Cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a cross-sectional Spanish nationwide study of 405 cases.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous reactions after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE: To describe and classify cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. METHODS: A nationwide Spanish cross-sectional study was conducted. We included patients with cutaneous reactions within 21 days of any dose of the approved vaccines at the time of the study. After a face-to-face visit with a dermatologist, information on cutaneous reactions was collected via an online professional survey and clinical photographs were sent by email. Investigators searched for consensus on clinical patterns and classification. RESULTS: From 16 February to 15 May 2021, we collected 405 reactions after vaccination with the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech; 40·2%), mRNA-1273 (Moderna; 36·3%) and AZD1222 (AstraZeneca; 23·5%) vaccines. Mean patient age was 50·7 years and 80·2% were female. Cutaneous reactions were classified as injection site ('COVID arm', 32·1%), urticaria (14·6%), morbilliform (8·9%), papulovesicular (6·4%), pityriasis rosea-like (4·9%) and purpuric (4%) reactions. Varicella zoster and herpes simplex virus reactivations accounted for 13·8% of reactions. The COVID arm was almost exclusive to women (95·4%). The most reported reactions in each vaccine group were COVID arm (mRNA-1273, Moderna, 61·9%), varicella zoster virus reactivation (BNT162b2, Pfizer-BioNTech, 17·2%) and urticaria (AZD1222, AstraZeneca, 21·1%). Most reactions to the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine were described in women (90·5%). Eighty reactions (21%) were classified as severe/very severe and 81% required treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous reactions after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are heterogeneous. Most are mild-to-moderate and self-limiting, although severe/very severe reactions are reported. Knowledge of these reactions during mass vaccination may help healthcare professionals and reassure patients.

Oral Lesions in Patients With Psoriasis: Prevalence and Association With Its Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics. / Manifestaciones orales en pacientes con psoriasis. Prevalencia y asociación con sus características clínicas y epidemiológicas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Psoriasis is a multisystem disease associated with an increased prevalence of oral lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral lesions in patients with psoriasis and examine associations with clinical and patient characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with psoriasis and healthy controls seen between December 2019 and February 2020. We recorded biometric data, comorbidities associated with psoriasis, oral examination findings, and clinical characteristics of psoriasis. RESULTS: We studied 100 patients with psoriasis and 100 controls. Oral lesions were more common in the psoriasis group (74% vs 46%, P<.001). The most common lesions were fissured tongue (39% vs 16%, P<.001) and periodontitis (28% vs 16%, P=.04). Geographic tongue was uncommon in both the study and the control group (4% vs 2%, P=.68). In the psoriasis group, patients with fissured tongue had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (23.1% vs 4.9%), diabetes mellitus (28.2% vs 8.2%), and psoriatic arthritis (15.4% vs 1.6%) than those without this condition. Periodontitis was also associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (28.6% vs 5.6%). Type of psoriasis, location, and time since onset were not significantly associated with oral lesions. Patients with oral lesions, however, had more severe disease (Psoriasis Area Severity Index [PASI], 3.9 vs 2.4; P=.05). Mean PASI was also higher in patients with fissured tongue (4.7 vs. 2.7, P=.03) and periodontitis (5.1 vs. 2.9, P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of oral lesions, especially fissured tongue and periodontitis, is higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy controls. Oral lesions were associated with more severe psoriasis and a higher prevalence of associated comorbidities. We recommend examining the oral cavity of patients with psoriasis, especially those with more severe disease and comorbidities, irrespective of type of psoriasis, location, or time since onset.

Limited performance of MALDI-TOF for identification of fish Aeromonas isolates at species level.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the MALDI-TOF MS to identify 151 isolates of Aeromonas obtained mostly from diseased fish. MALDI-TOF MS correctly identified all isolates to the genus level but important differences in the percentage of isolates correctly identified depending on the species were observed. Considering exclusively the first identification option, Aeromonas bestiarum, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas salmonicida, Aeromonas veronii and Aeromonas sobria were the best identified with results >95%. However, considering the first and second identification options, the only species that showed values >90% was A. hydrophila. Overall, when the database was supplemented with 14 new spectra, the number of accurate identifications increased (41% vs. 55%) and the number of inconclusive identifications decreased (45% vs. 29%), but great differences in the success of species-level identifications were found. Species-distinctive mass peaks were identified only for A. hydrophila and A. bestiarum (5003 and 7360 m/z in 95.5% and 94.1% of their isolates, respectively). This work demonstrates the utility of MALDI-TOF MS for Aeromonas identification to the genus level, but there is no consistency for the accurate identification of some of the most prevalent species implicated in fish disease.

