Dermoscopy for venereologists: an update on patterns of tumors, inflammatory and infectious diseases of the genitalia, and tips for differential diagnosis

Introduction: Dermoscopy is an integrative part of clinical dermatologic examination. For clinicians mainly dealing with genital dermatoses and other venereal diseases, the differential diagnosis includes a broad spectrum of neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious entities. Dermoscopy might have a valuable role to enhance the clinical differential diagnosis and help avoid some biopsies done for diagnostic purposes. Although the dermoscopic patterns of most tumors and inflammatory diseases of the trunk/face have been described, their manifestations on genital areas are less elucidated. We aimed to provide a succinct summary of existing data on dermoscopy of dermatologic diseases on genital areas. Methods: A literature search was performed on PubMed using the terms dermoscopy OR dermatoscopy OR videodermoscopy OR video dermoscopy AND genital. All studies reporting on dermoscopic findings of at least one case of a dermatologic disease on genital areas were included in the review. Unless otherwise indicated, 710 was the magnification used in the reported studies. The main outcome was to describe the dermoscopic feature of each disease. Results: A total of 31 articles were identified and analyzed. They included single case reports and case series. The described entities were categorized into anatomical variants, vascular and lymphatic lesions, tumors, inflammatory disorders, and infectious conditions. Conclusion: In diseases of the genital area, dermoscopic findings can be highly diagnostic and might establish a confident diagnosis. Limitation is that most of the criteria are based on case series, and few of them have been validated

Modelling the adsorption of phenolic acids onto α\alpha,γ\gamma-alumina particles

International audienceAdsorption of three phenolic acids, namely parahydroxybenzoic acid (4-hydroxybenzoic acid, H$_2$Phb), protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, H$_2$Proto) and gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, H$_2$Gal) onto $\alpha$,$\gamma$-Al$_2$O$_3$ particles was studied vs. ligand concentration at pH 5.0, and vs. pH. The oxide surface was characterized with both potentiometric titrations and electrophoretic measurements; a difference in the point of zero salt effect (PZSE) and the isoelectric point (IEP) was evidenced, which could be attributed to the presence of impurities or to the heterogeneity of the oxide. The potentiometric titration experiments lead to the determination of a PZSE of 8.5. Moreover, the particular shape of the curves were fitted in the framework of the constant capacitance model (CCM), using FITEQL 4.0 software, to determine the oxide parameters (protolytic properties and site density). The electrophoretic measurements were fitted in the framework of the double diffuse layer model (DLM) and an IEP of 9.5 was determined. The constant-pH isotherms of the acids were fitted using the CCM. Constant-pH isotherms of H$_2$Gal and H$_2$Proto onto the Al$_2$O$_3$ surface sites at pH 5 were similar. Two adsorption sites of different affinities were clearly evidenced for H$_2$Gal and can also be proposed for H$_2$Proto. H$_2$Phb showed a lower affinity for the surface than the two other acids, as the logK$_{sorb}$ for H$_2$Phb is one and a half time lower than the one for H$_2$Proto when adsorption is described with one adsorption site. As expected for a carboxylic acid, adsorption of H$_2$Phb decreased with pH and experimental data were well fitted using three adsorbed species $\equiv$MOH$_2$H$_2$Phb$^+$, $\equiv$MHPhb$^−$, and $\equiv$MPhb$^−$). Adsorption of H$_2$Proto and H$_2$Gal did not change significantly upon increasing pH, meaning that the different functional groups on the aromatic ring (carboxylate and phenolate) were involved in adsorption as pH increases. Dissolution of the oxide was also estimated by measuring the amount of soluble aluminum at pH 5. Increasing acid concentration promoted dissolution, especially for the low concentration range ([acid] < 3 mmol L$^{−1}$), but higher acid concentration lowers the increase of the solubility increase, likely due to adsorption on surface of an aluminum-organic complex

Complexation of europium(III) by hydroxybenzoic acids: a time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy study

International audienceComplexation of Eu(III) by two hydroxybenzoic acids, namely p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4 dihydroxybenzoic, HPhbH), and protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic, HProtoH2), is studied by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy (TRLS) in mildly acidic solution. Comparable formation constants are determined at 0.1 mol/L NaCl for EuPhbH[2+] – log10β°(EuPhbH[2+]) = 2.18 ± 0.09 (1sigma) – and 0.01 mol/L NaCl for EuProtoH2[2+] – log10β°(EuProtoH2[2+]) = 2.72 ± 0.07 (1sigma). The stoichiometry and carboxylate complexation of the EuProtoH2[2+] complex is ascertained by varying both pH and ligand concentration. The luminescence decay time of EuPhbH[2+] (τ = 107 ± 5 µs) is comparable with that of Eu(H2O)n[3+] (τ = 110 ± 3 µs), suggesting that luminescence quenching processes compensate the expected increase in decay time due to the dehydration associated with complexation. For EuProtoH2[2+], the luminescence decay time is even shorter (τ = 20 ± 5 µs), evidencing intricate quenching processes

Re-Assessing TOD Index in Jakarta Metropolitan Region (JMR)

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is believed to be able to overcome the issues of urban transport. However, in practice, the current TOD in Jakarta&nbsp; Metropolitan Region (JMR) is still a deficiency in accommodating the needs of transportation movement and not in facilitating services in terms of TOD function. The objective of this paper was to re-assess the service quality of actual TOD in 54 commuter railway stations. The paper performed criteria-indicators and measured a composite TOD index by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-multicriteria model, statistics test, and Geographical Information System (GIS) application. TOD index was found that urban areas have a high TOD index. On the other hand, the suburban areas have a low TOD-index. The statistical test showed that there was a strong correlation between different criteria. This paper concluded that most of the stations which were located in the suburban area had a low index thus need improvement. Consequently, the station areas needed to have a policy relevance. &nbsp

