Immunohistochemical analysis of S100-positive epidermal Langerhans cells in dermatofibrom

Abstract Dermatofibroma is a dermal fibrohistiocytic neoplasm. The Langerhans cells are the immunocompetent cells of the epidermis, and they represent the first defense barrier of the immune system towards the environment. The objective was to immunohistologically compare the densities of S100-positive Langerhans cells in the healthy peritumoral epidermis against those in the epidermis overlying dermatofibroma (20 cases), using antibodies against the S100 molecule (the immunophenotypic hallmark of Langerhans cells). The control group (normal, healthy skin) included ten healthy age and sex-matched individuals who underwent skin biopsies for benign skin lesions. A significantly high density of Langerhans cells was observed both in the epidermis of the healthy skin (6.00 ± 0.29) and the peritumoral epidermis (6.44 ± 0.41) vs. those in the epidermis overlying the tumor (1.44 ± 0.33, p < 0.05). The quantitative deficit of Langerhans cells in the epidermis overlying dermatofibroma may be a possible factor in its development.

Serum expression of microRNA-16 in a cohort of Egyptian patients with ulcerative colitis and its correlation with disease extent and severity / Expressão sérica do microRNA-16 em uma coorte de pacientes egípcios com colite ulcerosa e sua correlação com a extensão e gravidade da doença

Abstract Ulcerative colitis is one of the IBDs. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain undefined with an interaction between environmental, genetic and immunological factors is the most accepted explanation. Several recent studies have examined microRNA expression in the peripheral blood and tissues from IBD patients. The study aims at assessing the expression of serum miR-16 in ulcerative colitis patients and its correlation with disease extent, activity and severity. It included 30 treatment naïve ulcerative colitis patients of different presentations. Serum miR-16 expression was assessed using reverse transcriptase quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR), and then correlated with that of a group of 20 healthy subjects to assess its role in diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Also, it was correlated with disease extent (proctitis, left sided colitis, extensive colitis) and disease activity and severity indices (Truelove and Witts criteria, fecal calprotectin and UCEIS). Thirty ulcerative colitis patients were enrolled, 53% had mild, 37% had moderate, while 10% had severe disease. Concerning endoscopic extent, 8 had proctitis, 14 had left sided colitis and 8 had extensive colitis. Serum expression of miR-16 in the 30 patients were compared to that of the healthy control subjects. The patients' group showed median serum miR-16 expression of 1.91, 1.13 for the control group with a significant difference between both groups. Correlation between serum miR-16 expression with disease extent, activity and severity showed no significant relation. From the current study we can conclude that increased serum expression of miR-16 is associated with ulcerative colitis despite no significant relation to disease activity extent or severity.

Resumo A colite ulcerativa é uma das DII. Sua etiologia e patogênese permanecem indefinidas; a interação entre fatores ambientais, genéticos e imunológicos é a explicação mais aceita. Vários estudos recentes avaliaram a expressão de microRNA no sangue e tecidos periféricos em pacientes com DII. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão do miR-16 sérico em pacientes com colite ulcerativa e sua correlação com a extensão, atividade e gravidade da doença. Foram incluídos 30 pacientes de colite ulcerativa, com diferentes apresentações, que ainda não haviam sido submetidos a nenhum tipo de tratamento. A expressão sérica de miR-16 foi avaliada usando transcrição reversa seguida de reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativa (RT-qPCR) e, em seguida, correlacionada com a de um grupo de 20 indivíduos saudáveis para avaliar seu papel no diagnóstico de colite ulcerativa. Além disso, foi feita uma correlação com a extensão da doença (proctite, colite do lado esquerdo, colite extensa) e com os índices de atividade e gravidade da doença (critérios de Truelove e Witts, calprotectina fecal e UCEIS). Trinta pacientes com colite ulcerativa foram incluídos no estudo, classificada como leve em 53%, moderada em 37% e grave em 10%. Quanto à extensão endoscópica, oito apresentavam proctite, 14 apresentavam colite do lado esquerdo e oito apresentavam colite extensa. A expressão sérica de miR-16 nos 30 pacientes foi comparada à dos indivíduos controle saudáveis. No, grupo de pacientes, a expressão sérica de miR-16 foi de 1,91 (grupo controle: 1,13), uma diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os dois grupos. Não foi observada relação significativa entre a expressão sérica de miR-16 e a extensão, atividade e gravidade da doença. A partir do presente estudo, pode-se concluir que o aumento da expressão sérica do miR-16 está associado à colite ulcerativa, apesar de não haver relação significativa com a extensão ou gravidade da atividade da doença.

An unusual association of pyoderma gangrenosum with ulcerative colitis and thyrotoxicosis successfully treated with infliximab: a case report

Pyoderma Gangrenosum (PG) is a rare chronic immune-mediated inflammatory dermatosis manifested as painful skin ulceration, commonly affecting the lower limbs. The pathogenesis of the disease is complex. Abnormalities in neutrophil function, dysregulation of the innate immune system, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) were postulated. An underlying associated systemic disease was reported in more than 50% of PG patients, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and malignancies, with few cases reported an associated thyroid disease. Authors report a case of extensive PG associated with both ulcerative colitis and thyrotoxicosis co-morbidities not mentioned before in one patient. The patient was successfully treated with the anti-TNF alpha infliximab.

