Letter: psoriasiform eruption during vedolizumab therapy

Verrucous penile lesions and widespread vesicular rash in a 33‐year‐old bisexual man

A 33-year-old bisexual man presented to the Department of Infectious Diseases with a 9-day history of non-itching, painless, pustular, and vesicular lesions that were scattered and a high fever.

Rickettsiosis with Pleural Effusion: A Systematic Review with a Focus on Rickettsiosis in Italy

Background: Motivated by a case finding of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) associated with atypical pneumonia and pleural effusion in which Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis was identified by molecular methods in the pleural fluid, we wanted to summarize the clinical presentations of rickettsiosis in Italy by systematic research and to make a systematic review of all the global cases of rickettsiosis associated with pleural effusion. Methods: For the literature search, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was followed. We chose to select only the studies published in last 25 years and confirmed both with serological and molecular …

Il Piede nella Malattia Diabetica

Foot ulcers and amputations are a major cause of morbidity, disability, as well as emotional and physical costs for people with diabetes. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy is one of the most important predictors of diabetic foot conditions. The development of neuropathy can be delayed significantly by maintaining glycemic levels to as near normal as possible

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Combined platelet-rich plasma and lipofilling treatment provides great improvement in facial skin-induced lesion regeneration for scleroderma patients

showing AD-MSCs from both healthy subjects and SSc patients with increased levels of CD271 expression. Representative dot plot showing the expression of CD271 corresponding isotype match control in freshly isolated SVF and long-term propagated AD-MSCs from healthy subjects (upper panels) and SSc patients (lower panels), performed by flow cytometry. (PDF 205Â kb)

Adherence to biological therapy in dermatological patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Western Sicily

Pili Annulati Coincident with Alopecia Areata, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease, and Primary IgA Deficiency: Case Report and Considerations on the Literature

Pili annulati is a rare autosomal dominant hair disorder clinically characterized by a pattern of alternating bright and dark bands of the hair, the bright bands appearing dark if observed by transmitted light. This pattern is due to the periodic occurrence of air-filled cavities along the hair cortex which scatter and reflect the light while precluding its transmission. A susceptibility region, including a possibly responsible Frizzled gene, has been mapped to the telomeric region of chromosome 12q, although a specific mutation has not been identified. The condition has sometimes been observed in concurrence with alopecia areata, and in this paper we report a case in whom the concomitant s…

Febbre Bottonosa in Italia: Solo da Rickettsia Conorii?

Over the last few years we have monitored accurately the dynamics of Rickettsial diseases in Sicily. In this way we can affirm that in Sicily, as well as in other European countries, there exist several types of Rickettsia. As a matter of fact, we succeeded in isolating, both from patients and from ticks, different strains such as R. Conorii, R. Israeli and R. Massiliae

Budesonide increases TLR4 and TLR2 expression in Treg lymphocytes of allergic asthmatics

Abstract Background Reduced innate immunity responses as well as reduced T regulatory activities characterise bronchial asthma. Objectives In this study the effect of budesonide on the expression of TLR4 and TLR2 in T regulatory lymphocyte sub-population was assessed. Methods TLR4 and TLR2 expression in total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), in CD4+/CD25+ and in CD4+/CD25− was evaluated, by flow cytometric analysis, in mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 14) and in controls (n = 11). The in vitro effects of budesonide in modulating: TLR4 and TLR2 expression in controls and in asthmatics; IL-10 expression and cytokine release (IL-6 and TNF-α selected by a multiplex assay) in asthmati…

Sea Urchin Granuloma

Sea urchin granuloma is a chronic focal response to the puncture of sea urchin spines, induced by the permanence of prickle remnants in the wound. Until recent years, it was thought to represent a foreign body reaction but, following the description, in 2001, of its several histologic forms, the spectrum of its likely pathogenetic mechanisms has widened to include the immune responses to different non-self antigens. Depending on individual reactivity, in most cases, a limited number of granulomas is observed, however numerous the punctures may be. We report a case with more than 200 lesions and a tuberculoid histologic pattern, indicative of an immune reaction.

