[PURPURIC MYCOSIS FUNGOIDES].

INTRODUCTION: A 26-year-old female presented with 4-years duration of asymptomatic spots on her left leg. She was otherwise healthy. On examination several purpuric patches up to 3 cm. in diameter were found on the flexure aspect of her left leg. Histological examination revealed lymphocytic infiltrate, with mild atypia, with red blood cell extravasation and hemosiderin deposition in the papillary dermis. The clinical and histological findings were compatible with the diagnosis of early stage purpuric mycosis fungoides (MF). Purpuric form of MF is a rare form of the disease. Physician should distinguish this disease from benign forms of pigmented purpuric dermatoses.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration mimicking acute post-infectious cerebellitis.

Acute cerebellitis is a monophasic non-progressive encephalitis restricted to the cerebellum, while paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is a subacute progressive disorder, which may either accompany or herald Hodgkin's disease. In the present report, we describe a young man with clinical and laboratory features of acute post-infectious cerebellitis in whom the progressive relapsing course subsequently led to the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Dynamic changes observed on repeated MRIs during the protracted clinical course imply the presence of early active inflammation and subsequent neuronal atrophy.

Complex multilocular cystic lesion of rete testis, accompanied by smooth muscle hyperplasia, mimicking intratesticular Leydig cell neoplasm.

Non-neoplastic smooth muscle cell proliferation occurs under a variety of circumstances in many body organs. These abnormalities have been described as hypertrophy, hyperplasia or hamartomatous proliferations. In the male genital system, the excessive growth of smooth muscle in spermatic cord or paratesticular tissue is rare. In previously described cases, these lesions presented as masses but lacked the microscopic features of a neoplasm. We describe a complex multilocular cystic lesion composed of cystic transformation of the rete testis associated with smooth muscle proliferation mimicking intratesticular Leydig cell neoplasm. The lesion consists of three separate components: (1) cystic dilatation of the rete testis; (2) diffuse, interstitial smooth muscle proliferation with intraseptal expansion; and (3) extensive stroma with myxoid areas and scattered interstitial Leydig cells. These morphological findings, supported by a wide immunohistochemical panel, are consistent with cystic dilatation of the rete testis associated with smooth muscle hyperplasia, most probably of myoid origin. To the best of our knowledge, no similar complex lesion of the rete testis has yet been reported.

Premenstrual syndrome and associated skin diseases related to hypersensitivity to female sex hormones.

OBJECTIVE: To study skin diseases and hypersensitivity to female sex hormones in patients with the premenstrual syndrome (PMS). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty women answered a questionnaire related to PMS and underwent gynecologic, dermatologic and laboratory examinations. Intradermal testing was performed with estradiol valerate, progesterone and placebo. Desensitization treatment was instituted in 15 patients. RESULTS: Ten patients were diagnosed with PMS and concomitant skin disease, including pruritus vulvae, hyperpigmentation, papular eruption and acne vulgaris (group A). Ten patients diagnosed with PMS but without skin disease served as the first control group (group B). The second control group consisted of 10 healthy women (group C). Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to sex hormones were observed in all patients with PMS and PMS-related skin diseases (groups A and B) but not in healthy women (group C). Desensitization produced a decrease in PMS symptoms and improvement in the skin disease related to PMS. CONCLUSION: Skin diseases may be a part of PMS. Demonstration of a delayed allergic reaction tofemale sex hormones may uncover a significant pathogenetic mechanism in patients with recurrent skin disease and PMS.

Atypical and unusual clinical manifestations of contact dermatitis to clothing (textile contact dermatitis): case presentation and review of the literature.

Although the exact incidence of textile contact dermatitis is unknown, recent studies demonstrate that contact dermatitis produced by allergic or irritant reactions to clothing not only is more frequent than previously thought but also increasing. The clinical features of contact dermatitis (CD) caused by clothing may resemble common allergic contact dermatitis or may have atypical presentations. We report on several cases of clothing-induced contact dermatitis with atypical clinical presentations.

Variación en estilos de experimentación y conocimiento específico / Variation in experimentation styles and domain-specific

Este estudio explora la relación entre estrategias de experimentación y conocimiento específico en una tarea de descubrimiento científico. Grupos de biólogos expertos, psicólogos experimentalistas y legos en biología y experimentación se enfrentaron a una tarea en ecología de poblaciones, que implicaba lograr, a través de la manipulación de parámetros, un equilibrio entre presas y predadores. Se analizaron las tasas de éxito en la tarea, la amplitud y profundidad de la búsqueda experimental y los estilos globales de experimentación. Los resultados indican que los estilos de experimentación están asociados al conocimiento previo de los participantes. Los legos realizaron una extensa búsqueda a través del espacio del problema, contrario a los participantes de alto conocimiento, quienes concentraron su proceso de investigación en un número reducido de parámetros.

task of scientific discovery. Groups of expert biologists, experimental psychologists, and lay people in both biology and experimentation were asked to solve a task on population ecology, which implied reaching an equilibrium between preys and predators through parameter manipulation. Success rates, depth and breath of search, and global styles of experimentation were analyzed. Results indicated that experimentation styles are associated with the participants’ prior knowledge. Novices engaged in an extensive search through the scope of the problem, whereas expert participants focused their research process on a limited number of parameters.

Homocisteinemia basal y post sobrecarga de metionina: Experiencia en una Unidad de Prevención y Seguimiento de Riesgo Cardiovascular / Fasting and Post Methionine Loading Test Homocysteinemia: Experience in a Preventional and Follow up Cardiovascular Risk Unit

Se estudiaron 81 individuos al azar (49 mujeres y 32 hombres) que concurrieron a la Unidad de Prevención Cardiovascular entre octubre de 2000 y enero de 2001. Las edades oscilaban entre los 22-73 años. Once de los 81 pacientes (13,6%) presentaron valores de homocisteína basal por encima del valor de corte (12 µmol/L). Diez de los 81 pacientes presentaron valores de homocisteína entre 12-15 µmol/L (12,3%) y fueron seleccionados para realizar el test de sobrecarga de metionina para ponderar así probables hiperhomocisteinemias en el futuro. De ellos, 2 pacientes presentaron homocisteinemias post-sobrecarga por encima de los valores de referencia. Tres de los 81 pacientes (3,7%) que observaron hiperhomocisteinemia detectada en forma basal o indirectamente a través del test de sobrecarga de metionina fueron sometidos a tratamiento con suplemento vitamínico. Ocho de 81 (9,9%) individuos que presentaron homocisteinemia por encima del valor de corte pero observaron respuesta normal al test de sobrecarga fueron asesorados en mejorar conductas alimenticias y modificar hábitos de vida.

Eighty-one patients, randomly selected from our Cardiovascular Prevention Unit, were checked for fasting homocysteinemia levels between October 2000 and January 2001. Forty-nine females and 32 males aged between 22-73 years old were studied. 11/81 patients (13,6%) showed homocysteinemia over expected cutoff value (12 µmol/L). 10/81 (12,3%) presented homocysteinemia values between 12-15 µmol/L. These patients were selected undergo a methionine loading test in order to evaluate future hiperhomocysteinemia. 2/10 presented post prandial homocysteinemia over reference values. 3/81 (3,7%) were finally treated with vitamin supplement. 8/81 (9,9%) patients who showed homocisteinemia between 12-15 µmol/L but normal response to the loading test were instructed in improving quality food consumption and healthy living conditions.