Notalgia paresthetica: factors associated with its perceived severity, duration, side, and localization

Abstract

Background

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a disorder characterized by pruritus localized to the patient's back. Little is known about predictors of severity, duration, side, and localization.

Objective

To identify factors associated with perceived severity, duration, side, and localization of NP.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, disease severity, duration, side, and localization were compared among the considered variables. Multivariate analysis was used to assess each variable contribution in predicting disease severity and its duration.

Results

Sixty-five patients were recruited. Disease involved more female than male patients (Female/Male: 1.6) and after adjusting for all potential confounders, it was perceived as more severe in females (OR = 7.3, 95% CI = 2–26.3, P < 0.01). NP was reported more frequently on the right side among patients sleeping on the left side and conversely (P < 0.05). A higher disease duration was significantly linked to a higher body mass index (OR = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.3–17.1, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study linked female gender to worse disease severity, a higher body mass index to longer disease duration, and prevailing sleep position to NP side expression. The sleeping position should be considered a possible target for treating the disease.

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Acquired bilateral telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans: A unique clinical feature of photodamaging rather than a subtype of cutaneous mastocytosis

Abstract

Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (TMEP) is a rare subtype of cutaneous mastocytosis, characterized by telangiectatic tan to brown macules on the trunk and extremities. Although TMEP has been descried as an uncommon disease in the literature, we often encounter patients with TMEP lesions in the outpatient clinic. We aimed to assess the clinical and histopathological characteristics of acquired bilateral TMEP, and the pathophysiological mechanism of acquired bilateral TMEP among these patients. We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients (28 men and 2 women) with acquired bilateral TMEP; multiple telangiectatic dark red to brown macules that were symmetrically distributed. The clinical characteristics and general histopathological findings of lesional skin were investigated. The number of mast cells was evaluated using immunohistochemical analysis with an antibody directed against c-kit (CD117). Acquired bilateral TMEP was predominantly localized on the sun-exposed area: the upper arm in 30 patients (100%), forearm in 19 patients (63.3%) and anterior chest in 15 patients (50%). A total of 16 patients (53.3%) showed at least one aggravating factor, including UV irradiation, alcohol use and heat exposure. Compared with the mast cell numbers in 19 age- and biopsy site-matched healthy controls (91 ± 29.0/mm²), the number of mast cells in the papillary dermal skin of acquired bilateral TMEP patients was significantly increased (159 ± 37.2/mm², P < 0.01). In addition, a significant difference in vessel numbers in the papillary dermis was observed between acquired bilateral TMEP patients and healthy controls (10.5 ± 1.9 vs 5.4 ± 1.0/mm², P < 0.01). Acquired bilateral TMEP is a relatively common disorder in middle-aged Asian men. An increased number of mast cells and dilated vessels might be a photoaging-related reactive process of chronic sun-exposure, which consequently leads to the formation of characteristic telangiectatic hyperpigmentary macules through certain melanogenic mediators.

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CHMP Recommends Imraldi, a Biosimilar to Humira

The CHMP has recommended Imraldi, a biosimilar to Humira.
International Approvals

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Hearing loss in enlarged vestibular aqueduct and incomplete partition type II

Publication date: Available online 23 June 2017
Source:American Journal of Otolaryngology
Author(s): Emily Ahadizadeh, Mustafa Ascha, Nauman Manzoor, Amit Gupta, Maroun Semaan, Cliff Megerian, Todd Otteson
PurposeThe purpose of this work is to identify the role of incomplete partition type II on hearing loss among patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA).BackgroundEVA is a common congenital inner ear malformation among children with hearing loss, where vestibular aqueduct morphology in this population has been shown to correlate to hearing loss. However, the impact of incomplete partition between cochlear turns on hearing loss has not been, despite meaningful implications for EVA pathophysiology.MethodsA retrospective review of radiology reports for patients who had computed tomography (CT) scans with diagnoses of hearing loss at a tertiary medical center between January 2000 and June 2016 were screened for EVA. CT scans of the internal auditory canal (IAC) for those patients with EVA were examined for evidence of incomplete partition type II (IP-II), measurements of midpoint width and operculum width a second time, and patients meeting Cincinnati criteria for EVA selected for analysis. Statistical analysis including chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and t-tests were used to identify differences in outcomes and clinical predictors, as appropriate for the distribution of the data. Linear mixed models of hearing test results for all available tests were constructed, both univariable and adjusting for vestibular aqueduct morphometric features, with ear-specific intercepts and slopes over time.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in any hearing test results or vestibular aqueduct midpoint and operculum widths. Linear mixed models, both univariable and those adjusting for midpoint and operculum widths, did not indicate a statistically significant effect of incomplete partition type II on hearing test results.ConclusionsHearing loss due to enlarged vestibular aqueduct does not appear to be affected by the presence of incomplete partition type II. Our results suggest that the pathophysiological processes underlying hearing loss in enlarged vestibular aqueduct may not be a result of cochlear malformation, and instead are more likely to involve vestibular aqueduct or cellular and molecular-level mechanisms of hearing loss.



