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Biomedical subjects

W C Marsch

Publications and source records attributed to W C Marsch.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Diagnostic impact and sensitivity of skin biopsies in Sneddon's syndrome. A report of 15 cases.

BACKGROUND: Sneddon's syndrome is defined as a combination of idiopathic livedo racemosa generalisata and symptoms of cerebrovascular defect. The disease usually starts with vascular symptoms in the epidermis, with neurological deficits becoming evident later. For this reason, histological examination of skin biopsies and determination of arteriolar occlusion is of particular importance for reliable categorization and early diagnosis. To date, these methods have been considered to be too insensitive. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sensitivity of skin biopsies in Sneddon's syndrome. METHODS: We took a total of five deep punch biopsies (4 mm) from different areas of the livedo (three from white and two from red areas) in 15 patients. Present knowledge of the pathogenic relationships and the particular anatomical features of the skin were taken into account. RESULTS: The method had a sensitivity of 27% with one biopsy, 53% with two biopsies and 80% with three biopsies taken from white areas in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Skin biopsies using the method presented achieved a high sensitivity, suggesting that the diagnosis in clinically suspected cases could be confirmed in the majority of cases with this technique.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Dapsone in rosacea fulminans.

Rosacea fulminans is a rare disease with female predominance characterized by abrupt onset of pustules, papules, and confluent nodules on the face. The conventional treatment consists of systemic glucocorticoids and isotretinoin. We present the case of a 56-year-old woman with a marked facial papulopustular eruption that had followed an initial period of severe seborrhoea. Conventional treatment produced no clear improvement. Dapsone treatment achieved complete healing in 5 weeks.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Superficial inguinal and radical ilioinguinal lymph node dissection in patients with palpable melanoma metastases to the groin--an analysis of survival and local recurrence.

The present study addresses the question whether an extended ilioinguinal dissection as compared to an only superficial inguinal dissection improves survival and/or local tumour control after the appearance of palpable melanoma metastases to the groin. We retrospectively analysed the data of 104 patients with 69 ilioinguinal and 35 superficial inguinal dissections (median follow up 127 months). Prognostic factors of survival and groin recurrence were assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards model. By multifactorial analysis, metastatic involvement of two lymph nodes or less was associated with a significantly better survival rate than involvement of > 2 or pelvic nodes (p = 0.0002). After radical ilioinguinal dissection, patients with extremity-located primaries had a better prognosis than patients with truncal primaries (p = 0.03). Tumour infiltration of the ilio-obturator compartment was found to be an independent factor of poor prognosis (p = 0.0009). The probability of recurrence in the dissected groin paralleled the number of positive nodes and significantly increased if intransits were observed (p = 0.0002). The extent of surgery, Breslow thickness, epidermal ulceration, sex, age and adjuvant chemotherapy neither significantly influenced survival nor local control rates. In summary, when metastatic inguinal nodes become palpable, the presence of pelvic metastases indicates systemic disease. After therapeutic groin dissection, local recurrence and survival depend rather on regional tumour burden than on the extent of surgery.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Vulvodynia: an indicator or even an early symptom of vulvar cancer.

Vulvodynia is a symptom of chronic, painful vulvar discomfort of multicausal origin. Vulvar cancer is an underestimated cause of vulvodynia. Even early stages of vulvar neoplasia can lead to aching lesions. Three cases of vulvar carcinoma eliciting persistent pain have been diagnosed within a 2-year period. In 2 of our case studies, women had antecedent periods of vulvar pruritus of long duration (5 and 20 years, respectively). We conclude that early histologic examination of all visible vulvar lesions is necessary to exclude the presence of malignant vulvar neoplasia.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

A hepatotoxic reaction following HIV-postexpositional antiretroviral prophylaxis in an HIV-negative medical surgeon.

We report a hepatotoxic reaction in an HIV-negative medical professional on day 14 of postexpositional prophylaxis (PEP) with antiretroviral drugs. It was essential to decide whether the clinical symptoms nausea and fever without exanthema or enanthema were related to a HIV-seroconversion, a viral hepatitis or a hepatotoxic reaction due to the medication administered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2000

[Acne inversa (hidradenitis suppurativa): early deetection and curative surgery].

