Do you know this syndrome? Ichthyosis associated with neurological condition and alteration of hairs

Trichothiodystrophy refers to a heterogeneous group of rare genetic diseases that affects neuroectodermal-derived tissues with multisystem involvement. The hallmark of these syndromes is the deficiency of sulfur in hair matrix proteins, leading to short and brittle hair. Few cases of this rare disorder have been published. The authors report a case of trichothiodystrophy in a male infant with ichthyosis, photosensitivity, spastic paraparesis, short stature, and neurologic and psychomotor retardation. Diagnosis was based on clinical and microscopic features of hair samples.

Neurofibromatosis: part 2 – clinical management

Part 1 of this guideline addressed the differential diagnosis of the neurofibromatoses (NF): neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis (SCH). NF shares some features such as the genetic origin of the neural tumors and cutaneous manifestations, and affects nearly 80 thousand Brazilians. Increasing scientific knowledge on NF has allowed better clinical management and reduced rate of complications and morbidity, resulting in higher quality of life for NF patients. Most medical doctors are able to perform NF diagnosis, but the wide range of clinical manifestations and the inability to predict the onset or severity of new features, consequences, or complications make NF management a real clinical challenge, requiring the support of different specialists for proper treatment and genetic counseling, especially in NF2 and SCH. The present text suggests guidelines for the clinical management of NF, with emphasis on NF1.

Impetigo - review

Impetigo is a common cutaneous infection that is especially prevalent in children. Historically, impetigo is caused by either group A β-hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus. Currently, the most frequently isolated pathogen is S. aureus. This article discusses the microbiologic and virulence factors of group A β-hemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus, clinical characteristics, complications, as well as the approach to diagnosis and management of impetigo. Topical agents for impetigo therapy are reviewed.

Alterations in the cholinesterase and adenosine deaminase activities and inflammation biomarker levels in patients with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the main chronic inflammatory diseases of the CNS that cause functional disability in young adults. It has unknown etiology characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages into the brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in lymphocytes and whole blood, as well as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in serum. We also checked the levels of nucleotides, nucleosides, biomarkers of inflammation such as cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum from 29 patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS) and 29 healthy subjects as the control group. Results showed that AChE in lymphocytes and whole blood as well as BChE, and ADA activities in serum were significantly increased in RRMS patients when compared to the control group (P<0.05). In addition, we observed a decrease in ATP levels and a significant increase in the levels of ADP, AMP, adenosine and inosine in serum from RRMS patients in relation to the healthy subjects (P<0.05). Results also demonstrated an increase in the IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 and CRP (P<0.05) and a significant decrease in the IL-10 (P<0.0001) in RRMS patients when compared to control. Our results suggest that alterations in the biomarkers of inflammation and hydrolysis of nucleotides and nucleosides may contribute to the understanding of the neurological dysfunction of RRMS patients.

Four cases of Muckle-Wells syndrome within the same family

Muckle-Wells syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease that belongs to a group of hereditary febrile syndromes. It is characterized by recurrent and self-limited episodes of fever, urticaria, arthralgia, myalgia and conjunctivitis since childhood, which are related to exposure to cold temperatures. Lately, progressive sensorineural hearing loss occurs. Amyloidosis is the main complication and can be found in about 25% of the cases. It has been demonstrated that there is an association with mutations in the NLRP3 gene, which codifies cryopyrin, a protein responsible for regulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1Beta. The authors report four cases of the disease within a family.

Initial cutaneous manifestation of lymphomas in children

Cutaneous lymphomas comprise a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders with skin involvement and are classified as a subgroup of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. From 1981 to 2007, 100 children with non-Hodgkin lymphomas were admitted to the Hematology Unit of the Federal University of Minas Gerais Teaching Hospital. In nine of these children, the skin was involved at the onset of the disease. Three patients were classified as having primary cutaneous lymphoma, while in six the disease was systemic with cutaneous involvement. In seven patients, the immunophenotype was T-cell, in one it was B-cell, and in the remaining case the immunophenotype was indefinable. No deaths occurred in any of the children with primary cutaneous lymphoma.

Do you know this syndrome?

