Multiple Abnormal Cutaneous Findings in a Patient With Hypomelanosis of Ito Undergoing General Anesthesia.

Hypomelanosis of Ito (HI), a neurocutaneous syndrome, is characterized by skin depigmentation and skeletal, muscular, central nervous system, cardiac, and renal manifestations. A wide variety of cutaneous manifestations besides depigmentation have been reported. Herein we describe a 23-year-old woman with HI whose extracutaneous symptoms included severe mental and motor impairment, convulsions, and deformity of the orofacial region.

The Role of Hedgehog Signaling in the Melanoma Tumor Bone Microenvironment.

A crucial regulator in melanoma progression and treatment resistance is tumor microenvironments, and Hedgehog (Hh) signals activated in a tumor bone microenvironment are a potential new therapeutic target. The mechanism of bone destruction by melanomas involving Hh/Gli signaling in such a tumor microenvironment is unknown. Here, we analyzed surgically resected oral malignant melanoma specimens and observed that Sonic Hedgehog, Gli1, and Gli2 were highly expressed in tumor cells, vasculatures, and osteoclasts.

Osteocytes as main responders to low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment during fracture healing.

Ultrasound stimulation is a type of mechanical stress, and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) devices have been used clinically to promote fracture healing. However, it remains unclear which skeletal cells, in particular osteocytes or osteoblasts, primarily respond to LIPUS stimulation and how they contribute to fracture healing. To examine this, we utilized medaka, whose bone lacks osteocytes, and zebrafish, whose bone has osteocytes, as in vivo models.