Our results confirm that psoriasis patients with more severe disease, can have hyperhomocysteinaemia, without regard to disease duration or joint involvement. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is not influenced by a target therapy for psoriasis and it is as greater as psoriasis severity. However, limitation of our study is the relatively small number of cases. Homocysteine plasmatic levels should be advisable as a further independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease in psoriasis patients.

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Background: Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) involving the external ear canal is an unusual presentation.Objective: To describe a case of EG diagnosed in a 5-day-old female who was admitted to our institute with multiple soft-tissue lesions involving the right arm, forearm, back, and perineum and with a complete facial palsy associated with ipsilateral external otitis.Results: The patient presented neonatal sepsis associated with significant leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and alteration of the coagulation profile. Microbiological analysis was performed on the purulent otorrhea and on the exudate material collected at the level of the genital lesion; both of these specimens tested positive for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An intravenous antibiotic treatment was administered and a rapid improvement from the infection was observed. Conclusion:The rare occurrence of this presentation, combined with the potential for fatal complications from EG if not swiftly diagnosed underline the importance of this case.Contexte: Il est plutô t rare que l'ecthyma gangré neux (EG) touche le conduit auditif externe.Objectif: L'é tude consiste en un exposé de cas d'EG, diagnostiqué chez une nouveau-né e de 5 jours, admise dans notre

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic literature review of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) originating exclusively in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) district. An appropriate string was run on PubMed to retrieve articles dealing with ENT presentations of MCC. A double cross-check was performed on citations and full-text articles found using the selected inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, 43 articles were finally included in the study, describing 51 cases of MCC involving the ENT region: 22/51 (43%) cases involving the ear; 20/51 (39%) cases involving the mucosal sites; 9/51 (18%) cases involving other ENT regions. Patients with mucosal site involvement showed a higher mortality rate from the disease (45%) in comparison with the other two groups, especially when compared with those patients having primary involvement of the ear (22%). The ENT specialist should suspect and consider MCC, especially in elderly patients presenting with a suspicious lesion of the auricular pavilion, so as to avoid misdiagnosis and delayed treatments.

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