Retraction: SNHG5 promotes proliferation and induces apoptosis in melanoma by sponging miR-155.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/C7RA12520H.].

Clinical and histological evaluation in patients with mycosis fungoides treated with UVA1.

BACKGROUND: UVA1 phototherapy is a valid therapeutic alternative for skin lymphoproliferative disorders, although there are few studies concerning its role in mycosis fungoides (MF). Our aim was to evaluate and confirm the effectiveness of UVA1 phototherapy in patients in early stage MF. METHODS: We enrolled 12 patients, 9 males and 3 females (mean age 54.83±9.99, range 36-74) with a histological diagnosis of mycosis fungoides at early stage. All patients were treated with UVA1 for 22 sessions with two different protocols (3 times or 5 times per week) at the dose of 45 J/cm2. A punch biopsy was performed before and after the treatment, to evaluate the variation of histological features and of the proliferation index (Ki67/MIB1). RESULTS: At the end of the study, we found a marked clinical improvement in all patients, associated to a statistically significant reduction of the proliferation index Ki67/MIB1. Five patients achieved a complete clinical and histological response, while six a partial one and only one a minimal response. CONCLUSIONS: Although in recent years the number of the therapeutic options available for all types of skin lymphoproliferative disorders, in particular mycosis fungoides, has increased considerably, there are few studies concerning UVA1 phototherapy. Our results represent a starting point for further studies, in order to investigate the role that these UV-rays can play either alone or in combination with other therapeutic regimens.

Tuscan consensus on the use of UVBnb phototherapy in the treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis (PSO) is traditionally defined as an immune-mediated, inflammatory dermatological disease characterized by a chronic-relapsing course and associated with multifactorial inheritance (genetic predisposition and influence of various environmental factors). Considered until recently a dermatological disease only, today PSO is correctly known as a systemic one because of the involvement of multiple organs with important impact on social life and relationships. PSO is found in the 0.3-4.6% of the world's population, while its prevalence in the Italian population is estimated at 2.8%. Therefore, if we consider that in Tuscany more than 100,000 people out of 3,672,202 suffer of psoriasis, it is of paramount importance to focus on a shared clinical and therapeutic protocol to manage the disease. With the aim of ensuring diagnostic-therapeutic suitability, high levels of care and standardization of treatment, a unique clinical-therapeutic management model has been developed and validated in Tuscany, involving all accredited regional dermatological centers. Among the possible alternatives to be implemented in the treatment of patients with mild, moderate-severe psoriasis, UVBnb phototherapy is widely used alone or in association with other systemic and non-systemic devices. Despite this, there is still no universally shared therapeutic protocol. In this context the CO.FO.TO working group (Consensus Fototerapia Toscana) is born with the aim of defining and validating the main guidelines in the use of phototherapy with UVBnb in psoriasis; the guidelines are based both on the real-life experience of the different centers of reference in the region and on the revision of the recent literature.

Dermoscopy for the Diagnosis of Conjunctival Lesions.

This article describes the present literature on dermoscopy of conjunctiva and shows the results of a dermoscopy study of 147 conjunctival tumors. Melanomas were characterized by a heavy pigmentation, irregular dots, and a higher prevalence of gray color compared with nevi. Squamous cell carcinomas had peculiar hairpin and glomerular vessels. Primary acquired melanoses were characterized by regularly distributed light brown dots. A large part of nevi had small cysts.

Sinecatechins 10% ointment for genital warts: Case report of a beneficial reaction in an HIV-positive woman.

Patients with HIV infection are more likely to develop anogenital warts compared to HIV-negative people and are susceptible to treatment failures and recurrences. We report a case of extensive vulvar warts in an HIV-positive woman successfully treated with sinecatechins ointment. After the failure of a combination of cryotherapy and imiquimod 5% cream, we started therapy with sinecatechins 10% ointment. The patient developed an intense local inflammatory reaction after three weeks that induced the discontinuation of the therapy. After two weeks, we observed a complete regression of inflammation and a reduction of genital warts. The lesions completely regressed within a few weeks, with no relapse after eight months. Sinecatechins is a standardized extract of green tea leaves, effective in the treatment of external genital and perianal warts in immunocompetent patients, but their role has not been yet studied for immunocompromised people. Our case may represent a starting point for further studies, in order to evaluate the relation between treatment dosage, side effects, and drug response in immunocompromised patients.

