Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Nov 2004
Case ReportsNeutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands in a farmer.
Neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands is a recently described disorder, which is similar to Sweet's syndrome. It is characterized by erythematous plaques, pustules and haemorrhagic bullae located solely on the dorsal surface of the hands. ⋯ There are few cases reported in the literature regarding neutrophilic dermatosis and the aetiology remains unclear. For the present case, we propose that neutrophilic dermatosis of the dorsal hands might have been induced by the chemical fertilizer.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · May 2004
Comparative StudyThe effect of extracorporeal photopheresis on intracellular cytokine expression in chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease.
Cytokines derived from T helper (Th)1 lymphocytes are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been reported to affect Th1/Th2 lymphocyte ratios. It may also influence the balance of cytotoxic Tcells (Tc1/Tc2). ⋯ Our findings appear to be inconsistent with current theories regarding the pathogenesis of GVHD as increased production of Th1 or Tc1 cytokines might be expected to exacerbate GVHD. However, chronic GVHD is characterized by a relative deficiency of IL-2 and IFN-gamma producing cells compared with other patients post-bone marrow transplantation (BMT). This indicates that Th1 and Tc1 cytokines are depleted in chronic GVHD. Thus, by reducing disease activity, ECP could allow cytokine production by these cells to recover. This indicates that the therapeutic effect of ECP is mediated by a different mechanism, and that the changes observed in this study are epiphenomena.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · May 2004
Comparative StudySerum interleukin-6, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels in subjects with active Behçet's disease.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines, including serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been proposed as disease activity markers in Behçet's disease (BD), although studies have shown conflicting results for IL-6. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in active BD have not yet been investigated. ⋯ The results of our study suggest that serum CRP and IL-6 levels are elevated in patients with active BD, but that serum PCT values are not elevated in these patients.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Jul 2002
Comparative StudyPre-operative diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions: in vivo dermoscopy performs better than dermoscopy on photographic images.
Epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) (dermoscopy, dermatoscopy) is a technique for non-invasive diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions that improves the diagnostic performance of dermatologists. Little is known about the possible influence of associated clinical features on the reliability of dermoscopic diagnosis during in vivo examination. ⋯ In vivo dermoscopy, i.e. combined clinical and dermoscopic examination, is more reliable than dermoscopy on photographic slides. In clinical practice, therefore, in vivo dermoscopy cannot be considered independent from associated clinical characteristics of the lesions, which help the trained observer to reach a more precise classification. This may have implications on the reliability of ELM diagnosis made by an observer not fully trained in the clinical diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions or by a remote observer during digital ELM teleconsultation.