Spongy Scalp Swelling in a Middle-Aged Female: A Case Report of Lipedematous Scalp.

Lipedematous scalp is a rare cutaneous disorder, characterized by subtle but conspicuous scalp swelling, usually associated with dysesthesia. The chronic recalcitrant nature of this condition can be extremely debilitating for the patient. We report a case of boggy scalp swelling and dysesthesia in a 37­year­old female present for five years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain showed thickening of subcutaneous tissue of the scalp. Histopathological examination revealed thickened and edematous subcutaneous tissue, reaching up to the upper dermis. A diagnosis of lipedematous scalp was made. The patient was reassured about the benign nature of the disease and given symptomatic treatment for dysesthesia. Herein we discuss the approach to a case of boggy dysesthetic scalp swelling and the available treatment options.

Pan-cancer analyses suggest kindlin-associated global mechanochemical alterations.

Kindlins serve as mechanosensitive adapters, transducing extracellular mechanical cues to intracellular biochemical signals and thus, their perturbations potentially lead to cancer progressions. Despite the kindlin involvement in tumor development, understanding their genetic and mechanochemical characteristics across different cancers remains elusive. Here, we thoroughly examined genetic alterations in kindlins across more than 10,000 patients with 33 cancer types. Our findings reveal cancer-specific alterations, particularly prevalent in advanced tumor stage and during metastatic onset. We observed a significant co-alteration between kindlins and mechanochemical proteome in various tumors through the activation of cancer-related pathways and adverse survival outcomes. Leveraging normal mode analysis, we predicted structural consequences of cancer-specific kindlin mutations, highlighting potential impacts on stability and downstream signaling pathways. Our study unraveled alterations in epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers associated with kindlin activity. This comprehensive analysis provides a resource for guiding future mechanistic investigations and therapeutic strategies targeting the roles of kindlins in cancer treatment.

Oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne: a randomized, assessor-blinded study.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to measure the effectiveness of oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in treating moderate to severe acne at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. In this study, 90 patients with moderate to severe acne were enrolled to participate based on their fulfilling the inclusion criteria. METHODS: A randomized, assessor-blinded, parallel-arm study was conducted. Randomization was done using computer-generated tables to allocate treatments in a 1:1 ratio. A low-dose oral isotretinoin at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day with tab desloratadine at 5 mg/day was applied to the study group and compared against the same patients going without the dosage when controls were conducted. Follow-up was at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcome was an improved global acne grading system (GAGS) score and decreased acne lesion count. SECONDARY OUTCOME: patient satisfaction with treatment. The 90 participants were randomized and 15 participants dropped out of the study, leaving 75 participants for intention to treat analysis (n = 41, n = 30). At week 12, the GAGS score and acne lesion count between the study and control groups were comparable (P > 0.05). Pruritus reported was 9.76% in the study versus 33.33% in the control group (P = 0.018). Also, 53.66% of participants reported "excellent" treatment satisfaction in the study group versus 36.67% in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of desloratadine to an isotretinoin regimen has a role in reducing disease and therapy-related pruritus in acne and leads to improved patient satisfaction.

The Voice of the Lost Toe: Pseudo-Ainhum Beyond Skin.

An 11-year-old boy presented with serial autoamputations of the right 4th and 5th toes during the past 6 years. This was associated with sensory loss on the right leg and development of constriction bands around the right 2nd and 3rd digits for the past 5 months. For a year, the patient had been treated with paucibacillary, multi-drug therapy (PB-MDT) with a presumptive diagnosis of leprosy. He was born from a nonconsanguinous marriage and the birth was uneventful. The developmental milestones were normal, and no family history of any congenital anomalies was reported.

Systemic treatments in Parthenium dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Parthenium dermatitis is the commonest form of plant dermatitis in India, caused by the plant Parthenium hysterophorus. Systemic immunosuppressives are commonly employed in its treatment. However, there is a relative lack of comparative head-to-head trials. This study was done to assess the relative efficacy and safety of systemic treatments in Parthenium dermatitis. We systematically reviewed all the published studies investigating the safety and efficacy of systemic treatments for Parthenium dermatitis in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, and clinical trial registries. Treatment benefit data were tabulated based on outcome measures of scoring systems. The quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria for meta-analysis. The pooled Standardized mean difference (SMD) for case series and comparative studies based on clinical severity score (CSS) for azathioprine was 4.007 (95% CI (Confidence interval): 3.141, 4.873) and 0.746 (95% CI: 0.139, 1.352), respectively. About 88.8% (95% CI: 76.8%, 100.8%, p = 0.076) of the patients had excellent or a good response to azathioprine. Our meta-analysis shows that azathioprine has the highest level of evidence in the treatment of Parthenium dermatitis.

Rescue treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and amniotic membrane dressing in refractory paediatric pemphigus vulgaris with sepsis.

We report a case of refractory paediatric pemphigus vulgaris with sepsis, treated successfully with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and amniotic membrane dressing. The patient was initially started on oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) and dapsone 50 mg once daily. Azathioprine 50 mg orally was then used in place of dapsone due to rapid disease progression with extensive skin involvement. However, the patient developed sepsis and azathioprine had to be discontinued. Because of rapidly progressive disease and sepsis, the patient was put on IVIG at a dose of 2 g/kg in divided doses over 3 days along with amniotic membrane dressing. There was marked improvement after 2 weeks of follow-up.

Just not cosmesis! Role of low-density lipoprotein apheresis in familial hypercholesterolemia: Experience at a newly developed tertiary care institution in Northern India.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by an increase in plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. It presents with tendon/skin xanthomas and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The most available treatment options for FH are lipid-lowering medications such as statins, lifestyle modification, and LDL apheresis. As per American Society for Apheresis guidelines 2019, the treatment of FH using LDL apheresis falls under Category I. Here, we are reporting an interesting case of a young patient who presented with chief complaints of progressively increasing yellowish lesions around eyes, neck, hands, and legs. She was thoroughly investigated and was diagnosed provisionally as a case of Type 2 FH. Her total serum cholesterol and LDL-C were 717.2 mg/dl and 690.6 mg/dl, respectively, at presentation. One cycle of LDL apheresis was planned for her. We found immediate post-procedural reduction of 55.8% and 55.3% for total serum and LDL cholesterol levels respectively while 70.58% and 77.41% reduction in the levels from the day of presentation to the hospital.

CSF Oculorrhea Presenting as "Tearing" following the Repair of Fronto-Ethmoidal Encephalocele.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oculorrhea is extremely rare, and very few cases have been reported mostly following trauma. There is only 1 case in the published literature where oculorrhea occurred following the repair of fronto-nasal encephalocele. CASE DESCRIPTION: A six-year-old girl presented with gradually increasing fronto-ethmoidal encephalocele with secondary papulo-nodular changes. She underwent bi-frontal craniotomy with excision of encephalocele sac and herniated gliotic brain followed by dural closure using peri-cranial graft. One month later, she presented again with swelling over the operative site and "tearing" from both her eyes. She was diagnosed with CSF oculorrhea. After failing conservative management, lumbar drain was inserted and kept on continuous drainage. Oculorrhea stopped with lumbar drain but restarted with its removal. Therefore, theco-peritoneal shunt was placed, following which oculorrhea stopped. She is doing well at 5 months' follow-up. CONCLUSION: CSF oculorrhea must be considered by the pediatric neurosurgeons in any patient who presents with "tearing" following the repair of an anterior encephalocele.