Expression of metallothioneins in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis.

Metallothioneins (MT) are low-molecular weight proteins implicated in heavy metal detoxification, zinc and cooper homeostasis and cell protection against free radicals. In variety of cancers MT-overexpression was shown, but there are just a few studies on the role of MT in skin carcinogenesis. Current study was undertaken to evaluate MT and Ki-67 expression in pre-cancerous skin lesions as well as in fully developed skin cancers.

Expression of p53 protein in psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is characterized by hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes,by the presence of inflammatory cell infiltrate in both the dermis and the epidermis and by alterations of capillaries. p53 protein is an important transcription factor which plays a central role in cell cycle regulation mechanisms and cell proliferation control.

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the expression and localization of p53 protein in lesional and non-lesional skin samples taken from psoriatic patients in comparison with healthy controls.

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome.

The Brooke-Spiegler syndrome is an autosomal dominant one characterized by cylindromas, trichoepitheliomas and occasionally spiradenomas. Within a given family, some members may have cylindromas whereas others may have trichoepitheliomas or both. We describe the coexistence of trichoepithelioma papulosum multiplex (also known as epithelioma adenoides cysticum of Brooke) and cylindromas in a 30-year-old man, and discuss the relationship between these two autosomal dominant syndromes.

[Cutaneous cryptococcosis in AIDS patient].

45-year-old man with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) resulting in rapid decline of HIV RNA and increase of CD4 T cells count, developed multiple skin umbilicated lesions (resembling molluscum contagiosum) on his face, ears, neck and chest. Histopathology and mycological cultures of a skin biopsy revealed Cryptococcus neoformans. Antigens of Cryptococcus was also identified in blood.

[Activity of pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in polymorphonuclear granulocytes of patients with atopic dermatitis in the active stage and in remission].

The activity of granulocyte pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phospho dehydrogenase in 12 patients with severe atopic dermatitis in active stage of disease and in remission was investigated. It was found that in active stage the activity of both enzymes was not significantly different than in healthy individuals. In remission pyruvate kinase activity was significantly decreased and glucose-6-phospho dehydrogenase activity was found to be non significantly decreased.

[Usefulness of photochemotherapy in allergic diseases of the skin].

PUVA treatment was applied in 16 patients with chronic urticaria (7 with solar urticaria, 2 with cold urticaria and 7 with urticaria of unknown etiology), 26 with chronic disseminated eczema and 41 with atopic dermatitis. In all 9 patients with physical urticaria, a clear-cut improvement was observed. The results from the treatment of chronic urticaria of unknown etiology were considerably poorer (improvement in 2 out of 7 cases).