Epigenetic dysregulation of dopaminergic genes in eating disorders.

Objective: The pathophysiology of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) has been linked to an impaired dopaminergic neurotransmission, still the origin of this disturbance remains unknown. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to evaluate whether the expression of dopaminergic genes is altered in the blood of patients suffering from eating disorders and if these alterations can be explained by changes in the promoter specific DNA methylation of the genes.

Method: We used quantitative real-time PCR to measure both the expression and the promoter specific DNA methylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT), and the D2 (DRD2) and D4 receptor (DRD4) gene in the blood of 46 patients (22 AN, 24 BN) and 30 healthy controls.

[Recurrent exanthema in cryofibrinogenemia].

Report on a 50-year-old patient with cryofibrinogenemia, suffering from a recurrent exanthema induced by cold exposure.

[Purpura following bithermotest in cryoglobulinemia].

Purpura is provoked when the affected area is warmed up to 40 degrees C by means of an infrared lamp in cryoglobulinemia after exposition to cold with consecutive urticaria. For this way of causing purpura in two steps, we suggest the designation "bithermo-test".

[Cold urticaria and purpura in cryoglobulinemia].

Report on a female patient suffering from cold urticaria and cold purpura in cryoglobulinemia. The process of diagnosis and further clinical investigation (bithermotest) are described.

[Transient biological false-positive specific syphilis serology in a blood donor].

This paper reports the case of a 25 year-old blood donor with transient false positive specific syphilis serology and, furthermore, some transient immunological features similar to the findings in systemic lupus erythematosus.