Autoimmune Diseases Affecting the Orofacial Region – An Overview

Introduction: Diseases result from abnormal divergence of the normal structural and functional well-being of an organism. It can be brought about by physical, biological, chemical, genetic, or autoimmune causes. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s defence system targets its own healthy cells and tissues. The clinical signs and symptoms vary depending on the target tissues. Oral lesions such as ulcers, blisters, mucositis, and gingivitis are seen in many autoimmune diseases and may be an early sign, first recognized by the dental surgeon. Objective: To review the various autoimmune diseases affecting the orofacial region and update the clinicians about their oral manifestations. Materials and Methods: Case reports, review articles and original research papers published in various electronic databases like PubMed, Cross reference, Google scholar, and data collected from books are compiled in this review article. Result and Conclusion: This review gives an overview of some of the common autoimmune diseases affecting the head and neck region, their pathogenesis, clinical features, histopathological features and laboratory findings.

Miocardiopatía arritmogénica. Genes y proteínas desmosómicas / Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy. Genes and Desmosomal Proteins

RESUMEN Desde 1996 esta enfermedad figura en la clasificación de las miocardiopatías de la OMS con el nombre de "miocardiopatía arritmogénica". A fines de la década del 70 se estableció que el ventrículo derecho (VD) puede ser el sustrato para el desarrollo de arritmias. En la década del 80 se describió el reemplazo del miocardio por tejido fibroadiposo y su naturaleza hereditaria. Posteriores descubrimientos permitieron la identificación de varios genes implicados en la producción de proteínas desmosómicas que participan en el acoplamiento intercelular lo cual llevó a definir a la miocardiopatía arritmogénica como una enfermedad desmosómica. El electrocardiograma y el ecocardiograma resultaron fundamentales y la angiocardiografía invasiva se utilizó para detectar disquinesia-aquinesia y aneurismas del VD. La biopsia endomiocárdica se perfiló como el gold standard para el diagnóstico, debido a su capacidad para detectar el reemplazo transmural por tejido fibroadiposo. El advenimiento de la resonancia magnética cardíaca (RMC) con realce tardío de gadolinio ha permitido revelar no solamente anomalías morfológico-funcionales sino también daño tisular. El conocimiento de la estructura del disco intercalar, involucrado en el acoplamiento intercelular ha permitido determinar que no solamente los desmosomas estarían comprometidos, sino que habría varias proteínas constituyentes tanto de los desmosomas, como de las uniones adherentes, las uniones gap, y los canales iónicos, integradas en una unidad conocida como "área composita". Ésta constituye una amalgama entre elementos de sostén y canales iónicos que participan en la propagación del potencial de acción, lo que ha permitido desarrollar el concepto de disco intercalar compuesto por los llamados "nodos excitoadhesivos". Las implicancias clínicas en el desarrollo de arritmias malignas son obvias.

ABSTRACT In 1996 this disease was introduced into the WHO classification of cardiomyopathies with the term "arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy". By the end of the 70s the right ventricle (RV) was identified as a substrate for the development of arrhythmias. The replacement of the myocardium by fibrofatty tissue and the hereditary nature of this condition were described in the 1980s. Later findings led to the identification of several genes involved in the production of desmosomal proteins participating in intercellular coupling, which led to defining arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy as a desmosomal disease. Electrocardiography and echocardiography are fundamental tools, and invasive angiocardiography was used to detect dyskinesia-akinesia and right ventricular aneurysms. Endomyocardial biopsy was established as the gold standard for the diagnosis due to its ability to detect transmural replacement by fibrofatty tissue. The advent of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) with late gadolinium enhancement reveals morphological and functional abnormalities and tissue damage. The understanding of intercalated disc structure involved in intercellular coupling has made it possible to determine that, apart from desmosomes, several desmosomal proteins, as adherens junctions, gap junctions and ion channels are integrated into a unit known as the " area composita". The area composita constitutes an amalgam between supporting elements and ion channels that participate in action potential propagation, which has led to develop the concept that intercalated discs are constituted by "adhesion/ excitability nodes". The clinical implications in the development of malignant arrhythmias are obvious.

Miocardiopatía arritmogénica del ventrículo derecho: particularidades del enfrentamiento diagnóstico en pediatría / Arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy: particularities of the diagnostic approach in pediatrics

Resumen: La miocardiopatía arritmogénica del ventrículo derecho es una patología de origen genético cuya base molecular se encuentra a nivel de los desmosomas, caracterizada por una sustitución progresiva de los miocitos del ventrículo derecho por tejido graso, que conduce a arritmias potencialmente graves y disfunción miocárdica. Es causa de muerte súbita asociada al ejercicio. Es rara la aparición de síntomas antes de los 10 años de edad, lo que obliga a un alto grado de sospecha clínica. Existe afectación familiar hasta en el 50% de los casos, por lo que el estudio en cascada está recomendado y constituye un criterio mayor de enfermedad. Se cree que esta investigación es la forma más frecuente de pesquisa en pediatría, junto con la realización de un electrocardiograma como parte del screening preparticipativo en competencia deportiva. Se debe sospechar ante la objetivación de taquicardia ventricular con imagen de bloqueo de rama izquierda. Las alteraciones clásicas descritas en el ecocardiograma o la resonancia magnética son raras en niños, y deben considerarse las anomalías segmentarias en estas técnicas. La estratificación de riesgo ha debido ser extrapolada de los estudios realizados en adultos, y de acuerdo a esto se debe decidir la pertinencia de la instalación de un desfibrilador automático implantable, sobre todo en caso de muerte súbita cardíaca recuperada o taquicardia ventricular sostenida. La pertinencia del uso de fármacos debe analizarse individualmente. En los casos de diagnóstico definitivo, se debe abolir el ejercicio intensivo, recomendándose solo la actividad física de baja intensidad.

