Cutaneous manifestations in a series of 417 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: epidemiological and clinical correlates of chilblain like lesions.

A variety of dermatological lesions have been described in COVID-19, although the prevalence and pathogenic relationship remain unclear particularly for chilblain-like lesions. Dermatological examination was performed in a prospective cohort of consecutive patients seen at the service for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Out of 417 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection [median age 29.5 years (range 15-65); 62.5% males], dermatological lesions were detected in 7 (1.7%). Three patients had acral lesions; their age (range) was 15-29 years; all had a negative nasopharyngeal swab and developed IgG and/or IgM-specific antibodies; all presented none or mild symptoms. A fourth patient remained negative at repeated testing; mother, father and sister had a documented mild COVID-19. Non-acral lesions were observed in four older patients, with severe COVID-19. Chilblain-like lesions may be the sole manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection; their presence in asymptomatic school children and adolescents should be considered a potential signal of familial or community spread of the virus.

An endoscopic approach to the management of surgical bile duct injuries: nine years' experience.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the endoscopic treatment of surgical bile duct injuries, especially in the management of post-operative strictures, remains controversial. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using endoscopic management from a study of the clinical reports of two of the main endoscopy units in Sicily. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 137 consecutive patients were selected. There were 85 simple biliary fistulas: 64 from the cystic duct stump; 19 from the gall bladder bed; and two from intra-hepatic bile ducts. There were 52 biliary lesions: 15 complete transections; 12 incomplete lesions of the common bile duct with six associated strictures; five complete or incomplete sections of the right antero-medial duct; and 20 incomplete strictures (without leak). RESULTS: The success rate was 96.3% for simple biliary fistulas. Endoscopic therapy was feasible only in 40.6% of lesions of the common bile duct or the right antero-medial duct (13/32), but with 100% success. In the case of strictures (with or without associated leak), there was a good outcome in 88.2% of patients who completed the therapeutic procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic management of simple biliary fistulas and incomplete lesions of the common bile duct is the preferred approach. If continued for 12-24 months, with the placement of three or more 10F stents, the management of stenoses is guaranteed to yield good results.

[Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: which role for viruses, food, and dental materials?]. / Stomatite aftosa ricorrente: quale ruolo per i virus, gli alimenti ed i materiali odontoiatrici?

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a frequently occurring disorder which may be a clinical feature of systemic disease. For many other patients, it is a tedious problem often having no known cause. The aim of this study was to verify if immune responses to common foods and/or viruses are involved in the etiopathogenesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Sixteen patients with this disorder were studied by measurement of immunoglobulin classes (IgG, IgA, IgM), blood lymphocyte subpopulations, blood circulating immune complexes, and complement fractions (C3 and C4). Intradermal skin tests for common food and inhalant allergens were performed in all cases. In 5 patients with positive skin tests, serum specific IgE were tested for the same allergens by radioallergosorbent test. Skin patch tests for dental material were performed in all cases. Oral mucosal biopsies and/or cytology samples were taken in 10 cases for histopathological evaluation and in situ hybridization for Papillomavirus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus I and II, Epstein Barr virus. In 13 patients, lymphocyte subpopulations were altered, with a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio. No other alterations of serum immunological parameters were observed. Skin patch tests for dental material were negative in all cases, while skin tests for food allergens were positive in 5 cases (not confirmed by radioallergosorbent test or food challenge tests). Virus antigen and DNA were not found in mucosal specimens, although one patient was positive for Epstein Barr virus DNA by in situ hybridization. An alteration of the CD4/CD8 ratio was demonstrated in most of the patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis, although immune responses to food and/or dental material and/or common viruses did not seem to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of this disorder.

[The vertical root fracture]. / La frattura verticale della radice.

Remembering the epidemiology and the possible etiologies of vertical root fractures, the authors distinguish between fractures that occur in vital teeth and vertical fractures of endodontically treated roots. They discuss predisposing factors, onset modality and follow-up. They describe the symptomatology and the few radiographic pathognomonic signs. They show the importance, prognostic and therapeutic purposes, of an exact differential diagnosis as regards periodontal problems. On the basis of personal experience and the literature they believe that the one certain resolutive therapy is extraction in the case of monorooted teeth and the root amputation of the fractured root in case of plurirooted teeth with a good periodontal supporting bone. They conclude by stressing the importance of a preventive global approach to reduce, among other things, the incidence of these unusual conditions that are difficult to diagnose, present no clear signs, and have an unfavourable prognosis.

Mild balanoposthitis.

AIM: To identify and study cases of mild balanoposthitis (MBP) with penile pathology among patients observed at a dermatology clinic over an 18-month period. MATERIALS: The study included 321 patients with penile pathology. The term MBP was used to describe balanoposthitis of a localised, inflammatory nature with few, non-specific symptoms and a tendency to become chronic or recur. Two hundred and seventy had diseases clearly identifiable by clinical examination or laboratory tests; 51 cases were diagnosed as MBP and these patients had blood tests (to evaluate immune status) and microbiological examination; when these proved negative, a series of patch tests was also used. RESULTS: Of the 51 patients diagnosed as having MBP, the cause was ascertained in 34 cases (infection, mechanical trauma, contact irritation, contact allergy, etc.), whereas no specific aetiological factor was detected to explain the symptoms in the remaining 17 cases.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene deletion polymorphism determines an increase in frequency of migraine attacks in patients suffering from migraine without aura.

Many authors have reported an association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-D allele and coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism underlying the positive associations between the ACE-D alleles and diseases are not yet clear. Previous reports showed an association between migraine without aura and ACE-D allele polymorphism. The study is aimed to evaluate if the DD genotype could also be associated with the frequency and duration of migraine without aura. In 302 patients suffering from migraine without aura (at least for 1 year), with no history of cardiovascular diseases and major risk factors for ischemic events, the genotypes of the ACE gene, plasma ACE activity, and the frequency (weekly) and duration of migraine attacks were evaluated. No drugs were given before (4 weeks) and during the study. The same evaluations were performed in 201 subjects without migraine. The molecular biologist and the physician evaluating the patient data were blinded to the clinical history and ACE-DD gene determination. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Plasma ACE activity was performed by the HPLC method. The groups were similar for sex, age and smoking habit (migraines: 302 patients (200 F/102 M), mean age 37.8 +/- 8.2 years; control: 201 subjects (127 F/74 M), mean age 37.5 +/- 9.3 years). Patients with migraine without aura showed higher incidence of the ACE-DD gene (48.34%) than control subjects (37.32%), p < 0.05. The frequency of migraine (average attacks per week) was higher in patients with DD (2.11 +/- 1.9) than in patients with ID (1.54 +/- 1. 44), p < 0.05. No difference in duration of migraine attacks (hours per week) was observed. Plasma ACE activity was increased in patients with the ACE-DD gene. Our data suggest that ACE-DD gene polymorphism could have an important role in determining migraine attacks and the frequency of these attacks. Further data are needed through further studies, especially on the biomolecular level.