and how best to protect themselves.Objective  To help in the design of school‐based interventions to raise sun awareness, a school survey was carried out to identify students’ stereotypes and misconceptions.Study design  A total of 965 students attending Maltese secondary schools in forms 1, 2 and 3 were surveyed in May 2002, using a structured questionnaire designed to examine students’ sun‐related attitudes and knowledge.Results  A high level of sun awareness among students was demonstrated, with high scores on knowledge of the effects of the sun on the skin, knowledge of skin cancer and knowledge of sun protection. Girls were clearly more knowledgeable than boys. However, of all the students surveyed, 55% thought that a suntan made them look better and 70% thought that their friends would desire a tan. These views were commoner among the older students. Skin type and hair or eye colour had no bearing on attitudes towards tanning or sun‐related knowledge. The commonest misconceptions were that ‘the sun is bad for your skin only when you get sunburnt’ and that ‘you cannot get too much sun on a cloudy day’. Deliberate suntanning was more frequently reported by girls than by boys and by students in the higher forms.Conclusion  Attitude change lags behind knowledge. Future school sun awareness interventions need to take into account gender and age differences in students’ attitudes and perspectives. They should aim at motivating attitude change and preventive behaviour through consistent and repeated sun‐education messages that are supported by a sun‐conscious school environment.
Burning mouth syndrome: the efficacy of lipoic acid on subgroups
Authors: Femiano F , Gombos F , Scully C 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTObjective  We have examined the effect of alpha‐lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec), a free radical scavenger, on the discomfort of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in patients who had used tranquillizers previously, compared with those who had not.Methods  In this study we gave lipoic acid for 2 months to two groups of 20 BMS patients, one of which had previously been treated with tranquillizers.Results  The results showed greater effectiveness of lipoic acid in BMS patients who had not previously used tranquillizers.Conclusions  The patients with BMS who had previously been treated with tranquillizers responded poorly to therapy with lipoic acid compared with those who had not received previous psychotropic therapy.
Photopatch testing: a consensus methodology for Europe
Authors: Bruynzeel D.P. , Ferguson J. , Andersen K. , Gonçalo M. , English John , Goossens A. , Holzle E. , Ibbotson S.H. , Lecha M. , Lehmann P. , Leonard F. , Moseley Harry , Pigatto P. , Tanew A. 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTA group of interested European Contact Dermatologists/Photobiologists met to produce a consensus statement on methodology, test materials and interpretation of photopatch testing. While it is recognized that a range of local variables operate throughout Europe, the underlying purpose of the work is to act as an essential preamble to a Pan European Photopatch Test Study focusing particularly on sunscreen chemicals.
Neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands in a farmer
Authors: Aydin F , Senturk N , Yildiz L , Canturk MT , Turanli AY 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTNeutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands is a recently described disorder, which is similar to Sweet's syndrome. It is characterized by erythematous plaques, pustules and haemorrhagic bullae located solely on the dorsal surface of the hands. We describe a 57‐year‐old man with neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands that occurred following exposure to a chemical fertilizer. There are few cases reported in the literature regarding neutrophilic dermatosis and the aetiology remains unclear. For the present case, we propose that neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands might have been induced by the chemical fertilizer.
Oral isotretinoin and haemophilia A
Authors: Bettoli V , Pizzigoni S , Vasina S , Mancino A , Virgili A 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTThe effects of oral isotretinoin on the coagulation system are still not well known: some case reports describe thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis, others present different effects on fibrinolysis. We report a case of severe acne treated with oral isotretinoin in a patient affected with haemophilia A. In this case, which differs from the only other case reported in the literature, oral isotretinoin did not appear to influence the haemophilic patient's need of factor VIII.
Linear IgA dermatosis in an immunosuppressed patient after allogenic bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Schultewolter T , Goos M , Dissemond J 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTLinear IgA dermatosis (LAD) is a well‐recognized acquired subepidermal bullous autoimmune disease. LAD is characterized by clinical, histopathological and immunopathological findings. We report the case of a 38‐year‐old man who suffered from a chronic myeloic leukaemia. Although he received immunosuppressive therapy he developed LAD after an allogenic bone marrow transplantation. After diagnosis of LAD was established we started a successful systemic therapy with dapsone, while continuing the preliminary medication. Here we report for the first time on a possible relationship between LAD and bone marrow transplantation in an immunosuppressed patient.
Linear naevoid psoriasis along lines of Blaschko
Authors: Ghorpade A 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTCongenital linear naevoid psoriasis along Blaschko's lines on the thigh of a 3‐year‐old girl is reported. The history of asymptomatic, erythematous scaly lesions since birth, the peculiar distribution and the histopathology confirmed the diagnosis.
Vitamin and trace metal levels in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Authors: Ingen‐Housz‐Oro S , Blanchet‐Bardon C , Vrillat M , Dubertret L 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  In recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a good nutritional balance is necessary to obtain healing of the chronic wounds. However, involvement of the oral mucosa and oesophagus stenosis may be responsible for severe nutritional deficiencies.Objective  In order to propose an adapted nutritional management, we studied the vitamin and trace metal status of 14 RDEB patients.Methods  Height and weight were measured. Plasma levels of albumin, iron, ferritin, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), folates, vitamins C, D, B12, A, E, B1, B6, PP and B2, zinc, selenium, carnitine and copper were measured.Results  Most patients had a significant growth retardation. We found iron, vitamin D, C, B6, PP, zinc and selenium deficiencies in 36–70% of the patients, without clinical expression, except in one case. Vitamin B1, 12, B2, A/RBP, E/lipids and carnitine were normal. The three patients with gastrostomy feeding had better growth but still a protein deficiency and sometimes vitamin C, B6, PP, zinc and carnitine deficiencies.Conclusion  Vitamin and trace metal deficiencies are frequent in RDEB, even in patients receiving gastrostomy feeding, and often go unrecognized. Regular nutritional evaluation is necessary. Dietary advice and supplements should be given. Enteral feeding by gastrostomy should be discussed in early childhood.
