Multiple pyogenic granuloma of the penis in a four-year-old child: a case report

Pyogenic granulomas are common, acquired, benign vascular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes that can develop both spontaneously and traumatically. We present a unique case of a four-year healthy, uncircumcised boy with multiple pyogenic granuloma on the mucous face of the penis foreskin. Although penile multiple pyogenic granulomas have previously been described in adults, there are no reports of similar problems in children. In this patient, the pathogenesis of the lesions is probably trauma related as reported in the anamnesis. Therapeutic options are discussed

Dynamic markers based on blood perfusion fluctuations for selecting skin melanocytic lesions for biopsy

Skin malignant melanoma is a highly angiogenic cancer, necessitating early diagnosis for positive prognosis. The current diagnostic standard of biopsy and histological examination inevitably leads to many unnecessary invasive excisions. Here, we propose a non-invasive method of identification of melanoma based on blood flow dynamics. We consider a wide frequency range from 0.005 – 2 Hz associated with both local vascular regulation and effects of cardiac pulsation. Combining uniquely the power of oscillations associated with individual physiological processes we obtain a marker which distinguishes between melanoma and atypical nevi with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 90.9%. The method reveals valuable functional information about the melanoma microenvironment. It also provides the means for simple, accurate, in vivo distinction between malignant melanoma and atypical nevi, and may lead to a substantial reduction in the number of biopsies currently undertaken

ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM IN SPOROBOLUS STAPFIANUS: CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO DESICCATION AND REHYDRATION

Changes in the amounts of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and glutathione and in the levels of related enzyme activities were studied in Sporobolus stapjianus leaves, a desiccation-tolerant or resurrection plant, in response to desiccation and rehydration. Detached leaves of S. stapfianus were rapidly dried for 120 hr at 0% rel. hum. A 24 hr desiccation period was sufficient to achieve extremely low water contents (0.2%). Dried leaves were then rehydrated for 24 hr. The soluble-protein content decreased after drying but did not increase after rehydration without death ensuing. The enzymes related to the glutathione-ascorbate cycle reacted differently to the rapid water loss: dehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.8.5.1) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) activities increased while ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) activity decreased. All these enzymes resumed their activities after rehydration. Oxidative processes were intensified following desiccation and even more after rehydration: i.e. the H2O2 level and the dehydroascorbate/ ascorbate molar ratio increased in desiccated leaves and even more in rehydrated leaves, while the oxidized glutathione/reduced ghttathione molar ratio, which decreased in desiccated leaves, reached the control value with rehydration

ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM IN BOEA HYGROSCOPICA: CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO DESICCATION AND REHYDRATION

In leaves of Boea hygroscopica subjected to either rapid or slow dehydration and rehydration, the response to H2O2 production was studied by monitoring the changes in the amounts of ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids as well as the amounts of reduced and oxidized glutathione and related enzyme activities. Boea hygroscopica is a resurrection plant in which drought tolerance depends on the rate of desiccation. For this reason, excised leaves of B. hygroscopica were subjected either to rapid or slow dehydration, by a 144-hr exposure to 0% or 80% relative humidity, respectively. Slowly dried leaves, rehydrated for 36 hr. were able to resume their activities completely, while rapidly dried leaves were not able to revive. After dehydration, H,02 production decreased both in slowly and in rapidly dried leaves, whereas the levels of total ascorbate and glutathione became two and 50 times as high, respectively, as in the control. During slow drying, reduced glutathione was oxidized, since its content in slowly dried leaves was 50% lower than in rapidly dried leaves. The levels of soluble proteins were found to be, respectively, five and six times as high in rapidly and slowly dried leaves as in the control and rehydrated leaves. The electrophoretic patterns of soluble proteins were similar in both dehydrated leaves, but different from control and rehydrated leaves, which also presented similar patterns. The specific activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (EC 1.8.5.1), glutathione rcductasc (EC 1.6.4.2) and ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) also had the same values in both slowly and rapidly dried leaves. Following rehydration. oxidative processes were intensified: H,O, levels and the oxidation of ascorbate and glutathione mostly increased during this period in which the functioning of the ascorbate/glutathione cycle was induced

Cutaneous composite lymphoma consisting of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and follicular lymphoma: a unique entity and a putative pathological mechanism for cutaneous composite lymphomas

No abstract available for this article

Coexistence of TERT promoter and BRAF mutations in cutaneous melanoma is associated with more clinicopathological features of aggressiveness

The recently described telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations are recurrent in cutaneous melanoma. Several authors have described an association between these molecular alterations, some histological parameters, and patient survival. BRAF mutations are very frequent in melanoma, but their actual role in the evolution of the disease is still unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship of TERT promoter mutations and BRAF mutations with the most relevant clinicopathological parameters, individually and coexisting, in order to evaluate their role as independent prognostic markers and to determine the effect of their coexistence. A TERT promoter alteration was found in 20 of 53 cases (38 %), significantly associated with histological type, increasing tumor thickness and mitotic rate, more advanced pathologic tumor (pT) stage, and absence of regression. A BRAF mutation was found in 21 of 53 cases (40 %), significantly associated with tumor thickness and presence of metastases in the sentinel lymph node. Coexistence of a TERT promoter and BRAF mutation was detected in 11 of 53 cases (21 %). This was associated with increasing thickness, high mitotic rate, lymph node metastasis, presence of ulceration, and absence of regression. Coexistence of a mutation in the TERT promoter and in the BRAF gene correlated with more prognostically relevant factors than either mutation alone. Our data lead us to hypothesize that TERT promoter and BRAF mutations cooperate in cutaneous melanoma. Further studies in larger cohorts of patients are needed to investigate how this synergistic effect is involved in the evolution of the disease

Long-term follow-up after testis-sparing surgery for Leydig cell tumors: a single center experience

Purpose Although most Leydig cell tumors are benign, radical orchiectomy is currently considered the standard therapy. We retrospectively analyzed the long-term followup of a series of patients with Leydig cell tumors electively treated with testis sparing surgery. Materials and Methods Between November 1990 and December 2005, 17 consecutive patients with Leydig cell tumors underwent testis sparing surgery on an elective basis. Preoperative evaluation included physical examination, serum markers for germ cell tumors, scrotal ultrasound, abdominal computerized tomography, chest x-ray and hormonal profile if clinically required. Testis sparing surgery was performed via an inguinal approach with spermatic cord clamping. Frozen section examination was performed in all cases, revealing Leydig cell tumors. Followup consisted of physical examination, scrotal ultrasound, abdominal computerized tomography and chest x-ray every 6 months for the first 2 years, then annually. Tumor recurrence and survival were evaluated. Results Mean patient age was 41.6 years (range 28 to 55). Medical referral was prompted by symptoms/signs such as infertility, gynecomastia or self-palpation of scrotal mass in 11 patients (64.7%), while in the remaining 6 (35.3%) the lesions were incidentally diagnosed. Hormonal profile was performed in 9 patients, showing abnormalities in all. Mean tumor diameter was 13.4 mm (range 5 to 31). Definitive pathological examination confirmed benign Leydig cell tumor in all cases. After a mean followup of 91 months (range 12 to 192), neither local recurrence nor distant metastases have been detected and all patients are alive without evidence of disease