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Introduction: Piebaldism is the dominantly inherited skin disorder clinically characterized by congenital stable and well circumscribed patches of leukoderma (depigmented skin) of ventral distribution, involving central forehead, frontal chest and abdomen and central portion of limbs, and by localized poliosis (white hair). Inherited or de novo mutations in proto-oncogene KIT, encoding the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit, underly the majority of piebaldism cases. Piebaldism is a disorder characterized by incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is based on the identification of at least two of the cardinal motor signs of the disease: rest tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, and in progressive state the loss of postural reflexes. The disease is manifested mainly by motor signs but several non-motor features are present in patients with PD. Often, these non-motor symptoms can precede the motor features of the disease. We review part of the different non-motor symptoms that can be present in patients with PD. In many cases, the non-motor symptoms could cause important Limitations in the functionality of the patients, no less than the motor symptoms, and they are often difficult to treat.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH, pseudotumor cerebri) was diagnosed in 4 patients who had been treated with tetracycline. The main symptom was headache, and in all there was papilledema. Symptoms and signs improved after tetracycline was discontinued and acetazolamide treatment started. When a patient receiving tetracycline develops IIH, the medication should be stopped as it may be the cause of the IIH, as appeared to be the case in our 4 patients.

Wilson's disease is an inherited, autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive hepatic and neurological symptoms. Clinical features usually start between the ages of 10 and 40. Psychiatric disturbances are present in almost all patients. In about a third of them psychiatric symptoms are present early in the disease and in almost 20% they precede hepatic and neurological dysfunction. In these cases the diagnosis of Wilson's disease is often difficult, as a result of which treatment is begun when the illness is already advanced. We report 3 patients with Wilson's disease in whom the psychiatric manifestations preceded neurological symptoms and necessitated admission for psychiatric treatment.

Legionnaire disease (LD) is characterized by a clinical picture of pneumonia and is usually accompanied by multisystem involvement. Neurologic manifestations tend to appear concurrently with, or soon after the onset of fever. Cases in which neurologic manifestations precede the development of pneumonia are exceedingly rare. We recently treated 3 patients with LD who presented with a clinical picture of severe viral encephalitis without pneumonia. There were high serum titres of IgG and IgM antibodies against several Legionella species. However, a positive reaction in the spinal fluid was detected only against L. bozemanii. All 3 patients were discharged without sequellae. We suggest that LD should be included in the differential diagnosis of viral encephalitis.

Responsibilities of the dental practitioner impose stress situations similar to those of any manager. These deal with elements of interpersonal behavior and skills not customarily taught to the dental practitioner. In an effort to train dentists so that they may better cope with these managerial situations a method was devised using as the primary instrument the Dental Managerial Situation Study (DMSS). The DMSS employs a variety of problem situations that the dentist is likely to encounter as a means of eliciting his or her managerial tendency (Managerial Profile). A managerial profile is then applied for diagnostic and training purposes. In group discussions, most appropriate behavior (i.e. normative responses) is determined and new ways to behave are learned as each student witnesses advantages and disadvantages of certain responses. The method described in this paper imparts a lexicon (knowledge) of alternative coping or non-coping behaviors to managerial situations. The dental practitioner is able to apply this knowledge in future situations in a way that is more coping and thus he or she may alleviate some managerial stress.