Keratosis linearis with ichthyosis congenita and sclerosing keratoderma (KLICK) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive skin disorder characterized by the association of diffuse, transgressive palmoplantar keratoderma with sclerodactyly, linear hyperkeratotic plaques generally located in flexures, and congenital ichthyosis. The patient is physically and mentally healthy and has no history of any problems related to teeth, nails, hair or mucous membranes. Treatment is based on the use of topical keratolytics and oral retinoids.

Milia with calcium deposits on the palms and soles in a patient with multiple syringoma

An 8-year-old girl was referred for evaluation of multiple lesions on the neck, axillae, and genitalia. A great number of milia-like lesions were also noticed on the palms and discrete keratotic plugs on the soles. Histopathology from lesions on the neck, axilla, and vulva were consistent with syringoma. On the palms and soles, eccrine ducts cystically dilated filled with proteinaceous material and calcifications were found. Although the nature of palmar and plantar lesions in our patient is uncertain, we think that they should be related to the other syringomas on her skin.

Antioxidant defense mechanism in hydroponically grown Zea mays seedlings under moderate lead stress

The present study was designed to study the process of stress adaptation in roots and shoot of Zea mays seedlings grown under hydroponic conditions during exposure to lead (Pb) (0-200 microM) for 1-7 d. The alterations in growth and in the level of various biochemical parameters were accessed vis-à-vis Pb accumulation. The accumulation of Pb increased in a concentration-duration-dependent manner, however its translocation from root to shoot was low. At the same time, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased with increasing Pb concentration. However, growth parameters, such as dry weight and root length did not show a significant decline to any of the Pb concentrations. In addition, the level of photosynthetic pigments decreased only upon exposure to high Pb concentrations. These results suggested an alleviation of the stress that was presumably being achieved by antioxidants viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as ascorbic acid (AsA), which increased linearly with increasing Pb levels and exposure time. However, the level of non-protein thiols (NP-SH) in roots, in general, showed a decline beyond 4d that could be attributed to their consumption for the purpose of Pb detoxification. In conclusion, Zea mays can be used as an indicator species for Pb, and the various antioxidants might play a key role in the detoxification of Pb induced toxic effects.

[Case for diagnosis. Dyschromatosis symetrica hereditaria]

Dyschromatosis symetrica hereditaria (reticulate acropigmentation of Dohi) is a rare autosomal dominant disease. It starts as hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules in reticular pattern on the extremities. We present a case of a 13-year old boy that showed hyper and hypopigmented macules distributed on the dorsal aspects of the extremities, freckle-like pigmented macules on the face and periorbital atrophic linear lesions. Differentiation with others reticulate pigmentation manifestations is necessary.

Você conhece esta síndrome?

A síndrome de Urbach-Wiethe, também conhecida como lipoidoproteinose ou hialinose cutânea e mucosa (OMIM 247100), é rara genodermatose de herança autossômica recessiva, de patogênese desconhecida, que se caracteriza pela deposição de material hialino na pele, mucosa oral e órgãos internos. Alterações características incluem a rouquidão, pápulas e nódulos na face, especialmente na borda das pálpebras, cicatrizes varioliformes, espessamento difuso e aspecto amarelado da pele e lesões verrucosas em áreas de atrito.

Você conhece esta síndrome?

Trata-se de criança de oito anos, portadora de atrofia na hemiface direita, desde os seis anos. A ressonância magnética do encéfalo evidenciou espessamento cortical e formação de cistos. A hemiatrofia facial progressiva, ou síndrome de Parry-Romberg, mais freqüente nas duas primeiras décadas de vida, caracteriza-se por atrofia unilateral da face, acometendo área inervada por um ou mais ramos do trigêmeo. A relação dessa síndrome com a esclerodermia localizada é discutida.

