RALF22 is a key modulator of the root hair growth responses to fungal ethylene emissions in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh), exposure to volatile compounds (VCs) emitted by Penicillium aurantiogriseum promotes root hair (RH) proliferation and hyper-elongation through mechanisms involving ethylene, auxin and photosynthesis signaling. In addition, this treatment enhances the levels of the small signalling peptide RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR 22 (RALF22). Here we used genetics to address the role of RALF22 in fungal VC-promoted RH growth and to identify the bioactive fungal VC. We found that RHs of ralf22 and feronia (fer-4) plants impaired in the expression of RALF22 and its receptor FERONIA, respectively, responded weakly to fungal VCs. Unlike in WT roots, fungal VC exposure did not enhance RALF22 transcript levels in roots of fer-4 and ethylene- and auxin- insensitive mutants. In ralf22 and fer-4 roots, this treatment did not enhance the levels of ERS2 transcripts encoding one member of the ethylene receptor family and those of some RH-related genes. RHs of ers2-1 and the rsl2rsl4 double mutants impaired in the expression of ERS2 and the ethylene- and auxin-responsive ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE 6-LIKE 2 and 4 transcription factors, respectively, weakly responded to fungal VCs. Moreover, roots of plants defective in photosynthetic responsiveness to VCs exhibited weak RALF22 expression and RH growth responses to fungal VCs. VCs of ΔefeA strains of P. aurantiogriseum cultures impaired in ethylene synthesis weakly promoted RH proliferation and elongation in exposed plants. We conclude that RALF22 simultaneously functions as a transcriptionally regulated signaling molecule that participates in the ethylene, auxin and photosynthesis signaling-mediated RH growth response to fungal ethylene emissions and regulation of ethylene perception in RHs.

Prevalence and predictors of sunburn among beachgoers.

BACKGROUND: Painful sunburns at any age are one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and predictors of sunburn among beachgoers. METHODS: A cross-sectional health survey was conducted at the beach during the summer. Adults >18 years with an understanding of Spanish were interviewed using a questionnaire about behaviours, attitudes and knowledge related to sun exposure at the beach. A descriptive analysis was performed, and a log-binomial regression model was used to determine predictors of sunburn. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 1054 beachgoers, with a mean age of 43.8 (SD: 18.7) years, 61.2% women, skin phototypes i (13.6%), ii (22.3%), iii (34.0%) and iv (30.2%). 46.9% of responders reported at least one painful sunburn during the previous summer. Age, sex, education, skin phototype, midday sun exposure, sun protection habits, attitudes towards tanning and knowledge about skin cancer were identified as independent predictors of sunburn. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop photoprotection campaigns aimed at beachgoers, particularly in young people, men, those with skin phototypes I-III and secondary or university education. Educational strategies should be aimed at discouraging sun exposure at midday, changing attitudes towards tanning and improving knowledge about skin cancer.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: An alternative treatment for radiation-induced cutaneous ulcers.

Radiotherapy is a widely recognised treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. We report three cases of radiation-induced skin ulcers in which hyperbaric oxygen therapy was administered in 90-min sessions, 5 days a week at 2.4 absolute atmospheres in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an outpatient treatment that does not displace other classical treatments and may be used as an adjunct therapy.

Sun Exposure Habits and Sun Protection Practices of Skaters.

Beach activities and outdoor sports are risk factors for developing skin cancer. Skateboarding is among the most popular sports among adolescents. The aim was to analyse the sun exposure habits and sun protection practices of skaters, in comparison with corresponding sun exposure and protection practices on the beach. This cross-sectional study is based on health surveys carried out into sun exposure and protection practices among young skateboarders. The study population was composed of 102 skaters, of whom 84 (82.4 %) were male. Fifty-eight (56.8 %) of the participants reported having suffered at least one sunburn event the previous summer. Eighty-seven (91.6 %) said they practiced outdoor sports more than 90 days per year, while only six (6.1 %) spent this long at the beach. Forty-nine (52.1 %) practiced outdoor sports for 5 or more hours a day compared to 42 (43.3 %) who spent comparable periods at the beach. A long-sleeved shirt was worn more frequently during sports than at the beach. Keen skaters are a risk group for the development of skin cancer due to excessive sun exposure, high rates of sunburn and scant use of sun protection measures. Specific educational and behavioural interventions should be aimed at this risk group.