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The landmark for removal of sialoliths using sialendoscopy alone in parotid gland sialolithiasis

Publication date: Available online 23 June 2017
Source:Auris Nasus Larynx
Author(s): Norio Kondo, Toshio Yoshihara, Yukie Yamamura, Kaoru Kusama, Eri Sakitani, Yukako Seo, Mayako Tachikawa, Keiko Kujirai, Erika Ono, Yasuyo Maeda, Tomohito Nojima, Akiko Tamiya, Emiri Sato, Manabu Nonaka
ObjectiveTo assess the general guidelines for removal of sialoliths in parotid gland sialolithiasis using sialendoscopy alone.MethodsWe analyzed 34 sialoliths treated using sialendoscopy in 26 patients with parotid gland sialolithiasis. We divided the Stensen's duct and parotid gland into for parts using computed tomography findings: (A) front of the masseter, (B) anterior and lateral to the center (anterolateral) of the masseter, (C) posterior and lateral to the center (posterolateral) of the masseter, (D) behind of the masseter. The location and size of each sialolith was assessed.ResultsThe removal rates of sialoliths in the different locations by sialendoscopy alone were as follows: front of the masseter, 68.8%; anterolateral of the masseter, 60.0%; posterolateral of the masseter, 0%; and behind of the masseter, 33.3%. The removal rate using sialendoscopy alone was significantly higher in the sections anterior to the center of the masseter than in those posterior to the center of the masseter (66.7% [14/21] vs. 20.0% [2/10]; P=0.019). The size of the sialolith was not correlated to the removal rate by sialendoscopy alone.ConclusionSialoliths of the parotid gland located in positions anterior to the center of the masseter are significantly easier to remove by sialendoscopy alone. The center of the masseter is a general landmark for removal of sialoliths from the parotid gland using sialendoscopy alone. The size of the sialolith is not correlated with removal, except rare huge sialoliths.



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The outcomes of endoscopic management in young children with subglottic stenosis

Publication date: August 2017
Source:International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Volume 99
Author(s): Chao Chen, Wei-hua Ni, Tan-le Tian, Zheng-min Xu
Subglottic stenosis (SGS) is a common cause of obstructed airway in children, and the treatment of pediatric SGS, especially congenital SGS, remains a challenge for the otolaryngologist.ObjectiveTo analyze the outcomes of endoscopic management in young children with SGS.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of treatment with endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) or EBD combined with endoscopic anterior cricoid split (EACS) for young SGS children, from December 2008 to December 2015. The ages of patients ranged from 2 days to 12 years, median age was 5 months. The grade of them ranged from II to IV.ResultsFor acute acquired SGS, 19 cases received EBD alone and the other 3 cases received EBD and EACS, the success rate was about 95.5%; For chronic acquired SGS, EBD and EACS was performed in 6 patients with a success rate of 66.7%; For congenital SGS, EBD and EACS was performed in 28 patients with a success rate of 85.7%. Overall, the success rate of endoscopic management in 56 young children was about 87.5%. Besides, No procedure-related complications were observed in any patients.ConclusionsEndoscopic surgical technique offers a safe and effective approach for treatment of young children with SGS, especially in congenital SGS.



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A case of improved hearing with cochlear implantation in Gaucher disease type 1

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disorder that is caused by congenital defective function of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Glucocerebroside that is not hydrolyzed by glucocerebrosidase mainly accumulates in the reticular tissue. We describe a Japanese boy with Gaucher disease type 1 who developed bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss within approximately 4years. We performed cochlear implantation initially on his right ear and again on his left ear 5 months later. The cochlear implants were successfully utilized with a speech discrimination score of 95% on a Japanese sentence recognition test.

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