Differential gene expression analysis of subcutaneous fat, fascia, and skin overlying a Dupuytren's disease nodule in comparison to control tissue.

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a benign fibroproliferative tumor with an unknown etiology and high recurrence postsurgery. Several observations suggest the possible involvement of skin overlying nodule (SON) and the subcutaneous fat in the pathogenesis of DD. This study aims to (1) compare the gene expression levels of SON and subcutaneous fat in DD and normal subjects and (2) to compare transverse palmar fascia (Skoog's fibers) from DD patients as internal control tissue, with palmar fascia (transverse carpal ligament) from patients undergoing carpal tunnel release as external control.

Genetic susceptibility to keloid scarring: SMAD gene SNP frequencies in Afro-Caribbeans.

Keloid disease (KD) is a fibroproliferative dermal tumour of unknown aetiology. The increased familial clustering in KD, its increased prevalence in certain races and increased concordance in identical twins suggest a strong genetic predisposition to keloid formation. The highest incidence of keloids is found in the black population, where it has been estimated around 4-6% and up to 16% in random samples of black Africans.