The effect of high-fat diet and 13-cis retinoic acid application on lipid profile, glycemic response and oxidative stress in female Lewis rats.

Vitamin A and its metabolites are key regulators of the development of adipose tissue and associated metabolic complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of high fat diet and 13-cis retinoic acid (13 cRA) application on metabolic parameters, adipogenic and inflammatory indicators in female Lewis rats. Female rats of Lewis strain were fed standard laboratory diet (STD) and high fat diet (HFD, 45% of saturated fatty acids) during 30 days. The groups were divided into additional 3 groups (6 rats each): two experimental groups that received 13 cRA orally on a daily basis during 30 days (7.5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively) and the control group that was given sunflower oil. Animals were sacrificed after 60 days. Feeding of Lewis rats with chronic HFD diet with 13 cRA supplementation increased weight gain, adiposity index, dyslipidaemia, hyperleptinaemia, insulin resistance, VLDL concentrations, oxidative stress and atherogenic indices. Administration of 13 cRA in Lewis rats fed STD did not change the weight of the animals, but it slightly increased the atherogenic parameters. 13 cRA and HFD affect metabolic parameters, glucose and lipid metabolism in Lewis rats and its administration has a completely different effect on metabolism in rats fed STD, highlighting the complex role of vitamin A supplementation in obesity. Other factors, such as genetics, age, sex, adipose tissue distribution, also must be taken into consideration.

Long-term Follow-up of a Case of Lymphomatoid Papulosis with a Benign Course.

Dear Editor,We present the case of a 40-year old male patient with lymphomatoid papulosis of a waxing and waning course on whom three biopsies were performed during a 14-year period with no change in histopathological or immunophenotypical characteristics. Lymphomatoid papulosis (LP) is a chronic, recurrent, self-healing papulonodular skin eruption with the histopathologic features of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma but an often benign and indolent clinical course (1). It is designated as a primary, cutaneous, CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorder. The histopathologic features of LP are variable, with five main types (A-E) and several other variants (2). In most cases, LP presents with a generalized eruption of reddish-brown papules or nodules usually smaller than one cm on the trunk and limbs. Rarely, large, rapidly growing nodules may be the first manifestation of the disease (3). Patients with LP have an excellent prognosis even though they are at increased risk of developing secondary cutaneous or nodal lymphomas such as mycosis fungoides, primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL), or Hodgkin lymphoma (4). LP-associated lymphomas develop in between 10% and, as recently reported, 52% percent of patients and may occur before, concurrent with, or after the onset of LP (4,5). Our patient was diagnosed with "conventional" type An LP 14 years earlier based on the clinicopathologic correlation. The diagnosis was confirmed a year later after excision of a rapid growing ulcerated nodule on the forearm measuring 17 mm in diameter, which was clinically suspected to be anaplastic large cell lymphoma. During these 14 years, there were only a few worrisome recurrences of the disease, which resolved spontaneously or were successfully controlled with local steroids. During a recent exacerbation, when the third biopsy was performed, the patient presented with a large number of generalized reddish-brown pruritic papules and nodules on the trunk, extremities, neck, and face, predominantly up to one cm, some among which were necrotic and excoriated (Figure 1). There were three sites of clustered papules on the trunk, groin, and neck that resembled large, infiltrated plaques larger than two cm, at a glance mimicking cutaneous lymphoma (Figure 1, b, c). There were also older residual hyper- and hypopigmentations on the skin with prominent scarring. Excisional skin biopsy of one larger papule from the abdominal plaque was performed and was not morphologically or immunophenotypically different from the previous ones (Figure 2). Immunohistochemistry showed expression of CD 30 and the phenotypic markers of T-helper lymphocytes (CD 3+/-, CD4+) by neoplastic cells (Figure 2, c, d). Associated systemic malignant lymphoma was excluded based on examination findings, normal laboratory tests, the absence of palpably enlarged lymph nodes, hepatosplenomegaly, and systemic symptoms followed with MSCT. Serology for HIV and EBV was performed and was positive for EBV EBNA, VCA IgG, and IgM, which could be associated with the exacerbation of LP. Topical corticosteroids and phototherapy were administered when needed in this 14-year period, and methotrexate in a lower dose was prescribed during the extensive generalized eruptions. All of the applied therapeutic modalities led to a partial response. LP is a self-limiting disease for which many patients do not require specific treatment. Therapy should be directed at controlling symptoms in generalized eruptions or minimizing the frequency of recurrences, but none of the available treatment options disrupt the natural history of LP or reduce the risk of developing an associated lymphoma (6). Low-dose methotrexate is the initial therapy of choice in patients with the extensive or symptomatic disease or disease involving cosmetically sensitive areas like the face or hands, which were the affected areas in our patient (6,7). There are no markers that can help predict the course of the disease in a given patient, although some indicators have been suggested (8,9). Because of this lack of markers that can help predict the course of the disease and occurrence of malignant lymphoma, patients should remain in monitoring for the rest of their life.

Poikilodermatous Mycosis Fungoides - Rare Entity, Different Treatment Modalities.

Poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides (PMF) is a rare clinical variant of early-stage MF with peculiar histological features. Poikiloderma occurs in many different clinical conditions, which makes a diagnostic procedure more complicated. PMF belongs to a group of MF variants with low risk of disease progression. We report a case of a 64-year-old woman, who presented with mottled skin aspect of erythema, poikilodermatous patches (hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, atrophy, and telangiectasia) on more than 80% of the body. Based on clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings, we established the diagnosis of PMF. Staging procedure determined stage IIA. As skin-directed therapy was the treatment of choice, the patient was successfully treated with psoralen-UVA (PUVA), nbUVB plus retinoid (Re-nbUVB), and PUVA plus retinoid (Re-PUVA), however, with rapid recurrence.

Modeling the kinetics of calcium hydroxide catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil.

The kinetics of Ca(OH)(2)-catalyzed methanolysis of sunflower oil was studied at a moderate temperature (60 degrees C), a methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1) and different catalyst amounts (from 1% to 10% based on oil weight). The methanolysis process was shown to involve the initial triglyceride (TG) mass transfer controlled region, followed by the chemical reaction controlled region in the latter period. The TG mass transfer limitation was caused by the low available active specific catalyst surface due to the high adsorbed methanol concentration. Both the TG mass transfer and chemical reaction rates increased with increasing the catalyst amount.