Ovatrine, a compound from plant extracts, used for female infertility treatment and increase the number of ovarian follicles

Background: Recently natural products extracted from medical plants are very important in the field of alternative medicine. Glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols are components of natural molecules have several health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants, and have many ameliorative roles against male and female reproductive system intractable disorders. Objective of this study was to the compound of the plant extracts blend which is rich with glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols was named as Ovatrine. The safety as well as the efficacy of some medical plants extracts on the fertility of the female mice was investigated using Ovatrine.Methods: Firstly, the safety of Ovatrine was evaluated using some mice and the levels of the follicle stimulating hormone in the serum of the treated animals with Ovatrine was evaluated using biochemical tests. Also, the effects of the Ovatrine on the histological parameters of the treated ovary and uterus were evaluated using histological analysis.Results: The animals treated with Ovatrine were healthy and did not show any signs of mortality, toxicities and there were no blood contents changes. Additionally, follicle stimulating hormone level in the serum increased after administration with Ovatrine twice a day for 30 days as compared with the non-treated animals. Furthermore, the histological structures of the ovary and uterus improved in the mice treated with Ovatrine compared with that in the non-treated mice.Conclusions: In general glycosides, flavonoids and polyphenols, which were found in the Ovatrine in a higher concentration, have important health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and improve the fertility in the female mice. In the future this study will be very important for drug development which composed mainly from safe natural products and used for infertility and intractable diseases treatment.

Manfort, a blend from plant extracts used for infertility treatment and improvement of testicular histology

Background: Flavonoids and polyphenols are groups of natural substances have variable phenolic configurations, many benefits as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants, and have many protective roles against male reproductive system disorders. Objective of this study was to study the safety as well as the efficacy of a blend from some plants extracts with precise ratios and rich with flavonoids and polyphenols named in this study as “Manfort” on the safety, fertility, and testicular histology in the male mice.Methods: Firstly, some mice were used to evaluate the safety of Manfort and the levels of the testosterone in the serum of the treated animals with Manfort using biochemical analysis. Also, the efficacy of the Manfort on the histological architectures of the treated testis was evaluated using histological techniques.Results: The mice treated with Manfort did not show any signs of mortality, toxicities and blood contents changes. Furthermore, testosterone levels in the serum elevated after administration with Manfort twice a day for 21 days compared with the non-treated mice. Additionally, the histological structures of the testis improved in the mice treated with Manfort compared with that in the non-treated animals.Conclusions: In general flavonoids and polyphenols, which were found in the Manfort diet in a large amount, have important role in as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and improve the fertility in the male mice. In the future these data might be very important to manufacture a drug composed from safe natural products for infertility and intractable diseases treatment.

Air filled, inflammatory, lung pseudo-cyst: etio-pathogenesis and management.

Lung cysts in children are usually of congenital origin. Necrotising pneumonias, trauma, cystic fibrosis and kerosene poisoning may be the cause of acquired cysts in the lungs during childhood. We describe a child who presented with pneumothorax and was later discovered to have a cyst in his right lung. The cyst was resected and on histology found to be of inflammatory origin with no epithelial cell lining i.e. a pseudo-cyst. The immuno-histochemical staining of the inflammatory cells from the pseudo-cyst wall showed them to be predominantly histiocytes i.e:, CD68 antigen positive. The cells showed negative staining for S-100 (marker for Langerhans cells), cytokeratins (epithelial markers) and smooth muscle actins excluding the possibility of histiocytosisX, epithelial and congenital cysts respectively. This case illustrates the occurrence of acquired pulmonary pseudocysts unrelated to known etiologic agents which should be considered in the work-up for pneumothoraces.

Immunomodulatory therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is probably the most common solid human malignancy in the world and its incidence in Egypt has dramatically increased during the last decade. In spite of the availability of different strategies for treating hepatocellular carcinoma in the form of surgical resection, transarterial embolization, percutaneous ethanol injection therapy, radiofrequency wave ablation and chemotherapy, a considerable percentage of cases were found not fit to go into one of all these modalities. On the other hand, the aqueous extracts of the European mistletoe plant [Viscum album] have been used for years for systemic nonspecific stimulation of the immune system in cancer therapy. This study tried to assess the effect of mistletoe [Viscum album] on the natural history of unresected HCC, on one side, and its role in preventing postoperative recurrence after surgically resected cases, on the other side. Thirty-three patients with advanced unresectable HCC represented the first group in this study and 10 cases of post surgical resection were included in the second group. Mistletoe proved itself as a save medication easily tolerable with minimal side effects, it improves the quality of life through immunological pathway, but in this study it failed to demonstrate any significant effect in the progression or limitation of the size of the tumor nor on prevention of recurrence after postoperative resection