Assessment of the diagnostic value of specific anti- Toxocara IgA in Slovakian patients suspected to have toxocarosis

Abstract

Human toxocarosis is one of the most widespread and prevalent helminthic zoonosis in many countries, including Slovakia. The aim was to evaluate the usefulness of IgA anti-Toxocara antibody detection in the serodiagnosis of toxocarosis. The levels of specific IgA antibodies were determined by excretory-secretory (ES)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgA seropositivity in IgG anti-Toxocara seropositive patients (n = 52) was 32.7% and found to be highest in the oldest age groups (P = 0.026). The presence of IgA in suspected patients for toxocarosis were evaluated in respect to some characteristics of examined persons. Substantially higher IgA seropositivity was detected in patients with increased total IgE (44.8%) than in subjects with a normal level of IgE (17.4%; P = 0.036). No associations (P > 0.05) were found between IgA seropositivity and sex, level of specific IgG antibodies, avidity of IgG, eosinophilia, domicile, geophagia, traveling abroad, dog/cat ownership, or clinical symptoms. The IgA-ELISA showed sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 100%. Mild correlations (r = 0.302, r = 0.305, r = − 0.409) were observed between the levels of anti-Toxocara IgA antibodies and age, the amounts of eosinophils and IgA antibody levels, the amounts of eosinophils, and the values of IgG avidity, respectively. The presence of anti-Toxocara IgA may facilitate the diagnosis of toxocarosis and may well be useful for the determination of acute Toxocara infection. Moreover, this test should be accompanied by other immunological markers of examined patients (e.g., increased total IgE, eosinophilia, and low-avidity IgG antibodies).

Statin Use and Risk of Skin Cancer

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2017
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Brian M. Lin, Wen-Qing Li, Eunyoung Cho, Gary C. Curhan, Abrar A. Qureshi
BackgroundStatins are among the most commonly used medications in the United States, and statin use is associated with increased risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, previous studies are limited by lack of adjustment for important confounders.ObjectiveExamine the relation between statins and skin cancer risk in the Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study.MethodsCox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate associations.ResultsDuring follow-up (2000-2010), we documented 10,201 BCC, 1,393 SCC, and 333 melanoma cases. History of high cholesterol was not associated with risk of BCC (pooled multivariable-adjusted Hazard ratio (HR)=1.04 [1.00, 1.09], SCC (HR=0.95 [0.85, 1.06]), or melanoma (HR=0.87 [0.64, 1.19]). Statin use was not associated with risk of BCC (HR=1.04 [0.99, 1.09]), SCC (HR=1.08 [0.94, 1.24]), or melanoma (HR=1.04 [0.78, 1.38]). There was a trend towards higher BCC risk with longer duration of statin use in men (P-trend=0.003), but not in women (P-trend=0.86).LimitationsLack of treatment data.ConclusionHistory of high cholesterol was not associated with skin cancer risk. Longer duration of statin use was associated with a trend towards higher BCC risk in men.

Teaser

Previous studies demonstrated higher keratinocyte carcinoma risk with statin use, but lacked adjustment for important confounders.In this study, longer duration of statin use was associated with higher basal cell carcinoma risk in men only.The relation between statins and skin cancer risk may differ by sex.

Multiple Digit Melanonychia: Examine the Scalp

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2017
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Martina Lambertini, Federica Filippi, Alessandro Traniello Gradassi, Laura Magni, Emi Dika

Efficacy and rapid activity of omalizumab retreatments in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2017
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Eustachio Nettis, Elisabetta Di Leo, Caterina Foti, Luca Cegolon, Angelo Vacca

Ink-enhanced dermoscopy is a useful tool to differentiate acquired solitary plaque porokeratosis from other scaly lesions

Publication date: Available online 6 December 2017
Source:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Author(s): Cristián Navarrete-Dechent, Pablo Uribe, Ashfaq Marghoob

Treatment-recalcitrant comedones

Perichondritis of the ear in an Afghan immigrant

Occupational Darier's disease

Medical applications of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma in dermatology

Summary

Plasma is an ionized gas that consists of positively and negatively charged particles, neutral atoms, and photons. Recent developments in plasma sources have made it possible to generate room-temperature plasma in the "open air", thus enabling the application of plasma in vivo. Using nonthermal plasma, active agents can be efficiently delivered to target cells without creating thermal damage. Also known as cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP), nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma offers innovative medical applications. In this context, it has also gained wide attention in the field of dermatology. The complex and variable mixture of active agents in plasma – predominantly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) – can control or trigger complex biochemical reactions, achieving the desired effects in a dose-dependent manner. The objective of the present review is to present potential applications of plasma in dermatology and analyze its potential mechanisms of action.

