The importance of genetic susceptibility in Dupuytren's disease.

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a progressive fibromatosis that causes the formation of nodules and cords in the palmar aponeurosis leading to flexion contracture of affected fingers. The etiopathogenesis is multifactorial with a strong genetic predisposition. It is the most frequent genetic disorder of connective tissues. We have collected clinical data from 736 unrelated individuals with DD who underwent surgical treatment from Germany and Switzerland. We evaluated a standardised questionnaire, assessed the importance of different risk factors and compared subgroups with and without positive family history. We found that family history clearly had the strongest influence on the age at first surgery compared to environmental factors, followed by male sex. Participants with a positive family history were on average 55.9 years of age at the first surgical intervention, 5.2 years younger than probands without known family history (p = 6.7 × 10(-8) ). The percentage of familial cases decreased with age of onset from 55% in the 40-49 years old to 17% at age 80 years or older. Further risk factors analysed were cigarettes, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, and epilepsy. Our data pinpoint the importance of genetic susceptibility for DD, which has long been underestimated.

Scanning electron microscope study of adult Brugia malayi.

The fine structures of the surface of Brugia malayi obtained from Mastomys natalensis are demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The head of the parasite is bulbous in shape. The amphidial openings lie beside small elevations. The surface structure of the inner papillae is smooth with a small elevation in the middle. The outer papillae are grooved. the cuticular annulation in the midbody region of the female worm is narrower than that of the male cuticle. In the posterior region of the female worm there are tubercles and in one worm a lateral papilla was found near the anus. In both sexes the inconspicuous phasmidial openings are situated in a lateral position close to the caudal tip. In the posterior region of the male worm there is an area with tubercles, the area rugosa and numerous perianal and caudal papillae, which vary in their number and distribution. The surface structures are very similar to those of Brugia pahangi.

A case of dirofilariasis in man (subgenus Nochtiella): a scanning electron microscope study.

An immature female Dirofilaria was found in the subcutaneous tissue of a patient under diethylcarbamazine-provocation. The worm demonstrates a characteristic cuticular pattern on the head and longitudinal ridges in the midbody region; it could therefore be characterized as a Dirofilaria of the subgenus Nochtiella.