Psoriasis and cardiovascular risk: Assessment by cuore project risk score in Italian patients

Background. Psoriasis is a common inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disease. There is growing controversy as to whether cardiovascular risk is elevated in psoriasis. A number of studies suggest a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors as well as cardiovascular diseases in psoriasis patients. Objective. The objective of this study was to estimate cardiovascular risk score in psoriasis patients and the relation between cardiovascular risk and psoriasis features. Cardiovascular risk was assessed by CUORE project risk score built within the longitudinal study of the Italian CUORE project and suited to populations with a low rate of coronary heart disease. Results. A case-control stu…

Postsurgical Paracicatricial Cutaneous Satellitosis of Giant Cell Tumour of Tendon Sheath, Localized Type.

The tenosynovial giant cell tumour (localized type) is a tumour of tendon sheaths and interphalangeal joints, affecting the digits and arising from the synovium. It is characterized by a proliferation of mononuclear cells and osteoclast-like polykaryocytes. Its propagation to the skin is an exceptional event, which can take place either in localized form in the fingertips (localized type) or in the rare diffuse form called giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath, ( diffuse type ). We report here a case of giant cell tumour with cutaneous satellites, which appeared close to and around the surgical scar following the excision of the primary lesion, in a 9-year-old boy. In the cutaneous satelli…

Our experience with prurigo nodularis treated with dupilumab.

Trombiculiasis: an underreported ectoparasitosis in Sicily

Trombiculiasis is a common but underreported ectoparasitosis characterized by an infestation of the skin by the larval stage of various species of mites belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, class Arachnida, subclass Acarina. Clinical manifestations consist of pruritic erythematous and urticarial macules and papules located on covered thin and glabrous skin. In recent studies Neotrombicula autumnalis larvae have been described as the possible vectors of pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Few reports of trombiculosis have been collected in the medical literature to date. We report a typical case of trombiculosis induced by trombiculid larvae of N. autumnalis,…

Leishmania infection in psoriasis

Patologia Cutanea HCV correlata

Questo review sintetizza le ormai ben note associazioni tra virus dell’epatite C (HCV) ed alcune dermatosi. Data l’opportunità di un valido trattamento per le infezioni da HCV, spesso asintomatiche, il medico deve tenere sempre presente che particolari manifestazioni cutanee possono essere la spia di infezioni da virus dell’epatite C fino a quel momento non diagnosticate e pertanto, ove necessario, procedere all’esecuzione di appropriati test di screening.

Sweat Gland Biopsy: A Possible Early Diagnostic Tool in the Anderson-Fabry Disease

Anderson-Fabry disease is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient or absent activity of the enzyme alfa-galactosidase A. This defect enzyme leads to accumulation of glycolipids, primarily globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), in the vascular endothelium of several organs, including the skin, kidneys, nervous system, and heart. The characteristic early clinical features of Fabry disease include acroparaesthesia, angiokeratoma, heat intolerance, hypohidrosis, cornea verticillata and gastrointestinal symptoms. Later complications occur with the disease progression and include progressive renal failure, hypertrofic cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular disease and reduced life expectanc…

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Combined platelet-rich plasma and lipofilling treatment provides great improvement in facial skin-induced lesion regeneration for scleroderma patients

showing AD-MSCs from SSc patients with decreased levels of mesenchymal stem cell markers. Representative dot plot showing the expression of CD44, CD90, CD271, CD29, CD73, and CD9 in AD-MSCs from healthy subjects (upper panels) and SSc patients (lower panels). Small boxes show isotype match control staining. (PDF 316Â kb)

Genetic tools discriminate strains of Leishmania infantum isolated from  humans and dogs in Sicily, Italy

Background Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne diseases and it represents a serious world health problem affecting millions of people. High levels of Leishmania infections, affecting both humans and animals, are recognized among Italian regions. Among these, Sicily has one of the highest prevalence of Leishmania infection. Methodology/Principal Findings Seventy-eight Leishmania strains isolated from human and animal samples across Sicily, were analyzed for the polymorphic k26-gene and genotypes were assigned according to the size of the PCR products. A multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) approach based on the analysis of 11 independent loci was used to investigate po…

Combined platelet-rich plasma and lipofilling treatment provides great improvement in facial skin-induced lesion regeneration for scleroderma patients.

