ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The vulva is the primary site affected in lichen sclerosus, a chronic dermatosis in women that is histologically characterized by a zone of collagen remodeling in the superior dermis. The normal physiological properties of the vulva depend on the assembly of collagen types I (COLI), III (COLIII) and V (COLV), which form heterotypic fibers, and extracellular matrix protein interactions. COLV regulates the heterotypic fiber diameter, and the preservation of its properties is important for maintaining normal tissue architecture and function. In the current work, we analyzed the expression of COLV and its relationship with COLI, COLIII, elastic fibers and extracellular matrix protein 1 in vulvar biopsies from patients with lichen sclerosus. METHODS: Skin biopsies from 21 patients with lichen sclerosus, classified according to Hewitt histological criteria, were studied and compared to clinically normal vulvar tissue (N=21). Morphology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, 3D reconstruction and morphometric analysis of COLI, COLIII, COLV deposition, elastic fibers and extracellular matrix 1 expression in a zone of collagen remodeling in the superior dermis were performed. RESULTS: A significant decrease of elastic fibers and extracellular matrix 1 protein was present in the hyalinization zone of lichen sclerosus compared to healthy controls. The non-homogeneous distribution of collagen fibers visualized under immunofluorescence in the hyalinization zone of lichen sclerosus and control skin was confirmed by histomorphometry. Lichen sclerosus dermis shows a significant increase of COLI, COLIII and COLV expression compared to the healthy controls. Significant inverse associations were found between elastic fibers and COLV and between COLV and extracellular matrix 1 expression. A direct association was found between elastic fiber content and extracellular matrix 1 expression. Tridimensional reconstruction of the heterotypic fibers ...
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Brain/pathology , Cognition/physiology , Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology , Postoperative Complications/pathology , Atrophy , Cohort Studies , Databases, Factual , Follow-Up Studies , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology , Postoperative Complications/psychologyABSTRACT
Foram realizados 33 xenofiagnósticos artificiais em pacientes sabidamente chagásicos crônicos, em um estudo comparativo com duas técnicas diferentes; uma técnica proposta por Lima & Rey (1991) e outra por Silva (1991). Nesse estudo utilizaram-se ninfas de terceiro estádio de Panstrongylus megistus, Rhodnius neglectus e Triatoma infestans. Dos 33 xenodiagnósticos realizados, seis foram positivos, sendo dois (6,1 por cento) pela primeira e quatro (12,1 por cento) pela segunda. A faixa etária acima de 55 anos foi a que apresentou maior número de casos positivos. Ao comparar o volume de sangue ingerido, observou-se que os triatomíneos sugaram maior quantidade quando foi utilizada a técnica de Silva (1991) com (p>0,0001), sendo que a espécie que ingeriu maior volume foi o P.megistus.