Incidental detection of new-onset melanoma using PET-CT in a patient with stage III melanoma

Lichen planus-like drug eruption on anti-PD-1 therapy

Generation and propagation of yeast prion [URE3] are elevated under electromagnetic field

Abstract

In this study, we studied the effect of 2.0 GHz radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) and 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure on prion generation and propagation using two budding yeast strains, NT64C and SB34, as model organisms. Under exposure to RF-EMF or ELF-EMF, the de novo generation and propagation of yeast prions [URE3] were elevated in both strains. The elevation increased over time, and the effects of ELF-EMF occurred in a dose-dependent manner. The transcription and expression levels of the molecular chaperones Hsp104, Hsp70-Ssa1/2, and Hsp40-Ydj1 were not statistically significantly changed after exposure. Furthermore, the levels of ROS, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were significantly elevated after short-term, but not long-term exposure. This work demonstrated for the first time that EMF exposure could elevate the de novo generation and propagation of yeast prions and supports the hypothesis that ROS may play a role in the effects of EMF on protein misfolding. The effects of EMF on protein folding and ROS levels may mediate the broad effects of EMF on cell function.

Correction to: Guideline for the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity reactions

Correction to:

Allergo J Int 2015

http://ift.tt/2jXUIoM

Suspected drug hypersensitivity reactions require allergological investigation in order, firstly, to prevent severe reactions upon renewed exposure or, secondly, to avoid unnecessary drug restrictions. Skin tests are …

Efficacy and Safety of Three Cryotherapy Devices for Wart Treatment: A Randomized, Controlled, Investigator-Blinded, Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction

Cutaneous warts are common skin lesions, caused by human papillomavirus. For years, liquid nitrogen is the cryogen of choice for wart treatment. Alternatively, several cryogenic devices for home treatment are commercially available. The present trial assessed efficacy and safety of a novel nitrous oxide-based cryogenic device for home use (EndWarts Freeze^® in Europe, Compound W^® Nitro-Freeze in the USA).

Methods

This investigator-blinded, controlled, randomized study compared the nitrous oxide device (test product) with a dimethylether propane-based product (Wartner^®; comparator 1). Subjects with common or plantar warts (50/50 ratio) were randomized into two groups (n = 58, test product; n = 40, comparator 1). Sequentially, an extra treatment arm (n = 40) was added to compare with a dimethylether-based product with metal nib (Wortie^®; comparator 2). Main objective implied comparison of the percentage cured subjects after one to maximum three treatments. Efficacy and safety was evaluated by a blinded investigator.

Results

After a maximum of three applications, a significantly (p = 0.001) higher cure rate of 70.7% (Intention-to-Treat analysis) was observed with test product versus 46.2% (comparator 1) and 47.5% (comparator 2). Almost three times more subjects were cured after 1 test product application (29.3%), versus comparator 1 (10.4%) and comparator 2 (12.5%). Reported side effects were transient and typical of cryotherapy. All treatments were well-tolerated.

Conclusion

The superior cure rates for the test product versus two comparators can be explained by its design. Combination of nitrous oxide (cooling agent), the specific activation method (holding the liquid coolant in the cap), and skin-conforming polyurethane foam, results in higher cooling efficiency (− 80 °C) and more effective wart freezing. This trial demonstrated that the nitrous oxide device is a safe, user-friendly and effective wart treatment for home use, comparing favourably to dimethylether (propane) devices with higher freezing temperature, regardless of the applicator type.

Funding

Oystershell Laboratories.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT03129373.

Chronic pain in Pachyonychia Congenita: evidence for neuropathic origin

Abstract

Background

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is a rare autosomal dominant skin disease with chronic pain being the most prominent complaint. Histological studies showing alterations in sensory innervation along with few reports on alterations in mechanical sensitivity suggest that PC may be a form of neuropathy.

Objective

To systematically evaluate sensory function of PC patients vs. controls, here for the first time, in order to investigate PC pathophysiology.

Methods

Patients (n=62) and controls (n=45) completed the McGill and Douleur Neuropathique-4 (DN4) questionnaires. Sensory testing included: detection and pain thresholds, pathological sensations, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation of pain (TSP).

