Analysis of the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genetic variants in nonsegmental vitiligo patients.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that courses with skin depigmentation because of the destruction of melanocytes. Vitiliginous melanocyte is prone to damage because of oxidative stress which activates cellular stress response and the release of heat shock proteins such as HSP70 promoting immune activation against the melanocyte. Variants in HSP70 genes (HSPA) might alter their expression and thus modulate vitiligo susceptibility. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the role of the 5' untranslated region HSPA1A G/C (rs1043618) and the exonic HSPA1B A/G (rs1061581) and HSPA1L T/C (rs2227956) gene variants in nonsegmental vitiligo. METHODS: A total of 200 nonsegmental vitiligo patients and 208 age/gender-matched healthy subjects were genotyped for rs1043618, rs1061581, and rs2227956 variants by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: Variants rs1043618 and rs1061581 were not associated with vitiligo susceptibility. On the other hand, the rs2227956 C allele and TC genotype were associated with protection against vitiligo. A similar effect was observed for the GAC haplotype. Any of the aforementioned HSP70 gene variants were associated with the clinical characteristics of vitiligo. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the HSPA1L rs2227956 gene variant might influence the susceptibility to vitiligo. Being the first study of HSP70 gene variants in vitiligo, further research is encouraged to corroborate these results.

Protothecosis.

Protothecosis is a rare infection caused by achlorophyllic algae that are members of the genus Prototheca. They are ubiquitous in nature in organic material. The clinical manifestations can be acute or chronic and local or disseminated. The disease is classified as cutaneous, causing bursitis or disseminated/systemic, affecting both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, with more severe and disseminated infections occurring in immunocompromised individuals. Prototheca wickerhamii and Prototheca zopfii are the most frequent organisms reported in humans. Diagnosis is made by observing asexual sporangia (thecas) on histopathological examination of tissue. Medical and surgical treatment should be considered. Ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B are the most commonly used antifungals. Voriconazole and amphotericin B are highly effective against Prototheca spp. Treatment failure is not uncommon because of the comorbidities that limit the therapeutic outcome.

[Chromomycosis: report of a case with unusual topography]. / Cromomicosis: Reporte de un caso con topografía atípica.

BACKGROUND: Chromomycosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by dematiaceous fungi. It is characterized by the presence of nodules, verrucous and atrophic lesions, and is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Mexico ranks third among the subcutaneous mycoses, mainly affecting the lower limbs. The verrucous lesions are the most common clinical presentation. AIMS: We present a case of chromomycosis located in the helix and the left earlobe in a 29 year-old male, with unusual morphology and topography. METHOD: Samples from the affected ear were taken for direct examination, and cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar and mycobiotic agar. RESULTS: Fumagoid cells were found when examining the lesion scrapings under direct microscopic examination. The Sabouraud dextrose agar and mycobiotic agar developed a colony of black fungus, which in the microscopic study was identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The definitive diagnosis was chromomycosis, a pathology that was treated with itraconazole 200mg daily for 10 weeks, with a complete resolution of the dermatosis. CONCLUSIONS: This is a case of chromomycosis with unusual clinical features, with an appropriate response to treatment with itraconazole.

Valoración baciloscópica en pacientes con enfermedad de Hansen, tratados con el esquema de la OMS / Bacilloscopic study of patients with Hansen's disease, treated with the scheme of WHO

Se estudiaron 30 pacientes con enfermedad de Hansen multibacilar (BL o LL) que terminaron el tratamiento controlado según el esquema de la OMS. Se valoraron las baciloscopias de cada paciente en sus índices bacteriológico, morfológico y tintorial durante el inicio, primer año y segundo a lo del tratamiento. Al final del tratamiento 40 por ciento de los pacientes (12) negativizó su índice bacteriológico, el resto de ellos permaneció positivo, por lo que sugerimos que los pacientes con Hansen multibacilar prolonguen por más tiempo el esquema de tratamiento que ha implantado la OMS, para evitar futuras recaídas

Esporotricosis en el estado de Jalisco, estudio clínico-epidemiológico (1960-1996) / Sporotrichoses in Jalisco state, a clinical-epidemiological study (1960-1996)

Se analizaron 822 casos de esporotricosis con cultivo positivo, en una revisión de 37 años, de archivos micológicos en diversas instituciones públicas y privadas de la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Se destacan aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos. La forma clínica más frecuente es la linfangítica, su topografía habitual son las extremidades superiores, afecta casi por igual a ambos sexos, el grupo etario más afectado fue de < 1 a 15 años. Respecto a la ocupación, las amas de casa fueron el grupo con más incidencia. Los casos encontrados proceden de cinco estados del país, en donde Jalisco presentó 539 casos, distribuidos en 54 municipios de la entidad. Este estudio representa la serie de casos más grande informada en México; la esporotricosis es la micosis subcutánea más frecuente en el estado de Jalisco y las variables analizadas no difieren sustancialmente de otras series publicadas