Mycobacterium leprae is identified in the oral mucosa from paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients

In leprosy, the nasal mucosa is considered as the principal route of transmission for the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. the objective of this study was to identify M.leprae in the oral mucosa of 50 untreated leprosy patients, including 21 paucibacillary (PB) and 29 multibacillary (MB) patients, using immunohistochemistry (IHC), with antibodies against bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and phenolic glycolipid antigen-1 (PGL-1), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with MntH-specific primers for M.leprae, and to compare the results. the material was represented by 163 paraffin blocks containing biopsy samples obtained from clinically normal sites (including the tongue, buccal mucosa and soft palate) and visible lesions anywhere in the oral mucosa. All patients and 158 available samples were included for IHC study. Among the 161 available samples for PCR, 110 had viable DNA. There was viable DNA in at least one area of the oral mucosa for 47 patients. M.leprae was detected in 70% and 78% of patients using IHC and PCR, respectively, and in 94% of the patients by at least one of the two diagnostic methods. There were no differences in detection of M.leprae between MB and PB patients. Similar results were obtained using anti-BCG and anti-PGL-1 antibodies, and immunoreactivity occurred predominantly on free-living bacteria on the epithelial surface, with a predilection for the tongue. Conversely, there was no area of predilection according to the PCR results. M.leprae is present in the oral mucosa at a high frequency, implicating this site as a potential means of leprosy transmission.Univ Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente Reg Hosp, Dermatol Unit, Presidente Prudente, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Multiuser Mol Biol Lab, Div Dermatol, Dept Clin Med,Ribeirao Preto Coll Med, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, BrazilAdolfo Lutz Inst, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Tinea nigra contracted in Spain

Se relata un caso de tinea nigra diagnosticado en Sao Paulo (Brasil) en una paciente española de 4 años de edad. Por sus características morfológicas el agente fue clasificado como Exophiala werneckii. De acuerdo con la revisión de la literatura europea, probablemente sea este el primer caso de tinea nigra de España comprobado micológicamente

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip: assessment of prognostic factors

Among lip cancers, 90% to 95% of them affect the lower lip and squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent type. The TNM classification synthesizes the clinical characteristics of the tumor that allows prognosis and makes possible the comparisons of the results. Three parameters have to be considered: size of the tumor (T), propagation to regional lymphatic ganglion (N) and metastasis (M); however, patterns starting from 2cm are established by the TNM classification. In the case of squamous cell carcinoma of the lips, 2cm lesions are considered extremely large. AIM: The objective of this study was to verify the correlation among epidemiologic, clinical, evolutionary and histopathological characteristics of squamous cell carcinoma of the lips, having as parameter lesions as small as 0.5cm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period 1993-2000 in São Paulo, Brazil, a transversal retrospective study was performed with patients exhibiting squamous cell carcinoma of the lips. The characteristics of the tumor were investigated through the analysis of patients' medical charts, original reports of the histopathological exams and tumors' samples. The tumors were classified from 0.5 to 2.5cm. In addition, type, grade of histologic differentiation, the presence of desmoplasia, muscular, neural and vascular infiltration, and type of inflammatory infiltrate were investigated. RESULTS: The statistical analyses indicated that metastasis and recurrences do not depend on patients' gender and race. The independence of the tumor's localization, either in the upper or lower lip, and the incidence of metastasis and recurrence were demonstrated. A correlation between lesions as large as 0.5cm and the occurrence of metastasis and recurrence was verified. Furthermore, it was observed that the size of lesion determines the infiltration in other tissues. Lymphoplasmocytarian is the type of inflammatory infiltrate that was found in each and every lesion. On the other hand, in some of the lesions, the inflammatory infiltrate was associated with eosinophils without correlation to size of tumor. CONCLUSION: Smaller tumors than 2cm, from a histopathological and clinical point of view, may present a distinct evolution behavior. Most of the lesions are ulcerative, though the ulcerative-vegetative is the one that presents the most metastasis and recurrence. The ulcerative-vegetative and vegetative types are associated with the largest lesions. The size of the tumor is related, in a similar way, to grades II and III, in which higher rates of metastasis and recurrence were observed. In decreasing order of frequency, the tumor invades muscles, nerves and blood vessels, which can be related to the size of the lesion. Thus, in order to have metastasis, it is necessary to have infiltration of muscles. Yet, blood vessels can only be involved when there is concomitant infiltration of nerves. As a result, desmoplasia is directly related to size of the lesion as well as to occurrence of metastasis.Dentre os cânceres do lábio de 90% a 95% dos casos afetam o lábio inferior, sendo o carcinoma espinocelular o mais freqüente. A classificação TNM sintetiza as características clínicas do tumor, permitindo realizar um prognóstico e possibilitando comparações dos resultados. Relaciona três parâmetros: tamanho do tumor (T), propagação aos gânglios linfáticos regionais (N) e metástases à distância (M), mas estabelece padrões a partir de 2cm. Para o carcinoma espinocelular do lábio lesões com 2cm são extremamente grandes. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é verificar a relação entre as características epidemiológicas, clínicas, evolutivas e histopatológicas do carcinoma espinocelular do lábio tendo como parâmetro lesões de tamanhos a partir de 0,5cm. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: Foi elaborado um estudo retrospectivo transversal em pacientes com carcinoma espinocelular do lábio, no período 1993-2000, em São Paulo, Brasil. Estudou-se prontuários, laudos originais dos exames histopatológicos e lâminas de tumores de pacientes com carcinoma espinocelular do lábio. Os tumores foram classificados de 0.5 em 0.5cm, sendo verificado o tipo, o grau de diferenciação histológica, a presença de desmoplasia, as invasões muscular, neural e vascular, e o tipo de infiltrado inflamatório. RESULTADOS: A análise estatística mostrou que metástases e recidivas não dependem da cor de pele ou do sexo dos pacientes e que há independência entre a localização do tumor, no lábio superior ou inferior, e a incidência de metástases e recidiva. Houve correlação entre o tamanho da lesão a partir de 0,5cm e a ocorrência de metástases e recidiva. Verificou-se que o tamanho da lesão determina a invasão em outros tecidos. O infiltrado inflamatório verificado em todas as lesões era linfoplasmocitário e, em algumas, associado com eosinófilos sem relação com o tamanho do tumor. CONCLUSÃO: Tumores menores que 2cm podem apresentar comportamentos evolutivos distintos, sob o ponto de vista clínico e histopatológico. O tipo mais prevalente de lesão é o ulcerativo e o que mais metastatiza e recidiva é o úlcero-vegetante. Os tipos úlcero-vegetante e vegetante estão ligados a lesões de maior tamanho. O tamanho do tumor se relaciona, de forma semelhante, com os graus II e III, nos quais ocorrem os maiores índices de metástases e recidivas. O tumor invade em ordem decrescente de freqüência músculos, nervos e vasos sanguíneos, e esta pode ser prevista pelo tamanho da lesão. É necessária a invasão dos músculos para a ocorrência de metástases, sendo que os vasos sanguíneos somente podem estar implicados quando há invasão concomitante dos nervos. A desmoplasia está diretamente relacionada ao tamanho da lesão e à ocorrência de metástases.UNIFESP-EPMUNIFESP-EPM setor de EstomalogiaUNIFESP-EPM Departamento de DermatologiaUNIFESP, EPM, setor de EstomalogiaUNIFESP, EPM Depto. de DermatologiaSciEL

