Microcystic adnexal carcinoma simulating scarring alopecia

The microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare, locally aggressive malignant adnexal neoplasm associated with signifi cant morbidity. It is often underdiagnosed due to clinical and histopathological resemblance with other cutaneous neoplasms and / or a combination of lack of familiarity associated with inadequate samples. We report a case with clinical hypothesis of scarring alopecia and histopathological diagnosis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma with favorable outcome in a follow-up of eleven years, after surgical treatment.

Positive correlttion between disease activity idex and matrix metalloproteinasses activity in a rat model of colitis / Correlação positiva entre índice de atividade de doença e metaloproteinase de matriz em modelo de colite em ratos

Context Inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, comprising a broad spectrum of diseases those have in common chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, histological alterations and an increased activity levels of certain enzymes, such as, metalloproteinases. Objectives Evaluate a possible correlation of disease activity index with the severity of colonic mucosal damage and increased activity of metalloproteinases in a model of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium. Methods Colitis was induced by oral administration of 5% dextran sulfate sodium for seven days in this group (n=10), whereas control group (n=16) received water. Effects were analyzed daily by disease activity index. In the seventh day, animals were euthanized and hematological measurements, histological changes (hematoxylin and eosin and Alcian Blue staining), myeloperoxidase and metalloproteinase activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9) were determined. Results Dextran sulfate sodium group showed elevated disease activity index and reduced hematological parameters. Induction of colitis caused tissue injury with loss of mucin and increased myeloperoxidase (P<0.001) and MMP-9 activities (45 fold) compared to the control group. Conclusions In this study, we observed a disease activity index correlation with the degree of histopathological changes after induction of colitis, and this result may be related mainly to the increased activity of MMP-9 and mieloperoxidase. .

Contexto Doenças inflamatórias intestinais, entre elas colite ulcerativa e doença de Crohn, compreendem um amplo espectro de doenças que apresentam em comum inflamação crônica do trato gastrointestinal, alterações histológicas e um aumento de atividade de determinadas enzimas, tais como, metaloproteinases. Objetivos Avaliar possível correlação do índice de atividade de doença em modelo de colite ulcerativa induzida por dextran sulfato de sódio com o grau de severidade de danos na mucosa colônica e aumento de atividade de metaloproteinases. Métodos Colite foi induzida por administração oral de dextran sulfato de sódio 5% durante sete dias no grupo (n = 10), enquanto que o grupo controle (n = 16) recebeu água. Efeitos foram analisados diariamente pelo índice de atividade de doença. No sétimo dia, os animais foram sacrificados e as medições hematológicas, alterações histológicas (hematoxilina e eosina e coloração de azul Alcian), mieloperoxidase e atividades de metaloproteinases (MMP-2 e MMP-9) foram determinados. Resultados Grupo dextran sulfato de sódio mostrou elevação no índice de atividade de doença e redução dos parâmetros hematológicos. A indução da colite causa lesão no tecido, com perda de mucina e aumento da mieloperoxidase (P<0,001) e as atividades MMP-9 (45 vezes) em comparação com o grupo de controle. Conclusões Neste estudo, observamos uma correlação do índice de atividade de doença com o grau de alterações histopatológicas após indução da colite por dextran sulfato de sódio, podendo associar este resultado ao aumento principalmente da atividade de MMP-9 e de mieloperoxidase. .

The C677T thermolabile variant of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase on homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a hemodialysis center

Homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Mutations in a key enzyme in homocysteine metabolism, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, may contribute to hyperhomocysteinemia and alter folate and cobalamin levels. After starting hemodialysis, 10 mg oral folate daily and 500 micrograms intravenous methylcobalamin once weekly were prescribed to 27 hemodialysis patients (time on hemodialysis > or = 12 months) and two groups were defined: Group A normal; Group B heterozygous. Initial, third and twelfth month measurements of homocysteine, serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were collected and analyzed. Heterozygous state of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase prevalence was 48

. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in both groups. Cobalamin final levels were significantly lower in Group B compared to Group A. Homocysteine, serum folate and cobalamin levels at third and twelfth month were significantly different from baseline levels but non-different between them in both groups. In Group B, vitamin B12 at third month was significantly higher than initial, but final measurements were not different from baseline determinations. In conclusion, the heterozygous prevalence of the enzyme in hemodialysis patients is similar to that reported in the general population; hyperhomocysteinemia is frequent in hemodialysis patients and final levels in heterozygous patients are significantly higher than in normal patients. Cobalamin levels are lower in the heterozygous group. After one year of treatment, homocysteine tends to increase, suggesting a secondary resistance phenomenon to vitamin supplementation in heterozygous patients.