The effect of deproteinized bovine bone on osteoblast growth factors and proinflammatory cytokine production.

Objective: To test the ability of Bio-Oss in inducing growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines that may have a role in inflammation after grafting, bone resorption, remodeling and in the homeostasis of osteoblasts.

Material And Methods: Normal human osteoblasts were seeded in Petri dishes containing granules of Bio-Oss, cells were harvested after confluency and RNA was extracted. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed using specific primers for osteonectin, bone sialoprotein (BSP), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and BMP-7, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and integrin beta1.

Updated review of the pathogenesis and management of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive, malignant cutaneous tumor of the elderly or immunosuppressed individuals that usually appears on sun-exposed areas of the body. Its pathogenesis is still debated, and, currently, no standardized treatment exists.

Objective: To provide a current updated review of the most relevant data concerning the pathogenesis and management of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Epidemiology and clinical and pathologic characteristics of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo (Italy).

Background: Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registry-derived epidemiologic data on malignant melanoma in Italy are available only in some northern regions of the country.

Aim: To report the number and characteristics of incident cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo, a central-southern Italian region.

Topical preparations for the treatment of psoriasis: results of a retrospective study over 15 years.

Background: Psoriasis requires lifelong treatments that depend on the extent, clinical forms and associated conditions.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze which topical treatments were used, their efficacy, and potential advantages and disadvantages.

Methods: A total of 666 patients admitted for the first time over 15 years who were topically treated were retrospectively reviewed and subdivided using clinical forms and PASI into four groups and four subgroups for the applied treatments.

Skin toxicity from glyphosate-surfactant formulation.

Glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]glycine) is a nonselective herbicide used in agriculture as a foliage spray for the control and the destruction of herbaceous plants. Adverse skin reactions due to contact with this compound have been rarely described. We report a case of a 78-year-old woman presenting with extensive chemical burns on her trunk and legs caused by accidental contact with a glyphosate-surfactant formulation.

Spreading of epithelial cells on machined and sandblasted titanium surfaces: an in vitro study.

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of the surface structure of dental implants on epithelial cell spreading and growth in vitro. Cell morphology on machined and sandblasted titanium surfaces was investigated.

Methods: A total of 10 machined and 10 sandblasted discs and 10 glass coverslips were used for the present study.

A minimal form of Proteus syndrome presenting with macrodactyly and hand hyperplasia.

Proteus syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by progressive course and great variability of clinical presentation with partial gigantism of extremities, hemihyperplasia with macrocephaly, epidermal nevus, mesodermal hamartomas and the presence of peculiar cerebriform masses on the palms/soles. Many atypical cases have been reported and this is probably due to the mosaicism of the genetic disorder displaying different clinical features. We describe a patient with an extremely mild form of Proteus syndrome presenting macrodactyly and hyperplasia of one hand which was misdiagnosed until the age of 33 years.