Cutaneous sarcoidosis: A rare case report

Sarcoidosis is a Greek word (Sarco means flesh and Eido means type or like). Cutaneous sarcoidosis occurs in up to one third of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. This disease is characterised by the presence of non – caseating epitheloid cell granulomas in the skin. Cutaneous sarcoidosis presents as a diagnostic challenge to the dermatopathologists due to its varied presentations and almost identical histologic pictures. Hence, exclusion of infectious causes and compatibility with clinical and radiologic picture serve as significant criteria to come up to a diagnosis. Sometimes; skin lesions are the first manifestation of systemic sarcoidosis. This is not a contagious or allergic disease. There is a risk of development of systemic manifestations at a later date; for which a close follow up is a must. We are presenting a case of cutaneous sarcoidosis, which later on progress to sarcoidosis with systemic manifestations.\ud \u

ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND NUTRITION IN OXIDATIVE STRESS: A REVIEW

Human body is known to experience positive stress that keeps it vigilant and protects it from biological and physical threats. This stress turns negative when a person is confronted with continuous challenges. Also, stress and nutrition have always run in synergism with each other. Nutritional value of a person's diet depends on the overall mixture or balance of food that is eaten over a period of time, as well as on the needs of the individual. The body relies on obtaining its anti-oxidants from food and other supplements. These nutritional requirements of antioxidants are enormously altered in diseased conditions. In view of the immense medicinal importance of antioxidants, an effort has been made in this article to bring together information about the role of nutrition and antioxidants such as carotenoids, vitamins, some important minerals in combating free radical generation and in general, boosting normal immune mechanisms. The present review is an attempt to generate interest in the scientific fraternity of their immense potential in preventing and treating several common diseases. Keywords: Antioxidants, Free radicals, Balanced diet, Nutrition, Oxidative stress, Vitamins

Primary Angiosarcoma of breast- A case report with review of literature

Angiosarcoma is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all malignant mammary lesions. The prognosis is usually poor due to high rates of local recurrence and early development of metastases. We report a 40 year old woman with a highly vascular mass on radiology, she presented with bony metastases at presentation. Core biopsy of the breast mass performed twice showed only haemorrhage and necrosis. Due to biopsy she developed ulceration and presented with nipple discharge. Frozen section done from the base of the ulcer was haemorrhagic and inflammatory. Cytology of nipple discharge too showed inflammation & haemorrhage. Finally mastectomy was done and histopathology showed angiosarcoma of intermediate grade. Immunohistochemically the tumor showed positivity for CD31, multifocal substantial positivity for CD34,FLi-1 diffusely positive and negative for cytokeratin. Ki 67 proliferation index – upto 60-70% in foci, IHC confirmed Angiosarcoma intermediate to high grade. Angiosarcoma is a rare tumor which is difficult to diagnose on core biopsy of breast. A highly vascular breast mass should always be considered malignant until proven otherwise. Surgical treatment seems to be the best course of action

Membrane curvature sensing of the lipid-anchored K-Ras small GTPase

Plasma membrane (PM) curvature defines cell shape and intracellular organelle morphologies and is a fundamental cell property. Growth/proliferation is more stimulated in flatter cells than the same cells in elongated shapes. PM-anchored K-Ras small GTPase regulates cell growth/proliferation and plays key roles in cancer. The lipid-anchored K-Ras form nanoclusters selectively enriched with specific phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine (PS), for efficient effector recruitment and activation. K-Ras function may, thus, be sensitive to changing lipid distribution at membranes with different curvatures. Here, we used complementary methods to manipulate membrane curvature of intact/live cells, native PM blebs, and synthetic liposomes. We show that the spatiotemporal organization and signaling of an oncogenic mutant K-RasG12V favor flatter membranes with low curvature. Our findings are consistent with the more stimulated growth/proliferation in flatter cells. Depletion of endogenous PS abolishes K-RasG12V PM curvature sensing. In cells and synthetic bilayers, only mixed-chain PS species, but not other PS species tested, mediate K-RasG12V membrane curvature sensing. Thus, K-Ras nanoclusters act as relay stations to convert mechanical perturbations to mitogenic signaling.Published versio