1/4. Chronic factitial ulcer of chin cured by endodontic (root-canal) surgery for underlying periapical abscess.In a determined search for the cause of a "factitial" ulcer of the jaw, consultation with 3 dentists was required before an underlying periapical abscess was discovered. Within 3 months of endodontic surgery, this ulcer of 12 years duration had completely healed and remains healed. Too often dental infection is neither suspected nor detected as a cause of skin disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = skin disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Lichen simplex chronicus of the eyelid.Lichen simplex chronicus is a common dermatosis that rarely affects the eyelids. We report the clinical and pathologic features in the case of a middle-aged man who had lichen simplex chronicus of both lower eyelids. The clinical features suggested the presence of basal cell carcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.10929527498368keywords = dermatosis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Neurotic excoriations. A controlled psychiatric examination.The investigation covers 68 patients with the primary form of neurotic excoriations (n.ex.) who within a 5 year period, 1974-78 had contact with the dermatology department, Odense University Hospital. The diagnosis was ascertained clinically - anamnestically, and by various laboratory examinations. The first 25 typical patients were matched with neurotic control patients (control group) who were homogeneous with regard to sex, age, level of intelligence, main personality traits (self-esteem, orderliness in a broad sense, hysterical traits), and level of invalidity. The primary psychiatric investigation contained a semistructured biographic interview lasting about 3 hours. N.ex. patients were on an average 42 years old at the time of reference to the dermatology department and most frequently in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. About 90% were women and only about 1/2 were married. Occupationally pensioners and workers dominated. Childhood seems on many levels to have been more discordant for n.ex. patients than for the control patients. Father and steady partners tended to have a lower social status in the n.ex. group than in the control group. A predominance of n.ex. patients lacked self-confidence (though possibly managed to mask it), were hypersensitive, meticulous or perfectionistic, suffered from sexual dysfunction. They were more reserved in contact situations than patients in the control group and often revealed no manifest need of psychiatric treatment. Significantly more in the n.ex. group than in the control group had a high level of energy and activity. There was a dominant tendency to depressive/dysphoric moods in the n.ex. group. Management of aggression was seldom without problems in both the n.ex. group and in the control group but aggressive explosions occurred with significantly greater frequency in the n.ex. group. A number of the patients in the n.ex. group described how their spouse's phlegmatism could violently irritate them. The same frequency for suicidal behaviour was found for both groups. The onset of the skin disease occurred at the average age of 30 years approximately; for 40% the outbreak could be described as "fresh" on approach to the dermatology department. Distressing factors preceding onset or recidivation after healing that were of significance for the patient were registered for about 90%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = skin disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Psychosomatic aspects of skin diseases from the standpoint of immunology.The psychosomatic aspects of skin disease were studied both clinically and experimentally, from the standpoint of immunology. We found that emotional stress has a great influence on the immune system, as was manifested in skin disease. Skin test in allergic patients significantly improved with autogenic training and relaxation. For clarification of the effects of autogenic training and relaxation, various parameters were simultaneously assessed during the treatment. The serum levels of histamine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase fluctuated, as determined by the microvibration test. The levels of IgE and findings on the PK test varied only slightly. Before the onset of urticaria, there were changes in the life-style and considerable stress in daily life as well as exposure to an allergen. Using mice subjected to stress, the functions of T cells and macrophages were evaluated. Stress appeared to have a definite influence on the functions of these cells, as related to the important role of the immune system and skin. Thus, the role of stress in clinical disease must always be given consideration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = skin disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |