Cutaneous mucinosis of infancy: report of a rare case and review of the literature.

Cutaneous mucinosis of infancy (CMI) is a rare dermatologic condition, first reported in 1980 and currently classified within the complex group of papular mucinoses. We report a case of CMI and review the prior 13 cases in the literature. The patient was a 5-year-old girl who presented with asymptomatic dermal papules and plaques on her leg and back with no overlying color change. These lesions were first noticed during infancy and had become slightly more evident over time. The patient had a history of birthmarks and eczema. Her family history included eczema, allergies, photosensitivity, and Graves disease. Pre-biopsy clinical differential diagnosis included connective tissue nevus, granuloma annulare, myofibroma, lipofibroma, and lymphangioma. Biopsies revealed significant increase in interstitial mucin within the reticular and mid dermis, without significant sclerosis or fibroblastic proliferation. The relatively quiescent pattern of interstitial mucinosis with slight fibrocyte hyperplasia presenting as dermal papules-plaques on the trunk and extremities was most consistent with a diagnosis of CMI. We report another case of CMI in an otherwise healthy patient. Our patient is unique as she is the first CMI patient with a family history of Graves disease, although our patient appeared euthyroid. We will also review the literature on this rare entity.

Assessment of gynecologic malignancies: a multi-center study in Tehran (1995-2005).

OBJECTIVE: The observed differences in cancer incidence are mainly due to different individuals and social risk factors. This study aims to demonstrate the characteristics of female genital malignancies according to the pathological records in Tehran, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, all records of pathological specimens categorized as ovarian, uterine corpus or uterine cervix cancers from 1995 to 2005, in five teaching hospitals in Tehran, were studied. Age, marriage, parity, menopausal status, smoking, oral contraceptive usage, pathological staging, and histological grading were reviewed by a trained general practitioner. SPSS 14 was used for statistical analysis. RESULT: Mean age (SD) at the time of diagnosis was 50 (15). Fifty-nine percent of ovarian, 33.9 and 47.7% of uterine corpus and uterine cervix malignant patients were premenopausal. About 90% of all were nonsmokers and 82.7% were multiparae. Various types of gynecologic malignancies included ovarian (55.5%), uterine corpus (24.9%), and uterine cervical cancers (19.6%) were diagnosed. In tumors of the uterine corpus and uterus cervix, the most frequent stage of diagnosis was stage IIA. CONCLUSION: Ovarian cancer was the most frequently occurring gynecologic tumor. Although distribution of age in ovarian cancer was similar to that mentioned in the literature, occurrence of the cancer was more frequent in the premenopausal state.

Clinical trial: the effect of amitriptyline in patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome is the most common disorder diagnosed by gastroenterologists. Although several randomized-controlled trials have assessed the therapeutic role of antidepressant drugs, there is insufficient evidence to support their use. AIM: To compare the effects of low-dose amitriptyline in the treatment of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome in a double-blind randomized-controlled trial. METHODS: Fifty-four patients who fulfilled Rome II criteria for diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome were included in this study. Organic causes were ruled out by standard laboratory and radiological tests, and rectosigmoidoscopy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg amitriptyline daily or placebo. Subjects were followed up for 2 months and symptoms were assessed using a questionnaire. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis was performed. RESULTS: Fifty patients completed the study. At 2 months, the amitriptyline group showed greater (P < 0.05) reduction in the incidence of loose stool and feeling of incomplete defecation. Patients receiving amitriptyline showed greater complete response, defined as loss of all symptoms, compared with those receiving placebo (68% vs. 28%, P = 0.01). Adverse effects were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Amitriptyline may be effective in the treatment of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and at low dose is well tolerated.