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Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a dermatological disorder accompanied by itching that greatly affects the quality of life and quality of sleep. Therefore, it is assumed that CSU patients consequently experience reduced melatonin secretion and lower values of serum or salivary melatonin. This pilot study included 20 patients with CSU (chronic urticaria of unknown etiology that lasts for more than 6 weeks) and 10 healthy controls. All subjects were examined by a dermatovenereologist-allergist, as well as an oral pathologist, to exclude oral pathological conditions. Salivary melatonin levels were determined by ELISA and all subjects completed a standardized Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index on the same day they gave a saliva sample for analysis. According to our results, 86% of CSU patients had decreased values of salivary melatonin, and lower salivary melatonin values significantly correlated with a reduced quality of life in CSU patients. This study was the first to analyze melatonin in CSU patients, also suggesting a possible new therapeutic option for the treatment of CSU., (Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital.)

The lack of scabies recognition by physicians is often caused by its similarity with other dermatoses and allergies such as eczema, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, etc. The aim of this study was to present the most common misdiagnoses of scabies in physician's work. With the aim of preventing future misdiagnoses in physicians' work, we present 6 cases of patients (1 woman and 5 men, aged 23-82) who had been misdiagnosed prior to admission to our ward (tertiary care unit). In our patients, scabies was unrecognized for months during which time the patients were treated for allergic/immune diseases (nummular eczema, drug-induced reaction, allergic contact dermatitis, autoimmune skin disease). Additionally, none of our patients had lived in unhygienic conditions or were close to infected persons, but all had concomitant itch. Because of the similarity between scabies and pruritic allergic disorders, it is important to exclude scabies before diagnosing an allergy, based on patient history and skin examination. Early scabies recognition in practice is crucial for minimizing the disease societal impacts.

Although there are many single case reports on paraneoplastic dermatoses in the literature, there are very rare articles containing multiple cases. A retrospective study was performed to examine paraneoplastic dermatoses and accompanying malignancies based on skin manifestations and appropriate diagnostic evaluations. We recorded outcomes, current conditions, and surgical/oncologic treatments. Analysis revealed paraneoplastic dermatoses in 17 patients with various skin lesions, i.e. eczematous dermatitis, vasculitis, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, pruritus, chronic urticaria/angioedema, alopecia areata, flushing, bullous pemphigoid, dermatomyositis, and localized scleroderma (morphea). They were associated with different solid and hematologic malignancies (3 gastric, 2 prostate, 2 bladder, 2 thyroid, and 2 lymphoma), along with 1 case each of the following: lung, hepatocellular, esophageal, endometrial, kidney, and multiple myeloma. The majority of skin lesions gradually regressed after malignancy treatment. To our knowledge, our three cases of paraneoplastic eczematous dermatitis are the first to be associated with gastric, prostate and endometrial cancer. Additionally, we report a case of a patient with alopecia areata of the beard associated with thyroid cancer. Early malignancy detection based on skin markers makes early introduction of surgical/oncologic therapy possible and usually leads to skin lesion regression while reducing revolving door visits to specialists and the (financial) burden on the healthcare system.

Plaster splints are used daily in surgical and orthopedic fields in order to immobilize injured children and adults. The aim of this study was to measure the aerodynamic diameter and concentration of dust particles in the air caused by sawing plaster splints (calcium sulfate dehy-drate). We performed fractional measurements of airborne dust particles. The measured particles, which can potentially be inhaled, may have a specific negative effect on human health. Measurements were conducted in laboratory research facilities that simulated hospital conditions within a casting room and the associated waiting room. Measurements within the casting room were made using two particle collector devices and one laser photometer. The measurement for the simulated waiting room was performed using the same principles and devices. The collected plaster dust particles differed in aerodynamic diameter and concentration according to the various locations observed. The highest concentration of particles of all sizes was recorded at the site of cast sawing. There was direct correlation between distance from the source and concentration of airborne particles; this concentration was lowest in the waiting room. The concentrations of plaster dust recorded were lower than the recommended minimal limit values for total and respiratory fractions in Croatia. Accordingly, it can be assumed that sawing of plaster splints has no harmful health effects on the exposed patients and health personnel.