Clinical, Histological and Trichoscopic Correlations in Scalp Disorders.

Trichoscopy is the term coined for the dermoscopic imaging of scalp and hair. This diagnostic technique, simple and noninvasive, can be used as a handy bedside tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. It allows the recognition of morphologic structures not visible by the naked eye and provides the clinician with a range of dermoscopic findings necessary for differential diagnosis. Trichoscopy observation can be broadly grouped as interfollicular patterns and follicular patterns. Recently, a third mixed class, called the follicular plus interfollicular pattern, has been introduced. Some of these features are specific to a certain scalp disease, while others can be found in many hair disorders. Although studies suggest that the use of trichoscopy can improve clinical accuracy, further investigation is needed. This review provides update information on the trichoscopic features of the most common scalp disorders, striving to show a histopathological and clinical correlation.

Videodermoscopy scalp psoriasis severity index (VSCAPSI): a useful tool for evaluation of scalp psoriasis.

The standard methods used to diagnose scalp psoriasis vary in sensitivity, reproducibility, and invasiveness. Videodermoscopy can be used to explore microcirculatory modifications in skin diseases. Psoriasis presents three pathognomonic vascular patterns: red dots, hairpin vessels and red globular rings. Our aim was to create a videodermoscopy scalp psoriasis severity index (VSCAPSI) for evaluation of scalp psoriasis, especially mild and moderate forms that often are not clinically appreciable. VSCAPSI takes into account the area of the scalp affected by psoriasis, the presence and morphology of vascular patterns, the erythema and desquamation. Videodermoscopy images obtained between November 2009 to June 2010 from 900 participants with various scalp and hair disorders were reviewed for distinguishing features. During the 2010 Italian congress on psoriasis, in order to assess the reproducibility and efficacy of the VSCAPSI, 146 dermatologists were asked to evaluate 16 videodermoscopy images of scalp psoriasis using the VSCAPSI. Of the 900 patients, 85 new cases of scalp psoriasis were diagnosed. The other 815 patients were found to be suffering from different scalp and hair diseases. Of 146 dermatologists, 28 did not recognize erythema, 15 desquamation and 7 the vascular patterns. The VSCAPSI provides important evidence for early diagnosis, differential diagnosis, for follow-up and screening.

Beyond appearance: An unusual manifestation of isolated oral secondary syphilis.

Syphilis is a sexually acquired chronic infection caused by Treponema pallidum and is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. The secondary stage of the disease results from the hematogenous and lymphatic dissemination of treponemes after a few weeks or months, and it is characterized by recurrent activity of the disease, with muco-cutaneous as well as systemic manifestations. Mucosal lesions range from small, superficial ulcers that resemble painless aphthae to large gray plaques, and they are generally associated with systemic manifestations of the disease. The exclusive asymptomatic oral localization not associated with general manifestations is uncommon but may actually be unrecognized and under-reported. We report a case of isolated oral manifestation as the unique presentation of secondary syphilis.

Influence of counterions on the structure of bis(oxazoline)copper(II) complexes; an EPR and ENDOR investigation.

X- and Q-band EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy was used to study the structure of a series of heteroleptic and homoleptic copper bis(oxazoline) complexes, based on the (-)-2,2'-isopropylidenebis[(4S)-4-phenyl-2-oxazoline] ligand and bearing different counterions (chloride versus triflate); labelled [Cu(II)(1a-c)]. The geometry of the two heteroleptic complexes, [Cu(II)(1a)] and [Cu(II)(1c)], depended on the choice of counterion. Formation of the homoleptic complex was only evident when the Cu(II)(OTf)(2) salt was used (Cu(II)(Cl)(2) inhibited the transformation from heteroleptic to homoleptic complexes). The hyperfine and quadrupole parameters for the surrounding ligand nuclei were determined by ENDOR. Well resolved (19)F and (1)H couplings confirmed the presence of both coordinated water and TfO(-) counterions in [Cu(1a)].

Diabetic cardiomyocyte dysfunction and myocyte insulin resistance: role of glucose-induced PKC activity.

Increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diabetic complications, and high concentrations of glucose have been shown to increase PKC activity. The present study was designed to examine the role of PKC in diabetes-induced (and glucose-induced) cardiomyocyte dysfunction and insulin resistance (measured by glucose uptake). Adult rat ventricular myocytes were isolated from nondiabetic and type 1 diabetic animals (4-5 days post-streptozotocin treatment), and maintained overnight, with/without the nonspecific PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (CHEL = 1 microM). Myocyte mechanical properties were evaluated using a video edge-detection system. Basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was measured with [3H]-2-deoxyglucose. Blunted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was apparent in diabetic myocytes, and both mechanical dysfunctions (e.g., slowed shortening/relengthening) and insulin resistance were maintained in culture, and normalized by CHEL. Cardiomyocytes isolated from nondiabetic animals were cultured in a high concentration of glucose (HG = 25.5 mM) medium, with/without CHEL. HG myocytes exhibited slowed shortening/relengthening and impaired insulin-stimulated glucose uptake compared to myocytes cultured in normal glucose (5.5 mM), and both impairments were prevented by culturing cells in CHEL. Our data support the view that PKC activation contributes to both diabetes-induced abnormal cardiomyocyte mechanics and insulin resistance, and that elevated glucose is sufficient to induce these effects.