Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in cutaneous sarcoidosis.

While absent from normal skin, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) infiltrate the skin in several infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic entities. In addition to providing anti-viral resistance, pDCs link the innate and adaptive immune responses. Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multi-system granulomatous disease characterized by epitheliod granulomas. Its underlying immunopathogenesis involves hyperactivity of cell-mediated immune system with involvement of CD4+ T-helper cells of the Th1 subtype. Recently, pDCs have been shown to contribute to other cutaneous granulomatous disorders such as granuloma annulare (GA). Here, we intend to investigate pDC occurrence and activity in cutaneous sarcoidosis. Twenty cutaneous sarcoidosis cases and a comparable group of 20 cases of GA were retrieved from our database and were immunohistochemically tested for pDC occurrence and activity using anti-BDCA-2 and anti-MxA antibodies, respectively. Fifteen cases of cutaneous lupus erythrematosus (LE) were used as a comparison group. A semi-quantitative scoring system was used. pDCs were present in all cutaneous sarcoidosis in peri-vascular and/or peri-adnexal location admixed with lymphocytes. pDC numbers in sarcoidosis were comparable to those in GA, while pDCs were significantly more abundant in LE. MxA expression was mostly patchy in cutaneous sarcoidosis and GA cases, while LE cases showed diffuse and strong MxA expression. In conclusion, we have shown that pDCs are recruited into the skin lesions of sarcoidosis and GA. Despite the diminished type I IFN production demonstrated in our study, the consistent presence of pDCs in all cutaneous sarcoidosis cases speaks in favor of some role of these cells in the pathogenesis of granulomatous disorders. (Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018; 35: 55-61).

Eponyms in andrology.

Andrology is the study of male reproductive health, its associated medicines, and biology, including functions and diseases that are specific to men, especially with regard to the reproductive organs. This concise report discusses the eponyms that are encountered in andrological literature.

Eponymes en AndrologieL'andrologie est l'étude de la santé reproductive masculine, de ses médicaments et de sa biologie, ainsi que des fonctions et maladies qui sont spécifiques aux hommes, tout particulièrement celles qui concernent les organes reproducteurs. Ce rapport succinct discute les éponymes rencontrés dans la littérature andrologique.

Bariatric surgery and its effects on the skin and skin diseases.

In light of the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, the popularity of bariatric surgery is on the rise. As with any other invasive procedure, these surgeries, especially with the obesity risk factor, carry the risk of direct cutaneous complications following the penetration and manipulation of tissues. In addition, bariatric surgery has an effect on skin structure and function. It also appears to be affiliated with several dermatoses. Some of these represent preexisting diseases the course of which is altered by the procedure, such as psoriasis. On the other hand, other skin disorders are triggered by the surgery itself. This article reviews and summarizes these cutaneous effects and complications.