Hyperkeratotic nail discoid lupus erythematosus evolving towards systemic lupus erythematosus: therapeutic difficulties
Authors: Richert B , André J , Bourguignon R , De La Brassinne M 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTNail changes occur in about 25% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases. Onycholysis has been reported as the most frequent abnormality in SLE. Nailbed hyperkeratosis may be observed in both SLE and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Involvement of the nail apparatus in DLE is extremely uncommon and never restricted to it. We report on a patient in whom the clinical features on the proximal nailfold were similar to those observed on the skin of a patient with typical DLE. This has, to the best of our knowledge, not yet been reported. The patient also exhibited a very distinctive prominent subungual hyperkeratosis. Interestingly, the patient developed biological alterations suggesting a systematization of the disease. Only a combination of systemic corticoids, retinoids and antimalarials was able to achieve nail improvement and this partial resistance to therapy may be explained by the very unusual subungual hyperkeratosis.
Paraneoplastic vasculitis associated with multiple myeloma
Authors: Sánchez NB , Canedo IF , García‐Patos PE , De Unamuno Pérez P , Benito AV , Pascual AM 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTThe association between vasculitis and cancer has been widely reviewed in recent decades. The existence of malignancies in patients with vasculitis has been estimated at about 4.5–8%, haematological neoplasms being the most frequently observed. The haematological malignancies most frequently described are lymphoproliferative diseases such as hairy cell leukaemia and lymphomas. On the contrary, the incidence of paraneoplastic vasculitis in patients with myeloma is low; up to now, we have found nine cases reported on this subject. We report the case of a 73‐year‐old woman who in 1 year showed three outbreaks of acutely painful, purpuric and ulceronecrotic lesions, localized on the lower extremities. Histopathological study demonstrated thrombosis in the arterioles and leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Complementary tests revealed the presence of multiple myeloma.
The role of oxidants and antioxidants in generalized vitiligo at tissue level
Authors: Yildirim M , Baysal V , Inaloz HS , Can M 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  The role of oxidative stress has not been fully understood in the aetiopathogenesis of vitiligo in different studies.Aim  We aimed to investigate the role of the oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.Methods  In this study, we examined levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in tissue of 25 patients with generalized vitiligo and 25 healthy controls.Results  Our results revealed that levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde in tissue were significantly increased in patients with generalized vitiligo (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significantly difference between two groups at tissue level of nitric oxide (P > 0.05).Conclusion  Our results demonstrate the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant–antioxidant system in vitiligo at tissue level and provide further support for a free radical‐mediated damage as an initial pathogenic event in melanocyte degeneration in vitiligo.
The importance of serum creatine phosphokinase level in the early diagnosis and microbiological evaluation of necrotizing fasciitis
Authors: Simonart T , Nakafusa J , Narisawa Y 
Published: October 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) due to group A β‐haemolytic streptococci (GAS) is a rare but still life‐threatening soft‐tissue infection characterized by rapidly spreading necrosis of the muscle fascia and of the surrounding tissues. NF other than that due to GAS involves the participation of one or more anaerobes and/or of non‐group A streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, enteric organisms, and may be associated with a better outcome. Early diagnosis and treatment, consisting of surgical debridement along with appropriate antibiotic therapy, are required to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.Objectives  The aim of the study was to analyse the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with GAS NF and with non‐GAS NF, and to identify which characteristics could help to diagnose NF in the early stages of infection.Methods  We retrospectively analysed the clinical and laboratory findings of 43 cases of GAS and non‐GAS NF that occurred in Belgium (n = 32) and at Saga Medical School (Japan) (n = 11) between May 1984 and December 2001.Results  GAS NF more frequently occurred in previously healthy individuals than NF due to other pathogens (P < 0.05) but was associated with a poorer prognosis. Both for patients with GAS NF and with non‐GAS NF, the first clinical manifestations often suggested a diagnosis of erysipelas or cellulitis and rarely evoked the correct diagnosis (12% and 15% of the cases, respectively). However, we found that creatine phosphokinase (CPK) values were far higher in patients with GAS NF than in those with non‐GAS NF.Conclusions  Our data suggest that GAS may exert particular tropism and/or toxicity for muscle, responsible for early muscle necrosis. This indicates that elevated levels of CPK in a patient with erysipelas or cellulitis‐like symptoms should clearly prompt the clinician to exclude the diagnosis of GAS NF.
Pattern formation in the vascular system of monocot and dicot plant species
Authors: Scarpella Enrico , Meijer Annemarie H. 
Published: October 2004

SummaryPlant vascular tissues are organised in continuous strands, the longitudinal and radial patterns of which are intimately linked to the signals that direct plant architecture as a whole. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying vascular tissue patterning is expected to shed light on patterning events beyond those that organise the vascular system, and thus represents a central issue in plant developmental biology. A number of recent advances, reviewed here, are leading to a more precise definition of the signals that control the formation of vascular tissues and their integration into a larger organismal context.ContentsSummary209I.Introduction209II.The plant vascular system210III.Ontogeny of the vascular tissues210IV.Procambium development210V.The organisation of the vascular tissues212VI.The regulation of longitudinal vascular pattern formation214VII.The regulation of radial vascular pattern formation220VIII.Genetic screens for vascular development mutants231IX.Genes involved in vascular development identified through reverse genetics approaches235X.Conclusions and perspectives235Note added at the revision stage236Acknowledgements236References236