Micronutrient deficiencies can arise in various conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and diagnosing these deficiencies can be challenging in the absence of specific clinical signs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of various trace elements hair concentration in IBD patients compared to a healthy control group and to identify potential correlations between the micronutrient status and relevant parameters related to disease activity. The concentrations of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and sulfur in the hair of 37 IBD patients with prior diagnosed IBD (12 Crohn’s disease and 25 ulcerative colitis) and 31 healthy controls were evaluated by Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). Significant differences in hair concentration profile of studied trace elements were identified for IBD patients compared to healthy controls. A significantly decreased hair concentration of iron, magnesium, calcium and selenium and a significantly increased sulfur hair concentration were observed in IBD patients at the time of evaluation. A decreased hair calcium concentration (r = −0.772, p = 0.003) and an increased sulfur concentration (r = 0.585, p = 0.046) were significantly correlated with disease activity. Conclusion: Hair mineral and trace elements evaluation may contribute to a proper evaluation of their status in IBD patients and improving the management of nutritional status of IBD patients.

Cutaneous larva migrans (also known as creeping eruption, sand worm eruption, plumbers itch, duck hunters itch) is caused by penetration of skin by third-stage larvae of animal hookworms; first reported by Lee in 1874. Adult hookworms infest the intestines of cats and dogs and their ova in excreta hatch under favorable conditions into infective larvae that penetrate the host skin. Cutaneous larva migrans is a common endemic disease in tropical and subtropical countries but it may also occur in other regions of the world. We report three cases of cutaneous larva migrans acquired during sunbathing at the sea and lying on the ground. StreszczenieLarwa skórna wędrująca (znana również jako pełzająca erupcja, erupcja piaskowego robaka, świąd hydraulików, świąd łowców kaczek) jest spowodowana penetracją skóry przez larwy trzeciego stadium tęgoryjców. Po raz pierwszy została opisana w 1874 roku przez Lee. Dorosłe tęgoryjce zakażają jelita psów i kotów, a ich jaja w odchodach dojrzewają do zakaźnej postaci larwy, która przenika przez skórę gospodarza. Larwa skórna wędrująca jest częstą chorobą endemiczną w krajach tropikalnych i subtropikalnych, ale może również wystąpić w innych regionach świata. Przedstawiamy trzy przypadki skórnych larw wędrujących nabytych podczas opalania nad morzem i leżenia na ziemi.

Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute viral infection that occurs usually among children in summer. This paper reports a high incidence of HFMD in children and adults, occurred in summer-autumn 2012 in the northeastern part of Romania. We present a few cases with some atypical clinical manifestations.

Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum caused by Malassezia yeasts. It is reported in a high incidence especially in warm and humid areas; clinical manifestations include scaly hypopigmented or hyperpigmented macules in characteristic areas of the body: chest, back, abdomen and proximal extremities. We describe a case of Pityriasis versicolor (hypopigmented) localized only on the face in a 10-year-old boy. The first diagnosis was vitiligo, the child underwent detailed and investigations about wide range in the Pediatric Hospital, the family was very anxious and the treatment proposed (phototherapy type UVB short wave (20 seances of UVB), emollients and topical steroids) was unsuccessful.

No abstract