Comparative microscopic analysis of nail clippings from patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

BACKGROUND:: The nail involvement in psoriasis is related to psoriatic arthritis and may represent a predictor of the disease. OBJECTIVES:: To analyze, through nail clipping, clinically normal and dystrophic nails of patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. METHODS:: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study, conducted between August 2011 and March 2012. Patients were divided into four groups: patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy, patients with cutaneous psoriasis and clinically normal nails, patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy and patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails. We calculated NAPSI (Nail Psoriasis Severity Index) of the nail with more clinically noticeable change. After collection and preparation of the nail clipping, the following microscopic parameters were evaluated: thickness of the nail plate and subungual region, presence or absence of parakeratosis, serous lakes, blood, and fungi. RESULTS:: There were more layers of parakeratosis (p=0.001) and a greater thickness of the subungual region in patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy (p=0.002). Serous lakes were also more present in the same group (p=0.008) and in patients with psoriatic arthritis and normal nails (p=0.047). The other microscopic parameters showed no significant difference between normal and dystrophic nails or between patients with psoriatic arthritis or cutaneous psoriasis. STUDY LIMITATIONS:: Small sample size and use of medications. CONCLUSIONS:: Nail clipping is a simple and quick method to assess the nails of patients with nail psoriasis although does not demonstrate difference between those with joint changes or exclusively cutaneous psoriasis.

Comparative microscopic analysis of nail clippings from patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The nail involvement in psoriasis is related to psoriatic arthritis and may represent a predictor of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To analyze, through nail clipping, clinically normal and dystrophic nails of patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study, conducted between August 2011 and March 2012. Patients were divided into four groups: patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy, patients with cutaneous psoriasis and clinically normal nails, patients with psoriatic arthritis and onychodystrophy and patients with psoriatic arthritis and clinically normal nails. We calculated NAPSI (Nail Psoriasis Severity Index) of the nail with more clinically noticeable change. After collection and preparation of the nail clipping, the following microscopic parameters were evaluated: thickness of the nail plate and subungual region, presence or absence of parakeratosis, serous lakes, blood, and fungi. RESULTS: There were more layers of parakeratosis (p=0.001) and a greater thickness of the subungual region in patients with cutaneous psoriasis and onychodystrophy (p=0.002). Serous lakes were also more present in the same group (p=0.008) and in patients with psoriatic arthritis and normal nails (p=0.047). The other microscopic parameters showed no significant difference between normal and dystrophic nails or between patients with psoriatic arthritis or cutaneous psoriasis. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Small sample size and use of medications. CONCLUSIONS: Nail clipping is a simple and quick method to assess the nails of patients with nail psoriasis although does not demonstrate difference between those with joint changes or exclusively cutaneous psoriasis.

Microscopic nail clipping findings in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Nail clipping microscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool in onychomycosis but has not been explored for the diagnosis of onychodystrophy caused by psoriasis. The objective of this study was to try to establish criteria for the diagnosis of psoriasis by this method. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of adult patients with clear-cut psoriasis is divided into 2 groups: (1) with onychodystrophy and (2) with clinically normal nails. The patients were evaluated regarding gender and age, among other clinical variables. The samples were coded to allow blinded microscopic interpretation for nail plate and subungual region thickness and for the presence or absence of corneocytes, neutrophils, serous lakes, blood, bacteria, onychokaryosis, hypereosinophilic nuclear shadows, and fungi. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients with psoriasis were enrolled in this study. There were 40 male and 56 female subjects; ages varied from 16 to 87 years (mean, 51 years). Onychodystrophy was detected in 51 patients (53%). On average, nail plate thickness and subungual region thickness measured 0.44 and 0.19 mm in the onychodystrophy group and 0.41 and 0.14 mm in the clinically normal group (P > 0.05). Dystrophic nails presented 4.5 layers of corneocytes, on average, in contrast to the average of 2.4 in the clinically normal-looking nails (P = 0.0004). Neutrophils (12%), serous lakes (46%), blood collections (11%), bacteria (74%), fungi (20%), onychokaryosis, and hypereosinophilic nuclear shadows were all more common in the onychodystrophy group but not in a statistically significant standard when compared with the other group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nail clippings from patients with psoriasis present abnormally thickened subungual region with prominent hypercorneocytosis, serous lakes, bacteria, neutrophils, and blood collections. If fungi are present, usually there are spores. Clinically, normal-looking nails in patients with psoriasis can present microscopic abnormalities.

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp successfully treated with oral prednisone and topical tacrolimus.

UNLABELLED: Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare inflammatory disorder of the scalp, affecting elderly patients after local trauma and leading to scarring or cicatricial alopecia. CASE REPORT: An elderly female patient complained of painful pustules on the parietal region bilaterally with progressive enlargement and ulceration. A biopsy suggested erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and the patient was treated with prednisone 40 mg/day and 0.1% topical tacrolimus. After 10 weeks complete closure of the eroded areas was observed and a stable scarring alopecia developed.

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp successfully treated with oral prednisone and topical tacrolimus / Dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo tratada com sucesso com prednisona oral e tacrolimus topico

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare inflammatory disorder of the scalp, affecting elderly patients after local trauma and leading to scarring or cicatricial alopecia. Case Report: An elderly female patient complained of painful pustules on the parietal region bilaterally with progressive enlargement and ulceration. A biopsy suggested erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and the patient was treated with prednisone 40 mg/day and 0.1% topical tacrolimus. After 10 weeks complete closure of the eroded areas was observed and a stable scarring alopecia developed.

A dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo é uma doença inflamatória rara do couro cabeludo, de ocorrência preferencial em pacientes idosos após trauma local e com evolução para alopecia cicatricial. O caso relatado é de uma paciente idosa feminina que iniciou com pústulas dolorosas em região parietal bilateral com aumento das lesões e exulceração local. Após o diagnóstico histológico de dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo, foi iniciada prednisona 40 mg/dia e tacrolimus 0,1% tópico. Após 10 semanas evoluiu com cicatrização completa das áreas erosadas e alopecia cicatricial.

Role for the fibrinogen-binding proteins coagulase and Efb in the Staphylococcus aureus-Candida interaction.

Staphylococcus aureus and Candida species are increasingly coisolated from implant-associated polymicrobial infections creating an incremental health care problem. Synergistic effects between both genera seem to facilitate the formation of mixed S. aureus-Candida biofilms, which is thought to play a critical role in coinfections with these microorganisms. To identify and characterize S. aureus factors involved in the interaction with Candida species, we affinity-panned an S. aureus phage display library against Candida biofilms in the presence or absence of fibrinogen. Repeatedly isolated clones contained DNA fragments encoding portions of the S. aureus fibrinogen-binding proteins coagulase or Efb. The coagulase binds to prothrombin in a 1:1 ratio thereby inducing a conformational change and non-proteolytic activation of prothrombin, which in turn cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin. Efb has been known to inhibit opsonization. To study the role of coagulase and Efb in the S. aureus-Candida cross-kingdom interaction, we performed flow-cytometric phagocytosis assays. Preincubation with coagulase reduced the phagocytosis of Candida yeasts by granulocytes significantly and dose-dependently. By using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we demonstrated that the coagulase mediated the formation of fibrin surrounding the candidal cells. Furthermore, the addition of Efb significantly protected the yeasts against phagocytosis by granulocytes in a dose-dependent and saturable fashion. In conclusion, the inhibition of phagocytosis of Candida cells by coagulase and Efb via two distinct mechanisms suggests that S. aureus might be beneficial for Candida to persist as it helps Candida to circumvent the host immune system.

Entendendo a alopecia androgenética / Unsderstanding androgenetic alopecia

A alopecia androgenética é a forma mais comum de alopecia em ambos os sexos. As diferenças clínicas entre os padrões masculino e feminino são bem definidas, porém há peculiaridades da fisiopatogenia em cada sexo. Uma alteração do ciclo folicular, com encurtamento da fase anágena, é responsável pelo processo de miniaturização, transformando cabelos terminais em velo. Os objetivos do tratamento são aumentar a cobertura do couro cabeludo e retardar a progressão da queda. Este artigo aborda de forma didática a fisiopatogenia da alopecia androgenética, sua correlação com as manifestações clínicas e resposta terapêutica.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of alopecia in both women and men. Although there are clear clinical differences between its male and female patterns, there are physiopathogenic peculiarities in each gender. Changes in the hair cycle, with the shortening of the anagen phase, is responsible for the miniaturization process, transforming the terminal hair in a vellus hair. Treatment objectives are to increase the coverage of the scalp and to delay the progression of hair loss. In a didactic manner, this study goes over androgenetic alopecia?s physiopathogeny, clinical manifestations and therapeutic responses.

Pertussis toxin permeabilization enhances the traversal of Escherichia coli K1, macrophages, and monocytes in a cerebral endothelial barrier model in vitro.

The occasionally severe neurological complications following the human respiratory tract infection 'whooping cough' have been attributed to pertussis toxin (PT) expressed by the causative agent Bordetella pertussis. Disruption of the endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) by PT might facilitate the translocation of immune cells and of hematogenous microbial pathogens. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether PT enhances the traversal of bacteria employing human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) as an in vitro endothelial barrier model. PT incubation significantly increased the translocation of Escherichia coli K1 across the HBMEC barrier. Only intercellular E. coli K1 bacteria could be identified by electron microscopy suggesting paracellular translocation. In addition, the migration of differentiated HL60-derived macrophages and of human monocytic U937 cells through PT-treated HBMEC barriers was also enhanced. In comparison to E. coli C600, E. coli K1 showed prolonged survival in translocated HL60-derived and J774 macrophages as well as in U937 monocytes which suggested a contribution of the 'Trojan horse' mechanism. In summary, our findings demonstrate that the PT-induced permeabilization of endothelial barriers enhances the paracellular transmigration of microbes and immune cells. In vivo, this activity might lower the threshold of bacteremia facilitating secondary cerebral infections and the subsequent development of brain pathologies.

Case for diagnosis.

Lichen nitidus is a rare dermatosis, characterized by round, skin-colored papules whose size varies between 1-2 mm and are generally asymptomatic. It does not have predilection for gender or race, affecting mainly children and young adults. Its clinical course is unpredictable, but most cases tend to spontaneously regress years after the onset of the disease. Lesions are often localized, but rare reports of disseminated disease exist.

Caso para diagnóstico / Case for diagnosis

Líquen nítido é uma dermatose rara, caracterizada por pápulas arredondadas normocrômicas de diâmetro, variando entre 1-2 mm, e geralmente assintomáticas. Sem predileção por sexo ou raça, acomete, principalmente, crianças e adultos jovens, na maioria dos casos, possuindo curso clínico imprevisível e tendendo à regressão espontânea, anos após o início da doença. As lesões são em geral localizadas, mas raros relatos da doença cursando com lesões disseminadas existem.

Lichen nitidus is a rare dermatosis, characterized by round, skin-colored papules whose size varies between 1-2 mm and are generally asymptomatic. It does not have predilection for gender or race, affecting mainly children and young adults. Its clinical course is unpredictable, but most cases tend to spontaneously regress years after the onset of the disease. Lesions are often localized, but rare reports of disseminated disease exist.