evaluation of a new method for bleomycin intralesional injection for the treatment of recalcitrant warts

This study aimed to determine efficacy, safety and patients acceptance of a new method for introducing bleomycin into warts by pricking it with a needle into the warts compared with direct intralesional injection of 1% bleomycin sulfate solution in normal saline. It was found that both techniques are equally effective with cure rate of 73.8% and 71.1% for the pricking and intralesional method, respectively. Palmar warts had the best response, while periungual warts were less responsive. Local pain was, on the whole, well tolerated. No laboratory abnormalities were noticed after treatment. It was concluded that the pricking method used for treatment of resistant warts is reliable, safe and acceptable to patients. It will be more acceptable if an effective topical anesthetic is available instead of local injection anesthesia

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia and Kimura's disease: a clinicopathological study

In this work, the clinical and histopathological features of 10 cases of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia and 5 cases of Kimura's disease are described and a comparison between the features of the two lesions is presented. Angiolymphoid hyperplasia showed exuberant proliferation of vessels lined by plump endothelial cells with irregular nuclei and cytoplasmic vacuoles, together with fibromyxiod matrix and inflammatory cells infiltrate containing eosinophils. Involvement of muscular coat of blood vessels or even growth entirely within a vessel was a common feature. It occurred in the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Kimura's disease occurred in the parotid gland and the subcutaneous tissues. It was characterized by florid lymphoid infiltrate with prominent lymphoid follicle, vascularization of germinal centres, germinal centre necrosis with eosinophilic material [folliculolysis], and marked eosinophilia with or without eosinophil abscess formation

Laboratory and clinical evaluation of a new formulation of 8-methoxypsoralen in the treatment of vitiligo

A new formulation of 8-methoxypsoralen [8-MOP] capsule was investigated both in the laboratory and clinically. Laboratory investigations showed that the new formulation is absorbed better than the currently available 8-MOP and it reaches a peak blood level in 45 minutes. Clinically, 14 vitiligo patients received the new drug in a dose ranging from 0.25-0.4 mg/kg body weight and exposed their vitiliginous patches to the sun at midday [45 minutes after drug ingestion]. An excellent response [>75% of a test patch repigmented] was obtained in 5 patients [35.7%], a good response [50-75% of the patch covered] was obtained in 3 patients [21.4%] and an unsatisfactory response [<50% of the patch covered] was obtained in 6 patients [42.9%]. Side effects were very minimal. The new formulation of 8-MOP capsule is safe, more effects than the marketed tablet formulation and its dose can be raised in nonresponding cases without producing nausea or vomiting

Chilblains: Some clinicopathological and therapeutic aspects

A total of 29 patients with chilblains were included in this study. Chilblains were found to affect women more than men. In a decreasing order, the following symptoms and signs constituted the clinical picture: erythema, itching, swelling, pain and nodules. The condition worsened at night in 58.6% of cases and almost exclusively affected hands and feet. Histopathologically, there was lymphohistiocytic vasculitis with no fibrin deposition. Marked improvement was obtained in 64.7% of patients using nifedipine [Epilat] 20 mg per day while only 16.7% of patients were markedly improved on piribedil [Trivastal] 60 mg per day. Side effects of both drugs [mainly hot flushes and headaches] were infrequent and mild. The use of nifedipine is recommend in the treatment of chilblains

Nevus depigmentosus: a clinical study and immunohistochemical differentiation from vitiligo

A clinical study was out 23 cases of nevus depigmentosus. This condition appears to be commoner in females and 65% of patients are born with it. Nevus depigmentosus commonly has a diameter of 5-10cm with a serrated edge. Stroking with a blunt object produced erythema in over 82% of cases and diascopy of the edge produced equality in color between affected and unaffected skin only 8% of cases. Perfect differentiation between nevus depigmentosus and vitiligo was obtained on using peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining for S-100 positive cells [most probably Langerhans cells] were found in vitiligo while this reaction was completely negative in nevus depigmentosus lesions

Sex hormones disturbance as a cause of impotence in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]

Thirty six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] associated with impotence were the subject of this study. The diagnosis and severity of the airflow limitation were assessed by measuring the ventilatory performance using a dry spirometer. Oxygen saturation was measured and arterial oxygen was deduced from it indirectly. Serum testosterone [total and free] and prolactin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Papaverine test was also utilized in all the patients. All the patients were heavy smokers. All the patients had moderate airway obstruction, however, this was not correlated with their hormonal levels. Impotence could be attributed to low total serum testosterone in 11.1% of patients only. The study concludes that the hormonal factor, as a cause for impotence associated with COPD, is probably less important than other factors e.g. psychogenic or vasculogenic disturbances

Incidence of skin diseases over a five year period in Cairo

A total of 28.116 dermatological cases were examined and investigated over a five year period from 1984 to 1988 to determine the different skin diseases. In a descending order, the commonest skin diseases were Acne vulgaris, Pityriasis versicolor, impetigo, diffuse hair loss, warts, scabies, Alopecia areata, Lichen simplex, contact dermatitis and pediculosis. The incidence of a new scabies soared during the period of the study, this may indicate the presence of a new scabies epidemic in Egypt now. The study results may be used to modify some of the undergraduate curricula