Background The use of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), for regenerative medicine is gaining interest for the clinical benefits so far obtained in patients. This study investigates the use of adipose autologous tissue in combination with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve the clinical outcome of patients affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) and PRPs were purified from healthy donors and SSc patients. The multilineage differentiation potential of AD-MSCs and their genotypic–phenotypic features were investigated. A cytokine production profile was evaluated on AD-MSCs and PRPs from both healthy subjects and SSc pat…

A severe case of Israeli spotted fever with pleural effusion in Italy

Abstract Background The most common Italian rickettsiosis is Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF). MSF is commonly associated with a symptom triad consisting of fever, cutaneous rash, and inoculation eschar. The rash is usually maculopapular but, especially in severe presentations, may be petechial. Other typical findings are arthromyalgia and headache. Herein, we describe for the first time an unusual case of Israeli spotted fever (ISF) associated with interstitial pneumonia and pleural effusion in which R. conorii subsp. israelensis was identified by molecular methods in the blood, as well as in the pleural fluid. Case presentation A 72-year-old male presented with a 10-day history of remitt…

Centrifugal necrotic keratoacanthoma

Centrifugal necrotic keratoacanthoma is a quite rare variant of keratoacanthoma, with a locally aggressive behavior and no tendency to spontaneous involution. We report a typical case of the nasal-orbital region. Based on its clinical, histological and behavioral picture, centrifugal necrotic keratoacanthoma appears as variant of giant keratoacanthoma and can be regarded as an intermediate form in a spectrum where keratoacanthoma and overt squamous cell carcinoma represent the most benign and the most malignant end, respectively, as also highlighted by analogies between the two lesions recently reported in the field of molecular biology.

IL4 Primes the Dynamics of Breast Cancer Progression via DUSP4 Inhibition

Abstract The tumor microenvironment supplies proinflammatory cytokines favoring a permissive milieu for cancer cell growth and invasive behavior. Here we show how breast cancer progression is facilitated by IL4 secreted by adipose tissue and estrogen receptor–positive and triple-negative breast cancer cell types. Blocking autocrine and paracrine IL4 signaling with the IL4Rα antagonist IL4DM compromised breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth by downregulating MAPK pathway activity. IL4DM reduced numbers of CD44+/CD24− cancer stem-like cells and elevated expression of the dual specificity phosphatase DUSP4 by inhibiting NF-κB. Enforced expression of DUSP4 drove conversio…

Human papillomavirus is commonly present in psoriatic skin and normal skin samples from healthy subjects

Letter to editor No abstract

Avian mite dermatitis: an Italian case indicating the establishment and spread of Ornithonyssus bursa (Acari: Gamasida: Macronyssidae) (Berlese, 1888) in Europe.

Background Avian mite dermatitis is a skin disease caused in mammals by the incidental bites of blood-sucking mites which customarily parasitize wild and domestic birds. It manifests in the form of pruritic, erythematous, or urticarial papules, with a central sting mark, in skin regions normally covered by clothing. The species mainly implicated in human bite cases are Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus sylviarum and, less frequently, Ornithonyssus bursa. The latter is mainly a tropical and subtropical mite and its – presumably transitory – presence has been recorded only once in Europe, in migratory birds. Case report We report a case of avian mite dermatitis in a 70-year-old man, an owne…

Sporotrichoid Cases of Mycobacterium Marinum Skin Infection.

Mycobacterium marinum belongs to the slow growth photochromogenous mycobacteria group. It is pathogenic for fish and human beings in which it can cause cutaneous nodular and ulcerative lesions, sometimes with sporotrichoid arrangement. We report three cases of sporotrichoid Mycobacterium marinum infections successfully treated with prolonged antibiotic therapy. Tropical fish aquaria and, more in general, the water environment were identified as the source of infection.

Refractory Acne and 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency in a Selected Group of Female Patients.

<i>Background:</i> Excessive androgen production, suspected in women when acne is accompanied by hirsutism and menstrual irregularities, may be due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This inherited disorder of cortisol biosynthesis is caused in more than 90–95% of all cases by 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). The steroid 21-hydroxylase gene <i>(CYP21)</i> has a high degree of variability. <i>Objective:</i> This study was conducted to evaluate <i>CYP21 </i>gene mutations in a selected group of women with papulopustular and comedonal acne refractory to treatment, irregular menses and hirsutism. <i>Methods:</i> 30 out of 61 women e…

Squamous Cell Tumors Recruit γδ T Cells Producing either IL17 or IFNγ Depending on the Tumor Stage

Abstract The identification of reciprocal interactions between tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the microenviroment may help us understand mechanisms of tumor growth inhibition or progression. We have assessed the frequencies of tumor-infiltrating and circulating γδ T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) from 47 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), to determine if they correlated with progression or survival. Vδ1 T cells infiltrated SSC tissue to a greater extent than normal skin, but SCC patients and healthy subjects had similar amounts circulating. However, Vδ2 T cells were present at higher frequencies in circulation than in the tissue of either cancer patients or healthy donor…

Postsurgical Paracicatricial Cutaneous Satellitosis of Giant Cell Tumour of the Tendon Sheath, Localized Type

Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (localized type) is a tumour of tendon sheaths and interphalangeal joints, affecting the digits and arising from the synovium. It is characterized by a proliferation of mononuclear cells and osteoclast-like polykaryocytes. Its propagation to the skin is an exceptional event, which can take place either in localized form in the fingertips (localized type) or in the rare diffuse form called giant cell tumour of the tendon sheath (diffuse type). We report here a case of giant cell tumour with cutaneous satellites, which appeared close to and around the surgical scar following the excision of the primary lesion, in a 9-year-old boy. In the cutaneous satellites, a …

Patologia Cutanea in Gravidanza

Comparative cytoprotective effects of carbocysteine and fluticasone propionate in cigarette smoke extract-stimulated bronchial epithelial cells

Cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) induce oxidative stress, an important feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and oxidative stress contributes to the poor clinical efficacy of corticosteroids in COPD patients. Carbocysteine, an antioxidant and mucolytic agent, is effec- tive in reducing the severity and the rate of exacerbations in COPD patients. The effects of carbocysteine on CSE-induced oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells as well as the comparison of these antioxidant effects of carbocysteine with those of fluticasone propionate are unknown. The present study was aimed to assess the effects of carbocysteine (10−4 M) in cell survival and intracellular reactive o…

Vitiligo susceptibility and catalase gene (CAT) polymorphisms in sicilian population

BACKGROUND Catalase gene (CAT) polymorphisms were analyzed as responsible for the deficiency of catalase enzyme activity and concomitant accumulation of excessive hydrogen peroxide in vitiligo patients. Catalase is a well-known oxidative stress regulator that could play an important role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. This study was conducted to evaluate three CAT gene polymorphisms (-89A/T, 389C/T, 419C/T) and their association with vitiligo susceptibility in Sicilian population. METHODS Sixty out of 73 Sicilian patients with vitiligo were enrolled and submitted to CAT gene analysis. RESULTS Contrary to the Northern part of Europe but likewise to the Mediterranean area, the frequency of …

Local reactions to tick bites

A retrospective histological and immunohistochemical study has been carried out in 25 cases of tick bites recorded in our Departments. The samples that included an attached tick showed a cement cone anchoring the mouthparts to the skin and a blood-soaked, spongiform appearance of the superficial dermis, with a mild neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration. The vessels displayed a loose multilayered endothelial proliferation, with plump endothelia, permeated with erythrocytes. A few of them were severed, allowing copious blood extravasation. The established lesions included the following: erythema chronicum migrans-like cases, foreign body granulomas-sometimes containing remnants of the mo…