Expression of JAK/STAT signalling in bullous pemphigoid.

In the present study, we characterise the expression of JAK/STAT signalling in Bullous Pemphigoid (BP). Punch biopsy specimens of normal skin, lesional and perilesional skin of patients diagnosed with biopsy proven BP were utilised for immunoperoxidase labelling with commercially available antibodies for Phosphorylated STAT 1,2,3,5A and 6 (Genesearch, USA). Quantitative analysis demonstrated that in comparison to normal skin, phosphorylated STAT 2, 3, 5A and 6 were overexpressed in BP.

Scabies: a clinical update.

Scabies is the most common neglected tropical disease with cutaneous manifestations, disproportionately affecting socially disadvantaged populations living in overcrowded settings. Scabies infestation is characterised by a generalised intractable pruritus, and is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection, which can lead to a range of complications. Scabies is a clinical diagnosis and requires an adequate degree of suspicion.

Aqueous humour-induced lens epithelial cell proliferation requires FGF-signalling.

The eye lens grows by systematic proliferation of its epithelial cells and their differentiation into fibre cells. The anterior aqueous humour regulates lens epithelial cell proliferation whereas posteriorly, the vitreous stimulates lens fibre differentiation. Vitreous-derived members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family induce fibre differentiation, with added support for FGFs as putative regulators of aqueous-induced lens cell proliferation.