Altered cytokine profiles of mononuclear cells after stimulation in a patient with Blau syndrome.

Autoinflammatory Blau syndrome (BS) is associated with NOD2 gene mutations that lead to constitutive NFkappaB activation. NOD2 functions as an intracellular receptor for the muramyl dipeptide (MDP) component of peptidoglycan (PGN). The objectives of this study are to analyse whether NFkappaB activation in BS affects immune cell functions, and whether NOD2 and toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways interact.

Round excisions lead to shorter scars and better scar positioning than traditional elliptical excisions.

Background: As traditional elliptical excisions for skin tumors are designed before surgery, they may waste normal tissue and result in poor outcome, both in terms of the wound length and direction.

Objective: To compare the predicted results of elliptical excisions with scars resulting from round excisions with dog ear repairs.

Methods: Forty-one patients with skin tumors were prospectively studied.

Tyrosine phosphatase and cytochrome P450 activity are critical in regulating store-operated calcium channels in human fibroblasts.

Diverse signaling pathways have been proposed to regulate store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in a wide variety of cell types. However, it still needs to be determined if all of these known pathways operate in a single cell type. In this study, we examined involvement of various signaling molecules in SOCE using human fibroblast cells (HSWP).

Analysis of hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation after Er:YAG laser skin resurfacing.

Background And Objectives: Pigmentary disorders--such as hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, are devastating complications of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser resurfacing. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical and histopathologic features of hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation following Er:YAG laser resurfacing, especially in darker skin.

Study Design/materials And Methods: One hundred and ninety patients (skin phototypes III and above), treated with Er:YAG lasers--short-pulsed and modulated (variable-pulsed and dual-mode) Er:YAG lasers--for skin resurfacing were recruited.

Quantitative evaluation of severity in psoriatic lesions using three-dimensional morphometry.

The severity of psoriasis has been traditionally assessed by measures, such as the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), the psoriasis severity scores, and the lesional severity scores. As a result, even experienced dermatologists show variations when attempting to determine the severity of psoriasis. Therefore, a better non-invasive and objective measurement of clinical signs is needed.