Gall-inducing insects are highly specialized herbivores that modify the phenotype of their host plants. Beyond the direct manipulation of plant morphology and physiology in the immediate environment of the gall, there is also evidence of plant-mediated effects of gall-inducing insects on other species of the assemblages and ecosystem processes associated with the host plant. We analysed the imp...

The pemphigus group comprises the autoimmune intraepidermal blistering diseases classically divided into two major types: pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous. Pemphigus herpetiformis, IgA pemphigus, paraneoplastic pemphigus and IgG/IgA pemphigus are rarer forms that present some clinical, histological and immunopathological characteristics that are different from the classical types. Th...

BACKGROUND Trichoscopy is becoming increasingly popular in diagnosing hair and scalp diseases. Scalp involvement in pemphigus is common. The scalp may be the first or only site of clinical manifestation of the disease. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze whether trichoscopy may be useful in aiding differential diagnosis of scalp lesions in patients with pemphigus vulgaris and pemph...

BACKGROUND There are two main clinical subsets of pemphigus: pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus. Clinical and epidemiological changes related to both types of pemphigus have been observed in the last years. OBJECTIVES To analyze a 21-year historical case series of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus in the northeast region of the state of Sao Paulo, where pemphigus foliaceus is...

Journal Compilation © 2012 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Pemphigus is an autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disease characterized by auto-antibodies against cell surface antigens of epidermal keratinocytes. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are the major subtypes. Several other variants have been proposed, including pemphigus erythematosus, pemphigus vegetans, pemp...

BACKGROUND Pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris are endemic in the northeastern region of São Paulo State, Brazil. They are treated mainly with systemic corticosteroids, which may provoke osteoporosis; atherosclerosis, higher blood pressure, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, hyperlipidemia and abdominal obesity. These side effects of corticoids also constitute criteria for the diag...

BACKGROUND Pemphigus is a common autoimmune blistering disorder in India. However, there are no population based surveys from India available to study the prevalence of this disease. AIMS To estimate the incidence of pemphigus in Thrissur district, Kerala, South India. METHODS Questionnaire based survey was conducted among the practicing dermatologists of Trichur district between 1 st Janua...

The word “pemphigus” is derived from the Greek term "pemphix” meaning bubble or blister. Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune diseases (see Table 4) characterized by intra-epithelial blistering, resulting in superficial vesicles or bullae that easily rupture, resulting in ulceration of mucosal and/or cutaneous sites. Although rare, pemphigus causes significant morbidity and potential mortality fo...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reactivity of indirect immunofluorescence using rat bladder epithelium as a substrate in patients with pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris from the Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil. METHODS Thirty-two patients (8 male and 24 female) from the Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, were select...

BACKGROUND Pemphigus autoantibodies have been reported in healthy relatives of pemphigus patients suggesting a genetic predisposition in the pathogenesis of the disease. AIMS To test for the presence of pemphigus autoantibodies in healthy relatives of Turkish patients of pemphigus. METHODS The study group comprised 45 pemphigus patients, 75 unaffected family members and 47 healthy individua...