Pexophagy modes during penicillin biosynthesis in Penicillium rubens P2-32-T.

Pexophagy is a peroxisome degradation process. The last two steps of penicillin biosynthesis in Penicillium rubens are carried out in peroxisomes. These organelles proliferate in large numbers during this process, so that after the penicillin secretion, their removal is essential as a regulatory mechanism. In this work, two pexophagy modes are described for the high-penicillin producing strain P. rubens P2-32-T, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on 24- and 48-h cultures (when maximum penicillin production is achieved). The obtained images show peroxisome phagocytosis by vacuoles in three different ways: macropexophagy, micropexophagy, and a new proposed model: unipexophagy.

Gross and microscopic findings in patients undergoing microdermabrasion for facial rejuvenation.

BACKGROUND: Microdermabrasion (MDA) is a new procedure used for the treatment of cosmetic problems, particularly to combat photoaging and intrinsic aging. Though excellent clinical improvement has been well documented, histologic support is limited. OBJECTIVE: To determine if microscopic changes correlate with clinical improvement and to examine the depth of penetration compared to chemical peels. METHODS: Seven women were submitted to five MDA sessions at weekly intervals. Skin biopsies were performed in all of them, before and after the treatment. Clinical and photographic assessments were recorded weekly. Data concerning skin features, including oiliness, thickness, dilated pores, and general appearance, were all assessed. Microscopic improvement of changes associated with cutaneous aging in the epidermis and dermis where all assessed. For statistical analysis, a t-test for small samples was utilized. RESULTS: All the patients showed clinical and microscopic improvement in all of the parameters assessed. The t-test for small samples showed a P <.05. CONCLUSION: MDA is a good alternative for facial rejuvenation. Improvements in both clinical and microscopic parameters are readily demonstrable.

Oral isotretinoin as part of the treatment of cutaneous aging.

BACKGROUND: A number of drugs have been used to prevent aging changes. However, studies of oral isotretinoin, the commonly used acne drug, as an antiaging drug are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To determine improvement in cutaneous aging utilizing oral isotretinoin combined with different procedures of facial rejuvenation. METHODS: Sixty patients ranging in age from 35 to 65 years, in whom additional modalities of rejuvenation were also used, were randomly assigned to receive treatment with oral isotretinoin (10-20 mg three times a week for 2 months, group A). Their results were compared with 60 patients who had undergone the same surgical procedures but with no oral isotretinoin (group B). RESULTS: All patients treated with oral isotretinoin noted improvement in wrinkles, thickness and color of the skin, size of pores, skin elasticity, tone, and reduction in pigmented lesions and mottled hyperpigmentation. A statistically significant difference was found in the improvement of group A (Wilcoxon test <0.01). Using minimal amounts of this drug, the side effects were practically negligible. CONCLUSION: Utilizing various procedures with oral isotretinoin allowed us to improve the effects of cutaneous aging. Our results using isotretinoin in these cases have been satisfactory. We believe that this is one of the first reports of the use of oral isotretinoin in intrinsic and photoaged skin.

Practice perspectives: fat injection in different parts of the body.

Fat injection may be successfully performed in almost all parts of the body, including the face, hands, female breasts, buttocks, calves, and genitals. A review of the steps necessary for obtaining better cosmetic results with this procedure are presented.

Gross and microscopic features in chancroid: a study in 200 new culture-proven cases in San Salvador.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A better knowledge of gross and microscopic features in chancroid are important in this increased frequency disease. STUDY DESIGN: Two biopsies were taken from each one of 200 culture-proven cases of chancroid, and studied through different stains. RESULTS: The ratio male/female was 15.7/1, and adenopathies were found in 87%. Biopsies showed edema, lymphohistiocytic inflammation and fibrinoid vasculitis, as well as the presence of numerous eosinophils and Russell bodies. CONCLUSION: Biopsy should be considered as an important tool for the diagnostic of chancroid.

Chancroid in El Salvador. Increasing incidence, clinical features, and therapeutics.

Ninety-five cases of chancroid were studied during a 6-month period in a dermatologic service in San Salvador; 88 (92.6%) were men and 7 (7.4%) were women, with a ratio of 12.5:1. The minimum age was 13 years and the maximum 46, with an average of 21 years. In most of the cases (81.05%), the incubation period varied from 1 to 7 days. Very painful adenopathies, enough to make walking difficult, were a striking feature in 69 cases (72.6%). Treatment was curative in all cases, except two, who received treatment with co-trifamole (sulfatrifamole 400 mg/trimethoprim 80 mg). In two cases in which it was not possible to use co-moxole (allergy, pregnancy), treatment was also curative using erythromycin.

Familial benign chronic pemphigus.

In connection with three of eight recent cases of familial benign chronic pemphigus (FBCP) a brief review of its clinical, immunofluorescent, microscopic, and ultramicroscopic characteristics was made, with special emphasis on the differential diagnosis. The two main clinical aspects of the disease are emphasized: the moist, macerated, and intertriginous (candidiasis-like) variety, and the polycyclic plaque, with active and lichenoid edges (tinea corporis-like). Treatment was only partially successful, but slightly more effective with the lichenoid form of disease.

A comparison between one and two weeks' treatment with bifonazole in pityriasis versicolor.