Results

A moderate-severe chronic pain in the feet, throbbing and stabbing in quality, was highly prevalent among PC patients (86%) and especially debilitating during weight bearing. In addition, the majority of patients had DN4 score ≥4 (62%), static allodynia (55%) and tingling (53%) in the feet. Compared to controls, PC patients exhibited thermal and mechanical hypoesthesia and mechanical hyperalgesia in the feet. CPM was reduced among the patients, and associated with more enhanced feet mechanical hyperalgesia. The specific gene and nature of the causative mutation did not affect any of these features.

Conclusion

Although thermal and mechanical hypoesthesia may result from thicker skin, its presentation in painful regions along with mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia point towards the possibility of neuropathic changes in PC. The clinical features and DN4 scores support this possibility and therefore neuropathic pain medications may be beneficial for PC patients.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Please mind the gappy content

Abstract

Representationalist theories of experience face the problem that two sets of compelling intuitions seem to support the contrary conclusions that we should ascribe, respectively, singular contents and general contents to experience. Susanna Schellenberg has, in a series of articles, argued that we can conserve both sets of intuitions if we award a central explanatory role to the notions of gappy-contents and content-schemas in our theory of experience. I argue that there is difficulty in seeing how gappy-contents and content-schemas can fulfil the explanatory role envisioned for them by Schellenberg. The central problem is that both gappy-contents and contentschemas lack truth-conditions. Schellenberg attempts to support her view by suggesting an analogy between the role of content-schemas in our account of experience and the role of Kaplan's notion of character in our account of demonstrative statements. However, I show that this analogy breaks down at crucial places when it is explored in detail. Hence, gappy-contents and content-schemas cannot fill the explanatory roles that the representationalist awards to fully truth-evaluable contents. Therefore, Schellenberg's theory provides no way for the representationalist to conserve both sets of competing intuitions.

Stellenwert der Strahlentherapie bei sezernierenden und nichtsezernierenden Hypophysenadenomen

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Therapieoptionen der modernen Radioonkologie für die Behandlung von Hypophysenadenomen werden beschrieben. Die moderne Technik ermöglicht einen steilen Dosisabfall zum gesunden Gewebe und damit bei exzellenter lokaler Tumorkontrolle ein optimales Nebenwirkungsspektrum.

Ziel

Aus den vorliegenden Daten können interdisziplinäre Behandlungspfade abgeleitet werden.

Material und Methoden

Es wird die aktuelle Literatur zur Behandlung von Hypophysenadenomen diskutiert. Darüber hinaus werden die Techniken beschrieben, die als Radiochirurgie oder als fraktionierte Hochpräzisionsstrahlentherapie für die Behandlung von gutartigen Tumoren zur Verfügung stehen.

Ergebnisse

Die lokale Kontrolle von Hypophysenadenomen liegt bei etwa 80–100 %, abhängig von der zugrunde liegenden Histologie, der Größe sowie der Lage des Tumors. Bei kleineren Volumina kann eine Radiochirurgie, aber auch eine fraktionierte Strahlentherapie eingesetzt werden. Bei größeren Volumina sollte ein fraktioniertes Konzept angeboten werden. Auch bei persistierender Hormonproduktion kann ein guter Therapieerfolg erzielt werden, wobei die Normalisierung der Hormonfunktion erst mittelfristig erfolgt.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Strahlentherapie von Hypophysenadenomen bietet heute mit modernen Techniken ein günstiges Risiko-Effekt-Profil und sollte in der interdisziplinären Entscheidungsfindung berücksichtigt werden.

Relapsed primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type

Shaohua Wu, Wei Gui, Liping Su, Yanfeng Xi, Shaohua Wu, Wei Gui, Liping Su, Yanfeng Xi

Indian Journal of Dermatology 2017 62(6):676-676

Mycobacterium leprae or tuberculosis: A diagnostic dilemma

Pugazhenthan Thangaraju, Sajitha Venkatesan, Elavarasan Sivashanmugam, MK Showkath Ali, Pugazhenthan Thangaraju, Sajitha Venkatesan, Elavarasan Sivashanmugam, MK Showkath Ali

Indian Journal of Dermatology 2017 62(6):671-671

Editorial epilogue

Koushik Lahiri, Koushik Lahiri

Indian Journal of Dermatology 2017 62(6):551-554