[Cutaneous hyperpigmentation of the distal falanx in a newborn]. / Iperpigmentazione cutanea delle falangi distali in un neonato.

A case of distal falangeal hyperpigmentation in a 2-month female newborn, who did not show any other cutaneous disease at the time of our observation, is presented. The aim of our study is to focus attention on this condition, actually considered a benign, asymptomatic, transitory manifestation, rarely reported in literature. On the basis of the clinical features, it has been proposed to add this pigmentation to the transient benign dermatoses of newborns.

Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis.

Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis is a rare, benign, spontaneously regressive disease. The term was recently coined to describe a dermatosis characterized by the sudden onset of a few to several bright red angioma-like papules with histopathologic findings distinct from that of true angiomas. We describe a 7-year-old patient with the typical lesions of eruptive pseudoangiomatosis.

[Tinea faciei in a newborn]. / Tinea faciei in etá neonatale.

Dermatophytosis in newborns and infants has been regarded as very unusual; a case recently observed of a 2-month-old child affected by tinea faciei is described. Twenty days before, localized erythematous infiltrated patches at the upper left eyelid and eyebrows with papules and pustules, were observed. Rarefaction of the eyebrows and partially loss of the eyelashes associated with scattered areas of erythematopapulous lesions on the face, were seen. Mycological examination was positive and trichophyton rubrum colonies grew. Tinea capitis is more common than tinea faciei in newborn and infants. Differential diagnosis includes: seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis with associated impetigo, candidiasis, bacterial folliculitis. The interhuman transmission by relatives is the most probable modality of trans-mission, as previously reported in the literature. A widespread of the dermatoses was due to previous application of topical corticosteroids. The lesions resolved completely after treatment with miconazole cream, applied twice daily for three weeks.

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis: a pediatric case.

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis was described in 1918 by Heidingsfeld as a type of idiopathic noninflammatory macular atrophy typically occurring in young individuals. Only 13 cases have been reported since the first description. Considering that atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis can be mistaken for a scarring and artifact dermatitis, it is important for physicians to distinguish this condition. We report a new case in a 5-year-old boy.

[Study of tolerance and efficacy of cosmetic preparations with lenitive action in atopic dermatitis in children]. / Studio di tollerabilità ed efficacia di preparati dermocosmetici ad azione lenitiva nella dermatite atopica infantile.

PURPOSE: In AD (atopic dermatitis), the barrier function of skin is impaired, causing dryness and vulnerability: the first-end point to achieve is restoring skin's function to avoid relapses. Our aim was to assess tolerability and effecacy of two cosmetics with moisturizing and lenitive action in subjects affected by AD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used a topical preparation (product A) and a new formulation of it (product B) containing glycyrrhetinic acid, alpha-bisabolol, squalene, oryzanol and hohoba-oil. Product B was then compared with a third one (product C), also based on glycyrrhetinic acid and bisabolol. 30 subjects, aged between 4 months and 16 years, were included in the study (13 girls and 17 boys), suffered from mild-moderate AD, not treated with steroids. Patients were treated twice a day for 21 days, as follows: 12 product A (Decortil lipocrema IDI Farmaceutici); 9 product B (Decortil crema, IDI Farmaceutici); 9 product B on the right and product C (Lichtena AI crema UCB Pharma) on the left. We also did: photografic documentation, SCORAD Index, evaluation of objective (erythema, exudation, excoriation, dryness) and subjective (itching and burning) simptomatology (scoring 0-3) and physiopatological cutaneous tests as TEWL (Trans Epidermal Water Loss), corneometry and pHmetry at beginning and at end of treatment. RESULTS: All groups improved both clinically and instrumentally. Corneometry increased, TEWL lowed and pH turned to normality. CONCLUSIONS: Product A is better for restoring cutaneous physiology, B resulted more efficient in rehydration, in acute phase and as emollient agent, whereas C has more lenitive action.

Quantitative nailfold capillary microscopy findings in patients with acrocyanosis compared with patients having systemic sclerosis and control subjects.

BACKGROUND: The morphologic capillary microscopy (capillaroscopy) pattern of acrocyanosis is characterized by hemorrhages, pericapillary edema, and widened capillaries. These findings can result in a difficult differential diagnosis with systemic sclerosis (SSc). OBJECTIVE: We sought to quantify the characteristics of the capillaroscopy pattern that distinguishes patients with acrocyanosis from patients with SSc and control subjects. METHODS: A videomicroscope with fiberoptic illumination and personal computer-based image processing was used to measure capillary density, giant capillaries, loop width, and arterial and venous limbs in 10 patients with acrocyanosis, 10 patients with SSc, and 10 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Acrocyanotic patients differed in every quantitative parameter both from control subjects and patients with SSc. In particular, capillary density, which was reduced compared with that of control subjects, was much higher than that of patients with SSc: one giant capillary per finger was observed in 2 patients with acrocyanosis, whereas more than 2 giant capillaries per finger were observed in each patient with SSc. CONCLUSION: These differences may aid in making the distinction between the capillaroscopy patterns in acrocyanosis and SSc.

[Computed tomography in the follow-up of interstitial lung disease in progressive systemic sclerosis]. / La Tomografia Computerizzata nel follow-up dell'interstiziopatia polmonare nella sclerosi sistemica progressiva.

Progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) is a chronic multisystemic disease characterized by vascular changes, lung fibrosis and skin conditions. The lung is one of the most commonly involved organs in the patients suffering from this disease. Lung changes, along with heart involvement, represent one of the major causes of death in PSS patients. CT and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and chest radiographs were obtained in 26 patients with PSS. The evaluation of chest films included the assessment of an average profusion score. The HRCT evaluation included pattern, extent and distribution of the disease. HRCT scans showed thickened septal lines in all patients and parallel subpleural lines in 6 patients (23%), while ground-glass opacification was seen in 2 cases (7.6%). Honeycomb pattern was observed in 8 patients (31%). Chest films showed definite interstitial opacification patterns in 8 cases only; 6 radiographs were equivocal and 12 (46%) normal. Five patients were followed 6 months to 3 years: 2 of them exhibited parallel worsening of skin conditions and of CT patterns, while X-ray findings in the chest were unchanged. In 2 cases skin and lung involvement were different (skin worsening and unchanged lung patterns, or viceversa). Finally, in 1 patient, the presence of patchy areas of air-space consolidation without air cysts on second-look was more consistent with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.