Germline intergenic duplications at Xq26.1 underlie Bazex-Dupré-Christol basal cell carcinoma susceptibility syndrome.

Background: Bazex-Dupré-Christol syndrome (BDCS; MIM301845) is a rare X-linked dominant genodermatosis characterized by follicular atrophoderma, congenital hypotrichosis and multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). Previous studies have linked BDCS to an 11·4-Mb interval on chromosome Xq25-q27.1.

Pilot study: optical coherence tomography as a non-invasive diagnostic perspective for real time visualisation of onychomycosis.

The objective of this study was to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) with conventional techniques such as KOH-preparation, culture and histology in the identification of the fungal elements in the nail. A total of 18 patients were examined; 10 with clinically evident onychomycosis in toe nails, two with psoriatic nail lesions, one with nail affection caused by lichen planus and five healthy controls. Serial in vivo OCT analyses of onychomycosis was performed prior to KOH-preparation, culture and punch biopsy of the nail plate for consecutive histology.

Effects of photodynamic therapy evaluated in a novel three-dimensional squamous cell carcinoma organ construct of the skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is a malignant neoplasm that occurs in all ethnic groups primarily due to chronic sun exposure and constitutes a major health problem worldwide. Novel therapies for SCC are in development but as yet no in vitro models capable of screening these therapies and their mechanism of action before proceeding to clinical trials in human subjects have emerged. For this reason we have developed and characterized a novel three-dimensional human SCC construct and validated it using photodynamic therapy (PDT), a well-established modality for treating in situ SCCs.

Onychomycosis in a diabetic patient due to Trichophyton gallinae.

A 67-year-old female suffering from diabetes mellitus type I revealed brownish-yellow discolouration, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onychodystrophy of several finger nails. Upon culturing of nail specimens, Trichophyton gallinae could be repeatedly identified on Sabouraud glucose agar. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a human infection caused by this species in Germany.

Anaphylaxis induced by glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids are frequently used to treat allergic reactions. Therefore, allergic reactions to systemic glucocorticoids in particular are considered most unlikely and are not well known. We report on a 23-year-old woman with atopic dermatitis who had an anaphylactic reaction after oral administration of prednisolone.