Planning TOD with Land Use and Transport Integration: a Review

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) implementation in urban development is globally adopted by many countries in the world in a rapid manner. However, the city and regional acute problems is still propagating. An in-depth study to examine this problem is required. Thus, this paper review various study related to the integration of land use and transport with TOD. The subject of the paper will be described as follow: Method, criteria and indicators of TOD\u27S research, Reviewing the strategic plan and the public transport plan in the worldwide, and Cross-continent comparison of integration planning. In conclusion, practice and integration of TOD through land use and transportation is an alternative solution in acquiring the objective of the master plan and to solve urban issues such as urban congestion, reduce travel time, and car dependency

Genome-wide identification of regulatory elements in Sertoli cells

A current goal of molecular biology is to identify transcriptional networks that regulate cell differentiation. However, identifying functional gene regulatory elements has been challenging in the context of developing tissues where material is limited and cell types are mixed. To identify regulatory sites during sex determination, we subjected Sertoli cells from mouse fetal testes to DNaseI-seq and ChIP-seq for H3K27ac. DNaseI-seq identified putative regulatory sites around genes enriched in Sertoli and pregranulosa cells; however, active enhancers marked by H3K27ac were enriched proximal to only Sertoli-enriched genes. Sequence analysis identified putative binding sites of known and novel transcription factors likely controlling Sertoli cell differentiation. As a validation of this approach, we identified a novel Sertoli cell enhancer upstream of Wt1, and used it to drive expression of a transgenic reporter in Sertoli cells. This work furthers our understanding of the complex genetic network that underlies sex determination and identifies regions that potentially harbor non-coding mutations underlying disorders of sexual development

A multi-exon deletion within WWOX is associated with a 46,XY disorder of sex development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions where chromosomal, gonad or genital development is atypical. In a significant proportion of 46,XY DSD cases it is not possible to identify a causative mutation, making genetic counseling difficult and potentially hindering optimal treatment. Here, we describe the analysis of a 46,XY DSD patient that presented at birth with ambiguous genitalia. Histological analysis of the surgically removed gonads showed bilateral undifferentiated gonadal tissue and immature testis, both containing malignant germ cells. We screened genomic DNA from this patient for deletions and duplications using an Illumina whole-genome SNP microarray. This analysis revealed a heterozygous deletion within the WWOX gene on chromosome 16, removing exons 6-8. Analysis of parental DNA showed that the deletion was inherited from the mother. cDNA analysis confirmed that the deletion maintained the reading frame, with exon 5 being spliced directly onto exon 9. This deletion is the first description of a germline rearrangement affecting the coding sequence of WWOX in humans. Previously described Wwox knockout mouse models showed gonadal abnormalities, supporting a role for WWOX in human gonad development

Defending the genome from the enemy within:mechanisms of retrotransposon suppression in the mouse germline

The viability of any species requires that the genome is kept stable as it is transmitted from generation to generation by the germ cells. One of the challenges to transgenerational genome stability is the potential mutagenic activity of transposable genetic elements, particularly retrotransposons. There are many different types of retrotransposon in mammalian genomes, and these target different points in germline development to amplify and integrate into new genomic locations. Germ cells, and their pluripotent developmental precursors, have evolved a variety of genome defence mechanisms that suppress retrotransposon activity and maintain genome stability across the generations. Here, we review recent advances in understanding how retrotransposon activity is suppressed in the mammalian germline, how genes involved in germline genome defence mechanisms are regulated, and the consequences of mutating these genome defence genes for the developing germline

Global Mapping of DNA Methylation in Mouse Promoters Reveals Epigenetic Reprogramming of Pluripotency Genes

DNA methylation patterns are reprogrammed in primordial germ cells and in preimplantation embryos by demethylation and subsequent de novo methylation. It has been suggested that epigenetic reprogramming may be necessary for the embryonic genome to return to a pluripotent state. We have carried out a genome-wide promoter analysis of DNA methylation in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, embryonic germ (EG) cells, sperm, trophoblast stem (TS) cells, and primary embryonic fibroblasts (pMEFs). Global clustering analysis shows that methylation patterns of ES cells, EG cells, and sperm are surprisingly similar, suggesting that while the sperm is a highly specialized cell type, its promoter epigenome is already largely reprogrammed and resembles a pluripotent state. Comparisons between pluripotent tissues and pMEFs reveal that a number of pluripotency related genes, including Nanog, Lefty1 and Tdgf1, as well as the nucleosome remodeller Smarcd1, are hypomethylated in stem cells and hypermethylated in differentiated cells. Differences in promoter methylation are associated with significant differences in transcription levels in more than 60% of genes analysed. Our comparative approach to promoter methylation thus identifies gene candidates for the regulation of pluripotency and epigenetic reprogramming. While the sperm genome is, overall, similarly methylated to that of ES and EG cells, there are some key exceptions, including Nanog and Lefty1, that are highly methylated in sperm. Nanog promoter methylation is erased by active and passive demethylation after fertilisation before expression commences in the morula. In ES cells the normally active Nanog promoter is silenced when targeted by de novo methylation. Our study suggests that reprogramming of promoter methylation is one of the key determinants of the epigenetic regulation of pluripotency genes. Epigenetic reprogramming in the germline prior to fertilisation and the reprogramming of key pluripotency genes in the early embryo is thus crucial for transmission of pluripotency

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy