Nobiletin and xanthohumol sensitize colorectal cancer stem cells to standard chemotherapy
Simple Summary Colorectal cancer stem cells (CR-CSCs) play a pivotal role in the therapy resistance and relapse of CRC patients. Herein we demonstrate that new treatment approaches comprising polymethoxyflavones and prenylflavonoids extracted from Citrus sinensis and Humulus lupulus, respectively, hamper the viability of CR-CSCs as well as synergizing with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOX)-based chemotherapy. Extract fractions containing Nobiletin and Xanthohumol, in combination with chemotherapy, decreased stemness properties of CR-CSCs and restrained the outgrowth of chemoresistant metastatic CR-CSCs. These data pinpoint Nobiletin and Xanthohumol as efficacious anti-cancer compounds in…
Pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, hidradenitis suppurativa syndrome associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus treated with adalimumab
Mycophenolate mofetil and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus.
What is known and objective: Pemphigus is a severe, potentially life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease. The use of corticosteroids has dramatically improved the prognosis and changed its course. However, current morbidity of pemphigus is largely iatrogenic, caused by side effects of the long-term, high-dose corticosteroid therapy that is necessary to sustain disease control. In order to minimize side effects, a range of corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents have been introduced, including mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS). A systematic review was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of MMF and EC-MPS in the treatment of pemphig…
Idiopathic Acquired Leukonychia in a 34-Year-Old Patient
We present a rare case of a 34-year-old patient with persistent, progressive, acquired leukonychia totalis and partialis. Idiopathic acquired leukonychia is a rare chromatic disorder of the nail not associated with other abnormalities and discernible etiology. Our case report did not link the inheritance of leukonychia with diverse clinical syndromes. To our knowledge, only five cases of idiopathic, acquired, true total leukonychia were found in literature. This case was the sixth patient with asymptomatic idiopathic, white fingernails, and toenails without a hereditary cause.
Nodular morphea keloidal type: A rare case with paradigmatic histopathology significantly accompanied by a flawless surgical scar
Nodular morphea is a rare variant of localized scleroderma, clinically and histopathologically characterized by cutaneous nodules or plaques associated or superimposed to the flat lesions of classic morphea. Accordingly, the association of such outgrowths with systemic sclerosis is designated as nodular scleroderma. Sometimes these lesions appear as firm, erythematous and irregularly curvy plaques resembling keloids or hypertrophic scars, thus characterizing keloidal morphea or keloidal scleroderma. These mystifying features can make the diagnosis challenging, especially in the absence of a well‐documented medical history. Here we report a case of keloidal morphea with multiple histopatholo…
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 …
TGF-β/VEGF-A Genetic Variants Interplay in Genetic Susceptibility to Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancer
Differential genetically determined expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β pathway and of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) might modulate the molecular “milieu” involved in the etio-pathogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). We have evaluated the frequency of some functionally relevant SNPs of TGF-β and VEGF-A genes in 70 NMSC patients and 161 healthy controls, typed for TGF-β1 rs1800471, TGF-β2 rs900, TGF-βR1 rs334348 and rs334349, TGF-βR2 rs4522809 and VEGF-A rs3025039 SNPs. TGF-βR2 rs1800629G allele and related genotypes were found to be associated with a possible protective role against NMSC, whereas VEGF-…
Secukinumab efficacy in the treatment of nail psoriasis: a case series
Nail involvement is frequent in patients with psoriasis, especially those with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and can significantly impair quality of life (QoL). It is typically difficult to treat compared with skin lesions, although several conventional treatment options are available. The aim of this article is to describe our experience in the treatment of nail psoriasis with secukinumab in a case series. Fifteen patients (11 males and 4 females), with moderate-severe plaque psoriasis and nail psoriasis, eligible for systemic therapy, and received secukinumab. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and body surface area (BSA) assessed cutaneous severity. Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (…
Novel Terphenyls and 3,5-Diaryl Isoxazole Derivatives Endowed with Growth Supporting and Antiapoptotic Properties
A new study on terphenyl and diaryl-isoxazole and -isoxazoline derivatives, maintaining a common 3-adamantyl-4-hydroxyphenyl moiety, has been conducted to find compounds with growth supporting and antiapoptotic properties. Unexpectedly, diphenyisoxazole derivatives bearing a nitro group replacing the carboxylic function have been found with the highest cell protective activity within the series, in complete and in serum-free conditions. Inhibition of apoptosis induced by daunorubicin has also been observed for the most active compound.
Scalp psoriasis: report of efficient treatment with secukinumab
Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2-3% of the population in the world. The scalp is the most common, and frequently the first site of disease involvement. Occasionally it may be the only localization of psoriasis. Objective: Treatment of scalp psoriasis is often unsatisfactory, due to limited available topical therapy and reduced efficacy of some systemic drugs. Biologic therapies are recommended for severe psoriasis, resistant to topical treatment, but evidence from randomized, controlled studies is lacking regarding effectiveness on scalp-localized lesions. The aim of this paper is to show our experience on the efficacy of secukinumab on scalp psoriasi…