Iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma and HCV infection.

Iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma develops in patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatment and is considered to be induced by activation of latent HHV8. In most cases the first manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma develops after 1 year from when the drug was first administered. In a recent study from Italy on HHV8 positivity in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, it was found that 52% of the control group were positive (Masini C., et al. G Ital Dermatol Venereol 1999; 134: 315-320). For this reason we could expect a larger number of cases of iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma given the number of patients who undergo immunosuppressive treatment for one reason or another. Thus, we have to look to a contemporaneous presence of other factors that co-operate with the HHV8. We present a case of a 49-year-old woman, HHV8 and HCV positive, who develops a Kaposi's sarcoma after 9 months of steroid therapy (methylprednisolone 16 mg/die). The low dose of steroids prescribed to our patient and the fact that the first skin manifestation developed after a shorter period than average from the start of therapy do not explain the acute onset of an extensive Kaposi's sarcoma even taking into account the HHV8 positive status. Both HHV8 and HCV produce proteins, such as IL6 and IL8 which are able to control cell growth. It can be supposed that the contemporaneus presence of the two viruses created a sinergy for the onset of the Kaposi's sarcoma.

Cytotoxic gamma/delta subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: report of a case with pulmonary involvement unresponsive to therapy.

Peripheral subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (PSPTCL) is a rare form of cutaneous lymphoma recently proposed as a distinct clinicopathological entity. It usually presents with multiple indurated subcutaneous plaques or tumours, most commonly located on the extremities and trunk and clinically mimicking lobular panniculitis. Associated constitutional symptoms due to haemophagocytic syndrome may advance or, more often, complicate the clinical course in about 40-70% of cases. Finding of TIA-1+ and perforin + cytolytic granules in atypical pleomorphic lymphocytes suggests PSPTCL origin from granular cells of T-cell or natural killer cell phenotype. Cells have a CD3+ CD4+ CD8- or CD3+ CD4- CD8+ T-cell phenotype. Moreover, these lymphomas can express natural killer cell associated antigens, such as CD56, especially in gamma/delta variants. PSPTCL following an indolent clinical course with recurrent self-healing lesions have been described. The prognosis of most PSPTCL is poor even when treated with aggressive chemotherapy. This paper reports a case of PCTCL in a young woman with T-cytotoxic differentiation, with rapid progression unresponsive to several treatments.

Purification, characterization, thermal, and high-pressure inactivation of pectin methylesterase from bananas (cv Cavendish).

Pectin methylesterase (PME) was extracted from bananas (cv Cavendish) and purified by affinity chromatography on a CNBr-Sepharose-PME inhibitor (PMEI) column. A single protein and PME activity peak was obtained. For banana PME, a biochemical characterization in terms of molar mass (MM), pI, and kinetic parameters was performed. In a second step, the thermal and high-pressure stability of the enzyme was studied. Isothermal inactivation of purified banana PME could be described by a first-order kinetic model in a temperature range of 65 degrees to 72.5 degrees C, whereas its isobaric-isothermal inactivation followed a fractional-conversion model. Banana PME was found to be more thermally stable compared with PMEs extracted from orange, tomato, and apple.

Severe cutaneous cholesterol emboli syndrome after coronary angiography.

Cholesterol embolization syndrome is due to dislodgment of cholesterol crystals from the atherosclerotic plaques lining the walls of major arteries resulting in an occlusion of small arteries. We describe a case of severe cutaneous cholesterol emboli syndrome following repeat coronary angiography showing by our observation that this syndrome is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed and that a better evaluation of risks factors in patients undergoing invasive procedures could prevent this severe complication.

[Lichenoid eruptions of the mouth mucosa induced by lithium carbonate. 2 cases]. / Eruptions lichénoïdes de la muqueuse buccale induites par le carbonate de lithium. Deux cas.

INTRODUCTION: Several drugs can induce lichenoid lesions. CASE REPORT: We observed two cases of lichenoid lesions of the buccal mucosa due to lithium carbonate. Drug withdrawal caused clearing. DISCUSSION: These cases emphasize the rare nature of this complication. To date only one lichenoid stomatitis has been reported in the literature.