Four years of experimental warming do not modify the interaction between subalpine shrub species.

Climate warming can lead to changes in alpine plant species interactions through modifications in environmental conditions, which may ultimately cause drastic changes in plant communities. We explored the effects of 4 years of experimental warming with open-top chambers (OTC) on Vaccinium myrtillus performance and its interaction with neighbouring shrubs at the Pyrenean treeline ecotone. We examined the effects of warming on height, above-ground (AG) and below-ground (BG) biomass and the C and N concentration and isotope composition of V. myrtillus growing in pure stands or in stands mixed with Vaccinium uliginosum or Rhododendron ferrugineum. We also analysed variations in soil N concentrations, rhizosphere C/N ratios and the functional diversity of the microbial community, and evaluated whether warming altered the biomass, C and N concentration and isotope composition of V. uliginosum in mixed plots. Our results showed that warming induced positive changes in the AG growth of V. myrtillus but not BG, while V. uliginosum did not respond to warming. Vaccinium myrtillus performance did not differ between stand types under increased temperatures, suggesting that warming did not induce shifts in the interaction between V. myrtillus and its neighbouring species. These findings contrast with previous studies in which species interactions changed when temperature was modified. Our results show that species interactions can be less responsive to warming in natural plant communities than in removal experiments, highlighting the need for studies involving the natural assembly of plant species and communities when exploring the effect of environmental changes on plant-plant interactions.

Alcohol and tobacco consumption affect the oral carriage of Candida albicans and mutans streptococci.

UNLABELLED: This study sought to determine if there is a relationship between the consumption of alcohol and tobacco and oral colonization by mutans streptococci and Candida species. Subjects were recruited from the University Dental Clinic of CEU Cardenal Herrera University (Moncada, Valencia). Information on alcohol and tobacco consumption was obtained by questionnaire. Individual stimulated saliva samples from 105 patients were obtained and selective media was used to isolate and quantify mutans streptococci and Candida spp. colony forming units per millilitre of saliva (CFU ml(-1) ). Samples were stratified by duration and quantity of alcohol and tobacco consumption. Alcohol consumption statistically significantly decreased oral carriage of mutans streptococci, whereas there was no effect on Candida albicans colonization levels. Tobacco users were found to harbour elevated levels of C. albicans; however, there was no observed effect on bacterial colonization by mutans streptococci. The carriage of other species investigated, such as Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and lactobacilli, do not show a response to the consumption of the stimulants analysed. Microbial colonization of the oral cavity changes in a species-specific manner in response to dietary and social habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this paper, we evaluate the effect of alcohol and tobacco consumption on key species of the oral microflora. Our results show species-specific changes in two major opportunistic pathogens, such as Candida albicans and mutans streptococci, whereas other members of oral microflora are not affected by the consumption of the stimulants studied. We believe this original paper will contribute to raise awareness among the dental community towards a more personalized oral health assessment, taking in consideration alcohol and tobacco consumption in the prevention of specific oral and systemic pathologies.

Elastic energy of the discocyte-stomatocyte transformation.

The aim of this study is to calculate the membrane elastic energy for the different shapes observed in the discocyte-stomatocyte sequence. This analysis can provide a better quantitative understanding of the hypothesis put forward over the last decades to explain how red blood cells produce and maintain their typical shape. For this purpose, we use geometrical models based on parametric equations. The energy model considered for the elastic properties of RBC membrane includes the local and nonlocal resistance effects of the bilayer to bending. In particular, the results confirm the discocyte as the lowest energy value configuration among the sets of different red blood cell deformations considered in the sequence.

Multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis or reed syndrome: a retrospective study of 13 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis (MCUL), or Reed syndrome, is characterized by the presence of cutaneous leiomyomas arising from the arrector pili muscles and, in women, by uterine leiomyomas. In some cases, MCUL is associated with renal cell carcinoma. This syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a heterozygous germline mutation of the gene that encodes fumarate hydratase, a Krebs cycle enzyme that acts as a tumor suppressor. OBJECTIVE: To review the cases of MCUL diagnosed at 2 university hospitals over a 5-year period (2008-2013). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 13 cases of MCUL that investigated demographic, clinical, and histologic characteristics, as well as possible associations with other diseases and treatments received. RESULTS: We identified 13 patients (10 women and 3 men) who had been diagnosed with MCUL. The mean age at diagnosis was 53 years. All the patients had multiple cutaneous leiomyomas; in 12 (92%) the distribution was clustered and 9 (69%) also had disseminated solitary lesions. In 1 patient (7.7%), the pattern of distribution was linear. Uterine fibroids requiring hysterectomy were present in 90% of the women. Nine patients were screened for renal lesions; no cases of renal cell carcinoma were detected but benign renal lesions were found in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: The clinical and histologic characteristics of the 13 cases of MCUL reviewed were similar to those reported in the literature. The most common cutaneous manifestation was a type 2 segmental pattern. It is important for dermatologists to identify cutaneous leiomyomas and be aware of the possible association with MCUL.

Male facial attractiveness and masculinity may provide sex- and culture-independent cues to semen quality.

Phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis (PLFH) predicts that male secondary sexual traits reveal honest information about male fertilization ability. However, PLFH has rarely been studied in humans. The aim of the present study was to test PLFH in humans and to investigate whether potential ability to select fertile partners is independent of sex or cultural background. We found that on the contrary to the hypothesis, facial masculinity was negatively associated with semen quality. As increased levels of testosterone have been demonstrated to impair sperm production, this finding may indicate a trade-off between investments in secondary sexual signalling (i.e. facial masculinity) and fertility or status-dependent differences in investments in semen quality. In both sexes and nationalities (Spanish and Colombian), ranked male facial attractiveness predicted male semen quality. However, Spanish males and females estimated facial images generally more attractive (gave higher ranks) than Colombian raters, and in both nationalities, males gave higher ranks than females. This suggests that male facial cues may provide culture- and sex-independent information about male fertility. However, our results also indicate that humans may be more sensitive to facial attractiveness cues within their own populations and also that males may generally overestimate the attractiveness of other men to females.

Kinematics and subpopulations' structure definition of blue fox (Alopex lagopus) sperm motility using the ISAS® V1 CASA system.

Over recent years, technological advances have brought innovation in assisted reproduction to the agriculture. Fox species are of great economical interest in some countries, but their semen characteristics have not been studied enough. To advance the knowledge of function of fox spermatozoa, five samples were obtained by masturbation, in the breeding season. Kinetic analysis was performed using ISAS® v1 system. Usual kinematic parameters (VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, STR, WOB, ALH and BCF) were considered. To establish the standardization for the analysis of samples, the minimum number of cells to analyse and the minimum number of fields to capture were defined. In the second step, the presence of subpopulations in blue fox semen was analysed. The minimum number of cells to test was 30, because kinematic parameters remained constant along the groups of analysis. Also, the effectiveness of ISAS® D4C20 counting chamber was studied, showing that the first five squares presented equivalent results, while in the squares six and seven, the kinematic parameters showed a reduction in all of them, but not in the concentration or motility percentage. Kinematic variables were grouped into two principal components (PC). A linear movement characterized PC1, while PC2 showed an oscillatory movement. Three subpopulations were found, varying in structure among different animals.

Ejaculate fractioning effect on llama sperm head morphometry as assessed by the ISAS(®) CASA system.

South American camelid sperm characteristics are poorly known compared with those of other domestic animals. The long-term duration of ejaculation makes difficult to gather all the seminal fluid, implying possible ejaculation portion losses. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the characteristics of the morphology and morphometry of the spermatozoa change during ejaculation. The morphometric characterization was tested on nine specimens of the Lanuda breed, using a special artificial vagina. In five of the animals, a fractioning of the ejaculate was performed by taking samples every 5 min. for a total of 20 min. Air-dried seminal smears were stained with Hemacolor and mounted permanently with Eukitt. Morphometric analysis was carried out with the morphometry module of the ISAS(®) CASA system. Almost 350 cells were analysed per sample, with a total number of 3207 spermatozoa. Mean values were given as follows: length: 5.51 µm; width: 3.38 µm; area: 17.75 µm(2) ; perimeter: 14.8 µm; ellipticity: 0.24; elongation: 0.56; rugosity: 0.87; regularity: 1.07; and shape factor: 1.41. Different animals showed differences in their morphometric values. When we compared the values from different fractions, only two samples showed differences in morphometric parameter values and four samples showed differences in shape parameters. Multivariate analysis allowed the size classification of the cells into three classes and five classes of shapes. The distribution of classes among fractions showed no differences. Despite the individual morphometric differences observed in some fractions, the characteristics of the sperm head morphometry can be considered constant along the ejaculatory period in the llama.

