Demodex Mite, Rosacea and Skin Melanoma; Coincidence or Association?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible associations between Demodex folliculorum and a number of skin diseases. METHODS: Standardized skin surface biopsy samples were obtained from the cheeks of 144 patients with histopathologically proven basal cell carcinoma (BCC, n = 27), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 28), melanoma (n = 23), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE, n = 32), and rosacea (n = 34). Thirty-four sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Mite density (per cm2) and infestation (density ≥ 5) were compared between the controls and patients. RESULTS: Mite infestation rates (%) did not differ significantly between the controls (20.6) and patients with BCC (22.2, p = 0.88), SCC (17.9, p = 0.79), melanoma (4.3, p = 0.08), and DLE (21.9, p = 0.90). Compared with the controls, the mite infestation rate was significantly higher in patients with rosacea (47.1, p = 0.02, odds ratio: 3.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-9.99). The mean mite density did not differ significantly between the controls (4.11 ± 2.17) and patients with BCC (5.34 ± 2.35, p = 0.75), SCC (3.57 ± 2.01, p = 0.38), and DLE (3.56 ± 1.34, p = 0.83), whereas it was significantly higher in patients with rosacea (8.78 ± 3.58, p = 0.02) and lower in patients with melanoma (1.89 ± 0.69, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: D. folliculorum may be associated with rosacea and melanoma but not with BCC, SCC, or DLE.

Is macromastia a risk factor for breast cancer? A study on 198 patients.

Macromastia, or breast hypertrophy, is a very common finding and a frequent cause of reduction mammaplasty all over the world. This study aims to examine the breast tissue specimens obtained by reduction mammaplasty in patients with macromastia in terms of the frequency of histopathological abnormalities (malignant and non-malignant lesions). In this cross-sectional, retrospective study, paraffin-embedded specimens of breast tissue after reduction mammaplasty were histopathologically reviewed in Tabriz Imam Reza Teaching Hospital in three years (2010-2013). All the specimens were sectioned, stained and examined by an adroit pathologist. One hundred ninety eight out of 271 primary specimens were eligible for this study. The mean age of the patients was 37.09 +/- 8.98 (range: 20-59) years, with mean body mass index of 27.44 +/- 3.85 (range: 21-35) kg m(-2). Based on the findings of microscopic examination, normal tissue was present in 98 cases (49.5%), all with increased content of fat. Fibrocystic change was the prominent benign entity, which was reported in 47.5% of the cases. Intraductal papilloma was detected 2 cases (1%). There were 4 cases with malignant lesions (2%), including 2 cases (1%) with invasive ductal carcinoma (age: 22 and 31 years old) and 2 cases (1%) with lobular carcinoma in situ (age: 21 and 35 years old). Considering the intraductal papilloma as a premalignant condition, the total rate of non-benign lesions reached to 3%. Based on the results of the present study, macromastia may be considered as a risk factor of breast malignancy. Thorough histopathological examination of the breast specimens after reduction mammaplasty, as well as strict screening of the women with nonsurgical macromastia is highly recommended.

Concomitant examination of inflammation and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of primary moderate pterygium in a well-designed case-control study.

Pterygium is a common ocular lesion whose exact etiology is a point of contention. Chronic inflammation and angiogenesis are two major proposed mechanisms of the disease in the current literature. The objective of this study is to examine these two mechanisms in a very well-designed setting. In a case-control study, 24 tissue specimens from the patients with primary moderate pterygium (cases) and 15 specimens excised from the nasal bulbar region in healthy counterparts (controls) were compared in terms of the count of mast cells (inflammation), as well as the status of Cd31/vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression (angiogenesis) in Tabriz Nikookari and Sina Teaching Hospitals. The case (mean age: 58.08 +/- 10.03 years, 84% males) and control (Mean age: 62.33 +/- 9.19 years, 80% males) groups were age-and sex-matched (p = 0.19, 0.75, respectively). The mean mast cell count was significantly higher in the case group (27.72 +/- 15.19 versus 12.00 +/- 7.09 cells mm(-2), p = 0.001). The study of immunoreactivity revealed that the positive expression (moderate-severe) of CD31 was significantly more frequent in the case group (88 versus 26.7%; p<0.001; Odds ratio = 20, 95% confidence interval 3.85-100). There was also higher rate of VEGF-positive (moderate-severe) cells in the group with pterygium (88 versus 20%; p<0.001; Odds ratio= 33.3, 95% confidence interval 5.00-100). This study indicates that both inflammation and angiogenesis play pivotal role, in parallel, in pathogenesis of pterygium.

Microscopic hair changes associated with hair coloring, hair waving and hair ironing in Iranian women.

Although, of no vital value, hair plays a significant role in expressing any person's psychosocial status. Many cosmetic and styling methods are available for hair. This study aimed to examine the microscopic changes in women with hair coloring, hair waving, or hair ironing in comparison with normal controls. In a cross-sectional study, 154 Iranian women were recruited and categorized in 4 groups: controls (n = 35) who had not dyed, waved or ironed their hair within the last 6 months; dyed-hair group (n = 49) who had dyed their hair using standard chemical hair colors at least three times within the last 6 months; waved-hair group (n = 35) who had frizzled their hair within the last 6 months and ironed-hair group (n = 35) who had ironed their hair at least 3 times a weak using a temperature more than 30 degrees C within the last 6 months. Hair samples of all four groups were examined microscopically, and the results were compared with the controls. The rate of abnormal findings was 17.1% in the controls, 53.1% in the dyed-hair group, 45.7% in the waved-hair group, and 54.3% in the ironed-hair group. Abnormal findings were significantly more frequent in the last three groups comparing with the controls (p < 0.05). Trichorrhexis was 17.1, 34.7, 40 and 11.4%; kinking was 0, 2, 2.9 and 25.7%; pseudo pili-annulati was 0, 6.1, 0 and 17.1%; trichonodosis was 0, 6.1, 0 and 0%; tracheoschises was 0, 2, 2.9 and 0% and trichoptilosis was 0, 2, 0 and 0% in the mentioned groups, respectively. Based on the results of the present study, hair coloring, waving and ironing all can induce abnormalities in the hair in comparison with the hairs of nonusers.