Clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic hallmarks of pyoderma gangrenosum: a case series of 35 patients.

BACKGROUND: Over the past few decades, advances in medical research and diagnostic tools have shed light on some aspects of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Nevertheless, the multifactorial etiology, pathogenesis, and optimal management strategies for PG need to be further investigated. To address these knowledge gaps and contribute to a better understanding of this complex dermatological disorder, we collected epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of a case series of PG patients occurring in our department over the past 10 years. METHODS: We performed a single-centered, retrospective, observational study analyzing all cases with a diagnosis of PG observed at the Dermatology clinic of the Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS Catholic University from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2023. For each case, we retrieved demographic data, the presence of other skin and systemic conditions, and the histopathological and clinical characteristics of PG, such as clinical variant, number of lesions, disease localization, previous therapy, response to treatment, and occurrence of relapse. RESULTS: We included 35 patients, 22 females and 13 males with a mean age of 40.0 years. Twenty patients (57.1%) had multiple localizations of disease, and the most commonly involved site was the lower limbs (85.7%). The lesions were mainly associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (51.4%) and hidradenitis suppurativa (37.1%). Clinical resolution with complete re-epithelialization was achieved in 25 patients (71.4%) with an average time of 20.8 months. On average, patients who underwent therapy with biological drugs had better outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: PG is a severe, rare, and pleomorphic disease associated with a broad spectrum of conditions. Corticosteroids remain the primary first-line approach for severe forms, but using biological immunosuppressants is promising.

Composição química e estudo da atividade antibacteriana de Bowdichiavirgilioides Kunth (Sucupira) – Fabaceae – Papilonoidae / Study on the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Bowdichia virgilioides kunth (Sucupira) - Fabaceae - Papilonoidae

Bowdichia virgilioides (Fabaceae - Papilionoidea), popularly known as Sucupira-preta, is a Brazilian native tree used in the traditional medicine against throat infections. Due this fact and due the interest to validate the traditional use, the objective of this work was evaluates the in vitro antibacterial activity of extracts and fractions of the stem and heartwood of the plant. The phytochemical profile revealed the presence of tannins and flavonoids in the stem and heartwood, and only alkaloids in the stem.The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids, natural products with several biological activities, including the modifying antibiotic activity. All microrganisms were inhibited only with MIC > 1024 microgramo/mL. However, when associated with aminoglycosides, was demonstrated a potentiation of these antibiotics when associated with almost all products assayed and against one bacterium at least.

Bowdichia virgilioides (Fabaceae - Papilionoidea), popularmente conhecida como Sucupira-preta, é uma espécie arbórea nativa do Brasil utilizadas na medicina popular para infecções de garganta. Com base nessas evidências, e com o interesse para justificar o uso popular, este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a atividade antibacteriana in vitro de extratos brutos e fracionados de cascas e cerne da planta. Observou-se pela conclusão do levantamento fitoquímico a presença de taninos e flavonóides nas cascas e no cerne, e alcalóides apenas encontrados na casca. A análise por HPLC revelou a presença de flavonóides e ácidos fenólicos, produtos naturais, com diversas atividades biológicas, incluindo a atividade modificadora antibiótica. Todos os microorganismos foram inibidos apenas com o CIM > 1024 ug/mL. No entanto, quando associado a antibióticos aminoglicosídeos, foi demonstrada potenciação destes em quase todos os produtos testados e em pelo menos uma bactéria foi observada uma atividade moduladora significativa.

Morfodiagnose da anatomia foliar e caulinar de Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Theaceae / Leaf and stem anatomical morpho-diagnosis of Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Theaceae

Camellia sinensis é um arbusto ou árvore de pequeno porte, de origem asiática, denominado de chá-da-índia, chá-verde ou chá-preto. Possui atividades antioxidante, antiinflamatória, antimicrobiana e hepatoprotetora. A comercialização dessa espécie é relevante, como droga farmacognóstica e insumo na indústria de bebidas. O presente trabalho trata da caracterização estrutural de folha e caule, de modo a contribuir na morfodiagnose para o controle de qualidade. Amostras do material vegetal foram fixadas, seccionadas e coradas com azul de astra e fucsina básica. Testes microquímicos usuais foram realizados. A folha apresenta estômatos anomocíticos na face abaxial, tricomas tectores unicelulares em ambas as superfícies, mesofilo dorsiventral, drusas de oxalato de cálcio, nervura central biconvexa e pecíolo plano-convexo, ambos percorridos por feixe vascular colateral. O caule, no nível analisado, possui epiderme unisseriada, camada subepidérmica de células colabadas, bainha esclerenquimática, estrato de células com paredes espessadas em U, organização vascular colateral e medula com células parenquimáticas e esclerenquimáticas. Esclereídes são encontradas na folha e no caule.

Camellia sinensis is a shrub or small tree, of Asian origin and commonly called Chinese tea, green tea or black tea. This species has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and hepatic protective activities. Its trade is relevant, either as pharmacognostic drug or raw material in food industry. This work has dealt with the structural diagnosis of the leaf and stem, in order to contribute to its quality control. Samples of the botanical material were fixed, sectioned and stained with astra blue and basic fuchsine. Microchemical tests were also conducted. The leaf has anomocytic stomata on the abaxial side, unicellular non-glandular trichomes on both surfaces, dorsiventral mesophyll, calcium oxalate druses, biconvex midrib and plain-convex petiole, both traversed by a collateral vascular bundle. The stem, on the level analysed, shows uniseriate epidermis, sub-epidermal layer of dehydrated cells, sclerenchymatic sheath, strand of cells with U-thickened walls, collateral vascular organization and pith consisting of parenchymatic and sclerenchymatic cells. Sclereids are found in the leaf and stem.