[Effectiveness of human papillomavirus genotyping for detection of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia compared to anal cytology]. / Efectividad del genotipado del virus del papiloma humano frente a la citología anal en la identificación de neoplasia intraepitelial de alto grado.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN) -with an aetiological based on high-risk types of human papillomavirus- is increasing in some high-risk groups. Screening for HGAIN includes routine anal cytology and, more recently, HPV genotyping. The main objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of anal cytology and HPV genotyping for the detection of HGAIN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a study to determine the correlation of cytological and microbiological findings with anal biopsy findings in a cohort of patients at high risk of developing AIN referred to the department of sexually transmitted infections of the Hospital Costa del Sol, Spain, between January 2008 and December 2014. RESULTS: Of the 151 patients subjected to screening, a total of 92 patients, all of them with the result of three screening test (anal cytology, genotyping and biopsy) were included in the study. Just under two-thirds (62%) of them were HIV-positive. The sensitivity and specificity of anal cytology to detect HGAIN were 52.8 and 85.7%, respectively (k: 0.328), and 78 and 62.8% to detect two or more HPV oncogenic genotypes (k: 0.417). The detection of oncogenic HPV genotypes allowed the identification of 23 new cases of HGAIN that had been underdiagnosed with anal cytology, with 14 cases containing at least three high-risk genotypes. CONCLUSION: Anal cytology did not show enough sensitivity in HGAIN screening. HPV genotyping has shown to be a useful tool to detect HGAIN cases, although it could lead to an over-diagnosis as a solitary screening procedure.

Sun Protection Habits and Attitudes Among Healthcare Personnel in a Mediterranean Population.

Health professionals are key agents in healthcare promotion. In the field of skin cancer, they play a crucial role in the development of prevention strategies in the community. This paper aims to describe the sun exposure attitudes and habits of public healthcare professionals in the western Costa del Sol (Spain). A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Costa del Sol healthcare district to analyse sun exposure and protection practices and habits, and attitudes to tanning and sun protection. The respondents, all healthcare personnel in various professional categories and workplace situations, were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Six hundred forty-three workers in the Costa del Sol healthcare district took part in the study. Of these participants, 450 were healthcare professionals. Of the 450 health professionals, 226 (50.2 %) were nurses or auxiliary nursing staff, and the remaining 224 were doctors. These two groups presented differences regarding habits of sun exposure: 15.3 % of the doctors went to the beach at least 30 days a year, compared to 30.9 % of the nurses (p < 0.001). With respect to workplace situation, there were differences (p < 0.001) between the sunburn events reported by healthcare staff who worked in hospitals (52.4 %) compared to those working in primary healthcare (30.4 %); comparable differences were found with respect to attitudes toward the use of sunscreen creams (p = 0.014). This study identifies two distinct subgroups within healthcare personnel: on one hand, primary healthcare professionals, who are key agents for future policy strategies, and on the other, specialist healthcare professionals, who are more likely to suffer sunburn events and therefore toward whom strategies should be addressed to encourage them to change their sun exposure attitudes and habits and sun protection practices.

Transient silencing of CHALCONE SYNTHASE during fruit ripening modifies tomato epidermal cells and cuticle properties.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening is accompanied by an increase in CHALCONE SYNTHASE (CHS) activity and flavonoid biosynthesis. Flavonoids accumulate in the cuticle, giving its characteristic orange color that contributes to the eventual red color of the ripe fruit. Using virus-induced gene silencing in fruits, we have down-regulated the expression of SlCHS during ripening and compared the cuticles derived from silenced and nonsilenced regions. Silenced regions showed a pink color due to the lack of flavonoids incorporated to the cuticle. This change in color was accompanied by several other changes in the cuticle and epidermis. The epidermal cells displayed a decreased tangential cell width; a decrease in the amount of cuticle and its main components, cutin and polysaccharides, was also observed. Flavonoids dramatically altered the cuticle biomechanical properties by stiffening the elastic and viscoelastic phase and by reducing the ability of the cuticle to deform. There seemed to be a negative relation between SlCHS expression and wax accumulation during ripening that could be related to the decreased cuticle permeability to water observed in the regions silencing SlCHS. A reduction in the overall number of ester linkages present in the cutin matrix was also dependent on the presence of flavonoids.

Congenital lupus with multiorgan involvement: a case report and review of literature.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an autoimmune disease caused by transplacental antibodies that can damage fetal tissue and cause various findings. With the exception of congenital heart block, which can be easily recognized at birth because of neonatal cardiac monitoring during the delivery and immediately after birth, most cases of NLE are recognized within days to weeks of life, but fewer than 10 cases with findings present at birth have been reported. We report the case of a newborn with extensive cutaneous eruption at the time of birth and multisystemic involvement, including hematologic, respiratory, hepatic, and neurologic involvement.

Usefulness of a "puzzle" flap; more than an advancement flap for surgical reconstruction of nasal ala defects: Review of 10 cases.

Reconstructive surgery in nasal pyramid can be a challenge for surgeons. Moreover this anatomic area is one the most common sites for non-melanoma skin cancer. The "puzzle" flap was described to repair surgical defects located just on the nasal ala affecting melolabial sulcus. We have seen this flap can be also very useful to repair defects located on nasal sidewall and cheek without dysfunctional effects and with a good cosmetic result.

