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Background: Little is known about the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in the population of individuals who are withdrawing from alcohol, and about possible consequences of latent scurvy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin C deficiency in patients who were withdrawing from alcohol, its correlation with latent scurvy (mainly tiredness and weakness) and the change in the latter symptoms at 3 months after oral vitamin C supplementation., Methods: A total of 47 patients (33 males, 14 females) who volunteered to undertake alcohol detoxification were included prospectively between January 2014 and November 2016. Determination of vitamin C blood levels was performed, and selected clinical signs of latent scurvy were recorded in a structured questionnaire. The decrease of tiredness after vitamin C supplementation was also studied 3 months after the inclusion of patients who had no other explanation for their weakness., Results: About 57.44% of the patients were affected by vitamin C deficiency (< 11.4 mol/L). Less than one-third (29.70%) had a normal plasma vitamin C level. There was a clear correlation between decreased vitamin C levels and the presence of tiredness (P = 0.003) and no correlation between gum inflammation or purpura (P = 0.97 and 0.44 respectively). After 3 months of alcohol withdrawal and vitamin C supplementation, 89% of the patients reported a decrease of tiredness., Conclusions: Vitamin C deficiency is prevalent in patients undertaking alcohol detoxification. Patients with this vitamin deficiency status often suffer from tiredness, which may be symptoms of latent scurvy. Even if tiredness is a highly nonspecific symptom, presence of fatigue should draw attention and the vitamin C level should be determined. Our preliminary data suggest that vitamin C supplementation, may decrease fatigue and improve patient's quality of life. This last evolution needs to be confirmed by a double-blind randomized study., Competing Interests: None.

Rationale: Scurvy is often diagnosed at the state of well-established signs as, for example, skin and visceral purpura, gums involvement, loss of healthy teeth, which derive mostly from disturbance of collagen metabolism. Little is known about the state of latent scurvy, which symptoms are nonspecific and may mimic more common conditions such as weakness, leg pain, and muscle aching., Patient Concerns: We report 3 cases of extreme lassitude and leg pain in alcoholics. In 2 of the 3 cases, discreet classic symptoms such as petechiae or hyperkeratosis of the legs involving collagen metabolism were also present., Diagnoses: Latent scurvy has been diagnosed thanks to historical experimental data reporting and undetectable ascorbic acid levels., Interventions: In addition to the treatments recommended by the French Alcohol Society, patients were given oral vitamin C 500 mg to 1000 mg per day for at least three months., Outcomes: Vitamin C supplementation allowed the regression of the symptoms, greatly improved the quality of life, and gave the possibility to return to work. Cartinine, requiring vitamin C for its hydroxylation, is an essential cofactor in the transport of long-chain fatty acid into mitochondrial matrix. Therefore, it plays an important role in energy production via beta-oxidation. It is thought that carnitine metabolism impairment is responsible for weakness or muscle aching., Lessons: We recommend being aware of the possibility of latent scurvy in chronic alcohol abusers. The vitamin C supplementation and dietetic recommendation eating fresh fruit and vegetables may help to cure tiredness and to return more easily to socialization and to work., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Formic acid 85% constitutes the active substance of a new wart removal agent marketed in France under the name of Objectif ZeroVerrue(®), a product sold over-the-counter for adults and children aged over four years, and on a doctor's recommendation for children aged under four years. Its mechanism of action may involve cellular destruction through dehydration., Patients and Methods: Herein we report two cases of cutaneous necrosis following application of formic acid 85%. One case was severe, affecting the extremity of the middle finger and involving the underlying extensor apparatus in a girl aged 3 and a half years. This necrosis required the creation of a pedicled fasciocutaneous flap and temporary arthroereisis., Discussion: The precautions for use set out in the information leaflet for this preparation based on formic acid must be strictly adhered to by patients. In particular, only one application should be made per week, taking care to avoid adjacent skin. It is essential to suspend treatment if the skin is still erythematous after the previous application, and the treated area must not be occluded with bandages. Doctors must be aware of the risk of necrosis, since their recommendation is required for children under the age of four years., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Spontaneous remission occurs in less than 10% of patients suffering from alopecia areata (AA) totalis for more than 2 years. The efficacy of PUVA therapy is controversial due to recurrence of hair loss after cessation. We report two cases presenting with AA totalis and AA universalis. After hair regrowth, relapse of hair loss occurred upon cessation of PUVA and zinc gluconate combination therapy. However, hair regrowth was noted upon the reintroduction of zinc gluconate and sulfur amino acids without PUVA in the first case and with episodic PUVA in the second case. The chronology of events appears to support the notion that zinc has a significant effect. Our findings suggest the possibility of a subgroup of zinc-responsive patients, but the identification of these patients remains difficult. Metallothioneins and zinc transporters regulating the entrance and exit of zinc in cells might play a key role. Combination therapy with immunomodulators may be administered to facilitate enhanced zinc-targeted action. Taking into account the safety profile of zinc, 30-40 mg/day of zinc metal may be used during at least 1 year, although we recommend to monitor its serum and hair levels. Studies with a larger number of patients are required to further investigate the therapeutic effect of zinc., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)