1/5. Histological findings in the eyelids of AIDS patients.PURPOSE: The eyelids of 15 AIDS patients (17 specimens) were examined histologically at postmortem. methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and haematoxylin-eosin stained sections were examined by conventional light microscopy. The presence of calcific deposits was confirmed by special stains and elemental analysis (X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy). RESULTS: 6 cases had abnormal microscopical findings. In two cases deposits of calcium oxalates were observed in the wall of dermal blood vessels and in epithelial cells of sweat and sebaceous glands, respectively. Precipitates of calcium phosphate were observed in the superficial substantia propria of the palpebral conjunctiva in an additional patient. Other histological findings in the remaining three patients included flat warts, an unusual elastotic degeneration of the forniceal palpebral conjunctiva and more common lesions (chalazion, Demodex folliculorum infestation of the eyelashes, trichilemmal cyst). CONCLUSION: The presence of microscopical lesions in nearly half of this small series demonstrates that the eyelids may be affected subclinically in AIDS patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. interferon-gamma in 5 patients with cutaneous radiation syndrome after radiation therapy.BACKGROUND: Irradiation can cause acute inflammatory responses as well as chronic fibrotic alterations of the skin. Cutaneous radiation fibrosis evokes a complex of therapeutic problems. However, therapeutic options, apart from surgical approaches, are limited. patients AND methods: Five female patients suffering from severe cutaneous fibrosis were treated with interferon-gamma on a low-dose regimen, 3 x 100 microg/week subcutaneously for 6 months, then once per week for another 6 months. In 4 patients, skin thickness was measured with high-frequency (20 MHz) ultrasound in a clinically well-defined target skin lesion. In 1 patient, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify the extent of cutaneous radiation fibrosis and to monitor the therapeutic outcome. RESULTS: All patients suffered from radiation-induced cutaneous fibrosis. Additionally, in 1 patient, a fistula, as assessed by lymph vessel scintigraphy, and in another patient a radiation ulcer was diagnosed. In all patients, reduction of radiation-induced fibrosis could be documented. Both fistula and radiation ulcer regressed completely under interferon-gamma therapy. CONCLUSION: Low-dose interferon-gamma therapy is a new and effective treatment modality for cutaneous radiation fibrosis caused by radiation therapy. The positive impact of interferon-gamma on our patients warrants randomized double-blind trials on therapy of radiation fibrosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Plantar warts recently turned black. Clinical and histopathologic findings.The inflammatory component associated with blackening and subsequent regression of plantar warts has been little appreciated in the literature. Two patients with plantar warts in whom one of the warts showed prominent, clinically evident inflammation were observed. Blackening and subsequent regression of all plantar warts then occurred. In one patient, microscopic examination of biopsy specimens of two lesions that were taken within 24 and 72 hours, respectively, after they had turned black demonstrated the following histologic findings: blood clots and hemorrhage in the stratum corneum, degeneration and necrosis of epidermal cells, eosinophilic cytoplasmic masses within degenerating epidermal cells, thrombosis of superficial and deeper dermal blood vessels, a mononuclear cell infiltrate in and around dermal blood vessels, and a mixed polymorphonuclear and lymphocytic infiltration in the areas of hemorrhage and degenerating epidermis. This constellation of histopathologic changes suggests that involution was in progress long before blackening of the warts occurred.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Plantar warts in the athlete.Plantar warts are thick, endophytic, hyperkeratotic lesions caused by human papilloma virus. Because they are frequently mistaken for calluses, they are often misdiagnosed in athletes. The diagnosis of a plantar wart is made by paring down the hypertrophic epithelium until multiple "seeds" are detected in the dermis representing the thrombosed vessels supplying the wart. A patch system containing 40% salicylic acid in the rubber-based vehicle is applied to the debrided site every 48 hours until healing occurs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Flat warts undergoing involution: histopathological findings.patients with multiple flat warts were observed during the period of involution, shortly before regression of the warts. The histopathological process was characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration around subpapillary blood vessels, exocytosis of mononuclear cells into the epidermis, and a spectrum of degenerative epidermal changes that culminated in focal areas of necrosis within the epidermis. Lesions near the end stage of involution did not show the histopathologic features of flat warts. The mononuclear cell-associated injury to the epidermis resembles that seen in delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity responses and suggests that regression of flat warts may be due to a cell-mediated rejection reaction.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |