Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG
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J Dtsch Dermatol Ges · Aug 2012
Correlation of serum procalcitonin with the severity of skin and skin structure infections - a pilot study.
Procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker for early detection of bacterial infections. While the usefulness of procalcitonin in severe conditions such as sepsis is well established, its relevance in the diagnosis and prognosis of localized cutaneous bacterial infections is unknown. Our aim was to initially evaluate if PCT is a useful parameter for predicting the severity of skin and skin structure infections (SSSI). Furthermore, the correlation of PCT levels with C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and body temperature was investigated. ⋯ PCT might be a useful additional tool for initial diagnosis and monitoring of patients with SSSI.
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J Dtsch Dermatol Ges · Aug 2012
Case ReportsContact dermatitis to para-phenylenediamine in hair dye following sensitization to black henna tattoos - an ongoing problem.
The increased frequency of case reports of allergic contact dermatitis from non-permanent black henna tattoos in recent years shows the popularity of this form of body painting. ⋯ The most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis after black henna tattoos is PPD. Both the long skin contact and the high concentrations of PPD increase the risk of sensitization. Allergic contact dermatitis may be followed by post-inflammatory hyper- or hypopigmentation, scarring and lifelong sensitization, which can have occupational impact, especially for hair dressers and cosmeticians.