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A 5-month-old female infant, preterm, exclusively breast-fed, presented with a 2-month history of erythematous, erosive, and crusted patches and plaques in a peri-oral, scalp, genital, and peri-anal distribution. A clinical diagnosis of zinc deficiency was confirmed by a low serum zinc level in the infant and decreased maternal breast milk zinc. Complete resolution occurred within two weeks of oral zinc supplementation. Acquired zinc deficiency is a rare nutritional disorder of infants. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment will prevent associated morbidity and complications.

Introduction: Several skin disorders, immunosuppression-induced, have been described in transplant recipients. The aim of our study is to characterize the clinical spectrum of skin disorders and to compare the findings in liver and kidney transplant recipients., Material and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from the medical records of all liver and kidney transplant recipients from 2000 - 2010 who had been referred to our Dermato-Venereology Department., Results: Three hundred nineteen transplant recipients (23.5%) have been seen, resulting in 410 diagnoses (230 in the subpopulation of liver transplant recipients and 180 in the subpopulation of kidney transplant recipients) grouped into 4 categories: 1) cutaneous infections; 2) skin cancer or premalignant skin lesions; 3) cutaneous side-effects; 4) non-iatrogenic skin disorders. Cutaneous infections were the most common presentations (42.2%), on average 32.7 months after transplantation. The latter group included 20.5% of fungal, 12.7% viral and 8.5% bacterial infections. Skin cancer and premalignant skin lesions made up 11.7% of all diagnoses, over a mean of 44.8 months post transplant and occurring primarily in kidney transplant recipients (20.6% vs 4.8% in liver transplantation patients; P < 0.001). The kidney transplant population had a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to basal cell carcinoma (BCC) ratio of 1.3:1 with SCC predominance, and the liver transplant population had a BCC:SCC ratio of 3.5:1. We also identified 10.5% of cutaneous side-effects and 35.6% of non-iatrogenic skin disorders., Discussion: Although neoplastic pathology is more frequently mentioned in the literature, cutaneous infections were the most common diagnoses in our study. The significant differences between the two subpopulations studied may be related to higher immunosuppression after kidney transplantation., Conclusion: The high number of skin disorders reported in these patients makes it essential for Dermato-Venereology to be included within the multidisciplinary post-transplant care provided.

Among the new applications of dermoscopy, five main fields can be distinguished: dermoscopy of skin infections and infestations (entomodermoscopy), inflammatory skin diseases (inflammoscopy), hair disorders (trichoscopy), nailfold cappilaries (capillaroscopy), and dermoscopy for treatment decisions or treatment monitoring. The term entomodermoscopy, from the words dermoscopy and entomology, has been introduced to describe the use of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of infectious skin disorders. Herein, we report several cases concerning its applicability in the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum, scabies, lice infestations, viral warts and early cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 46 year-old male patient with HIV-1/HCV coinfection and liver cirrhosis admitted with fever, prostration, and asthenia. On physical examination, scarce necrotic pustules on an erythematous base on the fingers and toes with swelling, pain and functional limitation of the left tibiotarsal joint were noted. Laboratory revealed only slight elevation of liver enzymology and CRP. We admitted the diagnostic hypotheses of endocarditis, meningococcemia or gonococcemia. After isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from a blood culture, intravenous ceftriaxone was started with clinical improvement. Pharyngeal swab PCR positivity for N. gonorrhoeae confirmed the diagnosis of pharyngeal origin disseminated gonococcemia. Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Disseminated gonococcemia in the form of the classical "arthritis-dermatitis" syndrome accompanies only 1-2% of mucosal infections. Pharyngeal gonorrhea is often asymptomatic in men and women, probably constituting an important reservoir of the agent. The rise in gonorrhea incidence makes this case very pertinent in any dermatologist's clinical practice today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 35-year old black woman was referred to a Dermatology appointment due to subcutaneous nodules located in the right paraumbilical region and right flank that had appeared 2 weeks before. Her medical history was relevant for renal insuficiency on hemodialysis and infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). On physical examination there were two well-defined subcutaneous nodules; upon palpation, these lesions had a hard consistency, were painful and not adherent to the deep planes. An incisional biopsy was performed and histopathological examination was consistent with the diagnostic hypothesis of calcinosis cutis. A careful review of all medication established a temporal relationship between the skin nodules and subcutaneous administration of nadroparin calcium in that location. The nodules resolved spontaneously within 2 months after stopping the nadroparin calcium subcutaneous injections. Calcinosis cutis due to subcutaneous administration of low-molecular-weight calcium-containing heparins is rare and it is assumed that an elevated calcium-phosphorus product may be decisive in its pathophysiology. It is generally self-limited, resolving spontaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]