Efficacy of an Antiaging Treatment Against Environmental Factors: Deschampsia antarctica Extract and High-tolerance Retinoids Combination.

Background. Effects of environmental contaminents, such as air pollution and cigarette smoking on skin include increased oxidation, subclinical inflammation, and degradation of the dermal matrix, which can accelerate the skin aging process. Objective. An open-label, prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a topical anti-aging regimen comprising high-concentration retinoids, Deschampsia antarctica extract, and niacinamide in participants living in a heavily polluted (Level III, World Health Organization) city. Methods. Twenty-two female Caucasian volunteers with Fitzpatrick Skin Types III and IV were treated for 90 days with the topical anti-aging regimen. Subjective clinical assessments using the Rao-Goldman Scoring for Facial Aging, Patient's Global Assessment (PGA), and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA). Additionally, objective instrumental assessments for wrinkles using Visia® (Canfield Scientific, Parsippany, New Jersey) and Visioline® (Courage+Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Cologne, Germany) and viscoelasticity and firmness using Cutometer® (Courage+Khazaka Electronic GmbH ) were completed at baseline, Day 30, and Day 90. Results. At Day 30, wrinkles in the periocular area significantly improved by 35.7 percent (p=0.003) compared to baseline. At the end of the study (Day 90), a significant improvement in firmness (41.7%) and viscoelasticity (12.8%) were observed. Tolerance for treatment was assessed as "good" or "very good" in 86.5 percent of the volunteers. Conclusion. This novel antiaging treatment regimen could potentially serve as an effective and long-term topical treatment option for improving signs of facial aging and protecting the skin from external factors associated with acceleration of the skin aging process, such exposure to UV radiation, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. Larger and longer-term, randomized, controlled clinical trials in more diverse population samples are needed to confirm our results.

Sézary syndrome and related variants of classic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. A descriptive and prognostic clinicopathologic study of 29 cases.

Large series of patients with Sézary syndrome (SS), the leukemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), have been reported infrequently because of its low incidence. Here we recorded several clinical, histopathological and immunophenotypical features of 29 cases of leukemic CTCL patients from four Dermatology Departments of Catalonia, Spain, and analyzed their prognostic value. Clinical data included sex, age, delay of SS diagnosis, previous diagnosis of lymphoma, B-symptoms, type of skin lesions, peripheral adenopathy, histologic evaluation of lymph node biopsy, visceral involvement, percentage of circulating Sézary cells, serum LDH and beta-2-microglobulin levels, first treatment and response, disease-free interval, further therapies and survival. Histopathological data examined were epidermotropism, depth and thickness of the infiltrate, cell size, adnexal involvement, presence of granuloma, eosinophils and plasma cells, mitotic rate. The percentage of CD45Ro, CD43, CD20, CD30 and CD8 positive dermal cells were also recorded. Survival showed a mean actuarial risk of 57% at 3 years and 38% at 5 years, with a median survival of 48 months. Analysis of actuarial survival demonstrated as following as features linked with a bad prognosis: fast evolution of the disease (from symptoms onset up to diagnosis) (p = 0.0274) raised levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.0379) and beta-2-microglobulin (p = 0.0151), the latter being the most important prognostic factor. In conclusion although SS had been traditionally considered as a low-grade lymphoma, the present study agrees with the recent classification rating SS as an aggressive type of CTCL with a poor prognosis. Our results show that some simple clinical and blood test data can be useful as prognostic indicators in this disease.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus associated with cinnarizine and thiethylperazine therapy.

We report the case of a woman who developed subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) after exposure to the sun while taking cinnarizine and thiethylperazine. The patient recalled that 10 years previously, a similar eruption had appeared after sunbathing, while she was taking only cinnarizine. SCLE development in this patient was probably drug related and there is some evidence that cinnarizine played an important pathogenic role.

Cytogenetics of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (Cobbod, 1884) Railliet and Henry, 1907.

A cytogenetic study of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi was made for the first time. The diploid chromosome number was 2n = 11 for males and 2n = 12 for females; there was an XO/XX sex determinism mechanism. Diplotene stage showed bivalents with 3, 2 or 1 chiasmata. The possible differences in the evolution of D. arnfieldi and Dictyocaulus filaria are discussed.

Study of an amoeboflagellate isolated from the nasal mucosa of man.

This paper examines the biology, morphology, and pathogenicity for mice of an amoeboflagellate isolated from human nasal mucosa. The biological and morphological relationships of this isolate with the amoebae (Lobosea) and the true slime molds (Eumycetoza) are discussed though the taxonomic affinities of the organism have not been determined.

The spermatogenesis of Dictyocaulus filaria (Nematoda, Trichostrongyloidea).

A cytological study was carried out, using male Dictyocaulus filaria, that revealed the diploid number of chromosomes was 2n = 11 and the sex determining mechanism was XO. The behaviour of the chromosomes in the different stages of meiosis was also investigated. Cross, open ring and rod bivalents were observed in diakinesis. The chromosomes appeared to be acrocentric since they acquired a radial disposition in Metaphase-II. The chiasma frequency was 1 and the nucleolus-organizing region was located at the ends of the chromosomes.

[Annual fluctuations of Phlebotomus populations (Diptera, Phlebotomidae) in the province of Grenada (Spain)]. / Fluctuations annuelles des populations de phlébotomes (Diptera, Phlebotomidae) dans la province de Grenade (Espagne).

During a whole year, in order to know the annual evolution of the populations, a sampling of sandflies fauna in Granada (Spain) was carried out. The method of capture used was paper oiled. From the collected species, only S. minuta, P. perniciosus and P. ariasi were present in sufficient numbers to enable a proper observation of evolution. The first of these follows a monophasic course with maximum activity during the warmest months (July, August, September). However, P. perniciosus and P. ariasi show, in general, a diphasic curve with a highest rate at the beginning and end the warm season.