Vitiligo na infância: características clínicas e epidemiológicas

FUNDAMENTOS - O vitiligo atinge de 0,5 a 4% da população mundial, e 25% dos casos se iniciam antes dos 10 anos. Embora prevalente, estudos epidemiológicos de vitiligo na infância são raros na literatura brasileira. OBJETIVO - Avaliar características clínicas e epidemiológicas do vitiligo na infância. MÉTODO - Realizado estudo descritivo em 73 crianças com vitiligo, atendidas no Ambulatório de Dermatologia Pediátrica do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Variáveis como sexo, idades ao início da doença e tratamento, superfície corporal acometida, forma clínica, localização, associação com doenças auto-imunes, história familiar de vitiligo e tratamento inicial foram avaliadas. A análise estatística foi realizada usando freqüências simples e comparação de médias pela análise de variância. RESULTADOS - 60,3% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade ao início da doença foi 5,7, e a do início do tratamento, sete anos. A superfície corporal acometida foi inferior a 1% em 71,8%, e a forma localizada foi detectada em 76,7% dos casos. A localização mais comum foi o segmento cefálico. O vitiligo em familiares foi observado em 30,1% dos casos. O hipotireoidismo foi detectado em um paciente, e 11% deles relataram a presença de doença auto-imune em familiares. O corticóide tópico foi o tratamento inicial na maioria dos pacientes. CONCLUSÕES - Os achados deste estudo ambulatorial são basicamente semelhantes aos encontrados em estudos realizados em outros países.

Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Rats Experimentally Demyelinated with Ethidium Bromide and Treated with Interferon Beta

The ethidium bromide (EB) demyelinating model was associated with interferon beta (IFN-beta) to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum (ST), hippocampus (HP), cerebral cortex (CC), cerebellum (CB), hypothalamus (HY), pons (PN) and synaptosomes from the CC. Rats were divided into four groups: I control (saline), II (IFN-beta), III (EB) and IV (EB and IFN-beta). After 7, 15 and 30 days rats (n = 6) were sacrificed, and the brain structures were removed for enzymatic assay. AChE activity was found to vary in all the brain structures in accordance with the day studied (7-15-30 days) (P < 0.05). In the group III, there was an inhibition of the AChE activity in the ST, CB, HY, HP and also in synaptosomes of the CC (P < 0.05). It was observed that IFN-beta per se was capable to significantly inhibit (P < 0.05) AChE activity in the ST, HP, HY and synaptosomes of the CC. Our results suggest that one of the mechanisms of action of IFN-beta is through the inhibition of AChE activity, and EB could be considered an inhibitor of AChE activity by interfering with cholinergic neurotransmission in the different brain regions.

Você conhece esta síndrome?

A lipodistrofia generalizada congênita (síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip), doença autossômica recessiva, caracteriza-se por escassez do tecido subcutâneo. A falta de tecido adiposo propicia disfunção metabólica dos lípides e carboidratos, resistência periférica à insulina, hipertrigliceridemia e hipermetabolismo. Outros achados são acantose nigricante, acromegalia, hepatomegalia e alterações musculares, ósseas, cardiovasculares e neurológicas. Relata-se o caso de paciente com essa síndrome, cujo diagnóstico foi realizado em um serviço de dermatologia.

Malformações vasculares

Com o conhecimento cada vez maior da angiogênese, as anomalias vasculares foram divididas em tumores e malformações vasculares. As malformações vasculares, objeto deste trabalho, são categorizadas ou pela natureza dos canais vasculares (capilares, arteriais, venosos ou linfáticos), ou pelo tipo de fluxo (alto ou baixo), ou ainda pela distribuição (localizadas ou difusas). Além disso, há as malformações complexas combinadas, nas quais se encaixa a maioria das síndromes vasculares. Os autores apresentam uma revisão do asssunto, discorrendo sobre características clínicas, diagnóstico e tratamento dessas anomalias.

Hemangioma da infância

As novas classificações disponíveis e os modernos recursos diagnósticos por imagem não só permitiram a diferenciação entre os tumores e as malformações vasculares, mas também modificaram de forma substancial a abordagem e o tratamento dessas anomalias. O hemangioma da infância, o mais comum dos tumores vasculares dessa faixa etária e objeto deste trabalho, é revisto do ponto de vista de suas características clínicas e laboratoriais, diagnóstico diferencial e opções terapêuticas. Embora a conduta expectante permaneça como o tratamento de escolha para a maioria dos casos, o julgamento crítico é crucial para o emprego de outras modalidades terapêuticas.

