Lichen planus patients and stressful events.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible role of stress before the onset/extension of lichen planus. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Forty-six outpatients with lichen planus were enrolled. The design was a case-control study (controls had skin diseases with low psychosomatic component). Stressful situations were evaluated using Holmes and Rahe's social readjustment rating scale. RESULTS: Lichen planus had an incidence of 0.36% among dermatological conditions. In the lichen planus group, there was a female predominance (76%) and a median age around 50 years. More than 67% of cases experienced at least one stressful event, compared with 21% of controls (chi(2) = 17.58, P < 0.001). The odds ratio was 7.44. There was a borderline significant difference in the mean number of stressful events between lichen planus patients and controls (P = 0.06). We divided the situations described by Holmes and Rahe into three categories: family, personal, and job or financial problems. The presence of major life events was significant different in patients and controls (P = 0.005). Family matters were described by 43.6% of lichen planus patients, statistically significant compared with controls (P = 0.002). In almost 25% of cases of lichen planus, 'the stressful event' was represented by the illness or death of someone dear. 'Personal problems' seemed to be important compared with controls (P = 0.04), exams representing 25% of these matters. There was no difference between the patients and controls regarding the importance of job or financial changes. CONCLUSION: Stressful situations, especially related to family, may have a role in the onset and extension of lichen planus lesions.

Brief history of syphilis.

Before the discovery of Treponema pallidum as the etiologic agent, the origins of syphilis have been the subject of several debates. Diverse therapeutic agents were employed in an attempt to cure the disease. Examining the milestones in the history of syphilis, the present article reviews the existing theories that tried to explain the origins of the disease, the approach in art, the cultural and the evolution of the treatments from the empiric means to the discovery of penicillin.

Radon and radium concentration in water from North-West of Romania and the estimated doses.

In the present study, the measurements of radon were carried out using the LUK-VR system based on radon gas measurements with Lucas cells. The radium concentration in water was determined, with the same device, immediately after was established the radon equilibrium with radium. The results presented here are from a survey carried out in the N-W region of Transylvania (Romania) in which were investigated the radon concentrations in natural (spring, well and surface) and drinking (tap) waters. The results showed radon concentrations within the range of 0.4-187.3 Bq l(-1) with an average value of 15.9 Bq l(-1) whereas radium concentration varied between 0.05 and 0.825 Bq l(-1) with an average value of 0.087 Bq l(-1) for all types of water covered within this survey. The corresponding annual effective ingestion dose due to radon and radium from water was determined from drinking water used by the population inhabiting the area.

Investigations of magnesium, histamine and immunoglobulins dynamics in acute urticaria.

In 42 urticaria patients, magnesium, histamine and IgE were dosed. Magnesium, IgE and histamine variations were followed in urticaria evolution, during acute phase and clinical remission. We noticed magnesium, histamine, IgE values variations depending on disease evolution and applied therapeutic scheme. Therefore: At disease starting point, histamine presented 3.5 times higher values than the normal ones. The value decreases following a curve which tends to reach normal values during clinical remission. At disease starting point, magnesium presented values under the inferior limit of the normal, 0.5 m mol/L respectively, as a mean. The value increases towards the normal limit during clinical remission. Immunoglobulins E follow a similar curve to histamine one, presenting 1,250 U/L values at the starting point, that, under medication, influence decrease between normal limits (800 U/L), during clinical remission. Analyzing the variations of biochemical parameters, the authors emphasize magnesium substitution treatment in urticaria.

[Anatomo-clinical correlations in pulmonary thromboembolism (observations on 258 cases)]. / Corelatii anatomo-clinice în tromboembolismul pulmonar (observatii pe marginea a 258 de cazuri).

The authors studied 258 cases of deaths due to lung thromboembolization, totalling 13% of the necropsies. The patients' age ranged within 17-89 years, with the highest frequency between 70 and 75 years. The female sex was prevalent (56% of cases). According to the magnitude of the vessel occluded, the thromboembolisms were divided into: massive (35%), medium (50%) and small (15%). The lung infarctions were present in 42% of the cases investigated. The formation site of the thrombi was exactly established in 24% of the cases; the right side of the heart, the lung, the deep veins of the shank, periprostatic venous plexus, vena cava inferior, iliac veins. The lung thromboembolization was favoured by the cardiovascular affections (38.5%), neurologic affections (27%), malignant tumours (11.5%), postsurgery status (9%), lung diseases (9%), coma (3.5%), prostate affections (1.5%). The clinical diagnosis was established in 22% of cases. In the rest of them, thromboembolization was hidden or simulated by the coexisting affection.