Tattoo Granulomas With Uveitis.

Bilateral intraocular inflammation and simultaneous development of tattoo granulomas has been described in several case reports. The pathophysiology of this process is poorly understood, and it has been hypothesized that it could be a similar mechanism to systemic sarcoidosis versus a delayed hypersensitivity response. Granulomatous tattoo reaction with associated uveitis can manifest with or without evidence of systemic sarcoidosis, and it is usually responsive to immunosuppression and/or tattoo removal. We present a patient with no prior diagnosis of sarcoidosis who developed bilateral panuveitis and tattoo changes suggestive of tattoo granulomas with uveitis (TAGU). The patient was initially managed with intraocular steroids and systemic steroids with minimal improvement of symptoms. The patient later required steroid sparing therapy with a tumor factor inhibitor to achieve remission. There is a growing prevalence of tattooing among the general population and a low reported rate of tattooing complications. Granulomatous tattoo reaction with associated uveitis should be a consideration in patients with tattoos presenting with "idiopathic" uveitis.

[Eruptive granuloma after injection of Ellansé® successfully treated using methotrexate]. / Granulomes après injection d'Ellansé®, résolutifs sous méthotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Collagen stimulators such as Ellansé® are soft tissue fillers able to induce nucleogenesis. We describe a case of eruptive foreign body granulomas following injection of Ellansé® that were successfully treated using methotrexate. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old woman received injections of Ellansé® for the wrinkled aspect of her cheeks. She had previously undergone injections of hyaluronic acid on the nasolabial folds. Nine months after the Ellansé® injections, the patient consulted for the recent appearance of multiple nodules on her face. Histological analysis of one of these nodules confirmed the presence of foreign-body granulomas developed in contact with spherical gaps of a size substantially identical to the Ellansé® vacuoles. Methotrexate 10mg per week for 3 months followed by 20mg per week for 9 months resulted in complete regression of the nodules. DISCUSSION: Ellansé® is composed of two biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymers: carboxymethylcellulose, responsible for immediate volume creation, and polycaprolactone, which promotes collagen synthesis. However, any injected product can cause varying degrees of granulomatous reaction. Hyaluronic acid was previously injected at several other sites on the patient's face. These lesions were not the result of poor injection technique. CONCLUSION: Although collagen stimulators are biocompatible and bioabsorbable substances, the development of foreign-body granulomas, while rare, is still possible. Methotrexate resulted in significant regression of nodules as of the third month of treatment.

Management of granulomatous foreign body reaction to fillers with methotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Granulomatous foreign body reactions (GFBR) have been reported after injection with almost every soft tissue fillers, more commonly with non-biodegradable ones. Such granulomatosis is rare but can cause significant discomfort owing to their aesthetic and functional repercussions. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether immunomodulation with low doses of methotrexate is effective in the treatment of GFBR to filler material. METHODS: Clinical case series of four patients with severe, treatment-resistant GFBR to non-biodegradable fillers in the Department of Dermatology of Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France, successfully treated with oral or subcutaneous methotrexate, 10-15 mg weekly during 6 months. Adverse events were monitored throughout the treatment once weekly the first month then once monthly the remaining 5 months. RESULTS: Four women with a mean age of 73.7 years (66-85 years) and nodularity of the face were included and treated up to 6 months. Histological findings were consistent with GFBR to liquid injectable silicone in 2 cases, polymethylmethacrylate in 1 case and hydroxyethylmethacrylate in the last case. The delay after injection of the filler material was from 17 to 30 years. In one patient, inflammatory lesions followed dental care. After 6 months of treatment with 10-15 mg once weekly, all patients were cleared. Three patients developed a mild hepatic cytolysis (grade 1 or 2). Methotrexate could be maintained in those 3 cases and was discontinuated after 6 months in all cases. Two patients developed recurrence of lesions, 28 and 9 months, respectively, after treatment stops, requiring reintroduction of treatment. The two other patients remained cleared after 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Low doses of methotrexate appear to offer a low-risk therapeutic alternative in resistant and severe GFBR to fillers. A prospective study with long-term follow-up is required to confirm these preliminary observations.

Tattoo-associated panuveitis: A 10-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: There has been an increasing number of tattoo-related uveitis without evidence of systemic sarcoidosis. This finding may indicate a possible association of tattoos with uveitis. CASE DESCRIPTION: This report is a 10-year follow-up of a single case of tattoo-related uveitis with no proven systemic sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION: Literature review suggests possible pathogenesis and the patient's management is discussed. This case highlights the importance of a good systemic history and physical examination, especially with regard to tattoos.

Effect of anti-inflammatory activity of ranolazine in rat model of inflammation.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory processes are a recognized feature of atherosclerotic lesions. Ranolazine inhibits the inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukins-1 and -6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. The present study was planned to evaluate the effect of anti-inflammatory activity of ranolazine in acute and sub-acute models of inflammation in rats and compare the same with that of control (gum acacia 1%) and aspirin (standard anti-inflammatory drug). METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats (150-180 g) were used for the study. They were divided into three groups (n=6). One per cent gum acacia (control), aspirin (200 mg/kg body weight) and ranolazine (180 mg/kg body weight) were given orally. Acute inflammation was induced by injecting carrageenan in the left hind paw. Paw oedema volume and percentage inhibition were measured. Subacute inflammation was induced by implanting foreign bodies subcutaneously. Percentage inhibition of granuloma dry weight and haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of granulation tissue were studied. RESULTS: In acute and subacute model study, ranolazine significantly (P <0.01) decreased the paw oedema volume and granuloma dry weight as compared to control and it was comparable to that of aspirin and histopathological sections showed a decrease in granulation tissue formation as compared to control. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Ranolazine demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and subacute models of inflammation and needs further evaluation for its use in reducing atherosclerosis.

