Behjat K.H. Moghadam

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis and stomatitis

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare clinical condition associated with variable cutaneous and mucosal eruptions such as urticaria, erythema multiforme, and eczema. Exacerbation is influenced by hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle. The patient described in this report had recurrent cyclic lesions on the skin, oral mucosa, and lips that appeared just before regular menstruation and persisted until a few days after. During each cycle, the eruptions appeared at the previously affected sites, mimicking the clinical feature of a fixed drug eruption. This rare phenomenon is attributed to an autoimmune reaction to female sex hormones. The condition failed to respond to therapy with prednisone, but improved with the use of an antiestrogen drug, tamoxifen. This medication suppresses ovulation and the post-ovulation rise in endogenous progesterone levels.

Chlorhexidine mouthwash-induced fixed drug eruption. Case report and review of the literature

Various adverse reactions including anaphylactic shock have already been reported after the topical application of chlorhexidine. This article reports for the first time a hypersensitivity reaction in the form of fixed drug eruption after the use of a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. This report should bring an increased awareness of the possibility of systemic hypersensitivity reaction to chlorhexidine in a previously sensitized person. The report also will add fixed drug eruption to the list of skin hypersensitivity reactions caused by chlorhexidine.

Aerobic bacterial contamination in dental materials.

Current concern about disease transmission points out the need for better infection control in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to test samples of dental materials in factory-sealed containers for aerobic bacterial contamination. Multiple unopened containers of 12 different dental materials were obtained from the dental school dispensary. Samples were removed from each container and incubated at 38 degrees C in standard broth medium for 1 week. Those that exhibited visual signs of possible bacterial growth were subjected to a Gram stain for verification. The results of that test indicated that 20% to 30% of the samples of alginate, glass ionomer cement and base powders, and retraction cord contained bacterial contamination. The remaining eight dental materials exhibited no apparent bacterial growth. Thus viable aerobic organisms were found in samples from 4 of 12 dental material products.

Ataxia-telangiectasia: Review of the literature and a case report

Cutaneous vascular abnormalities are frequently detected on initial examination of newborns. Many of these lesions are common variations of normal lesions such as nevus simplex and strawberry hemangiomas. Some of the vascular abnormalities, however, are a feature of a number of syndromes with multisystemic involvement. These syndromes have been described under the heading of neurocutaneous diseases. Ataxia-telangiectasia is a neurocutaneous syndrome that appears with progressive cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasias, and abnormalities of many other organs. Oral mucosa is also affected. Current concepts on the pathogenesis of ataxia-telangiectasia and one case of the disease are presented in this article.