Relationships among Hydrogen Peroxide Concentration, Catalase, Glucose Oxidase, and Antimicrobial Activities of Honeys.

Honey is a natural sweetener made by bees that exhibits antimicrobial activity, mainly related to its H2O2 content. The aim of this work was to research the H2O2 concentration of 24 Spanish honeys from different botanical origins, studying their possible correlation with glucose oxidase (GOx), catalase (CAT), and anti-Staphylococcus aureus activities (minimal inhibition concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), and percentage of inhibition at 5% (w/v) honey against Staphylococcus aureus), as well as possible correlations among all the analyzed parameters. The results showed that the H2O2 concentration did not depend on the botanical origin of the honeys. There were neither correlations between the H2O2 concentration and the activities of GOx and CAT, nor between GOx and antimicrobial activity. However, CAT and antimicrobial activities were positively correlated. Therefore, CAT could be successfully used as a possible marker of the antimicrobial activity of honeys against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, a linear regression model has been fitted to explain the antimicrobial activity from CAT and GOx activity and H2O2 concentration. Although H2O2 is one of the compounds involved in honey's antibacterial activity, this capacity also strongly depends on other honey components (such as low water activity, acidity, osmolarity, and phenolic compounds). The very high anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity exhibited by all samples could be interesting for commercial honey-based formulations also helping to promote local beekeeping.

Phenolic Composition, Antiradical, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Propolis Extracts from North East Spain.

Antioxidant-related parameters and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities against Listeria monocytogenes were assessed in eight North East Spain poplar propolis samples. Propolis extracts (PEs) were obtained using 70% ethanol (PEE) and methanol (PME). Yield and total phenol compounds were higher in PEE. Phenolic acids were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatograph-diode array detector. Caffeic and ferulic acids were quantified in all PEE and PME. All samples contained p-coumaric acid (quantified in 6 PEE and in 3 PME). Ascorbic acid was detected in all propolis, but mainly quantified in PME (≤0.37 mg/g PE). Biological properties were tested on PEE. As for antiradical activities, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) [against 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)•+], ranged between 578 and 4620 µmol trolox/g, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (against DPPH free radical), between 0.049 and 0.094 mg/mL, antioxidant activity against hydroxyl (•OH) radical (AOA), between 0.04 and 11.01 mmol uric acid/g, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) against peroxyl (ROO•) radical between 122 and 3282 µmol trolox/g. Results of TEAC, AOA, and ORAC were significantly correlated. IC50 anti-inflammatory activity ranged from 1.08 to 6.19 mg/mL. Propolis showed higher inhibitory activity against L. monocytogenes CECT934 and L. monocytogenes CP101 by agar well diffusion (P < .05) (10.5 and 10.2 mm, respectively) than against L. monocytogenes CP102 (7.0 mm). Data of this research show that North East Spain propolis may be of interest for pharmaceutical and food industry use.

Dermanyssus gallinae (chicken mite): an underdiagnosed environmental infestation.

Dermanyssus gallinae is a mite that normally parasitizes small birds but may occasionally bite humans. We report an unusual case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with pruritus and bite-like lesions over her trunk. Other members of the household were also affected. On physical examination, mites < 1 mm in size were found on the patient's body. The family were residing in the city centre and had no pets, but there were pigeon nests in close proximity to the house. Most dermatologists have difficulties identifying ectoparasitosis. In the case of D. gallinae, the small size of the mites and the fact that they leave the host after feeding means that they may not be seen at presentation, thus such infestations are likely to be underdiagnosed. Physicians should be aware that infection with this mite is possible even in patients from urban areas, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of conditions causing recurrent pruritus unresponsive to standard treatments.

Compounding as a current therapeutic option in dermatology.

Compounding continues to play a key role in the treatment of skin conditions, despite the abundance of products made by the pharmaceutical industry. Right from the earliest days of dermatology, compounding proved very useful in the treatment of diseases for which no specific drugs were available. However, as new products came onto the market, this usefulness was called into question, and doubts over safety, stability, and effectiveness were raised. Today, compounding is regaining the place it once held in routine dermatological practice. We review the advantages and disadvantages of compounding, the most common indications, current legislation in our setting, and the latest developments in active ingredients and vehicles.