Notch Signaling Pathway Expression in the Skin of Leprosy Patients: Association With Skin and Neural Damage.

Introduction: Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a debilitating disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves. It is possible that tissue changes during infection with leprosy are related to alterations in the activity of the Notch signaling pathway, an innate signaling pathway in the physiology of the skin and peripheral nerves. Methods: This is a descriptive observational study. Thirty skin biopsies from leprosy patients and 15 from individuals with no history of this disease were evaluated. In these samples, gene expressions of cellular components associated with the Notch signaling pathway, Hes-1, Hey-1, Runx-1 Jagged-1, Notch-1, and Numb, were evaluated using q-PCR, and protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry of Runx-1 and Hes-1. Results: Changes were observed in the transcription of Notch signaling pathway components; Hes-1 was downregulated and Runx-1 upregulated in the skin of infected patients. These results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry, where reduction of Hes-1 expression was found in the epidermis, eccrine glands, and hair follicles. Increased expression of Runx-1 was found in inflammatory cells in the dermis of infected patients; however, it is not related to tissue changes. With these results, a multivariate analysis was performed to determine the causes of transcription factor Hes-1 reduction. It was concluded that tissue inflammation was the main cause. Conclusions: The tissue changes found in the skin of infected patients could be associated with a reduction in the expression of Hes-1, a situation that would promote the survival and proliferation of M. leprae in this tissue.

Siringomas: presentación de casosclínicos y revisión de la bibliografía / Syringomas: a clinical cases series and literature review

Los Siringomas son tumoraciones benignas que comprometen el epitelio ductal de la glándula sudorípara ecrina.La etiología es desconocida. El motivo de consulta suele ser por razones estéticas, sin embargo la afección en genitales genera cancerofobia o venerofobia. En la clasificación se incluyen variantes clínicas y asociación a diferentes enfermedades y síndromes.El diagnóstico es clínico e histopatológico. Existen múltiples opciones terapéuticas pero ninguna óptima.En este trabajo presentamos cuatro pacientes con manifestaciones clínicas diferentes y revisión de la literatura.

Syringomas are benign tumors of unknown etiology where the ductal epithelium from sudoriparous eccrine gland is compromised. Main complaint is due to the aesthetic nature, however the genital condition creates fear of cancer or venereal diseases. Classification includes clinical variants and association with different diseases and syndromes. Diagnosis is made by clinical and histopathological examination. Multiple treatment options are proposed with no effective outcome. Four cases with different clinical manifestations are reported and literature review is performed.