PDCD1 gene polymorphisms as regulators of T-lymphocyte activity in cutaneous melanoma risk and prognosis.

This study aimed to evaluate whether PD1.1 (c.-606G>A), PD1 (c.627 + 252C>T), PD1.5 (c.804C>T), and PD1.9 (c.644C>T) single nucleotide polymorphisms of PDCD1 gene influence the risk, clinicopathological aspects, and survival of cutaneous melanoma (CM). Individuals with phototype I or II and PD1 CC genotype were under 5.89-fold increased risk of developing CM. PD1.5 TT genotype increased PDCD1 expression (2.49 versus 1.28 arbitrary units, p = .03) and PD1.5 CT or TT genotype and allele T increased PD1 expression in TCD4+ lymphocytes (16.6 versus 12.5%, p = .01; 17.0 versus 13.1%, p = .006). At 60 months of follow-up, short recurrence-free survival was seen in patients with PD1.1 AA genotype (33.3 versus 71.8%, p = .03). Patients with PD1.1 AA and PD1.5 CC genotype had 4.21 and 2.62 more chances of presenting relapse and evolving death by disease in Cox analyses, respectively. Our data provide preliminary evidence that abnormalities in regulation of T lymphocyte alter CM risk, clinical aspects, and prognosis.

Non-invasive method distinguishes chronic telogen effluvium from mild female pattern hair loss: clinicopathological correlation.

BACKGROUND: The distinction between chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is important because of their different prognosis and treatment. Non-invasive methods have been described to be useful in differentiating FPHL from CTE. This prospective study investigated the use of the washing method to differentiate CTE from mild FPHL. METHODS: Twenty patients with CTE and 17 with FPHL were recruited and followed for 18 months. The diagnosis was established through clinical, laboratory, and histological studies. The patients were asked to abstain from washing their hair for 5 days and then shampoo and collect all hair shed in the process. Hair shafts were then counted and divided into two groups: up to 3 cm in length or longer. RESULTS: In the CTE group, the mean hair count was high (438), and in all cases, <10% were short. In patients with FPHL, the mean count was not as high (215) and in only one patient, short hairs comprised <10% of the total. The greater the number of long hairs, the higher was the density of terminal follicles seen histologically. The CTE group presented a greater number of patients with serum iron values <70 µg/dl. Ferritin levels ranged from 6.98 to 128.33, average of 66.65 (CTE), and 16.5-304.8, average of 114.97 ng/ml (FPHL), but no significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: The washing test can be useful to avoid biopsy procedures. Iron serum levels are possibly an additional parameter that may improve CTE diagnosis if combined with an earlier test.

Keratoacanthoma and Keratoacanthoma-Like Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Similar Morphology but Different Pathogenesis.

Differential diagnosis between keratoacanthoma (KA) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is difficult due to their similarities. The mechanisms that drive their distinct biological behavior are poorly understood. To investigate whether the assessment of microvessel density (MVD) could be helpful in KA and SCC differential diagnosis and to gain insight into the pathogenesis of KA-like neoplasms, we compared the density of CD105- and CD34-stained vessels in KAs and SCCs and their relation to the expression of the p53 oncoprotein and proliferation marker Ki67. This is an observational retrospective cohort study. Forty lesions with clinical appearance of KAs (29 KAs and 11 SCCs) entered the study. A biopsy was taken from each lesion at presentation and the natural clinical course was monitored for at least 1 month. Growing or minimally regressing lesions were submitted to complete surgical excision. The diagnoses were established on combined clinical, histological, and follow-up evaluations. The MVD and p53 or Ki67 expression in neoplastic cells were assessed through morphometry. The MVD did not show discriminating power between KAs and SCCs. The Ki67 proliferation rate was significantly higher in SCCs. Although neoangiogenesis (CD105-MVD) in KAs was associated with cell proliferation, in SCCs it was not. There was significant correlation between p53 expression and neoplasia size in SCCs but not in KAs. From our results, we may conclude that KA and SCC have similarities, as CD105- and CD34-MVD. However, the low Ki67 proliferation index and the positive correlation between Ki-67 index and neovascularization in KA suggest a dependence in neovascularization to grow in KA, pointing to involvement of distinct pathogenesis.

Evoluçäo da cicatrizaçäo após eletrocoagulaçäo sem curativo ou com curativo oclusivo / Evolution of cicatrization after electrocoagulation without dressing occlusive or with occlusive dressing

A eletrocoagulaçäo é o procedimento cirúrgico dermatológico mais utilizado como recurso único ou após curetagem ou barbirese (shaving). É controversa a conduta na pós-eletrocoagulaçäo. Deve a lesäo eletrocoagulada ser mantida descoberta, sem oclusäo por curativo, com uma simples assepsia ou deve-se fazer curativo oclusivo? Em área exposta como na face a lesäo eletrocoagulada deixada sem curativo, com limpeza diária com álcool ou álcool iodado, tem uma cicatrizaçäo mais segura e rápida do que quando mantida sob curativo. Em área coberta há dúvidas qual seria o procedimento melhor. O presente trabalho relata a evoluçäo cicatricial de lesöes eletrocoaguladas de áreas cobertas, deixadas sem curativos ou com curativos oclusivos. Em 26 doentes, foram eletrocoaguladas após curetagem ou barbirese (shaving) 228 lesöes, sendo 186 queratose seborréicas e 42 nevos melanocítos. No mesmo paciente algumas lesöes foram deixadas sem curativo, com assepsia diária com álcool iodado e outras mantidas sob curativo oclusivo, trocado diariamente. Procurou-se manter uma simetria e equivalência numérica. Após sete dias verificou-se que nas lesöes deixadas abertas, sem curativo oclusivo, 115 (85,5 por cento) apresentavam cicatrizaçäo excelente e 18 (15,5 por cento), cicatrizaçäo regular. Em nenhum caso havia cicatrizaçäo insatisfatória. Em contraste de 95 lesöes mantidas sob curativo oclusivo, 31 (32,6 por cento) tinham cicatrizaçäo excelente, 32(33,7 por cento) regular e 32 (33,7 por cento apresentavam cicatrizaçäo insatisfatória. Estes säo estatisticamente significantes (p < 0,0000001). A conclusäo é que lesöes eletrocoaguladas, mesmo em áreas cobertas, apresentam melhor evoluçäo cicatricial quando deixadas sem curativo

Rinofima: revisäo da literatura / Rhinophyma: review of the literature

O rinofima é um tumor benigno reconhecido clinicamente por uma hipertrofia nasal, decorrente de hiperplasia das glândulas sebáceas, com eritema da pele e telangiectasias. O resultado é um desfiguramento podendo ocasionar bloqueio funcional nasal e infecçäo recorrente. O termo é derivado do grego e foi utilizado pela primeira vez por Hebra, em 1845. E 12 vezes mais frequente em homens e atinge caracteristicamente caucasianos brancos, entre 40 e 60 anos. E raro em negros e orientais. Usualmente restrito à metade inferior do nariz, pode ainda desenvolver-se em outros locais, como o mento, pavilhäo auricular, regiäo malar e glabela. Embora a causa seja desconhecida, múltiplos fatores devem estar envolvidos, como a açäo dos hormônios androgênicos, fatores ambientais, alimentares e psicossomáticos. Várias modalidades terapêuticas têm sido reportadas na literatura, como a eletrodissecçäo, a dermoabrasäo, a ressecçäo com laser, bisturi de Shaw, entre outras