Stem Cell Markers (Cytokeratin 17 and Cytokeratin 19) in Scarring and Nonscarring Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia is one of the most important hair follicle (HF) disorders, which is divided into scarring (cicatricial) and nonscarring (noncicatricial) types. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of stem cell (SC) markers such as cytokeratin (CK) 17 and CK19 in scarring and nonscarring alopecia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with scalp alopecia (15 with scarring alopecia and 15 without) together with ten healthy volunteers were included in this study. Biopsies were taken from all participants and stained for CK17 and CK19 using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the nonscarring group and the control group with regard to CK17 expression in the outer layers of the HFs (P = 0.00) and CK19 staining of the inner layers of the HFs (P = 0.008). There was a statistically significant difference between the scarring and the control groups regarding CK17 expression in the outer (P = 0.00) and the inner layers (P = 0.00) of the HFs and CK19 expression in the inner layers of the HFs (P = 0.00). CK17 expression in the outer layers (P = 0.02) and the inner layers of the HFs (P = 0.00) together with CK19 expression in the inner layers of the HFs (P = 0.00) showed statistically significant differences between scarring and nonscarring alopecia groups. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SC markers (CK17 and CK19) in the HFs was affected in both scarring and nonscarring alopecia, but the defect in scarring alopecia is more evident than that of nonscarring alopecia. The persistence of SC markers in some types of scarring alopecia could give a hope for the recovery of these lesions. Further studies are recommended to clarify the benefit from using HF SCs in the treatment of alopecia.

ß-catenin and SKP2 proteins as predictors of grade and stage of non-muscle invasive urothelial bladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the expression of beta-catenin (ß-catenin) and SKP2 proteins in superficial bladder cancer cases and their correlation with tumor grade and stage. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively evaluated the expression of ß-catenin and SKP2 proteins in tissue specimens from patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and compared their results with a cohort of chronic nonspecific cystitis's. Then we and explored these markers association with tumor grade and stage. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were retrospectively identified, 50% was NMIBC and the rest were chronic nonspecific cystitis. ß-catenin was expressed in 18 (90%) patients of the NMIBC group in comparison to 14 (70%) of the control group with (P=0.1), while SKP2 protein was only expressed in NMIBC groups (P=0.03). A statistically significant correlation was identified between nucleocytoplasmic localization of ß-catenin and SKP2 with tumor grade, stage. CONCLUSIONS: ß-catenin and SKP2 expression are providing promising results for differentiating higher grade and stage non muscle invasive bladder cancers.

Isolated oral Kaposi sarcoma in an HIV-negative patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi sarcoma is a well-known vascular tumor first described by Moriz Kaposi in 1872. Oral involvement is seen as an AIDS-related malignant neoplasm but is rarely described in HIV-negative and non-immunosuppressed individuals. CASE: We report a case of oral Kaposi sarcoma in a 75-year-old, HIV-negative woman. Diagnosis was achieved according to clinical, histopathological and positive polymerase chain reaction for human herpes virus 8. The tumor was surgically excised and no recurrence was detected in the following 6 months. CONCLUSION: Oral Kaposi sarcoma is rare in HIV-negative patients and is associated with HHV-8 infection. Lesions are usually solitary and can be treated surgically. It should be included in the differential diagnoses of oral lesions that are clinically suspicious and resistant to therapy.