No abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate research and outreach priorities for Progetto Ibleo (Project Ibleo), a center created in 1990 with tripartite government funding to serve dairy producers in the Hyblean region of Sicily. Data comprised values for production and composition of milk from 1984 to 1989 from 35 herds of Modicana cows on a system based on pasture and that from 69 input-intensive herds of Holstein cows, associated lactation and reproduction measures, and yield and composition of forages from 4 of these farms in 1988. Season had a large effect on the neutral detergent fiber and crude protein composition of forages, production and composition of milk, and predicted yield of fresh Ragusano cheese manufactured from the milk of these cows. The poorest forage quality and the poorest cow performance were observed in summer and fall months (May to October). Lactation curves that were flat, without a discernible peak, or convex were observed for both systems, especially for cows calving in spring and in the dry summer seasons (March to July). These abnormalities, signifying substantial sacrifices in production potential, probably had a complex etiology that stemmed from low nutrient intake and high neutral detergent fiber and low crude protein composition of the grazed and preserved forages. Research and outreach priorities to support the Hyblean dairy industry should include chemical evaluation of forages and other feedstuffs, low moisture ensiling of high quality winter forages, better formulation of diets that are dense with nutrients, and the shifting of calving patterns to better exploit high quality winter forages.

A case of multiple xanthogranulomas located bilaterally on arms, armpits, legs, trunk, abdomen, scalp, neck and plantar surfaces in a 25-year-old man is reported. The patient was evaluated by polarised light dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) that showed peculiar aspects. In particular, dermoscopy showed a homogeneous orange-yellowish hue that is related to the histopathological presence of foamy histiocytes and Touton giant cells; the last typically appeared at RCM as peculiar giant cells surrounded by highly refractive ring due to the cytoplasm rich of lipids. Laboratory investigations, including routine haematological examination, liver and renal function tests, serum lipid and sugar levels were normal. The patient started isotretinoin 20 mg once daily. After 6 months, some lesions flattened, leading to yellowish or hyperpigmented macules, but new lesions raised up.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that subclinical actinic keratoses (AKs) may be clinically evidenced following treatment of multiple AKs with a topical immunotherapy agent known to reveal a “field cancerization”. The aim of our study was to investigate if subclinical AKs may be evidenced also in case of single AKs. Ten patients with single, solitary AKs were treated with IQ 3.75% cream applied on the lesion and on a 5 × 5 cm surrounding area once daily for two 2‐week treatment cycles separated by a 2‐week treatment‐free period. Lesions were evaluated by clinical, dermoscopic and RCM examination. At the end of treatment, subclinical lesions were evidenced in 8 of 10 patients revealing the presence of a field cancerization. If larger studies will confirm these results, field cancerization could likely be considered also in case of solitary AKs, resulting in a different approach in terms of disease evolution and treatment.

Squaric acid dibutylester is an effective therapeutic option and is significantly more effective than vehicle.