PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Panconesi

Publications and source records attributed to E Panconesi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasminogen activators and antiplasmin activity in atopic dermatitis.

Cutaneous deposits of fibrinogen activity in lesional skin, plasmatic fibrinolytic activity, and antiplasmin activity (alpha 2 macroglobulin, alpha 1 antitrypsin and antithrombin III) were evaluated in a group of ten patients with atopic dermatitis and in a sex- and age-matched control group. Plasma fibrinolytic activity was increased in the acute phase of the disease (p less than 0.05). The levels of circulating antiplasmins appeared similar in the patients and the control group. Cutaneous fibrinolytic activity was increased in the acute phase of the disease in 5 of 5 cases, suggesting a role of the fibrinolytic system in the amplification of the inflammatory phenomenon in that phase of the disease. In the chronic lichenified phase, CFA was decreased in 3 of 5 cases leading to an excessive deposit of fibrin in the skin. This could be correlated with the abnormal vascular response (blanching phenomenon). On the basis of these data, the therapeutic use of the antifibrinolytic agents only seems rational in the acute phase of the disease.

Acute Disease↗

Plasminogen activation in psoriasis.

Plasminogen activation is a widely documented physiological phenomenon in which plasminogen activators (mainly urokinase and tissue type plasminogen activator) transform the zymogen plasminogen into the wide-spectrum proteinase plasmin. We show here that psoriatic epidermis is provided with abnormal plasminogen activator activity, mainly dependent on the activity of tissue type plasminogen activator and that this abnormal activity can be reversed with common topical treatments (i.e. anthralin, and 0.1% betamethasone valerate cream). We also report abnormal immunohistochemical localization of plasminogen, urokinase and tissue type plasminogen activator in psoriatic epidermis which returned to normal after the topical treatments. These data suggest a major role of plasminogen activation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Adult↗

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. Report of three cases with the evaluation of tissue proteinase activity.

Three cases of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis showing typical clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural findings are reported. In one, gastric cancer occurred; in the other two cases, severe polyarthritis was the only detectable internal involvement. The serine proteinases, urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator, were evaluated both with the autohistographic technique and spectrophotometric assay in lesional skin and synovia. Urokinase levels appeared grossly increased in the lesional synovia and moderately increased in the lesional skin. We suggest that urokinase, presumably released by the activated proliferating histiocytes, may play a major role in the extracellular matrix degradation leading to erosion of cartilage and adjacent bone in multicentric reticulohistiocytosis.

Adult↗

Polycythaemia rubra vera and water-induced pruritus: blood histamine levels and cutaneous fibrinolytic activity before and after water challenge.

We studied blood histamine activity (HA) and cutaneous fibrinolytic activity (CFA) in a patient with polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV) and water-induced pruritus, before and after water exposure. The results suggest that the water-induced itching in PRV is associated with an increase in HA. In addition, markedly increased levels of CFA were found both before and after water exposure. These findings have been previously reported in patients with aquagenic pruritus (AP) but not in patients with PRV. As the water-induced itching in PRV and AP share many common features, these findings suggest that the pathophysiology of the water-induced pruritus in these two conditions may be similar.

Fibrinolysis↗

Tinea capitis in the adult: two case studies.

The authors describe two cases of tinea capitis in adults, one due to Microsporum canis and the other to Trichophyton rubrum. The atypical clinical presentation of the dermatophytosis in these two cases is stressed. It is hypothesized that in both cases the disease spread from primary lesion on the face.

Aged↗

Increased cutaneous fibrinolytic activity in aquagenic pruritus.

Aquagenic pruritus is a disease in which itchy prickling skin discomfort is evoked by contact with water at any temperature without observable cutaneous lesions. Little is known about its etiology and pathogenesis. Previous reports show that increased levels of blood histamine and cutaneous mast cell degranulation are present before water exposure and that they increase still further with water challenge. This paper shows that fibrinolytic activity is markedly increased both before and after water exposure, while circulating fibrinolytic activity is normal before water exposure in three cases of aquagenic pruritus. A patient who was asymptomatic at the time of the study had no observed increase in fibrinolytic activity either before or after water challenge, suggesting that the remission of symptoms of aquagenic pruritus and normalization of cutaneous fibrinolytic activity are interdependent factors.

Adult↗

Therapeutic experience with ketoconazole.

The efficacy of ketoconazole was evaluated in forty-five patients with dermatophytoses, in twelve with candidosis, in two with fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis, in one with primary cutaneous cryptococcosis and in one with pulmonary aspergillosis. Patients received 200 mg daily of ketoconazole until complete cure, except for patients with vulvovagnitis who received 400 mg daily for five days. All patients with dermatophytoses were cured within 20 to 40 days. No recurrences were observed at post-therapy follow-up. Patients with candidosis were also cured, with only one recurrence. Patients with deep mycoses recovered, except for one with fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis, who showed slight improvement. No significant side-effects were observed during therapy. In conclusion, ketoconazole is an effective therapeutic agent for fungal infections.

Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal↗