Dear colleagues. Dermatology owes its independence as a subject in good part to venereal diseases, especially syphilis.
At the end of the 19th century, the Canadian physician Sir William Osler stated: “He who knows syphilis, knows medicine”. Today, the importance of syphilis has declined, although the disease is by no means eradicated. What has remained is dermatology’s contribution to recognizing indications of systemic diseases in cutaneous signs and thus enabling their diagnosis at an early stage. With this in mind, the two articles in the continuing education focus of this issue of DERMATOLOGIE PRAXIS deal with the “clues” that a thorough skin status can provide as an indication of internal diseases. The contribution by Wüest and Itin from Basel is aimed at internal diseases in adults, while the review by Smith, Weibel, and Theiler from Zurich covers the pediatric field.
What you may additionally notice about this issue is the large number of contributions to congresses and conferences. On the one hand, this reflects the wide range of training events on offer, which sometimes leaves us spoilt for choice.
Since it is impossible to attend all the conferences, the summaries by Andreas Grossmann and especially Susanne Schelosky offer you the possibility to at least follow the core statements.
On the other hand, 2013 is also an anniversary year in several respects. The Swiss Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SGDV) celebrates its 100th anniversary. Accordingly, space has been given in this issue to the anniversary congress held in Montreux from September 19-21. The Dermatological Outpatient Clinic of the Triemli City Hospital also celebrated its 100th anniversary with a continuing education event for family physicians on August 29. A second event for dermatologists will follow on November 14. Finally, there were also personal anniversaries to celebrate, in this case the 75th birthday of Prof. Brunello Wüthrich, which was celebrated with a scientific symposium on September 26. As you can see from this issue, Brunello Wüthrich thankfully continues to publish as a member of the scientific advisory board of DERMATOLOGIE PRAXIS, in this case with the second part of his review on food allergies. Perhaps the secret of true youthfulness is also revealed here: active activity coupled with a good dose of joie de vivre.
Enjoy the reading!
Your
Siegfried Borelli, MD
