Ficus carica L photodermatitis: a report of five cases with histopathologic study and review of the literature.

Phytophotodermatitis is a condition caused by contamination of the skin with phototoxic plant substances, followed by exposure to ultraviolet rays. Ficus carica L 1753, belonging to the Moraceae family, can be responsible for acute photodermatitis. We present five cases of photodermatitis caused by contact with Ficus carica L and subsequent exposure to sunlight. A histopathologic study and review of the literature are included.

Endolimax nana and urticaria.

Endolimax nana is a commensal protozoan of the colon. We report a case of chronic urticaria associated with E. nana in a 34-year-old Italian woman. The patient suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhoea and weight loss. The disease appeared after a trip to Vietnam. Laboratory examinations showed mild blood eosinophilia. Three coproparasitological examinations were positive for cysts of E. nana. The patient was successfully treated with two courses of metronidazole (2 g/day for 10 days each). No antihistamines were used. Three coproparasitological examinations, carried out at the end of the therapy, were negative. Follow up (six months) was negative. E. nana can be responsible for very rare cases of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, polyarthritis and urticaria.

Paclitaxel as first- or second-line treatment for HIV-negative Kaposi's sarcoma: a retrospective study of 58 patients.

Background: Paclitaxel has recently been approved for AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and there is much interest also in HIV-negative KS.Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of intravenous paclitaxel in the treatment of non-HIV-associated KS.Method: A retrospective database analysis of our departmental database in histologically proven, HIV-negative KS.Results: Fifty-eight patients treated with intravenous paclitaxel 100 mg weekly were identified. Among these patients, 11 patients underwent paclitaxel as first-line treatment, whereas 47 received paclitaxel after other types of systemic chemotherapy. Fifty-three (94.6%) patients achieved a partial or a complete remission after a mean of 13.5 infusions. Disease progression was observed in two patients and one patient had a stable disease. Thirty-one (58.5%) of 53 responding patients are still stable after a mean of 19.1 months of follow-up, while 22 (41.5%) patients relapsed after a mean of 14 months. Paclitaxel was repeated in relapsed patients obtaining PR/CR in all cases. Tolerance was good except for one patient who discontinued the treatment because of a severe allergic reaction.Conclusion: Paclitaxel is effective for the treatment of non-HIV-related KS, both as first- and as second-line treatment. It is well tolerated and can be repeated without loss of efficacy.

A Second Case of Gobello Nevus Syndrome.

An uncommon type of epidermal nevus characterized by hyperpigmented hyperkeratotic bands following a Blaschko-linear pattern and generalized follicular hyperkeratosis were observed in a 17-year-old male patient who additionally showed tufted hair folliculitis on the scalp and clinodactyly of the fifth finger of both hands. The combination of epidermal nevus with skeletal abnormalities was first described by Gobello et al. [Dermatology 2000;201:51-55] as a new epidermal nevus syndrome that was named after the first author of this work. Our case shows identical clinical and histopathological features and represents the second case of this rare syndrome reported in the literature.