Biomechanical properties of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit cuticle during development are modulated by changes in the relative amounts of its components.

In this study, growth-dependent changes in the mechanical properties of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cuticle during fruit development were investigated in two cultivars with different patterns of cuticle growth and accumulation. The mechanical properties were determined in uniaxial tensile tests using strips of isolated cuticles. Changes in the functional groups of the cuticle chemical components were analysed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). The early stages of fruit growth are characterized by an elastic cuticle, and viscoelastic behaviour only appeared at the beginning of cell enlargement. Changes in the cutin:polysaccharide ratio during development affected the strength required to achieve viscoelastic deformation. The increase in stiffness and decrease in extensibility during ripening, related to flavonoid accumulation, were accompanied by an increase in cutin depolymerization as a result of a reduction in the overall number of ester bonds. Quantitative changes in cuticle components influence the elastic/viscoelastic behaviour of the cuticle. The cutin:polysaccharide ratio modulates the stress required to permanently deform the cuticle and allow cell enlargement. Flavonoids stiffen the elastic phase and reduce permanent viscoelastic deformation. Ripening is accompanied by a chemical cleavage of cutin ester bonds. An infrared (IR) band related to phenolic accumulation can be used to monitor changes in the cutin esterification index.

Topical cidofovir for plantar warts.

Plantar warts are a common reason for dermatological consultations and their treatment can occasionally be a challenge. Plantar warts are benign lesions produced by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that often fail to respond to habitual treatment. Cidofovir is a potent antiviral drug that acts competitively, inhibiting viral DNA polymerase. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of cidofovir cream for the treatment of viral plantar warts. We undertook a retrospective observational study of patients with plantar warts who received treatment with topical cidofovir between July 2008 and July 2011 at the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain. Data about the rate of treatment response, the adverse effects, and recurrences, as well as the characteristics of the patient cohort, were recorded. We identified 35 patients who had received some previous treatment. The usual concentration was 3% (in 33 of 35 cases), applied twice a day (in 31 of 35 cases). A greater or lesser response was noted in 28 cases. There were two recurrences. Topical cidofovir seems to be a useful alternative for the therapeutic management of recalcitrant plantar common warts that fail to respond to usual treatment.

Successful treatment of periungual warts with topical cidofovir.

Periungual warts represent a treatment challenge because of its high recurrence rate and recalcitrance. These are benign lesions produced by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that often do not respond to habitual treatment. Cidofovir is a potent antiviral drug that acts inactivating viral DNA polymerase. Topical cidofovir for the treatment of HPV-related cutaneous and mucous lesions is becoming increasingly common. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of cidofovir cream for the treatment of viral periungual warts. We undertook a retrospective observational study of patients with periungual warts who received treatment with topical cidofovir between January 2010 and December 2013 at the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain. Data were recorded about the rate of treatment response, the adverse effects and recurrences, as well as the characteristics of the patient cohort. We identified 41 patients who had received some previous treatment. The concentration of cidofovir was 3% in all cases, usually applied twice a day (in 37 of the 41 cases). A greater or lesser response was noted in 35 cases. There were six recurrences in the follow-up period. Topical cidofovir seems to be a useful alternative for the therapeutic management of recalcitrant periungual common warts that fail to respond to usual treatment. Our experience with the use of this antiviral agent has been satisfactory, although in our opinion, it should be reserved for specific cases as its economical cost represents an important limitation.

[Usefulness of human papillomavirus testing in anal intraepithelial neoplasia screening in a risk behaviour population]. / Utilidad de la detección del virus del papiloma humano en el cribado de neoplasia intraepitelial anal en pacientes con conductas de riesgo.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of intraepithelial anal neoplasia is increasing in certain risk behaviour groups, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is involved in its pathogenesis. The systematic use of anal cytology, and more recently HPV detection by hybrid capture and genotyping, have been introduced into screening programs in recent decades. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on individuals with risk behaviours of developing intraepithelial anal neoplasia and who attended Sexually Transmitted Infections clinics in the Dermatology area of the Hospital Costa del Sol from January 2010 to December 2012. The intraepithelial anal neoplasia screening was performed using anal cytology and HPV genotyping. RESULTS: Half (50%) of the study population were HIV positive. A high frequency of anal dysplasia and presence of HPV in cytology (82.1%) and genotype (79%) was found. A statistically significant association (P<.005) was obtained between the presence of high-risk HPV genotypes and the presence of high-grade dysplasia in the second directed cytology. HPV genotyping enabled 17 cases (22%) of severe dysplasia to be identified that were under-diagnosed in the first cytology. CONCLUSION: Cases of high-grade dysplasia can be under-diagnosed by a first anal cytology. Detection of HPV can supplement this procedure, leading to the identification of those patients most at risk of developing high-grade anal dysplasia.

