Cutaneous mucormycosis infection owing to Rhizomucor variabilis presenting as recurrent lower limb ulceration and cellulitis in a diabetic patient.

Primary cutaneous mucormycosis is caused by environmental fungi and may complicate leg ulcers or traumatic wounds even in immunocompetent individuals. This case report highlights recurrent lower limb ulcers and cellulitis in a patient with type two diabetes mellitus, which was unresponsive to conventional antibiotic treatment. Histopathology revealed the diagnosis of cutaneous mucormycosis, and fungal cultures identified Rhizopus variabilis as the causative organism.

Recalcitrant cutaneous fungal infections-A growing problem.

The incidence and prevalence of recalcitrant cutaneous fungal infections is on the rise. Terbinafine-resistant Trichophyton has not only been widespread in India, but has also been reported in countries spread throughout the globe. Strains of yeasts such as Malassezia and Candida, which exist both as commensals and as pathogens to the human skin, have also been found to develop resistance to antifungals.

N-WASP Attenuates Cell Proliferation and Migration through ERK2-Dependent Enhanced Expression of TXNIP.

Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (N-WASP) regulates actin cytoskeleton remodeling. It has been known that reduced N-WASP expression in breast and colorectal cancers is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we found reduced N-WASP expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patient samples.

New idea for hair transplantation to preserve more donor hair follicles.

Higher risk of rapid progression in alopecia or male pattern baldness was observed in men who had family history. This could result from accumulation of DHT in hair follicles. Hair follicles on frontal region are more vulnerable to DHT.

Overexpression of CDC42SE1 in A431 Cells Reduced Cell Proliferation by Inhibiting the Akt Pathway.

Cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), a small Rho GTPase, plays a critical role in many cellular processes, including cell proliferation and survival. CDC42 interacts with the CRIB (Cdc42- and Rac-interactive binding) domain of CDC42SE1, a small effector protein of 9 kDa. We found that the expression of CDC42SE1 was reduced in human skin cancer samples relative to matched perilesional control.

Looking back to move forward: a twenty-year audit of herpes zoster in Asia-Pacific.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a prevalent viral disease that inflicts substantial morbidity and associated healthcare and socioeconomic burdens. Current treatments are not fully effective, especially among the most vulnerable patients. Although widely recommended, vaccination against HZ is not routine; barriers in Asia-Pacific include long-standing neglect of adult immunisation and sparse local data.

Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in a Southeast Asian Tertiary Dermatological Centre.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the frequency of anxiety and depression in a cohort of adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) in a tertiary dermatological centre, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We looked for any correlation between anxiety and depression with skin disease severity.

Materials And Methods: Patients with AD were recruited from the National Skin Centre, Singapore, from 2008 to 2009 for a prospective cross-sectional study.

Two Episodes of Cutaneous Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in a Patient with Psoriasis.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a group of environmental pathogens, which cause a broad spectrum of disease. The incidence of NTM infection is increasing, especially in immunocompromized patients. The past three decades also saw a rapid increase in the incidence of NTM infection involving otherwise healthy subjects.

Eccrine syringofibroadenomatosis of the reactive subtype occurring in chronic poorly-controlled psoriasis.

Eccrine syringofibroadenomatosis (ESFA) is a rare adnexal tumor with acrosyringeal differentiation. Clinically, it can be mistaken for granulomatous infections or malignancies such as squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the rarity of the condition, we recently encountered two cases of the reactive subtype, which occurred in patients with poorly controlled chronic psoriasis.

Complete remission of recalcitrant genital warts with a combination approach of surgical debulking and oral isotretinoin in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Genital warts in immunocompromised patients can be extensive and recalcitrant to treatment. We report a case of recalcitrant genital warts in a female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who achieved complete remission with a combination approach of surgical debulking and oral isotretinoin at an initial dose of 20 mg/day with a gradual taper of dose over 8 months. She had previously been treated with a combination of topical imiquimod cream and regular fortnightly liquid nitrogen.

Cutaneous protothecosis in a patient with previously undiagnosed HIV infection.

Protothecosis is an uncommon condition resulting from infection by achlorophyllous algae of the Prototheca species. Immunocompromised individuals are generally most susceptible to protothecal infection and tend to develop severe and disseminated disease. However, the association between protothecosis and HIV-induced immunosuppression is not clear, with only a handful of cases having been described to date.

Complementary role of a polymerase chain reaction test in the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Background: The successful treatment of onychomycosis depends on accurate diagnosis. Conventional diagnostic methods, including direct microscopy and fungal culture, are non-specific, insensitive and time-consuming. Recently, PCR has shown promise in improving the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Angiopoietin-like 4 protein elevates the prosurvival intracellular O2(-):H2O2 ratio and confers anoikis resistance to tumors.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Tumor cells exploit various signaling pathways to promote their growth and metastasis. To our knowledge, the role of angiopoietin-like 4 protein (ANGPTL4) in cancer remains undefined.