Diamond-Gardner syndrome: a case report.

We present a 13-year-old girl who came to our attention for an erythematous bruised lesion which appeared spontaneously without any apparent coagulopathy. The history, histology, and positive "skin-test," carried out by subcutaneously injecting autologous erythrocytes obtained from heparinized blood, confirmed the suspected diagnosis of Diamond-Gardner syndrome. No alterations of blood vessel walls or thromboses were found. Evaluation of hemocoagulative parameters revealed an increased factor VIII level and reduced platelet aggregation after stimulation by adenosine diphosphate (ADP.)

Uraemic pruritus is not related to plasma histamine concentrations.

Pruritus is a common symptom in uraemic patients and its aetiology is poorly understood, although several factors have been implicated, including high histamine plasma levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma levels of histamine in patients on maintenance haemodialysis in relation to the presence of itching (35 pruritic patients = group A; 50 non-pruritic patients = group B). Furthermore, we compared the values obtained with those of a healthy control group (64 subjects). We observed increased plasma histamine levels in uraemic patients compared with healthy controls. However, no relationship was found between plasma histamine values and itching because groups A and B showed overlapping values and there was no correlation between the intensity of pruritus and plasma histamine concentrations in group A patients. In conclusion, we suggest that there is no evidence for plasma histamine playing a significant part in uraemic pruritus.

Prognostic factors in 291 patients with pulmonary metastases submitted to thoracotomy.

Pulmonary metastases are among the most common sites for the spread of cancer, particularly with mesenchymal tumors. Despite improvements in cancer therapy, the prognosis remains poor, except for the highly selective group of patients who are considered eligible for surgical treatment and those with chemosensitive tumors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate survival results of 291 patients who underwent thoracotomy due to pulmonary metastases between 1953 and 1986. The number of metastases ranged from a minimum of 1 to as many as 30. The type of resection depended on site, size, and number of pulmonary lesions: 154 wedge resections, 49 lobectomies, and 9 pneumectomies. The tumor was not resectable in the remaining 79 patients. Of the prognostic factors analyzed, only type of pulmonary resection (wedge vs. lobectomy vs. pneumectomy vs. unresectable) and disease free interval (DFI) between primary treatment and pulmonary metastases diagnosis (< or = 6 months vs. 7-12 months vs. > 12 months) were selected as independent predictors of the risk of death in multivariate analysis. A reduced model for bone tumors included disease free interval, sex and histology.

Selenium plasma levels in psoriasis.

Little is known about factors that may have modulating effects on inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. Recently it has been proposed that trace elements like selenium may play an active role. Selenium concentrations were determined in plasma and in whole blood from 64 patients with psoriasis. Values were compared with those of matched controls: no significant reduction was observed in contrast with previous reports of reduced selenium levels in psoriasis.

[Reflections on unexpected onset of Kaposi's sarcoma in a case psoriasis]. / Riflessioni su un sarcoma di Kaposi insorto repentinamente su una psoriasi.

A case of Kaposi's classic sarcoma with a particularly rapid and aggressive onset is reported in an 80-year-old patient affected by psoriasis for about 30 years. The therapies previously used to treat the patient's psoriasis are discussed.