The mycologic and clinical efficacy and the local tolerance for 1 and 2 weeks of once-daily treatment of sixty cases of pityriasis versicolor with bifonazole 1% cream were studied in a biometrically planned, controlled, double-blind group comparison. The mycologic findings after 2 weeks were negative in all the patients, with the exception of one from the 1-week group. Two weeks later the findings were negative in each case. The evolution of the clinical symptoms was similarly good: after 2 weeks, only two patients in the 2-week group still exhibited scaling. In one case the pruritus, which had disappeared in the course of treatment, reappeared 2 weeks later. The mycosis began to improve within the first week, except in two patients in the 2-week group and one patient in the 1-week group.

Jadassohn's sebaceous nevus.

A total of 29 case reports of sebaceous nevus were filed for the years 1970 to 1980 in the Department of Pathology of the National Medical Center of El Salvador. In 2 cases (6.8%), association with basal-cell carcinomas were found. In 1 case, there was also a solitary pilar leiomyoma. Sebaceous nevus was found more frequently in females than in males (2:1 ratio), and the average age was 23.8 years at the time of the consultation. All diagnosed sebaceous nevi were located on the head (48.2% on the scalp), and 82.7% of the patients were under 30 years of age. In connection with the analysis of these cases, a brief review of the clinical, histologic, and evolutionary facts of the sebaceous nevus was carried out.

Nodular hidradenoma and hidradenocarcinoma. A 10-year review.

We studied eighty-nine nodular hidradenomas (NHs) and six clear cell hidradenocarcinomas (CCHs) reported in a 10-year period. NHs were more commonly seen in women (ratio of 1.7 to 1); the average age was 37.2 years, and they were located mainly on the head. One CCH had widely disseminated metastasis that led to death. Other CCHs underwent spontaneous regression.

Bifonazole cream: once-a-day application every second day in tinea cruris and tinea corporis.

The efficacy and local tolerance of Bay h 4502 1% cream were investigated in Tinea corporis and Tinea cruris. This biometrically designed, noncontrolled study was carried out in 32 patients (27 males and 5 females). The mean values of age, height and body weight were 25 years, 160.7 cm and 65.7 kg. Bay h 4502 1% cream was applied once daily every second day for 2 weeks. Mycological and clinical controls were carried out 1 week after starting therapy as well as 3 days and 2 weeks after the end of therapy. The direct microscopic examination was negative in 28/28 patients (100%) after the end of therapy as well as at the follow-up examination in 32/32 patients (100%). No pathogenic organisms were seen in 20/28 patients (71%) at the end of therapy and in 28/32 patients (88%) at the follow-up control. The overall success rate shows an analogous picture: 'very good' and 'good' was assessed for 26 patients (81%) at the end of therapy. In 50% of patients the onset of improvement occurred within 5 days after start of treatment, and between the 6th and 12th day in a further 47%. The local tolerance was good. The results obtained show that there is no difference by this study in comparison with previous studies with a treatment once daily every day. This gives additional safety by minimizing the risk of failures in all those patients sometimes not following strictly doctor's advise.

Alteraciones electroencefalograficas en la fiebre hemorragica de dengue.Revision sobre sus manifestaciones neurologicas. / Electroencephalographic changes in dengue hemorrhagic fever. Review on its neurological manifestations

Se estudiaron 25 pacientes con fiebre hemorragica de dengue (FHD), quienes se encontraban ingresados en el hospital provincial clinicoquirurgico docente "Dr.Gustavo Aldereguia Lima". A este grupo de pacientes se les realizaron registros electroencefalograficos en las primeras 24 horas del ingreso y se le repitieron a las 72 horas, independientemente del resultados inicial. Se establecieron comparaciones entre los pacientes que tenian alteraciones en el electroencefalograma y en aquellos cuyo resultado fue normal. Se encontraron anormalidades del electroencefalograma en el 44% de los casos examinados, que consistieron en asimetria, respuesta anormal a la hiperventilacion, foco de ondas lentas y trazado de ondas lentas generalizadas. Se discuten las causas posibles de las alteraciones de la electrogenesis cortical y las manifestaciones neurologicas de la FHD

Alteraciones electroencefalograficas en la fiebre hemorragica de dengue.Revision sobre sus manifestaciones neurologicas. / Electroencephalographic changes in dengue heorrhagic fever. Review on its neurological manifestations

Se estudiaron 25 pacientes con fiebre hemorragica de dengue (FHD), quienes se encontraban ingresados en el hospital provincial clinicoquirurgico docente "Dr.Gustavo Aldereguia Lima". A este grupo de pacientes se les realizaron registros electroencefalograficos en las primeras 24 horas del ingreso y se le repitieron a las 72 horas, independientemente del resultados inicial. Se establecieron comparaciones entre los pacientes que tenian alteraciones en el electroencefalograma y en aquellos cuyo resultado fue normal. Se encontraron anormalidades del electroencefalograma en el 44% de los casos examinados, que consistieron en asimetria, respuesta anormal a la hiperventilacion, foco de ondas lentas y trazado de ondas lentas generalizadas. Se discuten las causas posibles de las alteraciones de la electrogenesis cortical y las manifestaciones neurologicas de la FHD