Acta dermato-venereologica
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Apr 2017
Paediatric Erythema Multiforme: Epidemiological, Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics.
Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated reaction presenting as acrofacial target lesions. Most studies utilize the outdated classification, which includes EM, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis as related entities. We describe here epidemiological, aetiological, clinical, laboratory and treatment characteristics of paediatric EM. ⋯ The most common identified infectious agent associated with EM in this study was Mycoplasma pneumonia and the cases associated with this infection may represent the recent entity, mycoplasma-induced rash and mucositis. Association with herpes simplex virus was not observed. Despite being a benign, self-limiting condition, children were over-treated in terms of hospitalization and therapy.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialAntipruritic Effect of Cold-induced and Transient Receptor Potential-agonist-induced Counter-irritation on Histaminergic Itch in Humans.
A frequent empirical observation is that cold-induced counter-irritation may attenuate itch. The aim of this randomized, single-blinded, exploratory study was to evaluate the counter-irritation effects of cold-stimulation and topical application of transient receptor potential TRPA1/M8-agonists (trans-cinnamaldehyde/L-menthol, respectively), on histamine-induced itch, wheals and neurogenic inflammation in 13 healthy volunteers. Histamine 1% was applied to the volar forearms using skin prick-test lancets. ⋯ Cold counter-irritation stimuli from 4°C to 22°C inhibited itch in a stimulus-intensity-dependent manner (p < 0.05) and, to a lesser extent, also wheal reactions and neurogenic inflammation. Chemical "cold-like" counter-irritation with both L-menthol and trans-cinnamaldehyde had antipruritic efficacy similar to doxepin (p < 0.05). Cold-induced counter-irritation had an inhibitory effect on histaminergic itch, suggesting that agonists of cold transduction receptors could be of potential antipruritic value.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Nov 2016
Expression of Glucocorticoid Receptors GRα and GRβ in Bullous Pemphigoid.
First-line treatments of bullous pemphigoid (BP) are topical and systemic glucocorticoids (GC). The actions of GC are mediated by glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which exist in several isoforms, of which GRα and GRβ are the most important. In many inflammatory diseases, up-regulation of GRβ is associated with GC insensitivity. ⋯ Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis demonstrated that GR isoform mRNAs are expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with BP. Expression of GRα and GRβ protein was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of BP skin biopsies and by Western blot analysis and flow cytometric analysis of PBMCs. During prednisolone treatment, GRα and GRβ expression varied markedly, but changes were not suitable as a clinical marker of GC sensitivity in patients with BP.