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Biomedical subjects

G Filosa

Publications and source records attributed to G Filosa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Old fashioned sodium bicarbonate baths for the treatment of psoriasis in the era of futuristic biologics: an old ally to be rescued.

BACKGROUND: For centuries, medicated baths have been one of the first lines of treatment for psoriasis. Even today, with sophisticated immunosuppressive treatments available, Dead Sea salts and spa waters are recognized to be beneficial in the management of psoriatic patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess statistically the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) baths in psoriasis patients. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with mild-moderate psoriasis were admitted to this study; Nineteen patients were treated with sodium bicarbonate baths and compared with twelve patients who were administered a placebo. Assessments were made on days 0 and 21. RESULTS: Almost all patients who used NaHCO3 reported a statistically valuable improvement. NaHCO3 baths reduced itchiness and irritation; in general, the patients themselves recognized a beneficial impact on their psoriasis, so much so that they have continued to bathe in NaHCO3 even after the end of the study. CONCLUSION: We maintain that even with sophisticated immunosuppressive and highly specific anti-cytokine and anti-chemokines treatments available for the treatment of psoriasis, an older and often forgotten treatment can still play a role.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Thysanoptera dermatitis.

Thysanoptera dermatitis is caused by the bite of small (1-2 mm) insects (generally thrips). Thrips usually feed on the juices of vegetables but if they reach human skin they can suck the epidermal lymph after biting. The cutaneous lesions formed are small pink and itchy papules localized mainly on the trunk and the arms. Diagnosis is only possible by demonstrating that the insect is present inside one of the lesions of the skin. Thysanoptera dermatitis is often misdiagnosed as mosquito bites. Although self-resolving in a few days, Thysanoptera dermatitis should be known not only for the cultural and scientific training of the dermatologist but also to add more detailed diagnostic information to the generic diagnosis of 'entomodermatosis' and to confirm the benign evolution of the bites.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Dermoscopic observation of Bowen's disease.

BACKGROUND: In the literature no specific dermoscopic criteria have been described for the diagnosis of Bowen's disease (BD). OBJECTIVE/AIM: To assess the morphological findings of BD seen under dermoscopic observation. METHODS: Clinical and dermoscopic images of 14 patients affected by BD with various amount of pigmentation were obtained by means of Heine Dermaphot. Dermoscopic images were analysed by experienced observers applying the modified pattern analysis. RESULTS: The most frequently occurring dermoscopic features were found to be: multicomponent pattern (100%); atypical vascular structures (86.6%); absence of pigmented network (64.3%) or presence of pseudo-network (35.7%); irregular diffuse pigmentation or blotches of pigment (64.2%); irregularly distributed dots and globules (64.2%); focal/multifocal hypopigmentation (78.5%), scaly surface (64.2%) and haemorrages (26.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Dermoscopically, BD is mainly characterized by a multicomponent global pattern associated with a prominent vascular pattern (mainly dotted vessels) and a scaly surface. Although no specific dermoscopic criteria can be given for BD, epiluminescence can be a valuable aid in the diagnosis of such a mimicker lesion.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Diffuse scleroderma occurring after the use of paclitaxel for ovarian cancer.

Acase of diffuse scleroderma in a 56-year-old woman who received paclitaxel for the treatment of a metastatic ovarian cancer is presented. The clinical cutaneous alterations, as well as the capillaroscopic and histological findings, were indistinguishable from those encountered in definite systemic sclerosis (SSc). In contrast to SSc, Raynaud's phenomenon and cutaneous calcinosis were absent and antinuclear antibodies were negative. The temporal relationship between the onset of skin involvement and administration of the drug may indicate an effect of paclitaxel.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2002

Concordance between telepathologic diagnosis and conventional histopathologic diagnosis: a multiobserver store-and-forward study on 20 skin specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To study the validity and feasibility of transferring images of cutaneous biopsy specimens via e-mail to remote physicians active in dermatopathology for teleconsultation. DESIGN: Twenty skin specimens previously diagnosed at the Department of Dermatology, University of Graz, Austria, were subsequently sent for teleconsultation using the store-and-forward method. For each case, 3 or 4 images at different magnifications were sent by e-mail to 16 colleagues (11 dermatopathologists and 5 pathologists) in 15 centers in 6 different countries. Six weeks later each observer received the hematoxylin-eosin-stained specimens to render a conventional diagnosis. SETTING: Dermatopathology and pathology units within institutional and private settings. MATERIAL: Twenty small skin biopsy specimens of cutaneous diseases were selected randomly from a study set of 80. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Concordance between telepathologic diagnoses and conventional histopathologic diagnoses of 20 skin specimens. RESULTS: On average, 78% of the telediagnoses were correct (range, 60%-95%), whereas 85% of the conventional diagnoses were correct (range, 60%-95%). A perfect diagnostic concordance was obtained in 7 (35%) of 20 cases, and a significant difference was identified in only 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that telepathology performed by physicians active in dermatopathology may serve as a reliable technique for the diagnosis of cutaneous diseases when experts in dermatopathology are not available locally. Furthermore, teledermatopathology is attractive because it provides an opportunity to obtain timely consultation on difficult cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Systemic lupus erythematosus induced by Epstein-Barr virus infection.

