Commentary: is it really M. leprae?

The authors studied 66 wild nine-banded armadillos from Brazil. the ear samples were collected and Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite-Faraco stains were performed, as well as immunostaining using polyclonal BCG antibody, to avaluate the presence of the Mycobacterium leprae. the AFB were not detected by the Ziehl-Neelsen or Fite-Faraco staining, neither immunoexpression of the BCG marker. However, many normal structures from the ears of the nine-banded armadillos, such as condrocytes, condroblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, and Gram positive bacteria cocci, showed false positive reaction by the BCG marker. the authors discuss the use of the immunohistochemical studies with the polyclonal BCG antibody to identify M. leprae antigens in wild armadillos.Fed Univ Espirito Santo, Dept Social Med, Infect Dis Unit, Vitoria, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Squamous-cell Carcinoma and Lobomycosis (Jorge Lobos Disease)

ESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PATHOL,BR-04023 São Paulo,SP,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PATHOL,BR-04023 São Paulo,SP,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

EARLY DIAGNOSIS and PROMPT TREATMENT BY SURGERY in JORGE-LOBOS DISEASE (KELOIDAL BLASTOMYCOSIS)

ESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT ANAT PATOL,São Paulo 04023,SP,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT ANAT PATOL,São Paulo 04023,SP,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

Reduced P53 staining in actinic keratosis is associated with squamous cell carcinoma: A preliminary study

Background : Actinic keratosis (AK) is a cutaneous neoplasm caused by prolonged sun exposure, and may progress into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The p53 gene plays a central role in the development of SCC, and mutations in this gene are found in 90% of SCC and up to 100% of AK cases. Objective: To identify AK cases that are highly susceptible to developing SCC. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six AK cases were classified into two groups: AK adjacent to "normal" skin and AK adjacent to SCC. The groups were compared based on epithelial atypia, inflammation, solar elastosis, histopathological AK classification and p53 protein expression. Results: Of the 56 AK cases analyzed, 23% were associated with SCC. The types of AK observed were classified as follows: common, hypertrophic , atrophic , acantholytic , pigmented and bowenoid . SCC was associated with common and hypertrophic AK, and p53 staining was observed in 78% of AK cases. The mean difference in p53 immunopositivity between common AK cases associated with SCC (17%) and not associated with SCC (45.4%) was significant (p=0.011). Conclusions: Hypertrophic and common AK are associated with SCC, and the low percentage of p53 immunopositivity in the common type indicates a greater probability of developing into SCC

Leukomelanodermic leprosy

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Munster, Dept Dermatol, D-4400 Munster, GermanyUniv Munster, Inst Expt Dermatol, D-4400 Munster, GermanyUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Dermatol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pathol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc