PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

C Ferrándiz

Publications and source records attributed to C Ferrándiz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidermal expression of 65 and 72 kd heat shock proteins in psoriasis and AIDS-associated psoriasiform dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasiform dermatitis is common in patients with AIDS. The expression of heat shock proteins by keratinocytes has been postulated to be a significant factor in the physiopathology of psoriasis and might be subject to modulation in HIV-infected patients. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the epidermal expression of 65 and 72 kd heat shock proteins (HSPs) in lesions of AIDS-associated psoriasiform dermatitis (AIDS-PD) and compare it with that in psoriasis vulgaris and seborrheic dermatitis in patients not infected with HIV. METHODS: Sections from paraffin-embedded blocks of biopsy specimens of AIDS-PD (eight cases), psoriasis vulgaris (eight cases), seborrheic dermatitis (four cases), and normal skin (four cases) in non-HIV-infected patients were immunohistochemically stained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method and two monoclonal antibodies directed against the major 65 kd HSP antigen (HSP65) and against 70/72 kd HSP. The intensity, distribution, and cellular pattern of the epidermal stain were graded and assessed blindly. RESULTS: The epidermal expression of HSP65 in biopsy specimens from AIDS-PD lesions was irregular, with less intensity and less tendency to perinuclear arrangement than in psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis not associated with AIDS. The expression of HSP72 was also less intense and more uniform in AIDS-PD. CONCLUSION: The altered interplay of T cells and keratinocytes in a situation of immune derangement such as AIDS might account for the differences observed in the expression of HSP65 and HSP72 by keratinocytes in psoriasis and AIDS-PD.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Epidermal dysplasia and neoplasia in kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Established data confirm an increased incidence of skin cancer, mainly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in long-term kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate prospectively the type and frequency of neoplastic and preneoplastic skin lesions in KTRs during the first 3 years of immunosuppression, as well as the influence of potential risk factors. METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive KTRs were examined every 6 months during the first 3 years after transplantation. All survival analyses were performed with the EGRET statistical software package. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 34 months, 25 skin cancers developed in 12 patients; the basal cell carcinoma (BCC)/SCC ratio was 3.1:1. The cumulative risk of skin cancer developing after 3 years of graft survival was 18.1%. Only age at the time of transplantation (p = 0.005) and occupational sun exposure (p = 0.048) had statistical significance as risk factors. CONCLUSION: In carefully supervised KTRs, a high incidence of cutaneous malignancy, mainly BCC, exists in the early posttransplant period. Sun exposure and the patient's age at the time of transplantation seem to be the most important risk factors.

Adult

Lipid metabolism and apolipoprotein E phenotypes in patients with xanthelasma.

PURPOSE: To know the prevalence and types of dyslipidemia associated with xanthelasma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients with xanthelasma and 105 age-matched control subjects without xanthelasma were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate comparisons of lipid variables (including total cholesterol; triglycerides; very-low-, low-, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL-C, LDL-C, and HDL-C, respectively]; cholesterol of high density lipoprotein [HDL] subfractions 2 and 3 [HDL2-C and HDL3-C]; apolipoprotein (apo) A-I and B; and apo E phenotypes) and nonlipid coronary risk factors were made between patients with and without xanthelasma. RESULTS: Patients with xanthelasma had higher levels of cholesterol, LDL-C, and apo B, and lower levels of HDL2-C than control subjects. The prevalence of the apo E4/E3 phenotype was higher in cases than in controls (P < 0.05). Patients with xanthelasma had a higher prevalence of personal and familiar history of cardiovascular disease and were more overweight than control subjects. A stepwise discriminant analysis disclosed an independent association of xanthelasma with lower HDL-C, HDL2-C, and HDL3-C levels in men, and with higher total cholesterol and lower HDL2-C levels in women. CONCLUSIONS: Xanthelasma appears to be associated with qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of lipid metabolism that may favor lipid deposition in the skin and arterial wall. The findings support the notion that xanthelasma is a marker of dyslipidemia, and underline the need to determine a full lipid profile in these patients to detect those potentially at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adult

Gln5 selectively monodansylated substance P as a sensitive tool for interaction studies with membranes.

