How to perform high ultrasound examination of skin involvement among patients with systemic sclerosis – proposition of a unified protocol

IntroductionA fast and cheap method of skin assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an area of extensive research. Established in 1979, the Rodnan skin score is a palpation-based method used among clinicians. This method has some limitations, such as: examiner’s skills, subjective results, and no standardization. In the last few years researchers have been exploring ultrasound-based techniques as a possible tool for skin assessment among patients with SSc. The aim of the study is to develop a protocol of elastography-based skin imaging evaluation among patients with SSc.Material and methodsReview of the literature and own experience.ResultsProposition of elastography-based skin imaging protocol among patients with SSc.ConclusionsThe authors present a potential protocol of ultrasound-based examination of skin involvement among patients with SSc.     

Three rare cases of benign mixed tumour of the skin displaying mature bone and cartilage elements

Mixed tumour of the skin is a rare adnexal tumour of sweat gland origin, which can be benign or malignant. Histologically, it is defined by the presence of epithelial, myoepithelial and mesenchymal elements. The latter can take several forms, but both bone formation and cartilage formation are independently rare features. We present three rare cases of mixed tumour of the skin. Two of these displayed both mature bone and cartilaginous mesenchymal elements, while the third displayed mature bone formation without cartilage.     

Photodynamic action of concanavalin A-chlorin conjugate e6 on human fibroblasts

Laboratory of Biomembranes, Institute of Applied Molecular Biology, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. P. Ashmarin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 2, pp. 150–152, February, 1990.     

Mechanism of Ethanol-Enhanced Estradiol Permeation Across Human Skin in Vivo

The influence of ethanol on the permeation of 17-estradiol (estradiol) across viable human skin in vivo was investigated with the human skin sandwich flap model. Maintaining continuous delivery of a constant concentration of the solute in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4 (PBS), or mixtures of ethanol in PBS to the skin surface revealed that steady-state flux of estradiol was achieved within 30–60 min and maintained throughout 4 hr. The 10-fold decrease in in vivo flux and permeability coefficient (K _p) of tracer estradiol solutions in ethanol or ethanol solutions compared with PBS vehicle reflected the 10-fold difference in the apparent partition coefficients (K _m) of estradiol from the respective vehicles into isolated human stratum corneum. Neither the stratum corneum thickness nor the diffusion coefficient of estradiol was significantly different among the vehicles tested. In vivo flux of estradiol in ethanol or ethanol solutions across viable human skin was increased with saturated solutions of estradiol. Further, in vivo flux of estradiol from vehicles such as PBS, ethanol, and ethanol mixtures, which minimally alter the rate-limiting barrier, can be successfully predicted with knowledge of only two physicochemical parameters, the estradiol concentration in the vehicle and the K _m of estradiol from the vehicle into isolated human stratum corneum.     

Electrical Analysis of Fresh,Excised Human Skin: A Comparison with Frozen Skin

Samples of human allograft skin prepared without freezing ("fresh skin) were found to have electrical and sodium ion transport properties which differed only slightly from those of skin which had been similarly treated but stored frozen (frozen skin). The fresh skin samples were less permeable to sodium ions during passive diffusion and less conductive than frozen skin at low current levels. They were more permselective for sodium versus chloride during constant-current iontophoresis and showed slightly more asymmetry in their current–voltage properties. Overall, the electrical behavior of the two tissues was similar enough to support the use of frozen tissue in iontophoresis studies. However, caution should be exercised when considering the use of frozen skin for applications, such as those based on electroosmosis, where the observed differences could have a major impact on the results.     

磷脂对HDL3介导大鼠皮肤成纤维细胞内胆固醇流出能力的影响

目的　研讨磷脂对HDL3 介导大鼠皮肤成纤维细胞内胆固醇流出能力的影响。方法　在卵磷脂 (PC)或鞘磷脂 (SPM )存在条件下 ,观察HDL3 介导细胞胆固醇流出量的变化、细胞内磷脂含量变化及游离胆固醇 /胆固醇酯平衡的变化。结果　①BSA组 (对照组 )、HDL3 组、PC组、SPM组、PC HDL3 组和SPM HDL3 组分别介导 4.70 %、31.5 5 %、7.35 %、8.0 6 %、42 .95 %和 46 .98%细胞胆固醇流出 ;②BSA、HDL3 、HDL3 SPM和HDL3 PC组细胞培育后胞内卵磷脂磷含量 (PC p)和鞘磷脂磷含量 (SPM p)分别为 2 0 .0 2、5 .5 6 ,17.5 6、5 .2 8,18.6 2、7.0 0和 2 2 .5 0、5 .5 2 μg/皿 ;③PC和SPM与细胞培育后 ,胞内游离胆固醇 /总胆固醇比值分别为 49.6 5和 5 9.5 7。培育前此比值为 48.6 4。结论　①PC和SPM本身无介导细胞胆固醇流出能力 ,但它们能显著提高HDL3 介导的细胞胆固醇流出能力 ,且后者强于前者 ;②随着细胞胆固醇流出 ,部分胞内PC也流出胞外 ,而胞内SPM无明显变化 ;③SPM促进细胞内胆固醇酯向游离胆固醇转化。     

慢性特发性荨麻疹患者血清组胺释放活性的检测

目的 检测慢性特发性荨麻疹患者血中组胺释放活性。方法 自身血清皮肤试验和嗜好性粒细胞组胺释放试验。结果 自身血清皮肤试验和嗜碱性组胺释放试验的阳性率分别为３７．５％和４３．７５％。结论部分慢性特发性荨麻疹患者血中组胺释放活性增高,揭示该类病人具有特殊的肥大细胞和嗜碱性粒细胞激活机制,很可能与自身免疫有关。     

Stoichiometry of the Reaction Catalyzed by Skin Sulfhydryl Oxidase

The stoichiometry of the reaction catalyzed by skin sulfhydryl oxidase was investigated. Dithiothreitol (DTT) was used as the substrate for skin sulfhydryl oxidase. The consumption of DTT, consumption of oxygen, and production of hydrogen peroxide were measured during the enzyme reaction. The molar ratio of DTT:O₂:H₂O₂ in the enzyme reaction was 1:1.02:0.89. Correspondingly, the stoichiometry of the enzyme reaction was calculated to be R(SH)₂ + O₂ → + H₂O₂.     

Laparoscopically assisted full thickness skin graft for reconstruction in congenital agenesis of vagina and uterine cervix

In patients with agenesis of the vagina and cervix but with a functional endometrium, the traditional treatment is hysterectomy with construction of a neovagina. We report successful treatment by laparoscopically assisted full thickness skin graft for reconstruction in a patient with congenital agenesis of the vagina and uterine cervix concomitant with haematometra and ovarian endometrioma in a 12 year old girl. Postoperatively, the vaginal skin graft healed well, and menstruation first appeared 4 weeks later. In our opinion, a combined laparoscopic and vaginal procedure with full thickness skin graft is an efficacious alternative in managing such genital defects.