Family history of psoriasis, stressful life events, and recent infectious disease are risk factors for a first episode of acute guttate psoriasis: results of a case-control study.

Background: The association of guttate psoriasis with streptococcal pharyngitis is well accepted. The association of other risk factors is less well defined.

Objective: We attempted to provide an estimate of the risk for guttate psoriasis associated with a recent infectious disease and to explore other potential risk factors, including family history of psoriasis and psychologic stress.

Development of anthralin short-contact therapy in psoriasis: survey of published clinical trials.

In a survey of clinical trials concerning the efficacy of short-contact therapy with anthralin in psoriasis vulgaris, focusing principally on methodologic issues, twenty-four papers published between January 1982 and December 1989, in English, French, and Italian, were selected. Nine of 24 papers reported on more than one trial, giving a total of 37 clinical trials to be evaluated. A great heterogeneity was evident in many aspects of the design and conduct of these trials, making pooling of results impossible.

[Late results following surgical repair of aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta].

A consecutive series of 74 patients was analyzed after repair of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. After hospital discharge there were 13/71 deaths (18%) during a mean follow-up of 60 +/- 20 months (range: 28-107). Actuarial analysis showed a mean survival rate of 89% after 1 year, 78% after 5 years and 71% after 9 years.

Preputial ectopic sebaceous glands mimicking molluscum contagiosum.

The authors describe a 12-year-old boy with a peculiar presentation of preputial papular lesions similar to molluscum contagiosum. Histopathologic investigation revealed the presence of a sebaceous gland opening directly onto the surface and hyperplasia of the epithelium.

Minor clinical features of atopic dermatitis. Evaluation of their diagnostic significance.

The diagnostic significance of 8 previously proposed minor features of atopic dermatitis (AD) was evaluated. The minor features studied were: nipple eczema, cheilitis, Dennie-Morgan infraorbital fold, pityriasis alba, anterior neck folds, wool intolerance, white dermographism and infraauricular fissuring. The incidence of these features was appreciated in 105 patients with typical AD (median age 8.