SNHG5 promotes proliferation and induces apoptosis in melanoma by sponging miR-155.

Background: Melanoma is the most common malignancy of skin cancer. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has been demonstrated to be abnormally expressed in multiple malignances. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of SNHG5 in melanoma progression have not been well identified. Methods: RT-qPCR assays were used to detect the expression patterns of SNHG5 and microRNA-155 (miR-155). Cell proliferation was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry via double-staining of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled annexin V (Annexin V-FITC) and propidium iodide (PI). The interaction between SNHG5 and miR-155 was validated using bioinformatics analysis, subcellular fraction assay, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. A mouse model of melanoma was established to further verify the effect of SNHG5 on tumor growth in vivo. Results: SNHG5 expression was upregulated in melanoma tumor tissues and cell lines. Moreover, higher SNHG5 expression was associated with advanced pathogenic status and poor prognosis. Functional analysis showed that SNHG5 knockdown suppressed proliferation and facilitated apoptosis in melanoma cells. Mechanical exploration revealed that SNHG5 acted as a molecular sponge of miR-155 in melanoma cells. Restoration experiments delineated that miR-155 down-regulation partly abrogated SNHG5-knockdown-mediated anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effect in melanoma cells. In vivo assays further demonstrated that SNHG5 depletion hindered tumor growth through up-regulating miR-155 expression. Conclusion: SNHG5 promoted the development of melanoma by sponging miR-155 in vitro and in vivo, implying the important implication of lncRNAs in melanoma progression and providing a potential therapeutic target for melanoma.

Tuscan consensus on the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is traditionally defined as an inflammatory chronic-relapsing disease of the skin. As widely demonstrated, this disease is also associated with multiple comorbidities: arthropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic, cardiovascular, ocular and psychological disorders. The disease also has a significant impact on patients' quality of life, whose work ability decreases considerably with clear consequences for the social costs. Therefore, if we consider that in Tuscany, more than 100,000 people out of 3,672,202 suffer from psoriasis, it is of paramount importance focusing the attention on a rational model of clinical and therapeutic management of the disease. All the leading experts in Tuscany have come together with the aim of defining unanimously accepted regional guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and management of psoriasis, and of providing practical guidance/protocol on diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and management of special cases of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. METHODS: In a working group formed ad hoc, the main topics have been discussed and approved by plenary vote. RESULTS: Diagnosis must include a proper general health condition overview, a careful evaluation of skin and joints, the assessment and management of other comorbidities and the definition of disease severity. With regards to the therapy the best time to start a systemic treatment, the therapeutic goal, the most appropriate drug and blood tests to be performed in case of moderate severe-psoriasis have been taken into account. During follow-up, proper monitoring of systemic therapy and its management in the long term has also been suggested. Eventually, the experts have addressed the problem of how to manage the disease in special conditions, such as during surgery, pregnancy, in children and in case of infections (HBV, HCV, HIV). CONCLUSIONS: The main aim of this Consensus was to find agreement on the criteria for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of psoriasis, shared by all the Dermatologic Therapy Units of Tuscany. A need to create an easier way for the patient to access specialized dermatology outpatient services, and to reduce the waiting list and costs related to the management of psoriasis has been stressed. Most importantly, during the Consensus all of the participants agreed on the central role of the patient, and on the need of a multidisciplinary management of the disease which requires communication among specialists and regional centers in order to build on existing experience.

Superficial Acral Fibromyxoma of the Toe: Unusual Location of the Mixoid Variant.

