Immunomodulation with AM3 and antioxidants creates an adequate framework for skin repair and decreases the monocyte proinflammatory stage in smoker women.

Smoking has been considering a crucial factor in promoting skin and systemic aging that is associated with the development of a low-level, systemic, chronic inflammation known as "inflammaging" in which monocytes play a pivotal role. Our aim was to investigate the effects of AM3 plus antioxidants vs placebo in the activation status, function of monocytes and cutaneous aging parameters in healthy smoker middle-aged women. A total of 32 women were 1:1 randomly assigned to AM3 plus antioxidants or placebo for three months. Peripheral mononuclear blood cells and cutaneous biopsy were obtained and flow cytometry and immunohistological studies, respectively, were performed before and after the treatment. AM3 plus antioxidants treatment compared with placebo significantly reduced the monocyte production of the proinflammatory interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) cytokines as well as increased the regulatory IL-10 in middle-aged smoker women. Furthermore, AM3 and antioxidants did not modify ROS production by monocytes and granulocytes but increased their phagocytic activity. The active combination also stimulated a significative increase in reticular dermis depth as well as an increase in the expression of CD117 and CD31. Thus, AM3 and antioxidants treatment reduces the systemic proinflammatory monocyte disturbance of heathy smoker middle-aged women and encourage skin repair mechanisms.

Median raphe cysts: A clinico-pathologic and immunohistochemical study of 52 cases.

BACKGROUND: Median raphe cysts (MRC) are epithelial-lined cystic lesions of the genital area that do not communicate with the urethra or the overlying epidermis. Immunohistochemically, MRC show positivity for cytokeratin (CK) 5-6, CK 7, carcinoembryonic antigen, p63 and uroplakin III (URO III). GATA3 and human milk fat globulin 1 (HMFG1) are immunohistochemical markers that have been not previously studied in MRC. METHODS: We conducted a study of 52 patients diagnosed with MRC in the Pathology Departments of eight hospitals between 1990 and 2016. The monoclonal antibodies used were CK5-6, CK7, CK20, URO III, p63, GATA3, and HMFG1. HMFG1 was studied in five cases of apocrine hidrocystomas and compared with five cases of MRC from our series. RESULTS: CK 5-6, CK7, and p63 expression showed strong positivity in the urothelial epithelium of 48 cases. CK20 was focally positive in areas of mucinous differentiation in three cases. GATA3 showed intense nuclear staining in 30 cases. HMFG1 was positive in three cases of MRC and in three cases of apocrine hidrocystoma. CONCLUSION: Positivity of GATA3 and CK7 in MRC supports the urothelial origin of these cysts. We found no differences in HMFG1 expression between MRC and apocrine hidrocystomas.

Calcium pantothenate is present in cosmetics and may cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Calcium pantothenate (CAS no. 137-08-6) is the calcium salt of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). It is used in cosmetics due to its anti-static and hair conditioning properties. A 53-year-old female nurse's aide presented with intermittent facial eruptions (Figure S1). Patch tests were positive to calcium pantothenate, an ingredient of two of her products (a cleansing milk and a facial tonic). To our knowledge, no previous cases of sensitization from calcium pantothenate have been reported except for one case of systemic dermatitis from a nutritional supplement in a dexpanthenol-sensitized patient.

Paraffin-embedded micrographic surgery for the treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: Analysis of 33 patients.

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare malignant tumor with a high rate of recurrence after surgery. Moh's micrographic surgery allows examination of all surgical margins to ensure complete removal. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of Moh's micrographic surgery using paraffin-embedded sections for the treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 33 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans treated in our department with paraffin-embedded micrographic surgery between January 2002 and June 2015. Our cases included patients with primary untreated disease and also those with persistent disease previously treated surgically elsewhere, with histologically positive margins. RESULTS: Tumors were most commonly located on the trunk. After the first stage of micrographic surgery, including an initial lateral margin, 20 (60.6%) tumors were completely excised, 11 (33.3%) tumors required two stages and one tumor each (3.0%) required 4 and 6 stages respectively. Patients were monitored for recurrence for a mean duration of 6.5 years. There was no recurrence in any of our 33 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that Moh's micrographic surgery with paraffin-embedded sections may be the method of choice to treat dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans with a low recurrence rate, while preserving surrounding normal healthy tissue.

Cutaneous epithelioid hemangioendothelioma on the sole of a child.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) has been considered to be a low-grade malignant vascular neoplasm, although follow-up of recent series has demonstrated that EHE involving the skin and soft tissues should be better regarded as a fully malignant vascular tumor since it has more metastatic potential than previously thought. We report a case of an EHE involving the left sole of 6-year-old boy, the youngest patient with cutaneous EHE described to date. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a lymphatic endothelial line of differentiation for neoplastic cells. Cutaneous EHE is rare in childhood, with only five previously described cases.

[Application of laser technology to genital lesions]. / Aplicación de la tecnología láser en las lesiones de genitales.

The use of laser applications in urology has undergone significant advances and is now used in a wide variety of procedures. Improvements in types of lasers, the wavelength of energy used, optical fiber delivery systems, precision of laser applications and cost reduction have served to further improve laser technology and extend the potential applications. The different types of lasers available at the present time appear to be an alternative treatment modality with excellent cosmetic and functional results and low morbidity in the treatment of benign, pre-malignant and malignant lesions in the genital area. The objective of this article is to provide an update on the most important clinical and experimental advancements therapeutic applications of lasers in genital lesions.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the skin.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon tumor initially reported in the pleura but recently described in other sites of the body. We report a SFT of the skin that presented as painless nodule located in the right cheek in a 56-year-old woman. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped cells arranged in a patternless pattern of short and narrow fascicles with interspersed bundles of thick collagen, and numerous blood vessels with a focally hemangiopericytoma-like appearance. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells strongly expressed vimentin, CD34 and bcl-2. The lesion was excised and the patient remains well at 16-month follow-up. This case presented some diagnostic difficulty because of its unusual location, and had to be distinguished from other superficial soft tissue tumors. Recognition of SFT in the skin is important to avoid possible confusion with a variety of spindle cell neoplasms with different biologic potential.