Acne Scars

J Cutan Pathol. 2009 Jul; 36(7): 766-71Ramdial PK, Calonje E, Singh B, Sing Y, Govender PBackground: Even in schistosomiasis-endemic areas, extra-anogenital bilharziasis cutanea tarda (E-BCT) is rare. To date, the occurrence of E-BCT in pre-existing cutaneous pathology is undocumented. The study was undertaken to document the expanded clinicopathological spectrum and to comment on the putative pathogenetic mechanisms of a Schistosoma hematobium-associated E-BCT. Methods: Eight-year clinicopathological appraisal of E-BCT. Results: The clinical details are as follows. Seventeen specimens from 16 patients formed the study cohort. All specimens showed granulomatous inflammation with eosinophils, aggregates of terminal-spined S. hematobium ova and variable fibrosis. Copulating worms were identified in three biopsies. In 12/16 patients, E-BCT occurred in pre-existing pathology, including recurrent squamous papilloma (1), bilateral hidradenitis suppurativa (1) and scar tissue (10) with 7 showing a keloidal morphology. Prior and current urinary schistosomiasis was present in nine and seven patients, respectively. Conclusion: E-BCT, a reflection of prior, re-infective or inadequately treated urinary schistosomiasis, is deemed to be a function of egg-laying consequent to the aberrant pathway of worms. Based on E-BCT occurrence in pre-existing extra-anogenital cutaneous fibroinflammatory and cicatricial processes and the presence of adult worms in three extra-anogenital biopsies in the present study, it is hypothesized that altered tissue mesenchymal repair reactions may promote extra-anogenital cutaneous worm entrapment and egg-laying.

J Cutan Pathol. 2009 Jul; 36(7): 788-92Wang XQ, Chang HE, Francis R, Olszowy H, Liu PY, Kempf M, Cuttle L, Kravchuk O, Phillips GE, Kimble RMBACKGROUND: Silver dressings have been widely and successfully used to prevent cutaneous wounds, including burns, chronic ulcers, dermatitis and other cutaneous conditions, from infection. However, in a few cases, skin discolouration or argyria-like appearances have been reported. This study investigated the level of silver in scar tissue post-burn injury following application of Acticoat, a silver dressing. METHODS: A porcine deep dermal partial thickness burn model was used. Burn wounds were treated with this silver dressing until completion of re-epithelialization, and silver levels were measured in a total of 160 scars and normal tissues. RESULTS: The mean level of silver in scar tissue covered with silver dressings was 136 microg/g, while the silver level in normal skin was less than 0.747 microg/g. A number of wounds had a slate-grey appearance, and dissection of the scars revealed brown-black pigment mostly in the middle and deep dermis within the scar. The level of silver and the severity of the slate-grey discolouration were correlated with the length of time of the silver dressing application. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that silver deposition in cutaneous scar tissue is a common phenomenon, and higher levels of silver deposits and severe skin discolouration are correlated with an increase in the duration of this silver dressing application.

Neurosci Lett. 2009 Jun 8; Nakano T, Iseki K, Hozumi Y, Kawamae K, Wakabayashi I, Goto KDiacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is an enzyme which phosphorylates a second messenger diacylglycerol and consists of a family of isozymes that differ in terms of structural motifs, enzymological property, and cell and tissue distribution. One of the isozymes, DGKzeta was originally shown to be expressed in various kinds of neurons under physiological conditions. However, we unexpectedly found that under pathological conditions, such as cerebral infarction, DGKzeta-immunoreactivity is detected in non-neuronal cells, although it remained to be elucidated in detail which cell types are responsible for the induced expression of DGKzeta in this setting. To further elucidate functional implications of DGKzeta in non-neuronal cells we performed detailed immunohistochemical analysis of DGKzeta using rat brain cryoinjury model. As early as 1h after cryoinjury, DGKzeta-immunoreactivity was greatly decreased in the afflicted cerebral cortex and almost disappeared in the necrotic core. On day 7 after cryoinjury, however, DGKzeta-immunoreactivity reappeared in this area. DGKzeta-immunoreactivity was clearly detected in Iba1-immunoreactive cells of an oval or ameboid shape in the scar region, which represent activated microglia and/or macrophages. On the other hand, DGKzeta-immunoreactivity was not detected in Iba1-immunoreactive, resting microglia of ramified and dendritic configuration in the intact cortex. Furthermore, DGKzeta-immunoreactive cells were also positive for a microglia marker GLUT5 in the scar region, but never for an astrocyte marker GFAP. Taken together, the present study reveals that DGKzeta is induced in activated microglia in brain trauma, suggesting the functional significance of DGKzeta in this process.