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide endowed with several important biological activities both in the central and peripheral nervous system. Taking advantage of the presence of glutamine residues in SP, the peptide was labelled with the fluorescent probe monodansylcadaverine using the transglutaminase (TGase)-reaction in order to study interactions between SP and model or natural membranes. Although it was verified that both adjacent glutamines of the peptide can act as substrate for TGase in a consecutive reaction, conditions were optimized to selectively label Gln5. This fluorescent SP analogue was found to adopt environment-dependent conformations similar to those of the natural peptide and proved to be functionally active on guinea pig trachea. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to demonstrate the potential use of dansylated SP in studies involving interactions with membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Erythroderma due to thalidomide: report of two cases.

Cutaneous reactions to thalidomide therapy are reported infrequently. We report two new cases. Both patients suffered from chronic renal insufficiency and were on thalidomide therapy because of prurigo nodularis. The cutaneous reaction consisted of a severe erythematous rash progressing to erythroderma, associated with peripheral eosinophilia. In both cases rapid resolution occurred after withdrawal of thalidomide. We emphasize the possibility of a severe cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction due to thalidomide and speculate about the role played by the renal insufficiency present in both cases.

Adult

[Cholesterol embolism].

Two patients with advanced atherosclerotic vascular disease developed multiple cholesterol emboli. In both patients the clinical presentation included livedo reticularis of the lower part of the body and purple toes with small areas of distal necrosis and ulceration. The predisposing factors are operative vascular procedures and the use of anticoagulants respectively. Biopsy of skin lesions revealed characteristic cholesterol clefts within atheromatous debris filling small, deep arterial lumen. Multiple cholesterol emboli should be suspected in presence of cutaneous lesions and confirmed histologically in the appropriate clinical setting.

Aged

Sterile transient neonatal pustulosis is a precocious form of erythema toxicum neonatorum.

A sterile pustular skin eruption was observed in 17 of 3,541 newborn infants examined over a period of 30 months. The skin eruption was always present at birth and fulfilled the clinical criteria of transient neonatal pustular melanosis (TNPM). However, some days after birth, all of them but 1 developed skin lesions typical of erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN). Histological examination of 11 biopsies obtained at the age of 1 day showed intracorneal neutrophilic pustules in 4 and subcorneal intraepidermic eosinophilic pustules in 7. On the basis of our findings and a literature review we consider that a clear-cut differentiation between TNPM and ETN is not always possible. We propose the name sterile transient neonatal pustulosis to unify these conditions.

Diagnosis, Differential

Multi-centre double-blind trial on the efficacy and safety of sertaconazole 2% cream in comparison with miconazole 2% cream on patients suffering from cutaneous mycoses.

The efficacy and tolerance of 7-chloro-3-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2- (1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethoxy-methyl]benzo[b]thiophene (sertaconazole, FI-7045, CAS 99592-32-2) 2% dermatological cream in two daily applications compared with miconazole 2% cream in two daily applications were studied on 631 patients suffering from superficial cutaneous mycosis (sertaconazole n = 317, miconazole n = 314), in a double-blind, controlled multicentre trial with parallel groups. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by clinical assessment of the improvement of the lesion and symptoms, a microscopic test on the presence of hyphae or mycelia in the affected area and a culture test on the presence of active infection. Tolerance and safety were evaluated by a general blood analysis and interrogation of the patient on adverse effects. The rate of clinical cures for both treatments at the end of the follow-up was 95.6% for sertaconazole and 88.1% for miconazole, with the difference being statistically significant. In the comparative analysis of the actuarial curve, it was observed that the patients treated with sertaconazole were cured earlier and in a higher proportion than those treated with miconazole, with the difference being significant. The negative result of the microscope examination and culture test confirmed the superiority of sertaconazole over miconazole, already after 14 days of treatment. At the end of the follow-up, 98.6% of the patients in the sertaconazole group obtained a negative culture test result, as opposed to 91.7% in the miconazole group, with the difference being highly significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Topical

[Cutaneous lymphatic sporotrichosis].

A new case of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is reported. We emphasize the low number of cases reported in the Spanish literature so far. We think that the incidence of this condition is higher than is reported. Because near all published cases had been published by the same authors who are familiarized and possess a high suspicion rate of this condition.

Aged