Content - Volume 88, Issue

The previous Editor-in-Chief of this journal, Professor Emeritus Nils Thyresson, sadly died on the 21st of June 2008, only a few weeks before his 93rd birthday. Nils Thyresson received his medical training at Uppsala University and later in Stockholm at the Karolinska Institute, where he was appointed specialist in Dermatology and Venereology in 1952. He completed his PhD degree at the Karolinska ...

In this issue Professor Dédée Murrell, Sydney, Australia, and collaborators (Dang et al. p. 438–448) report on phenotypic variability in junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (JEB-PA). They conclude that environmental factors and genetic modifiers must contribute to the clinical manifestations of this disease, which is caused by mutations in the ITGB4 gene. JEB-PA is an auto ...

Therapeutic options in vitiligo include photochemo­therapy, ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy, systemic steroids, or, as more recent studies have proposed, vitamin D3-analogs, excimer laser or topical calcineurin inhibitors (1). Meta-analysis of controlled studies has revealed that there is no one therapeutic option that could be considered the gold standard in vitiligo. Therapeutic efficacy depends r ...

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (JEB-PA) is an autosomal recessive blistering disease including lethal and non-lethal variants due to mutations in ITGB4 and ITGA6. It is unclear whether PA is caused directly by the mutations in these genes or by other factors. Skin biopsies from patients with JEB were processed for immunofluorescence mapping. When staining for integrin β4 or ...

Although mosquito allergy induces the release of histamine, the itch-related response, scratching, is not effectively suppressed by blockade of H1 histamine receptors. To address this question, we examined the effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment on allergic reactions and H1 histamine receptor-expressing sensory neurones in mice. Neonatal capsaicin treatment almost completely abolished allergy- ...

The role of personal factors makes it difficult to correlate subjective data, such as those obtained with the use of a visual analogue scale, and objective data, such as a quantity of injected histamine. In this study, prick tests with histamine and codeine on the forearms allowed a coherent variation in itch scores to be obtained over time, with highly significant differences from controls and wi ...

There are indications that the dilution of botulinum toxin affects dose-response. This must be considered when comparing different products. The aim of this study was to estimate a concentration of Dysport® in physiological saline that is approximately equivalent to Botox® 100 U/ml with respect to anhidrotic and muscular effect. Thirty-six patients with primary palmar hyperhidrosis were treated ...

Pramiconazole (R126638) is a novel azole with potent antifungal activity against yeasts, dermatophytes and many other fungal species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a single oral dose of 200 mg pramiconazole in acute and recurrent vulvovaginal yeast infections. Thirty-two patients (15 acute and 17 recurrent cases) were KOH microscopy- and culture-positive at in ...

Skin cancer is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers among the Swedish population and a significant cause of illness and death. This study aims to estimate the total societal cost of skin cancer in Sweden for 2005, using a prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach. The total cost of skin cancer was estimated at €142.4 million (€15/inhabitant), of which €79.6 million (€8/inhabitant) wa ...

Topical tacrolimus was recently introduced as a novel therapeutic option in vitiligo. Excellent results were seen mainly on the face and neck areas. We treated 30 adult vitiligo patients with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice daily, and compared the results with those of placebo ointment. In 20 patients, defined areas on the right arm or leg were occluded overnight with 3 different dressings. Repigme ...

One of the recommended first-line treatments for basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses and Bowen's disease is photodynamic therapy. Commonly associated side-¬effects include pain and phototoxicity. Histamine release is a part of this reaction, but whealing urticaria follow¬ing photodynamic therapy has only been reported by the manufacturer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevale ...

Anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) is a chronic, mucous membrane-dominated, subepithelial blistering disease characterized by circulating anti-basement membrane zone auto-antibodies to laminin 5. Recent studies have shown that people with AECP have an increased relative risk for malignant tumours. In this report we describe two patients with AECP. In both cases, in¬direct immunofluores ...

Chronic pruritus (> 6 weeks) can be caused by skin diseases and systemic diseases, including malignancies. It is a distressing symptom that requires a precise medical history, thorough physical examination, laboratory and radiological diagnostics. The interpretation of results may sometimes be difficult and may often reveal several patho¬logical findings. This case report demonstrates prostate ...

A 23-year-old woman presented with recurrent herpetiform vesicles of the lower lip, but all diagnostic measures for herpes virus infection including herpes viridae specific PCR were negative. Medical history revealed that she also had chronic recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, which had been treated with various regimes, including repetitive applications of fluconazole. Consequently, fluconazole- ...

Many patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis do not respond adequately to methotrexate monotherapy. This pilot study, with a small patient population, was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of etanercept and methotrexate combination in patients with plaque psoriasis and inadequate response to methotrexate. Outpatients with plaque psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Ind ...

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