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I Dear Editor i , Naevi typically involute after the fourth decade of life and are rare in the elderly.1,2 However, the rate at which naevi disappear with age varies greatly with some individuals still having large numbers of naevi in late middle age. Melanocytic lesions fulfilled the following 4 criteria: (i) a clinical-dermoscopic diagnosis of enlarging naevus with a peripheral rim of brown clods as in accordance with Kittler4; (ii) lesions that showed a growth and maintained a growth were routinely excised; (iii) no other dermoscopic signs of melanoma, and (iv) a histopathologic diagnosis of naevus or melanoma. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Different lifestyle and dietetic factors have been linked with the onset and severity of acne. Objective: To assess the complex interconnection between dietetic variables and acne. Methods: This was a reanalysis of data from a case-control study by using a semantic connectivity map approach. 563 subjects, aged 10-24 years, involved in a case-control study of acne between March 2009 and February 2010, were considered in this study. The analysis evaluated the link between a moderate to severe acne and anthropometric variables, family history and dietetic factors. Analyses were conducted by relying on an artificial adaptive system, the Auto Semantic Connectivity Map (AutoCM). Results: The AutoCM map showed that moderate-severe acne was closely associated with family history of acne in first degree relatives, obesity (BMI ≥ 30), and high consumption of milk, in particular skim milk, cheese/yogurt, sweets/ cakes, chocolate, and a low consumption of fish, and limited intake of fruits/vegetables. Conclusion: Our analyses confirm the link between several dietetic items and acne. When providing care, dermatologists should also be aware of the complex interconnection between dietetic factors and acne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The most frequently employed diagnostic criteria of atopic dermatitis (AD) can be fulfilled in the absence of elevated total circulating IgE or specific IgE to food allergens or environmental aeroallergens and/or in the absence of personal or familial history of atopy as well. Therefore a distinction between ‘extrinsic’ or ‘allergic’ and ‘intrinsic’ or ‘non-allergic’ AD has been suggested. Recently, a patch test with environmental aeroallergens, named atopy patch test (APT), has been proposed for use in the study of AD. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the reactivity to APT in patients with ‘extrinsic’ and ‘intrinsic’ AD. Patients, materials and methods Two groups of adult male subjects with AD were examined consecutively in our department (Department of Dermatology, Italian Navy Main Hospital, Taranto, Italy) and patch tested with whole bodies of house dust mites (HDM) at a concentration of 20% in petrolatum (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 50%, D. farinae 50%). The groups included: (i) 95 patients affected by the adult clinical form of ‘extrinsic’ AD; (ii) 12 patients affected by the adult clinical form of ‘intrinsic’ AD; and (iii) a control group of 49 adult healthy male subjects with a negative anamnesis for eczema and atopy and negative skin prick test to aeroallergens/food allergens and/or normal level of total circulating IgE, also patch tested with the same allergen. The statistical differences were calculated by χ2 test and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were provided. Results The APT was positive in 47.4% (CI: 37–57%) of ‘extrinsic’ AD, in 66.6% (CI: 41–93%) of ‘intrinsic’ AD and in 12.2% (CI: 3–21%) of healthy subjects. The differences between the two AD subgroups and the control group were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]