[Treatment of anogenital warts with topical cidofovir]. / Tratamiento de verrugas anogenitales con cidofovir tópico.

BACKGROUND: Cidofovir is an antiviral agent which inhibits the DNA polymerase of different viruses. Its use has been described for papillomavirus infections. METHODS: Descriptive retrospective study, including patients with difficult to treat anogenital warts who were treated with cidofovir cream. RESULTS: Nine immunocompetent patients were treated, where 6 of them had a complete response and 3 of them a partial response. CONCLUSION: Cidofovir cream could be a useful therapeutic alternative, although further studies are required to establish the best dosage and its cost-effectiveness.

Diagnostic Performance of Anti-dsDNA Tests by Indirect Immunofluorescence and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Several laboratory techniques for anti double-stranded (ds) DNA detection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are available, with variable diagnostic performance. We aimed to evaluate anti-dsDNA's diagnostic performance by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective (2015 to 2020) study. Patients with anti-dsDNA tests by IIF and EIA were included. We evaluated the indications, applications, concordance, positive predictive value (PPV) of anti-dsDNA to confirm SLE diagnosis or flares, and associations of disease manifestations with positivity with each technique. RESULTS: A total of 1368 reports of anti-dsDNA tests by IIF and EIA and the corresponding medical records of the patients were analyzed. The main indication for anti-dsDNA testing was to help in the diagnosis of SLE in 890 (65%) of the samples, and the main application after obtaining the results was SLE exclusion in 782 (57.2%) cases. The combination with the highest frequency was the negativity result by both techniques in 801 (58.5%) cases (Cohen kappa 0.57). Both methods were positive in 300 patients with SLE (Cohen kappa 0.42). The PPVs of anti-dsDNA tests to confirm diagnosis/flare was 79.64% (95% CI, 75.35-83.35) by EIA, 78.75% (95% CI, 74.27-82.62) by IIF, and 82% (95% CI, 77.26-85.93) when both were positive. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-dsDNA detection by IIF and EIA are complementary and may indicate different clinical patterns in patients with SLE. The detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies by both techniques has a higher PPV than either separately for confirming SLE diagnosis or flares. These results highlight the need for evaluating both methods in clinical practice.

Tomato fruit continues growing while ripening, affecting cuticle properties and cracking.

Fruit cuticle composition and their mechanical performance have a special role during ripening because internal pressure is no longer sustained by the degraded cell walls of the pericarp but is directly transmitted to epidermis and cuticle which could eventually crack. We have studied fruit growth, cuticle modifications and its biomechanics, and fruit cracking in tomato; tomato has been considered a model system for studying fleshy fruit growth and ripening. Tomato fruit cracking is a major disorder that causes severe economic losses and, in cherry tomato, crack appearance is limited to the ripening process. As environmental conditions play a crucial role in fruit growing, ripening and cracking, we grow two cherry tomato cultivars in four conditions of radiation and relative humidity (RH). High RH and low radiation decreased the amount of cuticle and cuticle components accumulated. No effect of RH in cuticle biomechanics was detected. However, cracked fruits had a significantly less deformable (lower maximum strain) cuticle than non-cracked fruits. A significant and continuous fruit growth from mature green to overripe has been detected with special displacement sensors. This growth rate varied among genotypes, with cracking-sensitive genotypes showing higher growth rates than cracking-resistant ones. Environmental conditions modified this growth rate during ripening, with higher growing rates under high RH and radiation. These conditions corresponded to those that favored fruit cracking. Fruit growth rate during ripening, probably sustained by an internal turgor pressure, is a key parameter in fruit cracking, because fruits that ripened detached from the vine did not crack.

From isolated 1H-pyrazole cryptand anion receptors to hybrid inorganic-organic 1D helical polymeric anion receptors.

We report a novel 1-D helical coordination polymer formed by protonated polyamine 1H-pyrazole cryptands interconnected by Cu(2+) metal ions that are able to encapsulate anionic species behaving as a multianion receptor. Switching from a monomeric receptor to a polymeric receptor is activated by metal ions and pH.

[Usefulness of corrective make-up in children with vitiligo coordinated by dermatology nursing]. / Utilidad del maquillaje terapéutico en niños con vitíligo en un taller coordinado por Enfermería de dermatología.

There are certain skin disorders such as vitiligo, acne, vascular malformations and postoperative scars that can affect the quality of life of children and especially adolescents. It can become an obstacle to their psychosocial development. A review was conducted on 4 patients with vitiligo located on face, who took part in a camouflage treatment course from January to December 2012. The impact of the skin disorder on quality of life was assessed before and after the therapeutic make-up sessions. Corrective makeup can be a complementary, reproducible, cost-effective, non-invasive, and useful technique in the management of dermatological diseases that have a physical and emotional impact in childhood.