Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Piccinno.
The authors describe a 12-year-old boy with a peculiar presentation of preputial papular lesions similar to molluscum contagiosum. Histopathologic investigation revealed the presence of a sebaceous gland opening directly onto the surface and hyperplasia of the epithelium.
The therapeutic choice in treating Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris (PRP) is difficult, particularly in extensive erythrodermic forms and in those characterized by a strong tendency to recur. None of the therapeutic modalities till now employed have been proved to be resolutive. The curative potential of photochemotherapy in the treatment of PRP has been particularly uncertain. Here a case of recurrent PRP in an adult female subject is reported. The disease covered about 90% of the skin surface and was treated by means of photochemotherapy (total dose: 179.56 J/cm2). A complete remission of the disease has been obtained and is still maintained nine months after the end of the treatment.
Radiotherapy is a first choice treatment of skin and oral cavity lesions of epidemic Kaposi sarcoma. It has cosmetic aims in the early stages of the disease, and palliative ones to reduce soreness and associated oedema in the lesions of a more advanced disease. This treatment modality has few side effects and does not modify the immunological condition of the patients. These statements, as they result from the review of the related literature, are here assessed by the experience of the Authors in a series of 22 patients, treated by means of orthovoltage radiotherapy, which allows intracavitary treatments (contact X-ray therapy) and small-sized irradiation fields.
The Authors describe the case of a woman affected by generalized plane xanthoma and IgG multiple myeloma with k type immunoglobulins. The association between the two affections is well known. The antilipoprotein activity of the paraprotein has been proved in some cases, associated or not to hyperlipemia. The pathogenetic mechanism of plane xanthoma formation is described briefly. The possible occurrence of plane xanthoma with multiple myeloma is stressed, along with the possible association with other systemic diseases.
The Authors have performed a retrospective study, comparing the results obtained in two groups of patients affected by Mycosis Fungoides at early stages. Thirty-four patients were treated with ultraviolet rays, 32 with photochemotherapy. The patients, in the first stages of the disease, classified on the basis of TNM system, were treated with UVR or PUVA according to standard schedules. The results obtained in the two groups were the following: 1. UVR treated group: complete remission 32%, partial remission 65%, no results 3%; 2. PUVA treated group: complete remission 84%, partial remission 16%. These data show the evidence that photochemotherapy is undoubtedly more advantageous than simple phototherapy in inducing complete remission of early Mycosis Fungoides. UVR therapy still presents, however, as a worthwhile non-aggressive therapeutic choice when the disease has not a progressive character or when photochemotherapy has serious contraindications.
Based on clinical features, infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD) can be classified as follows: true seborrheic dermatitis (SD), psoriasiform seborrheic dermatitis (Psor SD), and erythrodermic seborrheic dermatitis. We reviewed the records of 72 children who had been affected by ISD several years earlier to investigate the evolution of disease, to evaluate the patients for the presence of new skin lesions, and to study family histories with respect to these conditions. In addition, we attempted to determine if there is any connection among the initial features of ISD and the types of skin lesions, and atopy or psoriasis. On reexamination, our patients previously diagnosed as having SD showed a larger variety of new skin lesions than those who had Psor SD, and 15% had developed atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis was not present at follow-up in the children with previously diagnosed Psor SD. Psoriatic lesions were present in similar percentages in both groups at the time of reevaluation. Investigation of family history was not useful in predicting later development of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. We conclude that the initial clinical features of ISD may be of prognostic value, and that SD and Psor SD are probably two different clinical entities.
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We describe in detail 6 of 18 children affected by a recurrent summer papular eruption on the elbows, knees, and backs of the hands. In all six, family history, clinical observation, or laboratory data revealed signs of atopy. Phototesting, performed to evaluate the role of ultraviolet rays in the pathogenesis of the disease, gave results similar to those obtained in subjects with atopic dermatitis. Therefore we suggest that this disease may be a peculiar morphologic variant of atopic dermatitis.
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We describe an unusual case of a child who had had incontinentia pigmenti from birth and developed the clinical picture of Behçet's syndrome at five years of age. Among the various investigations performed, chemotactic activity of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte was found to be low. We discuss the possibility that there are common immunological abnormalities in the two syndromes.
The authors describe two brothers presenting the clinical picture of lamellar ichthyosis. The scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy study of their hair demonstrated important recurrent anomalies of the hair shaft.
We describe a case of gingival hyperplasia in a 36-year-old renal transplantation recipient treated with nifedipine for severe arterial hypertension. The appearance of the gingival disorder was probably related to nifedipine intake. Histologically, in addition to the findings of acanthosis, papillomatosis and connective tissue hyperplasia, there was also an important plasma cell inflammatory infiltrate.
Vitamin A is necessary to maintain the integrity and the differentiation of epithelia of the skin and adnexa. Evident deficiency of vitamin A in chronic diseases, malabsorption and liver affections may result in skin xerosis, follicular keratosis, and metaplasia of mucous membranes. The remarkable toxicity of vitamin A in high doses does not recommend its usage in dermatology. On the contrary the employ of retinoids, synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, brings to excellent results. These vitamin A compounds are much more effective, even if they show important side-effects. Etretinate and isotretinoin are widely used in psoriasis, keratinization disorders, and severe acne. Vitamin E functions in skin biology are not totally known. Vitamin E is used in the treatment of dermolytic recessive epidermolysis bullosa, with controversial results.
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This study describes the examination of 10 examples of cherry hemangioma by SEM. Morphologic features are described.