Acta dermato-venereologica
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2006
Case ReportsDrug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms induced by valproate and carbamazepine: formation of circulating auto-antibody against 190-kDa antigen.
Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is characterized by fever, rash and internal organ involvement after exposure to certain drugs. Most of the aromatic anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine, can induce DRESS. ⋯ Her skin lesions displayed diffuse oedematous patches on the entire body associated with tense bullae on her arms and legs. Circulating auto-antibody to 190-kDa antigen was detected in the patient's serum by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting, which might contribute to a pathogenic role in DRESS.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2006
Asymmetry in dermoscopic melanocytic lesion images: a computer description based on colour distribution.
Digital dermoscopy improves the accuracy of melanoma diagnosis. The aim of this study was to develop and validate software for assessment of asymmetry in melanocytic lesion images, based on evaluation of colour symmetry, and to compare it with assessment by human observers. An image analysis program enabling numerical assessment of asymmetry in melanocytic lesions, based on the evaluation and comparison of CIE L*a*b* colour components (CIE L*a*b* is the name of a colour space defined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) inside image colour blocks, was employed on the recorded lesion images. ⋯ Asymmetry judgement was expressed by the clinicians for 12.8% of benign naevi, 44.7% of atypical naevi and 64.2% of malignant melanomas, whereas the computer identified as asymmetric 6.3%, 33.3% and 82.2%, respectively. Numerical parameters referring to malignant melanomas were significantly higher, both with respect to benign naevi and atypical naevi. The numerical parameters produced could be effectively employed for computer-aided melanoma diagnosis.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2006
Upregulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway induced by transforming growth factor-beta in hypertrophic scars and keloids.
Hypertrophic scars and keloids represent a dysregulated response to cutaneous wounds, which results in an excessive deposition of collagen. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is the key regulator in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that Wnt signalling and its effector beta-catenin also play an important role in wound healing. ⋯ We provide evidence that TGF-beta induces activation of beta-catenin mediated transcription in human dermal fibroblasts via the Smad3 and p38 MAPK pathways. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that beta-catenin protein levels are elevated in hypertrophic scar and keloid tissues. This finding may be relevant to the pathogenesis of hypertrophic scars and keloids.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2005
A retrospective epidemiological study on the association of bullous pemphigoid and neurological diseases.
Bullous pemphigoid is a rare chronic recurrent dermatosis that is often reported in association with various neurological diseases. No investigation involving a large number of patients has ever been carried out to demonstrate such an association. ⋯ The results support the hypothesis of an association between bullous pemphigoid, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease on a highly significant statistical basis. The aetiopathogenic mechanisms and the causes that induce the loss of immunological tolerance are not yet understood.
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Acta Derm. Venereol. · Jan 2005
Studies of transforming growth factors beta 1-3 and their receptors I and II in fibroblast of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
Keloids are benign skin tumours occurring during wound healing in genetically predisposed patients. They are characterized by an abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix components, particularly collagen. There is uncertain evidence that transforming growth factor-beta (TGFss) is involved in keloid formation. ⋯ The ratio of TGFssRI/TGFssRII expression was increased in keloids compared with hypertrophic scar and normal skin fibroblasts. As recently supposed, an increased TGFssRI/TGFssRII ratio could promote fibrosis. Therefore our data support a possible role of TGFssRI and TGFssRII in combination with a certain TGFss expression pattern as fibrosis-inducing factors in keloids.