Disceratose congênita: relato de caso e revisão da literatura

A disceratose congênita é doença hereditária rara, caracterizada pela tríade de pigmentação reticulada da pele, distrofia ungueal e leucoceratose em mucosas. Alterações dentárias, gastrintestinais, geniturinárias, neurológicas, oftalmológicas, pulmonares e esqueléticas associadas têm sido relatadas. A falência medular é a principal causa de morte precoce e também é descrita predisposição para doenças malignas. Afeta principalmente homens, e reconhecem-se formas recessivas ligadas ao X, autossômicas dominantes e recessivas. Relata-se o caso de uma criança do sexo masculino, que apresentava a tríade clássica das lesões sem antecedentes familiares. Faz-se revisão da literatura com o objetivo de enfatizar a necessidade do acompanhamento médico multidisciplinar, de modo a permitir diagnóstico precoce das possíveis complicações.

[Neonatal dermatoses of relevant medical significance: their report in the newborn's file]

OBJECTIVE: To check the report of neonatal dermatoses of medical relevance (congenital melanocytic nevus, sebaceous nevus, cafe-au-lait spots, Port-wine stain, ash leaf maculas) in the newborn's file. METHODS: The authors carried out a cross-sectional study in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte. All children born during a consecutive period of 4 months were examined within their 36 first hours of life by a dermatologist who reported all clinically relevant dermatoses (congenital melanocytic nevus, sebaceous nevus, cafeau- lait spots, Port-wine stain, ash leaf macules). Simultaneously, the dermatologist's report was cross checked with the pediatrician's. RESULTS: Neonatal dermatoses of clinical relevance were found in 42 (5.6%) out of 752 children examined during this period. However, the report in the neonate's file could be detected only in 5 (11,9%) out of 42 children. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically relevant dermatoses were underreported in the neonate's file in this study. There is a clear need to stimulate the detection and report of these skin disorders so that parental advice, treatment and genetic counseling can be adequately indicated.

Lack of anti-GOR antibody among subjects with GB virus C/hepatitis G virus RNA

Homologies were sought between the putative amino acid sequences of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) and the GOR epitope or the liver/kidney microsome-1 (LKM-1) epitope, which share partial sequence identity with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) polyprotein. Anti-GOR antibody (anti-GOR) was assayed among 100 subjects with GBV-C/HGV RNA. Twenty-one and 25 subjects were coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV, respectively. Homologies were found between the NS5 or E2 polyproteins of GBV-C/HGV and the GOR epitope or the LKM-1 epitope, respectively. These segments of GBV-C/HGV polyproteins sharing identity with the GOR or the LKM-1 epitope were well conserved among three genotypes of GBV-C/HGV. However, only 1 of 55 subjects (1.8%) with GBV-C/HGV RNA, but not with HBV or HCV, was positive for anti-GOR. The positivity for anti-GOR among the group with GBV-C/HGV RNA alone was significantly lower than that among the groups with HCV RNA (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Only 2 of 55 subjects (3.6%) with GBV-C/HGV RNA alone exhibited elevation of alanine aminotransferase. The incidence of liver dysfunction among the group with GBV-C/HGV RNA alone was significantly lower than the incidence among the groups with GBV-C/HGV RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or HCV RNA (P< 0.01 and P< 0.01, respectively). These data indicate that 1) there is no association between GBV-C/HGV infection and the presence of anti-GOR, and 2) GBV-C/HGV infection is not related to chronic liver dysfunction.

[Giant hemangioma treated with interferon alpha-2a]

OBJECTIVE

The authors describe a case of giant hemangioma treated with interferon alpha-2a and review the role of this drug and other therapeutic modalities in the management of vascular lesions.

METHODS

A seven month-old child with giant hemangioma and persistent bleeding, anemia and repeated infections was treated with interferon alpha-2a. The drug was administered at the dosage of 3 million units/m(2)/day, subcutaneously, for nine months.

RESULTS

Response to treatment was considered excellent, with regression of 90% of the lesion, control of bleeding, infection and anemia, and catch-up growth. No untoward effects were observed.

CONCLUSION

Interferon alpha-2a should be considered as a valid therapeutic option in selected cases of hemangioma in children.