Sweet's syndrome-like blastomycosis.

Cutaneous North American blastomycosis is characterized clinically by verrucous nodules and histologically by pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, intraepidermal neutrophilic microabscesses, and a dermal mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate containing giant cells. We describe a patient who presented clinically with erythematous nodules and plaques on the lower extremities characterized histologically by a diffuse neutrophilic infiltrate, with lack of epidermal hyperplasia. The lesions were clinically and histologically reminiscent of Sweets syndrome.

Something for pain: new trends in epidural analgesia.

Epidural infusion and combined drug therapy have an important place in the control of severe pain. With the development of new methods of using these drugs, PACU practitioner's responsibilities extent in yet another direction. PACU nurses must be knowledgeable about the drugs used, the methods by which they are administered, and their side effects.

Primary disorders of hyperpigmentation.

A classification of primary hyperpigmentation conditions is presented. The emphasis is on clinical aspects and an attempt has been made to show, when possible, a spectrum beginning with localized involvement and progressing to the more extensive involvement. Most primary hyperpigmentation conditions and syndromes are inherited by autosomal dominant genetics; notable exceptions include incontinentia pigmenti, classic dyskeratosis congenita, and xeroderma pigmentosum.

Hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Report of a case with reticulated acropigmentation.

A 22-year-old black man noted punctate macular hyperpigmentation of the distal dorsal extremities around the age of 5 years. The hyperpigmentation progressed proximally and became confluent, forming a reticulated pattern. Dermatopathology revealed increased basal melanization.

Effectiveness of breast self-examination teaching to women of low socioeconomic class.

To assess the effect of a breast self-examination (BSE) teaching program on retention of BSE knowledge and accuracy of BSE performance among women of low socioeconomic class, a pretest-posttest control group design with random assignment to groups was given to women at a Southeastern urban clinic. One hundred eighty women were pretested, after which the experimental group (N = 89) received one-to-one BSE instruction. Seventy of the subjects were given a posttest approximately two months later.