Acne inversa (synonyms are hidradenitis suppurativa, pyodermia fistulans sinifica) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the terminal hair follicles of the intertrigines. Abscesses and fistules develop mostly in both axillae, in the anogenital region, and under the breasts. The disease is common, but the right diagnosis is often missed. Local incision gives only a short relief of pain. The therapy of choice is wide local excision. We report on 12 patients with acne inversa who were surgically treated from 1991-1999 in our department. Surgical results and patient satisfaction were assessed on an average of 4.2 years. In all, 20 excisions in the axillae and 5 excisions anogenital were done. Seven patients were treated preoperatively with isotretinoin over at least 2 months. All patients could move their limbs without trouble. The cosmetic result was good in nine patients and three expressed dissatisfaction. Nine patients did not develop new lesions in the treated area. Three patients had new inflammations in both treated and previously uninvolved and therefore not resected regions. Wide local excision gives very good functional and cosmetic results. It usually heate long-lasting disease for nearly disabled patients. Isotretinoin reduces the disease activity and allows radical surgical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Vulvodynia].

Vulvodynia is a complex syndrome of chronic vulvar pain. It is divided into several subtypes: 1. cyclic vulvovaginitis (pain occurs after coitus), 2. vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (pain mainly with intercourse), 3. dysaesthetic vulvodynia (psychosomatic; diagnosis of exclusion), 4. vulvar dermatoses (e.g. pemphigus vulgaris, contact dermatitis). Additional causes have been described in single cases. Though vulvodynia is often accompanied by psychological distress, somatic causes have to be considered in each case.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Analysis of serum zinc level in patients with atopic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris and in probands with healthy skin].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The significance of zinc in the pathogenesis of different dermatological conditions is controversial. Using our own patient collective, the present study aimed to determine variations in serum zinc levels in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis as compared to levels in the normal population. PATIENTS/METHODS: The serum zinc levels of 97 patients with atopic dermatitis and 88 patients with psoriasis were compared to those in 22 healthy subjects and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In contrast to the data given in the literature, no statistically significant difference was found between the populations investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc replacement therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis appears to be indicated only in those with a documented zinc deficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Ultrasound characterization of burn scars in children].

So far, little is known about the acoustic phenomena of high-frequency sonography for the assessment of healing processes in thermal wounds. However, ex vivo investigations have shown clear age-dependent differences in the rate of sound propagation in thermal scars compared to healthy skin. In order to answer the question of whether measurable acoustic characteristics of burn or scald scars can be classified in a way which corresponds to the clinical severity of the injuries, age of scar or type of treatment, 92 thermal scars, with an average scar age of 3.1 years, in 55 children were investigated with regard to corium thickness and echogenicity. A control group of 25 non-injured children of similar age was studied for comparison. It was shown that measurable echogenicity differences can allow conclusions about clinical severity to be drawn. The comparison of different therapeutic strategies showed no therapeutic effect either for compression or for the application of silicone gel sheets. In contrast, a decrease in scar thickness and a loosening of scar structure could be seen after early application of a sterile, silicone-covered polyamide net bandage. The 20-MHz-Sonography is a suitable non-invasive procedure for the characterisation of burn scars.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Granulomatous mycosis fungoides. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Granulomatous mycosis fungoides is an extremely rare type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Two cases are described and checked for clinical, histological and therapeutic differences to other variants of mycosis fungoides. CASE REPORTS: Case 1: a 52-year-old patient with livid plaques covering the whole integument. Histological findings showed granulomas with multinuclear giant cells in addition to a malignant lymphohistiocytic infiltrate (monodonal T-cell receptor (TCR)-gamma rearrangement). Despite various chemotherapeutic regimens, progression to tumour stage was observed. Case 2: an 88-year-old man with plaques and ulcerating tumours on the trunk and head. Histological findings showed malignant T-lymphocyte infiltrate (monoclonal TCR-gamma rearrangement) and granulomas with multinuclear foreign-body giant cells. Complete regression of all lesions was achieved using both local psoralen-ultraviolet A and electron radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of a granulomatous mycosis fungoides depends exclusively on the histological demonstration of granulomas. Distinct clinical characteristics are not present. Apart from granuloma formation, no other noticeable histological features are evident. The presence of granulomas in mycosis fungoides does not have prognostic implications, as cases with aggressive, but also with a prolonged course have been described.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Acute effect of a dried ethanol-water extract of garlic on the microhaemovascular system of the skin.

