Quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis and their families.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a significant effect on quality of life (QoL). AIM: To evaluate the impact of AD on QoL of Montenegrin infants and their parents and to identify predictors affecting their QoL. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2017 and July 2018 and included 186 infants with AD aged 0-4 years and their parents. The severity of disease was measured by the Three-Item Severity (TIS) score, while QoL was assessed with the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL) and the Dermatitis Family Impact (DFI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean overall scores were 14.72 for IDQOL and 17.78 for DFI. The positive correlation was observed between AD severity and both the IDQOL and DFI scores (r = 0.61, p < 0.001 and r = 0.67, p < 0.001, respectively). The highest-scoring IDQOL items were "itching and scratching", and "child's mood". Poorer infants' QoL was associated with more serious AD (B = 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08-3.04), concomitant atopic disease (B = 3.86; 95% CI: 1.78-5.94), family history of atopic disease (B = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.84-5.77), older age of the child (B = 1.14; 95% CI: 0.20-2.07) and older age of the parent (B = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.04-0.53). Similarly, parents had poorer QoL if their infants had more severe AD (B = 2.56; 95% CI: 2.14-2.87), another atopic disease (B = 2.91; 95% CI: 0.99-4.84) or family history of atopic disease (B = 4.33; 95% CI: 2.57-6.09). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that AD has a significant negative impact on infants' QoL as well as on QoL of their parents.

Correction to: Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained two mistakes in authors' names.

Antifungal activity of Myrtus communis against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor.

The increasing incidence of fungal infections and antifungal resistance has prompted the search for novel antifungal drugs and alternative agents. We explored the antifungal activity of Myrtus communis essential oil (EO) against Malassezia sp. isolated from the skin of patients with pityriasis versicolor. These broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities of M. communis EO and its potent inhibiting activity on Malassezia growth deserve further research with aim to considerate this EO as candidate for topical use in treatment of skin diseases.

Efficacy of pastes containing CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP) containing pastes among individuals with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were randomised into three groups: CPP-ACP, CPP-ACFP, and 0.05 % NaF to be used two times a day during a 28-day experimental period. Saliva was analysed for flow rate, pH, buffering capacity and mineral concentrations. Dental plaque was examined for pH. Following the formation of artificial carious lesion, participants wore enamel slabs for an in situ remineralisation study. Remineralisation potential was examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS) technique. SE microphotographs were subsequently analysed for area, diameter, perimeter, roundness and the number of enamel defects and percentage of tooth surface affected by defects. RESULTS: At the end of the experimental period, a slight increase of salivary pH could have been observed. No differences in mineral composition of saliva were noted. The use of CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP contributed to a significant rise of plaque pH. Image analysis revealed excessive reduction of defects' dimensions in the three experimental groups, and a decrease of the number of enamel defects in the CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP groups. The EDS analysis did not show differences in Ca/P, Ca/O and P/O ratios in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: CPP-ACP and CPP-ACFP hold promise as remineralising agents for patients with SS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pastes containing CPP-ACP/CPP-ACFP show enhanced remineralisation potential compared with NaF mouthrinse in patients with SS.

Chronic rhinosinusitis: association of recalcitrant nasal polyposis and fungal finding in polyp's single-cell suspension.

In recent years fungi are favoured as origin of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), especially with nasal polyps (wNP). Sensitive methods for fungal detection are still absent, therefore we used NP tissue single-cell suspension for mycology investigations in patients with recalcitrant NP (rNP) that underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A prospective case-series study and culture-based mycological examination were conducted in patients who underwent FESS for the first time (ft-FESS) and those with repeated FESS (re-FESS). The study was conducted in a tertiary Otorhinolaryngology Unit of Clinical Centre of Serbia. A total of 43 consecutive patients with CRSwNP underwent FESS. Culture-based mycological examination of single-cell suspension was done on 55 NPs samples. Patient's co-morbidity data were collected. Repeated FESS was observed in 19/43 (44 %) patients (re-FESS group). Asthma and aspirin intolerance were more frequent in re-FESS than in ft-FESS group (p = 0.000, p = 0.002; respectively). Fungi were detected (wF) in 10/43 (23.3 %) patients (FESSwF group), representing 13/55 culture positive NP tissue (23.6 %). Fungal presence was higher in re-FESS than in ft-FESS group (42 and 8 %, respectively; p = 0.01). Significantly longer duration of CRS was observed in FESSwF than in fungal negative patients (p = 0.033). Predominate strain was Aspergillus flavus detected in 6/10 patients. This is the first study which analysed association of fungi in single-cell suspension of NP tissue and rNP. We demonstrate significantly higher percentage of positive fungal finding in re-FESSwF than in ft-FESSwF group. The most commonly isolated species in our patients was A. flavus.

[Importance of dysphagia examination in patient with dermatomyositis--case report].

INTRODUCTION: Polymiositis belongs to the group of inflammatory myopathies which are manifested by muscle weakness of the shoulder blade and pelvic region. The presence of typical skin manifestations is suggestive of dermatomyositis. These patients may also develop dysphagia (10-54%) as a result of involvement of the oropharyngeal and upper oesophageal striated muscles. Dermatomyositis may also be associated with another systemic disease or malignancy. CASE REPORT: Hereby is presented the case of a 42-year-old female patient hospitalized at the Department of Allergy and Immunology, Clinical Center of Serbia for the shoulder blade and pelvic muscle weakness and pains in the small and large joints, eyelid edema, facial and neckline redness, difficult swallowing and loss of body mass. Based on the presence of proximal muscle weakness, increased enzyme serum levels (lactic acid dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase), positive electroneuromyography findings, typical skin changes and positive muscle biopsy, the patient was diagnosed to have dermatomyositis. Both radioscopy and esophagography revealed some disturbances in all phases of swallowing, absence of all primary and secondary peristaltic waves accompanied by contrast medium aspiration. Additionally, esophageal manometry proved the absence of esophageal peristalsis. Additional examinations ruled out the presence of any malignancies. The patient underwent glycocorticoid and azatioprim treatment along with specific dietary regimen, symptomatic and physical therapy, which led to favorable clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Dermatomyositis-associated dysphagia may lead to severe complications such as cachexia and aspiration pneumonia. In addition to the management of underlying disease, the treatment includes special dietary regimen, rehabilitation and even interventional surgical procedures, if necessary.