Dermatology : international journal for clinical and investigative dermatology
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Dermatology (Basel) · Jan 1998
Comparative StudyThe acute effect of smoking on cutaneous microcirculation blood flow in habitual smokers and nonsmokers.
Smoking is known to be a primary cause of chronic harmful effects on the vascular system. It also induces some acute effects on the coronary circulation and on the ophthalmic artery. ⋯ Smoking a single cigarette decreases the cutaneous blood flow in habitual smoker as well as in nonsmoker subjects. Moreover, the slower recovery phase of smokers suggests that their microcirculation become inured to smoke.
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Superficial granulomatous pyoderma (SGP) is a form of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) characterized by superficial ulceration and chronic course. To date it has been described as a condition with specific histopathological findings. We report a new case with clinical characteristics of SGP and describe why we believe that the histological changes previously described are not typical of this entity.
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Dermatology (Basel) · Jan 1998
Case ReportsA case of an inflammatory variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: chronic bullous dermatosis associated with nonscarring mucosal blisters and circulating IgG anti-type-VII-collagen antibody.
A 42-year-old man showed prominent blistering lesions of the mouth and esophagus in addition to a few bullous lesions of the skin. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy revealed distinct linear deposition of IgG and C3 at the epidermal basement membrane zone where slight deposition of IgA and IgM was also observed. ⋯ The lesions healed without any scars. The results of these studies corresponded to the laboratory findings in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), although the clinical features were distinct from classic EBA.
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Isotretinoin is an extremely effective drug if given systemically in severe forms of seborrhoea and acne, being the only retinoid with potent sebostatic properties. Its unique activity on the sebaceous gland still remains unclear since isotretinoin barely binds to cellular retinoic-acid-binding proteins and to retinoic acid receptors. Its bioavailability is approximately 25% and can be increased by food 1.5-2 times; after 30 min, the drug is detectable in the blood and maximal concentrations are reached 2-4 h after oral intake. ⋯ Patients who have received oral isotretinoin therapy for seborrhoea do not usually experience a relapse for months or years. In severe acne, a 6- to 12-month treatment with isotretinoin 1 mg/kg/day reduced to 0.5 or 0.2 mg/kg/day according to the response is recommended (cumulative dose of > 120 mg/kg). Contraception is essential during isotretinoin treatment in women of childbearing age 1 month before, during and for 3 months after discontinuation of treatment.