1,721,040 research outputs found

    Protective effects of Polypodium leucotomos extract against UVB-induced damage in a model of reconstructed human epidermis

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    Background: Polypodium leucotomos (PL) exerts potent antioxidant, photo-protective, and immune-modulatory activities. A reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) (Episkin) is a suitable model for the evaluation of acute UV-induced cell damage. No data regarding the photo-protective action of PL in this model are available. Purpose: We evaluated the effects of PL on the prevention of UVB-induced cell damage assessing sunburn cells, CPD formation, p53, Ki-67, p21 expression, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) production. Materials & Methods: RHE was incubated in standard conditions. PL was topically applied at the concentration of 2 mg/cm2, immediately before UVB exposition. UVB exposition (300 mJ/cm2) was performed using a dedicated UVB lamp. Irradiated samples without PL and non-irradiated samples were used as positive and negative controls. Expression of p53, p21, and Ki-67 was evaluated with immune-histochemical methods. CPD were measured using a monoclonal antibody. Results: PL significantly reduced sunburned cells (-80%) in comparison with positive control. PL significantly prevented the increase in EGF production at tested times. PL significantly reduced the p53 (-80%), p21 (-84%), and Ki-67 (-48%) positive cells. Finally, PL prevented the formation of CPD (0% vs. 20% positive cells). Conclusion: In this model, PL has shown to prevent UVB cell damage, the upregulation of proliferating proteins, and fully blocking the formation of CPD

    Spitznävi: unterschiedliche klinische, dermatoskopische und histopathologische Merkmale in der Kindheit

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    Background and objectives: The characterization of clinical features and biological potential of Spitz nevi has attracted a lot of interest in past decades. The aim of our paper was to describe the clinical, dermatoscopic features as well as the clinical outcome of surgically excised Spitz nevi in three different pediatric age groups. Patients and methods: A retrospective study analyzing clinical features, videodermatoscopic images, histopathological diagnosis and patient outcome. The level of pigmentation was evaluated both clinically and histopathologically. Results: 72 spitzoid neoplasms were excised from 71 pediatric patients. Videodermatoscopic images were available for 41 patients. The distribution of pigmentation significantly correlated with patient age: hyperpigmented lesions were rather rare in preschool children, becoming more frequent in patients aged 7 to 12 years and older than 13 years. The histopathological diagnosis of atypical Spitz nevus was uncommon. None of the patients originally diagnosed with atypical Spitz nevi developed local recurrence or metastases during subsequent follow-up. Conclusions: Pigmented Spitz nevi were more common after 13 years of age. The study confirms other reports regarding the distribution of pigmentation patterns, and underlines the low number of atypical Spitz nevi in pediatric patients as well as their low recurrence rate during long-term follow-up

    Spitz Nevi and Other Spitzoid Neoplasms in Children: Overview of Incidence Data and Diagnostic Criteria

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    Spitz nevi are benign melanocytic neoplasms characterized by epithelioid or spindle melanocytes or both. In some rare cases their presentation overlaps with the clinical and histopathologic features of malignant melanoma, so a differential diagnosis can be difficult to make. Intermediate forms between Spitz nevi and malignant melanoma, with unpredictable behavior, have been called atypical Spitz tumors. A literature search was performed to review the clinical, dermoscopic, genetic, and histopathologic aspects of spitzoid tumors. Spitz nevi mainly occur in children, with no predilection for sex, and in young women. Common sites are the head and lower arms, where Spitz nevi present as pink nodules or hyperpigmented plaques. Spitzoid lesions may have diverse dermoscopic patterns: vascular, starburst, globular, atypical, reticular, negative homogeneous, or targetoid. The management of spitzoid lesions can be invasive or conservative; surgical excision is usually reserved for those with doubtful features, whereas clinical and dermoscopic follow-up is preferred for typical pediatric Spitz nevi. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in atypical Spitz tumors is debated. Immunohistochemistry and new molecular techniques such as comparative genomic hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, and fluorescence in situ hybridization offer new diagnostic perspectives, investigating genetic alterations that are specific for malignant melanoma or for Spitz nevi

    The Prognosis of Nail Apparatus Melanoma: 20 Years of Experience from a Single Institute

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    Introduction and Objectives: Nail apparatus melanoma (NAM) is an uncommon tumor, especially in Caucasians. The prognosis of patients affected by NAM was analyzed and correlated with the histopathological criteria and the surgical management of the tumors. Materials and Methods: We collected data regarding NAM referred to the Skin Cancer Unit of the Dermatology Department of the University of Bologna, from 1992 to January 2012. Results: Out of 1,327 melanoma cases diagnosed between 1992 and 2012, 42 patients were affected by NAM (2.93%). All the patients were Caucasian. Two deceased patients with insufficient medical records and 1 woman with a personal history of breast cancer were excluded. Thirty-nine cases entered this study: 24 were women (67%) and 15 men (33%). The mean age at diagnosis of NAM was 57.3 years (range 29-88 years). Statistical analyses showed that prognosis was significantly correlated with the Breslow thickness (≥/<2 mm; p = 0.02), regression (p < 0.0001) and ulceration (p = 0.04). Regarding surgical management, Kaplan-Meier's test pointed out that performing functional surgery compared to disarticulation did not correlate with a better prognosis of patients (p = 0.08). Conclusions: In our experience, the surgical management (disarticulation with respect to functional surgical excision) did not influence the prognosis of NAM patients. The latter was affected by the histopathological characteristics (Breslow thickness, regression and mitoses) and location (fingers vs. foot)
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