Matrix Biol. 2009 Jun 8; Vukovic J, Marmorstein LY, McLaughlin PJ, Sasaki T, Plant GW, Harvey AR, Ruitenberg MJThe adult olfactory epithelium has maintained the ability to reconstitute its olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) from a basal progenitor cell compartment. This allows for life-long turnover and replacement of receptor components as well as repair of the primary olfactory pathway in response to injury and environmental insults. The present study investigated whether fibulin-3, a glycoprotein in the extracellular matrix and binding partner of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3), plays a role in ongoing plasticity and regenerative events in the primary adult olfactory pathway. In wild-type control mice, fibulin-3 protein was detected on IB4(+)CD31(+) blood vessels, nerve fascicles and the basement membrane underneath the olfactory epithelium. After target ablation (olfactory bulbectomy), fibulin-3 was also abundantly present in central nervous system (CNS) scar tissue that occupied the bulbar cavity. Using two different lesion models, i.e. intranasal Triton X-100 lesion and olfactory bulbectomy, we show that fibulin-3 deficient (Efemp1(-/-)) mice have impaired recovery of the olfactory epithelium after injury. Ten days post-injury, Efemp1(-/-) mice showed altered basal stem/progenitor cell proliferation and increased overall numbers of mature (olfactory marker protein (OMP) -positive) versus immature OSNs. However, compromised regenerative capacity of the primary olfactory pathway in Efemp1(-/-) mice was evidenced by reduced numbers of mature OSNs at the later time point of 42 days post-injury. In addition to these neural differences there were consistent changes in blood vessel structure in the olfactory lamina propria of Efemp1(-/-) mice. Overall, these data suggest a role for fibulin-3 in tissue maintenance and regeneration in the adult olfactory pathway.

Klin Oczna. 2009; 111(1-3): 37-41Romanowska-Dixon B, Kubicka-Trzqska APURPOSE: To assess the distant results of choroidal melanoma treatment with indocyanine green induced photothrombosis (iMP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 57 patients (57 eyes) at the age 39 to 68 yrs (mean age: 57.4 yrs), with choroidal melanoma. In all cases basic ophthalmic examination with ultrasonography and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed. IMP was performed with diode laser at 810 nm wave length 15 minutes after intravenous indocyanine dye injection as a bolus (50 mg/5 ml). The main criteria for assessment of treatment efficacy included changes in tumor thickness measured by ultrasonography and microcirculation changes in ICGA. The follow-up period ranged from 37 to 59 months (mean: 45.5 month). RESULTS: Before iMP plaque therapy with 106Ru was performed in 18 eyes, and with 125l in 5, transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) or xenon arc photocoagulation was used in 5 eyes and "sandwich method" (106Ru + TTT) in 16 eyes. Only in 13 eyes the primary treatment consisted of iMP. IMP was performed twice in 4 patients and three times in 2. After iMP the total regression of tumor microcirculation was observed in 36 cases, in 14 the partial regression was noted and in 7 the inner microcirculation remained unchanged. Ultrasonography showed the mean reduction of tumor thickness by 47.3% in 37 eyes, among which the flat scar was present in 12. Stabilization was observed in 15 cases while in 5 the further progression of the tumor was detected in spite of performed therapies. The additional treatment was performed in 20 cases. Six eyes was enucleated; in one case because of neovascular glaucoma, and in 5 because of no positive reaction to performed conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: IMP can be an effective method of therapy in some cases of small choroidal melanoma. In medium size and in large melanomas iMP can serve only as the additional method adjunctive to plaque therapy and TTT.