[The visitor : Roald Dahl on phobic anxiety of infections and delusion of hygiene].

In his both highly amusing and thrilling story Roald Dahl describes an adventure of his fictive uncle Oswald Hendryk Cornelius, a snobby Englishman and womanizer, suffering from delusional anxiety of infections and hygienic compulsions. Forced by the breakdown of his car in the Sinai desert, he accepts the invitation of a noble Arab to spend the night in his palace, situated like a mirage in the middle of the desert. Oswald is plagued by erotic obsessions at the sight of the beautiful wife as well as the likewise beautiful daughter.

Quantification of sweat secretion in focal axillary hyperhidrosis related to area and time: the hyperhidrosis area and secretion index.

Background: Severity of focal axillary hyperhidrosis (FAH) hitherto is estimated semiquantitatively by weighting the secreted sweat with the sweating area visualized by iodine starch test. In this study, we quantified secretion (mg/cm(2) per min) simply by estimating the sweating area morphometrically via point counting. We have named the numeric value obtained the hyperhidrosis area and secretion index (HASI).

Clinical and immunopathological spectrum of paraneoplastic pemphigus.

Background: Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune bullous disorder. The clinical picture is often polymorphous and blisters may be absent. Autoantibodies are directed against several target antigens, including plakins and desmogleins.

How do personality systems interact in patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and urticaria?

The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristic personality system interaction in patients with psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and urticaria. The differences between these three disease groups were examined with respect to various psychological variables and deviations from a group of healthy controls. A total of 56 patients with atopic dermatitis (n=21), psoriasis (n=20) and urticaria (n=15) were tested with the "Assessment of Personality Functioning in Therapy" Inventory, which consists of psychometric scales for basic needs (affiliation, achievement, power), enactment of needs-related behaviour, stress, emotional dispositions, cognitive styles and various self-regulation functions.

Efficiency of topical imiquimod 5% cream in the management of chronic radiation dermatitis with multiple neoplasias.

The immune response modifier imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara) was locally applied to an extensive thoracic chronic radiation dermatitis for 2 weeks on a once daily basis. After moderate to severe irritative reactions with erythema and crusted erosions, areas cleared up within 4 weeks. The patient has now been in complete remission for 2 years.