Superficial acral fibromyxoma (SAFM) is a rare soft tissue tumor that frequently involves the periungual and subungual regions of acral surfaces. Macroscopically, it appears as a flesh-colored dome-shaped solitary mass; microscopically, it consists of a moderately cellular proliferation of spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells embedded in a myxocollagenous stroma and arranged in a loose storiform and focally fascicular pattern. The tumor cells are immunoreactive for CD34, epithelial membrane antigen, CD99, and CD10. In this study, we describe a case of SAFM on the fourth toe with predominantly myxoid stroma. Our case, in contrast of those reported in the literature, showed an unusual location for the myxoid variant. SAFM is often not recognized; it may resemble some benign and malignant mesenchymal neoplasm. The gold standard treatment is surgery. The tumor was completely excised, and no recurrence was evident at 1-year follow-up. Awareness of this entity facilitates its diagnosis and management, avoiding unwarranted concerns and additional procedures for the patient.

Crosstalk between platelets and PBMC: New evidence in wound healing.

Platelet-derived products have proven useful in accelerating healing processes and tissue regeneration. However, despite their widespread use in clinical practice, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved have not yet been completely clarified. Recent studies show that interaction between platelet gel (PG) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can result in activation of PBMC and production of several cytokines involved in wound healing and tissue repair. The aim of our study was to analyze whether crosstalk between platelets and PBMC can influence wound healing by modulating release of VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 by PBMC. Cultures of PBMC alone and co-cultures with autologous PG of 24 healthy volunteers were incubated under normoxia for 24 h. VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 concentration and expression were then analyzed in supernatants by ELISA and by real-time RT-PCR. We observed a down-regulation of VEGF and bFGF release and an up-regulation of IL-10 release in co-cultures of PBMC and PG. Platelets are not only important in the early stages of the healing process (clot formation, direct release of growth factors), but also can influence the whole process of tissue regeneration by modulating synthesis and release of VEGF, bFGF and IL-10 by PBMC. These effects could give platelets a new key role in the control of healing processes and provide insights into the clinical success of platelet-derived products in many medical fields.

Parallel-ridge pattern on dermatoscopy: observation in a case of purpura traumatica pedis.

Dermatologists are often referred urgent cases of acral hematoma by general practitioners and sports medicine specialists for the purpose of excluding warts, nevi or melanoma. Acral hematoma is often a cause of anxiety to patients and their families. Here, we report a case of purpura traumatica pedis, referred to us as suspected plantar melanoma because of the finding of parallel-ridge pattern on dermatoscopic examination. To avoid unnecessary and costly procedures, doctors should inquire about any episode of physical exertion before the onset of purpura, recording the lesion's anatomic site (e.g., unilateral vs. bilateral involvement) and clinical features.

Computer-assisted melanoma diagnosis: a new integrated system.

In dermatology, attempts at synergy between man and machine have mainly been made to improve melanoma diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to test an 'integrated digital dermoscopy analysis' (i-DDA) system with a series of melanocytic lesions that were benign and malignant in nature, and to evaluate its discriminating power with respect to histological diagnosis. In a retrospective study we used an i-DDA system to evaluate a series of 856 excised, clinically atypical pigmented skin lesions (584 benign and 272 malignant). The system evaluated 48 parameters to be studied as possible discriminant variables, grouped into four categories (geometries, colours, textures and islands of colour) integrated with three personal metadata items (sex, age and site of lesion) and presence/absence of three dermoscopic patterns (regression structures, blue-white veil and polymorphic vascular structures). Stepwise multivariate logistic regression of i-DDA data selected nine variables with the highest possible discriminant power. At the end of the stepwise procedure the percentage of cases correctly classified by i-DDA was 89.2% (100% sensitivity and 40.8% specificity). The limitations of the study included those associated with a retrospective design and the 'a priori' exclusion of nonmelanocytic skin lesions. By incorporating numerical digital features with personal data and some dermoscopic patterns into the learning process, the proposed i-DDA improved the performance of assisted melanoma diagnosis, with the advantage that our results can be objectively repeated in any other clinical setting.