Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG
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J Dtsch Dermatol Ges · Apr 2007
PPL and MDM skin test: new test kit is helpful in detecting immediate-type allergy to beta-lactams.
The diagnosis of PPL (major determinant) and MDM (minor determinant) sensitization as relevant allergens in beta-lactam allergy has been recently hampered by withdrawal from the market of formerly available test kits. We investigated a new PPL/MDM test kit in the work-up of beta-lactam allergy. ⋯ Our data show that the new test kit may be helpful in detecting patients with immediate type allergy to beta-lactams. Without this test, in those three patients reacting exclusively to MDM, and oral provocation test would have been necessary to clarify their allergy. Data from larger groups of patients are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this test kit.
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J Dtsch Dermatol Ges · Mar 2007
ReviewTrichophyton mentagrophytes sive interdigitale? A dermatophyte in the course of time.
Originally, the Trichophyton (T.) mentagrophytes complex distinguished between the anthropophilic subspecies T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes var. nodulare (synonym T. krajdenii), and T. mentagrophytes var. goetzii and the zoophilic subspecies T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum (rodents), T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei (hedgehog), and T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum (mice). In addition, two sexual species (teleomorph) of this complex are known. These are Arthroderma (A.) benhamiae Ajello and Cheng 1967 and Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii Takashio 1973. ⋯ The morphological differentiation between anthropophilic and zoophilic T. interdigitale strains by classical microscopical and biochemical methods is often problematic. In particular, it is impossible to differentiate between the zoophilic strains of T. interdigitale, T. mentagrophytes, and the Trichophyton anamorph of A. benhamiae. In these cases, molecular identification methods may be applied to answer epidemiological, taxonomical and therapeutic questions.
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J Dtsch Dermatol Ges · Mar 2007
Comparative StudyHydroxyethyl starch-induced itch: relevance of light microscopic analysis of semi-thin sections and electron microscopy.
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is widely used as a plasma substitute for improving microcirculation. A major side effect of HES is severe pruritus caused by HES deposits in the skin. Since specific changes are difficult to see in paraffin sections, electron microscopy is the golden standard technique in the diagnosis of HES-induced skin disease. Our aim was to compare electron microscopic search for HES deposits with other techniques. ⋯ If specific HES deposits are found in toluidine blue-stained, glycide ether-embedded semithin sections, electron microscopy is not required.