Structural and functional changes in the microcirculation of lepromatous leprosy patients - Observation using orthogonal polarization spectral imaging and laser Doppler flowmetry iontophoresis.

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection of skin and peripheral nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is considered the main infectious cause of disability worldwide. Despite the several studies regarding leprosy, little is known about its effects on microvascular structure and function in vivo. Thus, we have aimed to compare skin capillary structure and functional density, cutaneous vasomotion (spontaneous oscillations of arteriolar diameter), which ensures optimal blood flow distribution to skin capillaries) and cutaneous microvascular blood flow and reactivity between ten men with lepromatous leprosy (without any other comorbidity) and ten age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Subungual squamous cell carcinoma.

Although subungual squamous cell carcinoma is rare, it is the most common primary malignant neoplasms in this location. The higher incidence occurs in the fingernails, but involvement of the toenails is also possible. Subungual squamous cell carcinoma often looks like other more common benign lesions, such as fungal infection, onychomycosis, or viral wart.

Basal cell nevus syndrome: clinical and molecular review and case report.

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), also referred to as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome or Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, was first described by Gorlin and Goltz in 1960 as an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the early appearance of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), keratocysts of the jaw, ectopic calcifications, palmar and plantar pits, and anomalies of the ocular, skeletal, and reproductive systems. The genesis of this cancer's etiology in relation to BCNS was unclear until a few years ago when molecular analysis studies suggested a relationship between BCC and the loss-of-function mutations of the patched gene (PTCH) found on chromosome arm 9q. PTCH inhibits signaling by the membrane protein Smoothened (Smo), and this inhibition is relieved by binding sonic hedgehog (SHH) to PTCH.

Modified Tripier flap in reconstruction of the lower eyelid.

We describe the use of modified Tripier flap for reconstruction of a surgical defect in the lower eyelid region, after excision of nodular basal cell carcinoma.

Case for diagnosis.

We report the case of an 11-year-old male patient with a histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis of dermatofibroma with an atypical clinical presentation on the right forearm. Although dermatofibroma is considered a benign skin tumor, some of its differential diagnoses, such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and malignant fibrous histiocytoma, are truly aggressive. Lesions with atypical clinical aspects and topology associated with specific histopathological variants are some of the criteria for complete tumor excision.

Sidestream dark field imaging: the evolution of real-time visualization of cutaneous microcirculation and its potential application in dermatology.

Technological advances during the last years have enhanced the image quality of the microcirculation. Intravital microscopy (IM) has been considered the "gold standard" for many years, but it can be used mostly in anesthetized animals which is a disadvantage. The nailfold videocapillaroscopy, a non-invasive examination that includes a microscope with an epiillumination system, came afterward, but its major disadvantage is the restricted area available for investigation namely the nailfold capillary bed.

Orthogonal polarization technique in the assessment of human skin microcirculation.

Background: The "gold standard" for the study of the in vivo microcirculation is intravital microscopy. The recently developed method of orthogonal polarization of light [orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging] allows for the in vivo transcutaneous evaluation of the microcirculation without the need for invasive surgical procedures.

Methods: The application of polarized light originating from a 100 W halogen tungsten lamp is able to penetrate tissues at a depth of up to 3 mm, and generates reissued light from this depth.

Evaluation of the effects of caffeine in the microcirculation and edema on thighs and buttocks using the orthogonal polarization spectral imaging and clinical parameters.

Gynoid lipodystrophy, also known as cellulite, is a common multifactorial entity that affects millions of women around the world. There have been few scientific articles dealing with its physiology and treatment in the past few years, and vascular changes seem to play an important role in its pathophysiology. Skin microvascular alterations can be observed noninvasively with a new method called orthogonal polarization spectral imaging, which was used to evaluate the effectiveness of an anticellulite drug composed mainly of a 7% caffeine solution.