PTPN11 mutations are not responsible for the Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome

Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome characterized by congenital heart defects, characteristic facial appearance, short stature, ectodermal abnormalities and mental retardation. It was described in 1986, and to date is of unknown genetic etiology. All reported cases are sporadic, born to non-consanguineous parents and have apparently normal chromosomes. Noonan and Costello syndromes remain its main differential diagnosis. the recent finding of PTPN11 missense mutations in 45-50% of the Noonan patients studied with penetrance of almost 100% and the fact that in animals mutations of this gene cause defects of semilunar valvulogenesis, made PTPN11 mutation screening in CFC patients a matter of interest. We sequenced the entire coding region of the PTPN11 gene in ten well-characterised CFC patients and found no base changes. We also studied PTPN11 cDNA in our patients and demonstrated that there are no interstitial deletions either. the genetic cause of CFC syndrome remains unknown, and PTPN11 can be reasonably excluded as a candidate gene for the CFC syndrome, which we regard as molecular evidence that CFC and Noonan syndromes are distinct genetic entities.Univ Sacred Heart, Ist Genet Med, I-00168 Rome, ItalyUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Med Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Med Genet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Assessment of the effect of phenytoin on cutaneous healing from excision of melanocytic nevi on the face and on the back

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Topical phenytoin is a powerful skin wounds healing and it may be useful in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical phenytoin 0.5%, by comparing it with cream (control) in wounds resulting from excision of two melanocytic nevi in the same patient. Our purpose was also to assess if phenytoin had better therapeutic and cosmetic outcomes when compared with cream (control).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study evaluated 100 patients with skin wounds from excision of melanocytic nevi. 50 patients with lesions on the face and 50 patients with lesions on the back, totalizing 200 lesions excised with modified punch. The resulting superficial skin wounds had the same diameter and depth, and second intention healing followed.</p> <p>Patients were followed for 60 days. Student's t-test, Mann Whitney nonparametric test, analysis of variance, LSD test, Shapiro-Wilks test and Fisher test were used to analyze the results, depending on the nature of the variables being studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Phenytoin showed better therapeutic and cosmetic results, by healing faster, with more intense epithelization in wounds in comparison with cream (control). Phenytoin showed a statistically significant difference regarding the following parameters (p < 0.05): wounded area and healing time. Phenytoin application resulted in a smaller area and a shorter healing time. Also the intensity of exudates, bleeding, and the epithelization were more intense in phenytoin-treated wounds. Regarding the shape and thickness of the scar, injuries treated with phenytoin had round and flat shaped scars in most of the cases. Considering patient's gender and phototype, female patients presented smaller wounds and scar areas; and phototype I had the largest scar areas. Contact eczema was an adverse reaction in 7 injuries located on the back caused by cream (control) and hypoallergenic tape.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Phenytoin showed better therapeutic and cosmetic results compared with cream (control). Phenytoin is a low cost drug, which accelerates skin wounds healing in human patients. Trial registration: ISRCTN96539803</p