Basis for enhanced barrier function of pigmented skin

Humans with darkly-pigmented skin display superior permeability barrier function in comparison to humans with lightly-pigmented skin. The reduced pH of the stratum corneum (SC) of darkly-pigmented skin could account for enhanced function, because acidifying lightly-pigmented human SC resets barrier function to darkly-pigmented levels. In SKH1 (non-pigmented) vs. SKH2/J (pigmented) hairless mice, we evaluated how a pigment-dependent reduction in pH could influence epidermal barrier function. Permeability barrier homeostasis is enhanced in SKH2/J vs. SKH1 mice, correlating with a reduced pH in the lower SC that co-localizes with the extrusion of melanin granules. Darkly-pigmented human epidermis also shows substantial melanin extrusion in the outer epidermis. Both acute barrier disruption and topical basic pH challenges accelerate re-acidification of SKH2/J (but not SKH1) SC, while inducing melanin extrusion. SKH2/J mice also display enhanced expression of the SC acidifying enzyme, secretory phospholipase A2f (sPLA2f). Enhanced barrier function of SKH2/J mice could be attributed to enhanced activity of two acidic pH-dependent, ceramide-generating enzymes, β-glucocerebrosidase and acidic sphingomyelinase, leading to accelerated maturation of SC lamellar bilayers. Finally, organotypic cultures of darkly-pigmented-bearing human keratinocytes display enhanced barrier function in comparison to lightly-pigmented cultures. Together, these results suggest that the superior barrier function of pigmented epidermis can be largely attributed to the pH-lowering impact of melanin persistence/extrusion and enhanced sPLA2f expression

Wound infection by Pantoea agglomerans after penetrating plant injury

Data de publicació electrònica: 24-02-2021Pantoea agglomerans is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacterium that has been linked to skin and joint infections secondary to plant injuries. Herein we report a 58-year-old woman who presented with 2 erythematous nodules with purulent discharge on the anterior aspect of the right leg that developed after a penetrating plant injury. The patient was initially treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cloxacillin and clindamycin without improvement. P. agglomerans was isolated from both exudate and skin biopsy cultures. Healing of the lesions was achieved after the spontaneous release of a retained plant fragment and treatment with cotrimoxazole. Identification of P. agglomerans in persistent exudative lesions should alert the clinician regarding a possible previous plant injury and retained vegetal fragments. Conventional antibiotic treatment and the extraction of retained foreign bodies usually lead to complete resolution

Successful treatment of hypertrophic herpes simplex genitalis in HIV-infected patient with topical imiquimod.

Hypertrophic herpes simplex genitalis is an atypical presentation of genital herpes described in the context of immunosuppression, particularly HIV-positive patients. This situation can become a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. For this reason, alternative therapies are currently being discussed in the literature. We report a case of hypertrophic genital herpes in a HIV-positive patient who was successfully treated with topical 5% imiquimod after treatment failures with oral and i.v. antivirals

Isolation of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae in urethral exudates from men with acute urethritis: a descriptive study of 52 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes from male patients diagnosed of Haemophilus spp urethritis. METHODS:A chart review of patients who presented to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 with symptoms of acute urethritis in which Haemophilus spp was isolated in their urethral samples was performed.RESULTS: Haemophilus spp was isolated in 52 out of 413 urethral samples (12.6%) received in our laboratory from patients with symptoms of acute urethritis during the study period. Seven cases corresponded to Haemophilus influenzae and 45 cases to Haemophilus parainfluenzae. The most common clinical presentation was mucopurulent urethral discharge (71%). Eight per cent were HIV-infected patients, and 60% were men who have sex with men. Haemophilus spp was isolated as a single pathogen in 6.8% (28 of 413) of cases. Seventeen per cent of Haemophilus spp were β-lactamase producers. All patients reported having practiced unprotected insertive oral sex the month before consultation, and five of them denied having had another sexual contact apart from this exposure. In all cases in which follow-up was available, empirical treatment achieved a complete clinical resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Haemophilus spp was considered a pathogen in at least 6.8% of the patients from the evaluated area. It affected men regardless their sexual orientation or HIV status. Unprotected oral sex could play a role in its transmission. The limitations of the study (small sample size and lack of a representative control group) do not allow to prove the true pathogenic role of Haemophilus spp in acute urethritis. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions

Diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical evaluation of CD1a antigen and polyclonal antiLeishmania antibodies in cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background. Different immunohistochemical markers to detect amastigotes in cutaneous Leishmaniasis have been proposed with variable diagnostic usefulness. Objectives. To evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of immunohistochemical amastigotes identification by specific polyclonal anti-Leishmania antibodies and CD1a expression (clone EP3622) in a series of PCR confirmed cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Materials and methods. Thirty-three skin samples corresponding to PCR confirmed cutaneous Leishmaniasis were included in the study. All samples were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa. Moreover, immunohistochemical studies with anti-CD1a and anti-Leishmania antibodies were performed. The patients clinical features and the observed histopathological features were also recorded. Results. From the selected 33 biopsies, Leishmania spp. amastigotes were detected in 48.4% of cases with conventional Hematoxylin-eosin stain and in 57.5% of cases by Giemsa staining. In 31/33 cases, anti-CD1a allowed us to identify parasitic structures, and in 33/33 cases amastigotes were detected with anti-Leishmania antibodies. Concordance between both techniques, antiCD1a and anti-Leishmania, was 94% [CI 95%: (79,8%- 99,3%)]; p value <0.05. The sensitivity of anti-CD1a in comparison with the PCR was 94%, with a positive predictive value of 100%. Two cases of low parasitic index were negative for CD1a immunostaining. In cases with high parasitic index, anti-CD1a stained amastigotes in superficial and deep dermis. Only a few cases were originally diagnosed with the available histological techniques, needing PCR for Leishmania spp. identification. Conclusions. Anti-CD1a antibody seems to be a useful technique to identify amastigotes when PCR and anti-Leishmania antibodies are not available. The sensitivity to detect amastigotes is increased when the CD1a immunostaining is added to the classical Haematoxylin – eosin and Giemsa staining

