Because the pattern of onychomycoses in a country is changing with time, epidemiological studies are necessary for determining the prevalence and the causative agents of the infection.

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PBC patients present with a wide variety of cutaneous manifestations varying in severity. Multiple skin fungal infections have been found even in the early stages. Since in more than one third of our PBC patients the dermatologic lesion was the presenting sign or symptom leading to diagnosis we believe that physicians should be aware so that a prompt and early diagnosis may be achieved.

SUMMARY: Exploitation patterns of the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, in two Mediterranean areas were studied in three ports, two in the Thracian Sea (Greece, Eastern Mediterranean) and one in the Catalan Sea (Spain, Western Mediterranean). The study period of one year (July 1998-June 1999) included a monthly collection of data on commercial landings, fishing effort and length distribution of O. vulgaris. Many gears exploit this species in both areas. Specialised and highly productive artisanal gears (fyke nets, pots and traps) have been developed. Herein it is shown that: (1) trawls are responsible for most octopus landings; (2) trawls exploit mostly the small and immature individuals while the artisanal fleets exploit the large and mature ones; (3) there is a marked seasonality of catches; (4) there is little or no interaction between the gears fishing octopus, indicating that each gear affects a certain size range; (5) and the octopus specimens from the Greek area are clearly smaller than the ones from the Spanish area. Our results suggest that octopus fisheries require more effective management strategies. The creation of marine harvest refuges may be beneficial.

Heparin analogues in low doses have antiproliferative and immunomodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose enoxaparin administered subcutaneously in lichen planus (LP). Eighteen patients with various types of LP were treated in an open study for 6-13 weeks. Efficacy and safety data were recorded. Complete remission was observed in 11 of 18 patients (61%) and marked improvement in two (11%). Widespread cutaneous involvement and reticulated oral LP had the best response, while in LP of the scalp the response was poor. Enoxaparin is a promising alternative therapy for various types of LP.

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A 55-year-old woman presented with a 9-week history of a 0.9 × 1.2-cm symptomless, solitary, slowly enlarging bruiselike plaque located on her left middle finger. One week later, the skin over the affected area became centrally eroded and thus attributed to mechanic trauma (Fig. 1). Her previous medical history included arterial hypertension and resection of nonfunctioning adrenocortical neoplasm (incidentaloma) since 5 months. Laboratory examinations, including blood cell counts, urinalysis, routine blood chemistry, immunologic investigations and endocrine screening, were within normal range or negative. X-rays of the left hand were normal. There was no clinical evidence of regional lymph node involvement. Because of the history of adrenocortical neoplasm, computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and abdomen showed no evidence of metastatic disease. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of cutaneous angiosarcoma was suspected.Histologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed vascular proliferation within the dermis, composed of arborizing vessels lined by monomorphic, protuberant, hobnail-like endothelial cells (Fig. 2). Focal solid areas consisting of bland, mostly spindle, cells sometimes investing minute papillae with hyaline-like collagenous cores were also seen. Cellular atypia and mitotic activity were unremarkable. Immunostaining against CD31 decorated most endothelial cells, as well as a large number of those within the solid areas (Fig. 3). Histological diagnosis of retiform hemangioendothelioma was established. A subsequent surgical excision with histologically tumor-free margins was achieved. The patient has been followed up closely for 4 years with no recurrence or metastases of both neoplasms.