We report a 22-year-old woman who developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) immediately after an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced mononucleosis infection. The link between these two conditions has long been suspected. The close temporal relationship, the course of the pathological events and the development of immunological changes in this case provide further evidence supporting the hypothesis that EBV infection could work as a trigger in some cases of SLE, particularly if the patient is genetically susceptible.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Cutaneous carcinomas and preinvasive neoplastic lesions. Role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 metalloproteinases in neoplastic invasion and their relationship with proliferative activity and p53 expression.

BACKGROUND: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are thought to be involved in the process of destruction of basement membranes and stromal invasion by neoplastic epithelial cells. AIMS: In order to investigate the role of MMPs in cutaneous oncogenesis we studied the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 34 cases of epidermal preinvasive neoplastic lesions and invasive carcinomas. We also studied their relationship with the expression of tissue inhibitors of MMPs and with proliferative activity and p53 expression in neoplastic epithelial cells. RESULTS: MMP-9 was found to be focally expressed by neoplastic epithelial cells at the infiltrative edges in microinvasive carcinomas and in dyskeratotic foci in Bowen's disease and widely invasive carcinomas. Gradation of Mib-1 positivity and p53 expression was found with increasing abnormality in the spectrum of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results seem to suggest the involvement of MMPs in microinvasive carcinomas, which show also low proliferative activity and p53 expression, whether other factors seem to be more important in widely invasive carcinomas.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Calciphylaxis in two patients with end-stage renal disease.

Fatal calciphylaxis (CPX) occurred in two 71-year-old females both requiring haemodialysis for end-stage renal disease. Case 2 also had an associated follicular lymphoplasmocytoid lymphoma. Although laboratory tests disclosed normal coagulation parameters, this woman had a striking cutaneous histological picture of vessel thrombosis and finally died of disseminated intravascular coagulation. CPX is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of renal failure. The clinical picture is primarily characterized by livedoid purpura with subsequent cutaneous ischaemia and painful ulcerations. Cutaneous ischaemic phenomena are sustained by a progressive process of vascular calcification and thrombosis involving small to medium size arteries of the dermis and subcutis. Although not yet clearly explained, the pathogenetic role of a predisposing hypercoagulability state is currently the most frequently considered hypothesis.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Urticaria as a presenting manifestation of adult-onset Still's disease.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology, characterised by high spiking fever, an evanescent, erythematous, maculopapular rash, arthralgia or arthritis, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, sore throat and serositis. It is associated with marked leukocytosis, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased level of serum ferritin and negative rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody tests. Here we report a patient in whom an urticaria-like rash was an uncommon presenting clinical feature of AOSD. To our knowledge, this association has only been reported once before.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2000

Madura's foot: report of a case caused by Madurella mycetomatis.

We present a case of mycetoma by Madurella mycetomatis on the foot of a Chinese young man, living in Italy for more than ten years. Clinically the lesion closely resembled and was initially misinterpreted as a vascular neoformation. We analyze the histological and morphological features of the Madurella mycetomatis infection through which we managed to type the etiological agent. Our case is worth reporting because of the rarity of this disease in Europe and the unusual clinical presentation. It also offers the opportunity to stress the need for the clinical suspicion of this dermatosis, considering the increase of immigration towards our regions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Accelerated nodulosis during methotrexate therapy for refractory rheumatoid arthritis. A case report.

Accelerated nodulosis (AN) is a potential complication of methotrexate (MTX) therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We report on a 62-year old man affected by seropositive RA who developed AN after five months of MTX treatment. MTX-dose reduction was followed by rapid regression of the skin nodules. The Authors describe the typical features of AN and discuss on the pathogenetic mechanisms.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed1999

Low dose interferon-alpha2b combined with PUVA is an effective treatment of early stage mycosis fungoides: results of a multicenter study. Cutaneous-T Cell Lymphoma Multicenter Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The early stages of mycosis fungoides (MF) can be treated but not cured by photochemotherapy (PUVA) alone; some recent studies of the effect of a combination of human interferon-alpha (IFN(alpha)) and PUVA reported a high degree of response. The aim of our study was to evaluate the activity of a low dose of IFN-alpha2b combined with PUVA. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients were included: 16 men and 9 women aged between 23-80 years; 19 patients ahd stage I and 6 stage II disease. In the induction phase, the dose of IFNalpha was gradually raised over 6-8 weeks to the target dose of 18 MU/week; in the maintenance phase, the combination with PUVA allowed IFNalpha to be reduced to a maximum dose of 6 MU/week; in this way the cumulative administration of IFNalpha and PUVA was considerably lower than in similar combination protocols. Treatment success was analyzed in terms of freedom from treatment failure (FFTF). RESULTS: After the induction phase 9/25 patients (36%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 15/25 (56%) achieved partial remission (PR). One to five months from the beginning of the maintenance phase, a CR was recorded in 19/25 patients (76%) and a PR in 5/25 patients (20%) accounting for an overall response rate of 96%. The median of FFTF was not reached; probability of FFTF was 82% at 12 months and 62% at 24 months. Disease free survival projected to 48 months was 75%. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Even with low doses of IFNalpha plus PUVA it is possible to achieve excellent clinical responses,many of which are long-lasting, in patients with early MF.

Adult↗