Publications by authors named "Maria Balabanova"

Dear Editor, Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis is a distinct clinical variant of dermatomyositis (DM) in which the typical cutaneous features and muscle weakness appear before, simultaneously, or after the diagnosis of an internal malignancy. It occurs in approximately one-third of patients with DM, predominantly adults, after the age of 40 (1). Different neoplasms have been described in association with DM, the most common of which are lung, breast, ovarian, gastrointestinal, prostate, and bladder cancers.

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Dear Editor, Rowell's syndrome is a rare disease, characterized by the appearance of erythema multiforme (EM)-like lesions in patients with lupus erythematosus. It was initially reported by Rowell (1) in 1963 and its existence as a separate clinical entity is currently under debate (2,3). A few cases may have been induced by drugs such as systemic antimycotics, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and more recently proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

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We report a case of a 30-year-old woman with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) involving only a single lower eyelid. The diagnostic delay is explained by the unspecific clinical and histopathology picture and lack of specific changes in the first biopsy specimen taken. The diagnosis was based on later histological and immunological studies.

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The strive for proficient cosmetic facial appearance is growing in the past decades. Fillers for tissue augmentation are gaining wide popularity. Uncertified products based on oleic solutions are applied by untrained staff, thus growing the risk for certain complications such as infections, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, and lipogranuloma formation.

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While most patients with early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have a very good prognosis, the survival of patients with extensive tumour stage and visceral involvement remains extremely poor and necessitates the development of more effective treatment modalities. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effects of two alkylphosphocholines (APCs, miltefosine and erufosine) and the polyphenolic compound curcumin on 5 human CTCL cell lines (Hut-78, HH, MJ, My-La CD4+ and My-La CD8+). All tested drugs showed considerable cytotoxic activity, as determined by the MTT dye reduction assay.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Perforating necrobiosis lipoidica is a rare skin condition that involves the degeneration of collagen and its expulsion through the skin, with only a few cases documented.
  • - About 66% of patients with this condition also have diabetes, although there is no link between the severity of the disease and blood sugar levels.
  • - A 42-year-old woman with a 7-year history of diabetes on insulin presented with firm, painless plaques on her arms and legs, which were confirmed as perforating necrobiosis lipoidica through clinical and histological examination.
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A 73-year-old Caucasian female patient presented for three annular erythematous lesions on the left leg and buttock, persisting for two months, clinically interpreted as erythema annulare centrifugum. Routine laboratory findings were within the normal ranges, Borrelia serology and wet mount microscopy for mycosis were negative. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of superficial erythema annulare centrifugum.

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Background: Recall phenomena of the skin at the site of prior radiation treatment are well established after systemic anti-neoplastic therapy. The aim of this report is to describe a rare clinical entity of recall dermatitis after systemic treatment with paclitaxel without a history of previous radiation at the site of reaction.

Material And Methods: A 63-year-old Caucasian female patient treated with paclitaxel because of breast cancer (T3 N1 M0) is presented.

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Protective properties of immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against O and H antigens of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (S. enteritidis) were evaluated in a model of generalized infection after intranasal (i.n.

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Vasculitis in connective tissue diseases is not an uncommon complication. Vasculitis complicates both rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) in about 4% of cases. Cutaneous lesions, representing small-vessel involvement, are most common; however, widespread, necrotizing visceral medium-and large-vessel involvement, mimicking primary vasculitic syndromes, may also occur.

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We report the case of a patient with livedo vasculitis associated with the factor V Leiden mutation. This association provides additional support for abnormalities of coagulation in patients with this disorder. The spectrum of platelet, coagulation, and fibrinolytic disorders reported with livedo vasculitis is reviewed.

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