Objective:  There is an ongoing debate whether there is a link between a history of atopy and cancer risk. The purpose of this paper is to review the published epidemiological studies on the association between atopy and the risk of cancers. Methods:  Through an electronic search (January 1986–April 2004) with an additional review of cited references, we identified studies with quantitative data on the relation of atopy (irrespective of its definition or subtype) to cancer (different cancer sites). Results:  The protective effect of atopy in colorectal cancer has been observed consistently in the case–control studies, but not in cohort studies. A consistent inverse association between self‐reported atopy and glioma risk has been shown, but there is absence of such an association for meningioma. In most studies, the risk of leukaemia, in particular childhood leukaemia, tends to be lower among people with a history of atopy. Studies, which looked at, the association between atopic diseases and risk of cancers of pancreatic, breast, lymphoma showed varying outcomes. Most studies on the atopy–pancreatic cancer relation suggested an inverse association. For lymphoma, most studies have shown no substantial association. Overall evidence indicates an increased risk of lung cancer among persons with a history of asthma. Conclusion:  Despite the mixed results, the emerging picture from most of the currently available epidemiological data indicate that atopic disease is associated with a reduced risk for cancer. Further research should focus on a more carefully defined ‘atopy’ status and manifestation of different atopic diseases, to advance our understanding of the role that allergies might play in the risk of developing cancer.

The findings of the epidemiological studies tend to support a lower risk of cancer among persons with a history of AD. Although a more careful definition of AD is needed, these epidemiological studies could provide an estimate of the background cancer risk in patients with AD when the long-term effects of treatments for AD are assessed.

Objectives: Itching is the most frequently described symptom in dermatology. As it is a subjective symptom that cannot be verified by physical or biophysical examination, the patient's evaluation including past medical history, personal factors of life style, psychological factors and measurement of its severity is a challenge. The clinician attempting to identify the underlying causes of pruritus and trying to treat the patient appropriately frequently faces difficulties in achieving all these demands in a practicable way. Methods: For this purpose, a questionnaire is very helpful, especially in those patients who suffer from severe pruritus as the main and leading symptom. The questions ought to concern frequency, localisation, duration and quality of itching and scratching. The patients should also be asked about their idea of hypothesized causes. Past medical history, personal life style factors, co-diseases, drug consumption and previous therapeutical regimens of their itching should be included. Additionally, patients should be questioned for associated symptoms such as e.g. sleeplessness, nervousness, uneasiness, sweating, indigestion. Finally, it is important to ask for their self-evaluation and personal opinion concerning quality of life. Results: We present data about 132 patients (59 men, 73 women) aged 14 to 84 years who completed a special questionnaire for pruritus patients. 56.8% (group 1) suffered from pruritus due to a primary dermatological aetiology (e.g. eczema, prurigo, lymphoma), in 35.6% (group 2), it was a symptom of an underlying systemic disease (e.g. renal, hepatic, neoplastic pruritus) and in 7.6% (group 3) pruritus was of unkown origin. Differences in frequency, quality, circadian rhythm of itching and scratching were found. The quality of life including mood and emotional status is more affected in group 1. Additionally, we applied the English version of this questionnaire to 84 African dermatology patients in Uganda.Conclusions: This questionnaire helps to obtain important information about pruritus patients in a purposeful time-frame and facilitates the identification of possible causes and the best individual therapy for pruritus. Besides, the physician obtains insights into the patient's mental health and quality of life. ADVERSE REACTIONS TO INJECTABLE FILLER SUBSTANCES IN AESTHETIC DER-MATOLOGY -RESULTS OF THE INJECTABLE FILLER SAFETY-STUDY (IFS-STUDY)Objectives: To describe adverse reactions in patients treated with injectable filler substances and to develop hypothesis on risk factors prior to further studies on the safety of these medical devices. Methods: With help of the Berlin Medical Association all local dermatologists, plastic surgeons as well as oral surgeons were identified, contacted and asked to report possible adverse reactions that occurred between 2000 and 2003. Additional cases were obtained from a private practice from Munich. All reported patients were interviewed by a questionnaire and additional documentation (photographs) was obtained, whenever possible. A...

In SCI-related pain, both SCIPI and PainDETECT show strong convergent construct validity versus the current IASP-grading system. SCIPI is now optimized from a 7-item to an easy-to-apply 4-item screening tool in German and English. We provided evidence that the scope for PainDETECT can be expanded to individuals with SCI.