Preservation of protective capacity of hyperimmune anti-Stx2 bovine colostrum against enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 pathogenicity after pasteurization and spray-drying processes.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is a major etiologic agent that causes bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Shiga toxin (Stx) is the main virulence factor of EHEC responsible for the progression to HUS. Although many laboratories have made efforts to develop an effective treatment for Stx-mediated HUS, a specific therapy has not been found yet. Human consumption of bovine colostrum is known to have therapeutic effects against several gastrointestinal infections because of the peptide and proteins (including antibodies) with direct antimicrobial and endotoxin-neutralizing effects contained in this fluid. We have previously demonstrated that colostrum from Stx type 2 (Stx2)-immunized pregnant cows effectively prevents Stx2 cytotoxicity and EHEC O157:H7 pathogenicity. In this study we evaluated the preservation of the protective properties of hyperimmune colostrum against Stx2 (HIC-Stx2) after pasteurization and spray-drying processes by performing in vitro and in vivo assays. Our results showed that reconstituted HIC-Stx2 colostrum after pasteurization at 60°C for 60 min and spray-dried under optimized conditions preserved specific IgG that successfully neutralized Stx2 cytotoxicity on Vero cells. Furthermore, this pasteurized/dehydrated and reconstituted HIC-Stx2 preserved the protective capacity against EHEC infection in a weaned mice model. The consumption of hyperimmune HIC-Stx2 bovine colostrum could be effective for HUS prevention in humans as well as in EHEC control in calves. However, further studies need to be done to consider its use for controlling EHEC infections.

M-plasty in the treatment of carcinomas located on the interglabellar region.

One of the main tasks of current cutaneous surgery is to completely eliminate the tumor while avoiding unnecessary normal tissue extirpation. This is especially important when removing facial tumors close to the external canthus, mouth angles and perialar regions. In all these areas we advise fusiform excision but with distal M-plasty in the nearest angle so as to avoid angle retraction. The same is true for mediofrontal tumors, as this often causes a drawing together of the eyebrows. We have reviewed all mediofrontal excisions carried out during the last six years. M-plasty following fusiform excision was always performed in the interglabellar area. The good results achieved allow us to recommend this technique in this location.

[Nevus comedonicus]. / Nevus comedoniano.

Comedo naevus of which there are few cases in the literature are undoubtedly frequent, and pass unnoticed, as they are easily confused with furunculosis. A recent observation of a case in the Department of Medical-Surgical Dermatology and Venereology, in the Faculty of Medicine of Seville University has allowed us to review the genetic, clinical, histological and therapeutic aspects.

[Mucopurulent cervicitis at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases]. / Cervicitis mucopurulenta en una clínica de ETS.

In a series of 1,011 women seen in the Diagnosis Center of Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine of Seville, we study the prevalence of cervical infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis and also mucopurulent cervicitis (CMP), these last diagnosed by the presence of more than 10 polymorphonuclear leukocytes x 1,000 magnification in Gram stain of secretion or endocervical mucopus. We calculate the predictive value that the diagnosis of the CMP had in detecting cervical infection by chlamydia and gonococcus. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated in 56 patients (5.5%), C. trachomatis in 83 (8.2%) and both in 15 (1.5%). In all, 154 women presented cervical infections, which correlates to a prevalence of 15.2%. CMP was diagnosed in 267 patients and, of these, 43.4% had cervical infection accused by N. gonorrhoeae and/or C. trachomatis. The diagnosis criteria of CMP used as predictors of cervical infection, had a sensibility of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.82, with a positive predictive value of 0.42.

[Chondroid syringoma. Clinico-pathologic aspects]. / Siringoma condroide. Aspectos clínico-patológicos.

Following the observation of a case of Chondroid Syringoma which corresponded to the clinical-histological requisites of Hirsch and Helwig, we review the bibliography and insist on the possibility of reaching a clinical diagnosis predicting even the benign of malign character of the neoformation due to its location.

