Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease: treatment with infliximab and intravenous immunoglobulins and review of the literature.

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD) is a rare subtype of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, characterized by an acute onset of ulceronecrotic papules, rapidly coalescing into large ulcers with necrotic crusts, associated with high fever and severe systemic symptoms. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with a resistant form of FUMHD successfully treated with a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibitor (infliximab). After 1 year of treatment, because of the recurrence of lesions and -occurrence of severe sepsis, we decided to change the therapeutic procedure by introducing intravenous immunoglobulin witch induced a spectacular improvement. Only few cases of FUMHD treated with intravenous immunoglobulin have been reported to date. In our case, we describe the first utilization of TNFα inhibitors in the treatment of FUMHD: TNFα inhibitors may be useful, particularly in resistant cases. Further reports are required to confirm this potential therapeutic option.

Hcp cobalt nanocrystals with high magnetic anisotropy prepared by easy one-pot synthesis.

Herein we describe the first synthesis of pure mono-disperse spherical hcp-nanocrystals ferromagnetic at room temperature. Our strategy, based on the simple combination of oleylamine and ClCo(PPh3)3, allows the one-pot synthesis of size-controlled hcp-nanocrystals. The size and shape of the nanocrystals can be tuned by varying the reaction time or the concentration.

[Treatment of acute group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillitis in children with a 5-day course of josamycin]. / Traitement des angines aiguës à streptocoque beta-hémolytique du groupe A chez l'enfant par la josamycine pendant cinq jours.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this randomized open study, 325 children aged two to 15 years with acute tonsillitis and a positive test of GA beta H streptococcal antigen were treated with josamycin 50 mg.kg-1.day-1 b.i.d for 5 days, or penicillin 50,000 to 100,000 IU/day t.i.d for 10 days. Clinical assessments and throat cultures for GA beta HS isolation were performed at the inclusion visit (V1), at the end of treatment visit (V2: day 12 for all patients) and at the follow-up visit (V3: day 30). In case of positive GA beta HS culture, the bacterial DNA by RFLP was performed to differentiate between the persistence (presence of original strain at V2), relapse (eradication at V2 and acquisition of same strain at V3) and reinfection (eradication at V2 and acquisition of different strain at V3). RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three patients were included in the bacteriological and clinical criteria per protocol analysis. At V2, eradication rates were comparable: 82% in josamycin and 80% in penicillin patients; clinical cure rates were 90% and 89%. At V3, relapse of GAS assessed only on clinically and bacteriologically cured patients at V2 occurred in 12% of josamycin patients and 12.8% of penicillin patients. Tolerance was good; 14% and 10% of josamycin and penicillin patients respectively experienced an adverse event. CONCLUSION: In this non-inferiority study, the efficacy of a 5-day course of josamycin is comparable to reference treatment in GA beta HS tonsillitis in children.