Filler Nodules: Inflammatory or Infectious? A Review of Biofilms and Their Implications on Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: The numbers of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States have steadily increased each year. Concurrently, the rates of filler complications have also increased. Delayed filler reactions and granulomas have recently been attributed to biofilm infections. OBJECTIVE: The biology and pathogenesis of biofilms, and their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention will be discussed. METHODS: The relevant and recent literature on delayed filler reactions and biofilms was reviewed. RESULTS: Increasing evidence implicates biofilm infections in the pathogenesis of delayed filler reactions. Therapeutic and preventative measures can be taken to minimize the occurrence of these potentially devastating consequences of dermal fillers. CONCLUSION: Awareness of biofilm infections is key in the assessment of filler reactions in order to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Delayed allergic hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase during the treatment of granulomatous hyaluronic acid reactions.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is now extensively employed for esthetic concerns. In the majority of cases, HA is considered to be safe, but mild-to-severe complications can occur in a few cases. Hyaluronidase is enzymes that degrade HA, also being suggested for the treatment of HA filler-induced complications. However, hyaluronidase has been reported to be a potential cause of allergic responses in some anesthetic and ophthalmic literature. However, there are few reports of allergic reactions to hyaluronidase in cosmetic medicine. We herein report on a 39-year-old Asian woman who developed a delayed allergic hypersensitivity to hyaluronidase in the treatment process of HA-related granulomatous reaction.

Subhepatic mass occurrence after using oxidized and regenerated cellulose polymer in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) is a bioabsorbable surgical hemostatic. We present the first prospective case series of circumscribed mass occurrence after using ORC in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Tabotamp (Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ) in the form of tightly woven knitted patches was used to achieve hemostasis in 83 patients submitted to LC. RESULTS: A subhepatic mass was detected in five patients and radiologic characteristics were described. Abdominal contrast enhanced CT showed a heterogeneous soft-tissue mass. NMR was performed in one patient and showed a T2-weighted hyperintense mass. CONCLUSION: ORC retention after surgery is not uncommon at long-term follow-up. The radiologic characteristics of a suspected ORC retention mass can differentiate it from a neoplastic lesion, so that surgery can be avoided.

Anti-inflammatory activity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn) seed petroleum ether extract.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present work was to study the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of petroleum ether extract of fenugreek seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fenugreek seed powder was extracted in petroleum ether by cold maceration. This fenugreek seed petroleum ether extract (FSPEE) was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and tested on rats against carrageenan and formaldehyde-induced paw edema, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis and cotton pellet-induced granuloma. Changes in serum glutamic oxaloacetic tansaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in liver and serum were also studied in cotton pellet-induced arthritic rats. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: GLC of FSPEE showed oleic (33.61%), linoleic (40.37%), and linolenic (12.51%) acids. With 0.5 mL/kg FSPEE treatment, there was 37% (P < 0.05) and 85% (P < 0.05) reduction in inflammation of the paw in carrageenan and formaldehyde-induced paw edema. In CFA-induced arthritis, a biphasic increase in paw volume followed by decrease was seen. There was 42.5% (P < 0.01) reduction in the weight of cotton pellets and significant (P < 0.01) reductions in the elevated SGPT and ALP activities in serum and liver of FSPEE (0.5 mL/kg) treated rats. CONCLUSION: Thus, petroleum ether extract of fenugreek seeds has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities which are due to the presence of linolenic and linoleic acids.

Unusual ocular presentations of ocular phaeohyphomycosis.

PurposePhaeohyphomycosis are melanin-containing fungi that rarely infect the eye. We describe three cases of ocular infection with some unusual clinical features.MethodsSeries of three case reports describing three different presentations of phaeohyphomycosis of the eye, their histopathology, and management.ResultsCase 1 mimicked an inflamed conjunctival naevus and was excised on this basis, revealing a conjunctival retention cyst containing pigmented fungal hyphae. Case 2 showed a wooden foreign body incidentally associated with pigmented fungal hyphae, which required treatment with topical antifungal therapy. Case 3 clinically was thought to be a perforated uveal melanoma and comprised an extensive plaque of pigmented fungal hyphae over ulcerated cornea.ConclusionThe pigmented melanin containing hyphae of phaeohyphomycosis mimicked melanocytic lesions in two cases and was an incidental finding in the context of a surface foreign body.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Picrorhiza kurroa in Experimental Models of Inflammation.

Picrorhiza kurroa is an important medicinal plant in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. The root and rhizome of this plant are used for the treatment of various liver and inflammatory conditions. In the present study, we sought to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of P. kurroa rhizome extract against carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet implantation-induced granuloma formation in rats. In addition, its immunomodulatory activity was evaluated in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced stimulation of a peritoneal macrophage model and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Pretreatment with P. kurroa rhizome extract inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in a dose-dependent manner. This was associated with reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6) accompanied with increased anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the serum and peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, P. kurroa rhizome extract inhibited inflammatory TNF-receptor 1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in Complete Freund's Adjuvant-induced activated peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, P. kurroa rhizome extract treatment significantly inhibited iNOS and suppressed the activation of NF-κB through inhibition of its phosphorylation and by blocking the activation of IκB kinase alpha in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that P. kurroa has anti-inflammatory activity that is mediated through the suppression of macrophage-derived cytokine and mediators via suppression of NF-κB signaling.