[Epidemiology of pemphigus in the Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain, 2005-2006]. / Epidemiología del pénfigo en el Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena (2005-2006).

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus is a serious, potentially fatal chronic autoimmune bullous disease with cutaneous and mucosal manifestations. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study that included patients diagnosed with pemphigus in the dermatology department of Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain, in 2005 and 2006. We reviewed demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-three patients, the majority women, were included in the study. Clinical onset usually occurred between 30 and 60 years of age. The most common variant was pemphigus vulgaris (79 %), and the sites most frequently affected were the oral mucosa, trunk, and scalp. Oral corticosteroids were the initial treatment of choice in all patients, and azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil were given as adjuvant therapy. Complete remission was induced in 8.68 % of patients and partial remission in 91.32 %. The main complications were infections, osteopenia and osteoporosis, and cataracts.

Localized Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris.

We report the case of a patient with a 13-year history of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) treated with immunosuppressive agents, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil who had developed lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) on a sole plaque of PV that had been previously treated with intralesional injections of steroids. The lesions were surgically removed and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) DNA. There were neither recurrences nor later dissemination of KS following gradual decrease of the immunosuppressive therapy. We suggest that the treatment with intralesional steroids may have influenced the local reactivation of a latent infection of the virus, determining the appearance of this localized KS.

Pemphigus vulgaris and disseminated nocardiosis.

Infectious diseases, in particular septicaemia from Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are the most severe and frequent complications for the immunosuppressive therapy of pemphigus. Infection by Nocardia asteroides in subjects with pemphigus vulgaris is rare. We report the sixth case found of such an association; the subject died of disseminated nocardiosis while receiving steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, 4 years after being diagnosed with chronic pemphigus vulgaris.

Follow-up of vermilionectomies: evaluation of the technique.

Vermilionectomy is a straightforward technique that provides excellent results, not only in the treatment of solar cheilitis, but also as a prophylactic measure for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower lip. Well-planned and well-executed, this operation is considered to have no postoperative complications. However, our 12-month follow-up of 52 postvermilionectomy patients revealed interesting features with regard to the contraction of the lip scar, sensitive, functional, and cosmetic disorders, and the prophylactic role of vermilionectomy on SCC of the lip.

Lichenoid drug eruption following the Blaschko lines.

Eruptions similar to those of lichen planus (LP) are associated with systemic diseases or have been induced by many drugs. Linear lesions as a Koebner effect are frequently found in LP but isolated long, narrow, linear lesions, which may extend the whole length of the limb, are rare though rather more common in childhood. Some cases of zonal or zosteriform LP have been described in the literature. We describe a case of LP with a linear distribution following the Blaschko embryologic lines induced by nicergoline in a 65-year-old woman with a 6-month history of a pruritic eruption of erythematoviolaceous papules on the left breast, trunk and upper limb, with histological features of LP It would be the first case of linear LP associated with drugs.

Distribution of HLA class II alleles among Spanish patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

Twenty-six unrelated Spanish Caucasian individuals affected by pemphigus vulgaris (PV) were HLA typed and frequencies compared with those of 200 ethnically matched healthy controls. Twenty-three out of 26 patients were HLA-DR4. The frequency of HLA-DR14 was also increased (31%; controls: 4%). Of the 23 patients positive for HLA-DR4, 21 carried the DRB1*0402 allele. Therefore, the frequency of HLA-DRB1*0402 among patients was 81% (4% in controls; P=4.7x10(-27), OR=100.8). Interestingly, HLA-DR13, a frequent HLA-DR specificity in the Spanish general population (27%), was absent among the PV patients (P=0.009; Pc=0.1; OR=0.05). Taking together these data, we can conclude that, in the Spanish population, PV is preferentially and strongly associated with HLA-DRB1*0402, whereas DRB1*13 seems to confer a protective effect in our population.