Epidemiological Characteristics and Factors Associated with Repeat Sexually Transmitted Infections in Barcelona, Spain Over a Decade

In the last few years, the frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STI) has increased, as has the number of people with multiple infections. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of persons with repeated bacterial STI and to determine the risk factors for these episodes in persons living in Barcelona during the period 2007-2018. We studied all cases of bacterial STI included in the STI registry of Barcelona. Repeated STI were defined as a diagnosis of gonorrhea, syphilis, or lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) after a first episode of one of these infections. Analysis was stratified by sex and place of birth. The factors associated with time to reinfection were determined by Kaplan-Meier estimates, while the factors associated with risk of infection were determined by a Cox proportional hazards model. Of 9927 persons with a diagnosis of bacterial STI, 1690 (17.0%) had at least two episodes of STI during the study period. On multivariate analysis, repeat STI were independently associated with male sex assigned at birth (HR: 3.45; 95%CI 2.22-5.36), age less than 34 years (HR: 1.22; 95%CI 1.10-1.35); gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and transgender o transsexual woman (GBSMS/Trans) (HR: 4.03; 95%CI 3.24-5.03), having gonorrhea as first diagnosis (HR:1.49, 95%CI 1.34-1.66) or LGV (HR:1.75; 95%CI 1.47-2.08) and coinfection with HIV (HR:1.98; 95%CI 1.78-2.21). Sexual health programs should be strengthened to prevent STI and reinfection in key populations

Persistent cutaneous abdominal ulcerations secondary to diffuse dermal angiomatosis: an underestimated sign for severe atherosclerosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse dermal angiomatosis (DDA) is a rare, acquired, reactive vascular proliferation, clinically characterized by livedoid erythematous-violaceous plaques, which frequently evolve to ulceration and necrosis. Histopathologically, it is manifested by a diffuse proliferation of endothelial cells within the full thickness of the dermis. DDA has been mainly associated with severe peripheral atherosclerosis. METHODS: We report a 63-year-old woman who presented with multiple erythematous-violaceous plaques with central deep skin ulcers on thighs, lower abdomen, and perianal area, associated with intermittent claudication, low-grade fever, and weight loss. Initially, the clinical picture along with positive cultures for Klebsiella pneumoniae suggested a multifocal ecthyma gangrenosum; nevertheless, a skin biopsy showed a diffuse dermal proliferation of endothelial cells interstitially arranged between collagen bundles. A computed tomography scan revealed severe aortic atheromatosis with complete luminal occlusion of the infrarenal aorta and common iliac arteries. RESULTS: The diagnosis of DDA secondary to severe atherosclerosis was established. The patient underwent a left axillofemoral bypass surgery with a rapidly healing of the ulcers in the next weeks./nCONCLUSIONS: DDA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of livedoid ischemic lesions. Recognition of DDA as a cutaneous sign of severe peripheral vascular disease is important for both dermatologists and internists. Recognition of risk factors and their management with an early intervention to correct tissue ischemia can be curative

Expression of epidermal CAMP changes in parallel with permeability barrier status

Two critical defensive functions of the outer epidermis, the permeability barrier and antimicrobial defense, share certain structural and biochemical features. Moreover, three antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), i.e., mouse β-defensin 3 (mBD3), mouse cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (mCAMP), and the neuroendocrine peptide, catestatin (Cst), all localize to the outer epidermis, and both mBD3 and mCAMP are secreted from the epidermal lamellar bodies with other organelle contents that subserve the permeability barrier. These three AMPs are upregulated in response to acute permeability barrier disruption, whereas conversely, mCAMP−/− mice (unable to combat Gram-positive pathogens) also display abnormal barrier homeostasis. To determine further whether these two functions are co-regulated, we investigated changes in immunostaining for these three AMPs in skin samples in which the permeability barrier function in mice had been either compromised or enhanced. Compromised or enhanced barrier function correlated with reduced or enhanced immunohistochemical expression of mCAMP, respectively, but conversely with Cst expression, likely due to the role of this AMP as an endogenous inhibitor of cathelicidin expression. mBD3 expression correlated with experimental barrier perturbations, but poorly with developmental changes in barrier function. These studies show that changes in cathelicidin and Cst expression parallel changes in permeability barrier status, with a less clear relationship with mBD3 expression.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2011-01/102/2008000790/8SEQ:8PERF_CD:SNU2011-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:YEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:6.314FILENAME:camp and barrier status jid.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM: