ABSTRACT
Inflammatory processes affecting the vulva may present a unique challenge due to location specific changes. Different factors are behind the intricacy in the presentation of vulvar dermatoses. First, the vulva is lined by different epithelia (hair-bearing keratinized epithelium, modified mucosa, and mucosa). Furthermore, among other factors, this organ is exposed to friction, occlusion, and trauma. Lastly, as there is a tendency to look for health care advice at an advanced stage of the disease, the lesion may be modified by secondary changes due to self-treatment. This article describes the clinical presentation and pathologic features of vulvar dermatoses with a lichenoid pattern and highlights practical points for their diagnoses.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Vulva/pathology , Vulvar Diseases/pathology , Dermatitis/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Pathologists , Vulvar Diseases/diagnosisABSTRACT
We report the case of a 66-year-old man with adult-onset seizures and multiple cerebral cavernous malformations who developed numerous eruptive cutaneous angiokeratomas on the legs, scrotum, abdomen, and back as well as lobular and cavernous hemangiomas on the arms. Genetic analysis demonstrated a mutation in the KRIT1, ankyrin repeat containing gene (also known as CCM1).
Subject(s)
Angiokeratoma/diagnosis , Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System/diagnosis , Hemangioma/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Aged , Angiokeratoma/genetics , Angiokeratoma/pathology , Hemangioma/genetics , Hemangioma/pathology , Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System/genetics , Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System/pathology , Humans , KRIT1 Protein , Male , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/genetics , Skin Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Foscarnet-induced genital erosions have been reported in patients treated for HIV-related herpesvirus infections in adults. We report the case of a boy with penile erosions associated with foscarnet therapy in the setting of umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT).
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Cytomegalovirus Infections/drug therapy , Foscarnet/adverse effects , Penile Diseases/chemically induced , Penile Diseases/diagnosis , Acyclovir/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Child, Preschool , Foscarnet/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Penile Diseases/pathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The thymus is a lymphoid organ that selects T cells for release to the peripheral immune system. Unfortunately, thymopoiesis is highly susceptible to damage by physiologic stressors and can contribute to immune deficiencies that occur in a variety of clinical settings. No treatment is currently available to protect the thymus from stress-induced involution. Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice have severe thymic atrophy and this finding suggests that this hormone is required for normal thymopoiesis. In this study, the ability of leptin to promote thymopoiesis in wild-type C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, as well as in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) and endotoxin-stressed (Escherichia coli LPS) mice, was determined. Leptin administration induced weight loss and stimulated thymopoiesis in ob/ob mice, but did not stimulate thymopoiesis in wild-type C57BL/6 nor BALB/c mice. In endotoxin-stressed mice, however, leptin prevented LPS-induced thymus weight loss and stimulated TCRalpha gene rearrangement. Coadministration of leptin with LPS blunted endotoxin-induced systemic corticosterone response and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, leptin has a selective thymostimulatory role in settings of leptin deficiency and endotoxin administration, and may be useful for protecting the thymus from damage and augmenting T cell reconstitution in these clinical states.
