An Overview of Methotrexate Indications in Skin Diseases.

Methotrexate is an immunosuppressive drug with remarkable therapeutic results in the treatment of autoimmune and proliferative skin diseases. Although it has been more than half a century since it was first introduced into the therapeutic arsenal of dermatologists, there are currently no standardized therapeutic protocols regarding the prescription of methotrexate in dermatology, with the exception of psoriasis treatment. This review aims to highlight the indications and benefits of methotrexate beyond psoriasis, with a focus on a wide range of inflammatory, vesiculobullous, and proliferative dermatological pathologies.

Rare Benign Tumors and Tumor-like Lesions of the Hand without Skin Damage-Clinical, Imagistic and Histopathological Diagnosis, Retrospective Study.

Background: The broad spectrum of diagnoses and clinical features of hand tumors and the absence of pathognomonic signs often lead to an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis. However, only a few reports have comprehensively referenced the diagnosis and clinical features of hand tumors. This study intends to highlight the clinical, imaging and histological characteristics of uncommon hand tumors or tumor-like lesions.

High serum level of interleukin-6 is linked with dyslipidemia in oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a complex chronic inflammatory disorder in which autocytotoxic CD8 T cells, locally present in the affected tissue, induce basal keratinocyte apoptosis, through the release of several cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that is related to alterations in lipid metabolism in psoriasis patients. Impaired lipid metabolism together with high serum levels of triglycerides have been found in association with OLP.

Molecular markers associated with potentially malignant oral lesions (Review).

According to literature data, potentially premalignant oral lesions are the basis of over 85% of cell carcinomas. Despite multiple advances achieved during the last few decades in the diagnosis and treatment of oral squamous cell carcinomas, there has not been a significant change in the prognosis and 5-year survival rate. The prevention of malignant transformation of these tumors by diagnosis and targeted treatment would be the ideal scenario.

The ultrastructural features of the premalignant oral lesions.

Premalignant oral lesions are among the most important risk factors for the development of oral squamocellular carcinoma. Recent population studies indicate a significant rise in the prevalence of leukoplakia, erythroplakia/erythroleukoplakia, actinic cheilitis, submucous fibrosis and erosive lichen planus. Since standard histopathological examination has numerous limitations regarding the accurate appreciation of potential malignant transformation, the present study aims to aid these evaluations using the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique, which emphasizes ultrastructural changes pertaining to this pathology.

Correlations between morphological changes induced by curcumin and its biological activities.

Curcumin is a phytochemical polyphenol extracted from turmeric rhizome, with multiple biological activities, intensively studied in various therapeutic areas. Its effects covers a wide range of specialties, from the neuroprotective to the antimetastatic properties, influencing pathologies from cardiovascular, neuronal and oncological fields, as a part of its broad spectrum of action. These effects are explained by antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic simultaneous roles of curcumin and its derivatives.

The molecular mosaic of the premalignant cutaneous lesions.

In the last three decades, the premalignant cutaneous lesions have represented a milestone for the clinicians and the anatomopathologists given the increased risk of malignant transformation not only in the old but also in the young population. Recent research indicates the fact that, though multiple progresses were recorded in the diagnosis and treatment of the cutaneous squamocellular carcinomas, developed in more than 85% of the cases in premalignant lesions, however the prognosis and survival up to five years did not register significant improvements. For the achievement of the diagnosis with certainty, the histopathological examination, considered until recently the "golden standard", principally based on the TNM criterion, has an increased percentage of subjectivity and it is relatively unsure, being known the fact that two apparently identical tumors answer differently to the same therapy.

In vitro evaluation of curcumin effects on breast adenocarcinoma 2D and 3D cell cultures.

Unlabelled: Breast adenocarcinoma cell line MDA-MB-231, even if it expresses low levels of E-cadherin, still readily form multicellular aggregates of cells, namely spheroids. Curcumin is a diarylheptanoid antitumoral drug while it significantly inhibits cell migration, invasion, and colony formation in vitro and reduces tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. Curcumin photoactivation may enhance antiapoptotic role against cancer cells.

E-cadherin expression in invasive ductal carcinoma associates ultrastructural changes in desmosomes structure.

Unlabelled: The relationship between E-cadherin presence/absence and the integrity of the desmosomes at the same level becomes important regarding the discrepancies between E-cadherin lack of expression in severe invasive carcinomas and the desmosome activity.

Purpose: In the present study, we have evaluated the presence of E-cadherin (EC) in 34 cases of metastatic or non-metastatic invasive ductal breast carcinomas (IDC) by immunohistochemistry followed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evaluation on samples prepared from paraffin sections.

Materials And Methods: Our study has analyzed 34 paraffin blocks incoming from 20 cases with documented presence of metastatic invasion and 14 cases without metastases.