Infantile psoriasis

We report 14 infants younger than 2 years of age with psoriasis vulgaris in order to call attention to the existence of infantile psoriasis. Three of the patients were noted to have psoriasis in the neonatal period; the onset may have been prenatal in one. In 13 of the 14 patients the site of onset was determined by the isomorphic effect (K?bners phenomenon). Although nail pitting is usually said to be infrequent in childhood psoriasis, 11 (79%) of our patients had typical psoriatic nail changes. Psoriasis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of papulosquamous disorders in infants.     

Preliminary characterization and pathogenicity studies of a virus isolated from ticks (Ornithodoros coriaceus) and from tick-exposed cattle

Several viral isolates from ticks (Ornithodoros coriaceus) and from the blood of cattle which aborted after exposure to these ticks were found to be identical by reciprocal cross serum-neutralization tests. Characterization studies indicate that the virus is a member of the Togaviridae family, although specific identification is still incomplete. Whether its natural host is the tick or bovine animals is also unknown. Pregnant cows inoculated with the agent by all conventional parenteral routes, including intrafetal, delivered healthy calves at term. It was concluded, therefore, that it was not a bovine pathogen and that the abortions which occurred after tick-exposure were due to a 2nd agent in O coriaceus ticks which also harbor the virus. While several ciruses believed to be tick-borne have been isolated from cattle in various parts of the world, it is believed that the present report describes the first isolation in the Western Hemisphere for a viral agent from Argasid ticks which has been demonstrated to replicate in cattle.     

The therapeutic success of an analytic group-psychotherapy demonstrated objectively by the Giessen-test (author''s transl)

Results of follow-up examinations of 132 ears with serous or mucous middle ear effusions indicate that this disease is common in childhood and is also found in adults. In childhood adenoid growth as well as repeated catarrhal infection of the paranasal sinuses and the weakness of the levator palati play an important role in the development of middle ear effusions and deafness. With the aid of the operation microscope we were able to recognize this characteristic disease through the tympanic membrane. We perform regularly adenoidectomy together with paracentesis in this condition. In cases which had undergon several adenoidectomies we limit our treatment in the first instance to paracentesis. If cure is not so achieved we insert an inert tube into the tympanic membrane after the paracentesis. In persistent and difficult cases of glue ear radiation of the eustachion tube and antrotomy may be necessary.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in two East African oryxes

Tuberculous lesions were observed at necropsy of 2 East African oryxes (Oryx gazella beisa) at a municipal zoological park in Jackson, Ms. Microscopic examination revealed granulomas containing acid-fast bacilli in the lungs and liver of both animals, as well as in the uterus and mediastinal lymph nodes of 1 animal. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from the tissues of both oryxes and from fluid aspirated from the mammary gland of 1 oryx; the organism was pathogenic for guinea pigs but not for rabbits.