Summary: Arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy is a disease of genetic origin, whose molecular basis is at the level of desmosomes, characterized by a progressive replacement of right ventricle myocytes by fatty tissue, which leads to potentially serious arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction. It is a cause of sudden death associated with exercise. The appearance of symptoms before 10 years old is rare, which compels a high degree of clinical suspicion. In more than 50% of cases there is a family history of those affected, so the cascade study of the probands is recommended (major criterion of disease). In pediatrics, it is believed that most often is that patients are investigated by this ground, as well among asymptomatic children in whom an electrocardiogram is performed as part of the screening of sports competition. One should suspect arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy with ventricular tachycardia with appearance of left bundle branch block. Classical alterations described in echocardiography or magnetic resonance imaging are rare in children, and segmental abnormalities in these techniques should be considered. The stratification of risk has been extrapolated from the studies of elderly patients, and according to this, the indication of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator must be decided, especially in case of sudden cardiac death recovered or sustained ventricular tachycardia. The relevance of the use of drugs must be individually analyzed. In definite cases, intensive exercises should be abolished, recommending only those of low intensity.

Scanning electron microscopy of acantholysis in pemphigus foliaceus / Microscopia eletrônica de varredura da acantólise no pênfigo foliáceo

We performed scanning electron microscopy of an inverted blister roof in a case of pemphigus foliaceus. The loss of intercellular adherence could be easily seen with low magnification. The acantholytic keratinocytes displayed an irregular and sometimes polygonal contour. Round cells, typically seen in light microscopy, were also observed. The examination of a blister roof allows ultrastructural documentation of the acantholytic changes.

Realizamos microscopia eletrônica de varredura do teto invertido de uma bolha de um caso de pênfigo foliáceo. Com pequeno aumento, a perda da adesão intercelular pôde ser vista claramente. Os queratinócitos acantolíticos demostraram um contorno irregular, algumas vezes poligonal. Células arredondadas, como vistas tipicamente na microscopia óptica, também foram observadas. O exame de um teto de bolha permite uma documentação ultraestrutural das alterações acantolíticas.

Transmission electron microscopy of the preclinical phase of experimental phytophotodermatitis

OBJECTIVE: To examine the epidermis in induced phytophotodermatitis using transmission electron microscopy in order to detect histologic changes even before lesions are visible by light microscopy. INTRODUCTION: In the first six hours after the experimental induction of phytophotodermatitis, no changes are detectable by light microscopy. Only after 24 hours can keratinocyte necrosis and epidermal vacuolization be detected histologically, and blisters form by 48 hours. METHODS: The dorsum of four adult rats (Rattus norvegicus) was manually epilated. After painting the right half of the rat with the peel juice of Tahiti lemon, they were exposed to sunlight for eight minutes under general anesthesia. The left side was used as the control and exposed to sunlight only. Biopsies were performed immediately after photoinduction and one and two hours later, and the tissue was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: No histological changes were seen on the control side. Immediately after induction, vacuolization in keratinocytes was observed. After one hour, desmosomal changes were also observed in addition to vacuolization. Keratin filaments were not attached to the desmosomal plaque. Free desmosomes and membrane ruptures were also seen. At two hours after induction, similar changes were found, and granular degeneration of keratin was also observed. DISCUSSION: The interaction of sunlight and psoralens generates a photoproduct that damages keratinocyte proteins, leading to keratinocyte necrosis and blister formation. CONCLUSIONS: Transmission electron microscopy can detect vacuolization, lesions of the membrane, and desmosomes in the first two hours after experimental induction of phytophotodermatitis.

Isolation of epidermal desmosomes and preliminary analysis of desmosomal proteins / 第三军医大学学报

Desmosomes with well-preserved architecture were isloated from the epidermis of bovine muzzle.The thickness of the dense plaque was about 15 nm and the width of desmoso-mal interspace 30~40 nm.The midline in the desmosomal interspace was shown as a moderately electrondense material.The component proteins of the desmosomes were analyzed with SDS-PAGE.It was found that both DP Ⅰ and DP Ⅱ consisted of 3 polypeptides and the molecular weight of DP 1 a,b and c was 235 kd,226 kd and 215kd and that of DP Ⅱ a,b and c was 206 kd,198 kd and 186 kd respectively ; and DP Ⅲ was composed of 2 polypeptides and the molecular weight of DP I a and b was 87 kd and 86 kd.The above mentioned data were different from those of other reports,while the data of the other component proteins were similar to those of others.The molecular weight of DG I was 150 kd.that of DG Ⅱ a and b was 135 kd and 118 kd,that of DG Ⅲ was probably 22 kd.and that of DP Ⅳ was 82 kd.According to our findings,it is concluded that both DP Ⅰ and DP Ⅱ consist of 3 polypeptides and DP Ⅲ of 2 polypepties.