In the present study, the acute vasoactive effect of a dried hydrophilic extract of garlic with 600 mg active substance (Alliosan) was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers. Laser-Doppler fluxmetry, video capillary microscopy and transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen measurements were used for the objective assessment of functional and morphological parameters. An increase in perfusion could be demonstrated by these means. This was based on an increase in erythrocyte flow velocity of up to 2 h duration, which was mainly due to vasodilation in both arterial and venous vessels. A change in transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen or an influence on sympathetically-mediated vasomotor reflexes could not be demonstrated. Furthermore, there was no evidence of an influence on reactive hyperaemia after controlled hyperthermia. The test substance was shown to increase the cutaneous microperfusion.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prognostic factors of overall survival in patients with delayed lymph node dissection for cutaneous malignant melanoma.

To date, no study of melanoma patients who have undergone delayed lymph node dissection (DLND) has focused on the independent prognostic factors of overall survival, as calculated from surgery on the primary. Using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox's proportional hazard model, the significance of prognostic factors was evaluated in 173 patients who developed clinically apparent regional lymph node metastases. When calculated from excision of the primary tumour (median Breslow thickness 3.0 mm), the median survival was 38 months. When calculated from DLND, the median survival was 19 months. Multifactorial analysis revealed that the number of nodes involved at the time of DLND significantly affected both survival calculated from primary tumour excision (P = 0.0002) and survival calculated from DLND (P < 0.0001). In contrast, the well-known risk factors of primary melanoma did not significantly influence overall survival or survival after DLND. However, the remission duration between surgery on the primary and DLND clearly depended on epidermal ulceration (P = 0.001), Breslow thickness (P = 0.009) and the site of the primary melanoma (P = 0.048). Thus, in patients submitted to DLND, the risk factors of primary melanoma influence the early period of the disease, until metastatic lymph nodes become palpable. With regard to overall survival, only the extent of nodal disease determines the prognosis of these patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1999

[Congenital melanocytic nevi].

Congenital melanocytic nevi are benign skin tumours with a population-based prevalence of 1-6%. They run an increased life-time risk of transformation into malignant melanoma. Additionally, they can be associated with an involvement of the leptomeninges (neurocutaneous melanosis), and may cause considerable cosmetic and psychic problems. In contrast to the past, the risk of congenital melanocytic nevi developing into melanoma is now regarded as well-established. Thus, excision is recommended whenever possible. Large lesions which do not allow complete excision should be treated by dermabrasion within the first weeks of life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Submammary granular parakeratosis: an acquired punctate hyperkeratosis of exogenic origin.

Granular parakeratosis is a histologic phenomenon that produces a characteristic clinical picture with multiple brownish and hyperkeratotic papules. In all 6 published cases of localized axillary parakeratosis, excessive use of different topical preparations (cream-type products, deodorants that include roll-on and stick types, antiperspirants, shampoos, bath soaps) was reported by the authors. The exact pathogenic causal relationships have not yet been resolved. In the case reported below, we demonstrate for the first time that the macro- and micromorphological entities can also occur in the submammary region.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Radiation-induced morphea].

Although the aetiology of morphea often remains unknown, various precipitating causes have been identified. Morphea is a rare development following irradiation. We observed a circumscribed scleroderma 14 years after x-ray-radiotherapy following surgery of breast cancer. Furthermore multiple weeping papules occurred within the radiation area. A relapse of the breast cancer was ruled out by histological examination which displayed a transepidermal elimination of acid mucin. The irradiation had obviously induced different reactions of the dermal fibroblasts (radiodermatitis, morphea, mucin production).

Breast Neoplasms↗