12,997 research outputs found

    Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: challenges and solutions

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    Ingrid Herskovitz, Mariya Miteva Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami L Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Abstract: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is the most common scarring alopecia among African American women. Data about epidemiology, etiology, genetic inheritance, and management are scarce and come from individual reports or small series. CCCA has been associated with hot combing and traumatic hair styling for years; however, studies fail to confirm it as the sole etiologic factor. It has been shown in a small series that CCCA can be inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, with a partial penetrance and a strong modifying effect of hairstyling and sex. CCCA presents clinically as a central area of progressive irreversible hair loss that expands to the periphery. A patchy form has also been described. Dermoscopy is helpful to identify the optimal site for the biopsy, which establishes the diagnosis. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to discover the optimal management. At this point, patients are advised to avoid traction and chemical treatments; topical and intralesional steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and minoxidil can be helpful in halting the progression. Keywords: hair loss, alopecia, dermatoscopy, dermoscopy, trichoscopy, black scalp, African American, scarring alopeci

    Erbium lasers in periodontology

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    There are many advantages to using lasers in periodontal therapy, including better visualization of cutting, patient acceptance, and detoxification of a periodontal pocket. Other advantages are less invasive surgery to gain access, minimal wound contraction and scarring. Many of these concepts of laser therapy are posi­tive, although others still require research. There are clearly many favorable applications for lasers in peri­odontal therapy but further studies are necessary to determine in which procedures laser therapy can be best applied

    Differential stability of 2'F-ANA*RNA and ANA*RNA hybrid duplexes: roles of structure, pseudohydrogen bonding, hydration, ion uptake and flexibility

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    14 pags., 7 figs., 3 tabs.Hybrids of RNA with arabinonucleic acids 2′F-ANA and ANA have very similar structures but strikingly different thermal stabilities. We now present a thorough study combining NMR and other biophysical methods together with state-of-the-art theoretical calculations on a fully modified 10-mer hybrid duplex. Comparison between the solution structure of 2′F-ANA•RNA and ANA•RNA hybrids indicates that the increased binding affinity of 2′F-ANA is related to several subtle differences, most importantly a favorable pseudohydrogen bond (2′F-purine H8) which contrasts with unfavorable 2′-OH-nucleobase steric interactions in the case of ANA. While both 2′F-ANA and ANA strands maintained conformations in the southern/eastern sugar pucker range, the 2′F-ANA strand's structure was more compatible with the A-like structure of a hybrid duplex. No dramatic differences are found in terms of relative hydration for the two hybrids, but the ANA•RNA duplex showed lower uptake of counterions than its 2′F-ANA•RNA counterpart. Finally, while the two hybrid duplexes are of similar rigidities, 2′F-ANA single strands may be more suitably preorganized for duplex formation. Thus the dramatically increased stability of 2′F-ANA•RNA and ANA•RNA duplexes is caused by differencesin at least four areas, of which structure and pseudohydrogen bonding are the most important. © The Author(s) 2010. Published by Oxford University Press.Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (grants CTQ2007-68014-C02-02 to CG and BIO2009-10964 to MO); Fundacion Marcelino Botin (grant to MO); Canadian Institutes for Health Research (grant to M.J.D.); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (postgraduate scholarship to J.K.W.). Funding for open access charge: Canadian Institutes for Health Research

    Pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like papillary dermal elastolysis: a large case series with clinicopathological correlation

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    Background: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE)-like papillary dermal elastolysis (PDE) is a rare acquired elastic tissue disorder. To date, less than 20 cases have been reported. Objective: We report a case series of 17 patients presenting with PXE-like PDE and discuss the clinicopathological correlation. Methods: Seventeen cases of PXE-like PDE were collected prospectively and evaluated for common demographic, clinical, and histopathological features. Results: All patients were women with a mean age of 61.8 years. The lateral sides and back of neck were the most common sites of involvement (100%), followed by the supraclavicular region (41.2%) and the axilla (35.3%). Systemic involvement was absent in all cases, and in 7 patients the discovery of PXE-like PDE was an incidental finding. The main histopathologic features included complete loss (82.4%) or marked reduction (17.6%) of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis and the presence of melanophages in the same zone (88.2%). Limitations: Our results require validation with a larger series. Conclusions: Our findings help to differentiate PXE-like PDE from similar elastic tissue disorders based on the selective elastic tissue elimination in the papillary dermis and the presence of melanophages in the same zone as a possible consequence of subclinical junctional photodamage. PXE-like PDE is likely underdiagnosed rather than rare, and dermatologists should be aware of its similarity to inherited PXE to spare unnecessary investigations because of the lack of systemic involvement. Clinicopathologic correlation is critical as hematoxylin-eosin staining is nonspecific and elastic tissue stains are necessary to make the correct diagnosi

    Immunohistochemical evaluation of venous leg ulcers before and after negative pressure wound therapy

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    Venous leg ulcers represent a medical challenge. Whenever possible, therapy should be causal and include compression therapy and surgery. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been successfully used in several phases of venous leg ulcer treatment. Positive effects of NPWT, such as reduction of edema, drainage of wound exudate, and ac- celeration of granulation tissue formation, are reasons for recommending NPWT in order to improve healing rates

    Psoriasis: Targeting Therapy Towards the Inflammatory Cascade

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    Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints that typically follows a relapsing/remitting disease course. Whereas psoriasis is primarily a T-cell-mediated disease, intrinsic alterations in epidermal keratinocytes also play an important role. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) has been identified as an important cytokine in the inflammatory cascade of psoriasis. The importance of TNFalpha is further underlined by the therapeutic efficacy of compounds that interfere with TNFalpha function, such as biological agents
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