Infectious crystalline keratopathy

Infectious crystalline keratopathy was first reported by Gorovoy and colleagues in 1983 when they identified bacteria colonizing a cornea after a penetrating keratoplasty. Subsequent cases have elaborated on the organisms responsible and the management outcomes. Patients present with a white or gray branching opacity originating from an epithelial defect, commonly after a penetrating keratoplasty. Local immunosuppression contributes to the quiescent nature and the limited inflammatory response associated with infectious crystalline keratopathy. Diagnosis of the infective pathogens may be difficult, with a corneal scraping often being too superficial to obtain an adequate specimen. A biofilm is present that advantages microorganism survival, reduces antibiotic bioavailability, and inhibits diagnostic microbial detection. Treatment begins with topical antimicrobials, initially broad spectrum and then targeted to microorganism sensitivity. Adjunctive therapies to enhance the efficacy of treatment include disruption of the microorganism biofilm by laser, intrastromal antibiotics, and keratectomy. In recalcitrant cases, or where corneal scarring ensues, corneal transplantation is required.     

儿童水疱型毛母质瘤16例临床病理分析

目的 分析儿童水疱型毛母质瘤的临床病理特点。方法 对2013—2017年就诊于北京儿童医院皮肤科的16例水疱型毛母质瘤患者进行临床病理分析。结果 16例患者中,男5例,女11例。发病年龄4个月至11岁,中位发病年龄8.5岁。病程2个月至4年,平均病程10个月。发病部位：上肢10例（上臂7例、肩部2例、前臂1例）,面部4例,颈部2例。皮损表现为局限性可推动的红色肿物,呈水疱样外观,部分皮损表面可见毛细血管扩张,肿物直径0.5 ~ 3 cm,触诊水疱内可及质硬结节。皮肤镜下,16例患者皮损见红色均匀背景,13例见白色无结构区,4例见蓝灰色无结构区,11例见线状或树枝状不规则血管,15例患者同时有多种皮肤镜表现。皮损均予手术切除,随访1 ~ 5年无复发。组织病理：肿瘤位于真皮中下部,主要由基底样细胞及影细胞组成,还可见介于上述两种细胞之间的过渡细胞。肿瘤间质中见不同程度炎症细胞浸润及纤维结缔组织增生和钙化,部分可见多核巨细胞。表皮和瘤体之间真皮内见不同程度的炎症细胞浸润、淋巴管扩张及弹性纤维减少或缺失。结论 儿童水疱型毛母质瘤好发于上肢及面颈部,组织病理特点为肿瘤由基底样细胞及影细胞构成,真皮内淋巴管扩张、弹性纤维减少,皮肤镜下以红色背景、白色无结构区为特征。     

Circulating Eosinophil and Neutrophil Counts Correlate with Disease Severity in Bullous Pemphigoid

BackgroundBullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized by tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies directed against BP180 and/or BP230 antigens. Various inflammatory cells are involved in the development of blister in BP.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between peripheral leukocyte counts and BP severity.MethodsWe retrospectively included 60 patients with BP, who had not been treated with systemic steroid at the time of blood sampling. The patients were classified into two groups, those with admission history (admission group) and those without admission history (non-admission group). Disease severity was evaluated using three parameters: admission history, initial steroid dosage, and modified version of a pemphigus scoring system. We evaluated the correlation between peripheral leukocyte counts and disease severity measured by the three parameters.ResultsThe admission group showed a significant increase in disease severity measured by initial steroid dosage and severity score compared with the non-admission group. Additionally, the admission group had increased total leukocyte, eosinophil, and neutrophil counts. In the correlation study, the peripheral eosinophil and neutrophil counts showed positive correlation with BP severity evaluated by both initial steroid dosage and the pemphigus scoring system.ConclusionPeripheral eosinophil and neutrophil counts can be used as a marker in predicting disease severity in patients with BP.     

Evidence-based management of bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease typically affecting the elderly. Although different therapeutic regimens have been proposed, a review of the evidence is needed to aid clinicians in their decision making and management. Systemic therapies such as corticosteroids and adjuvants are effective in BP but are plagued with adverse effects, and potent topical steroids are an alternative treatment. This article reviews the evidence supporting different therapeutic options in the management of BP.     

Azathioprine in the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases

Although there are no standard guidelines for the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases, azathioprine has shown good efficacy in acquired autoimmune blistering diseases, and is well tolerated. Side effects of azathioprine normally occur in mild variants. Severe reactions are due to reduced thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) or inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA) activity. Therefore, screening for TPMT activity should be conducted in white patients and Africans, whereas Japanese should be screened for ITPA activity before therapy with azathioprine is started. Azathioprine is clinically meaningful for the treatment of pemphigus.     

The autoimmune blistering diseases in Australia: status and services

The exact epidemiology of autoimmune bullous disorders in Australia is unknown. This article describes the establishment of a registry and support group to serve patients with these disorders. The registry aids research in Australia by providing epidemiologic data and maintaining an up-to-date database with patient contact details. The support group caters to the needs of patients and/or caregivers. Teledermatology, diagnosis, and management of autoimmune bullous disease are briefly reviewed.     

糖尿病小鼠角膜损害的形态观察

目的　观察糖尿病小鼠角膜形态损害的特点,为后期进行的糖尿病角膜病变保护因子研究提供研究基础。方法　ＳＴＺ诱导的糖尿病Ｃ５７ＢＬ／Ｊ小鼠,分别于糖尿病成功造模后３个月、６个月时,选取糖尿病小鼠和正常对照组小鼠角膜,石蜡包埋后行ＨＥ染色观察形态学变化。结果　糖尿病成功造模后３个月、６个月,与正常对照组相比,糖尿病小鼠角膜水肿、基质增厚,角膜溃疡区上皮缺损,溃疡区基质增厚、角膜水肿明显高于非溃疡区。结论　糖尿病小鼠造模后３个月即可发生角膜基质病变,６个月时角膜基质改变更加严重。     

A comparative study of risk factors for corneal infection in diabetic and non-diabetic patients

AIM: To compare the clinical characteristics of infectious keratopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-diabetes mellitus (NDM) and to investigate risk factors for infectious keratopathy in T2DM patients. METHODS: Totally 230 patients with T2DM and 168 with NDM diagnosed as infectious keratopathy were hospitalized at Qingdao Eye Hospital from 2001 to 2015. Data including sex, age, occupation, season, smoking and alcohol consumption habits, duration between onset and treatments, duration of hospitalization were collected. Initially identified indicators were analyzed with a multivariate logistic regression. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with T2DM was analyzed. The infectious keratopathies in the two groups were categorized and compared. RESULTS: The diabetic group consisted of 146 (63.5%) males and 84 (36.5%) females. The NDM group consisted of 111 (66.1%) males and 57 (33.9%) females. There was no signigicantly difference in sex distribution between the two groups (P>0.05). There were significant differences in age, occupation of patients, season of the onset of diseases, duration between onset and treatment, and durations of hospitalization between the two groups (P<0.05). In most of the patients in the diabetic group, the duration between onset and treatment was ≤3mo, and most was ≥3mo in the NDM group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age and season were related to the development of corneal infection in the T2DM group (OR=1.709, 1.706). In the T2DM group, HbA1c was 9.09%±2.12%. There were statistically significant differences in the incidences of bacterial keratitis and herpes simplex keratitis in the two groups (P<0.05), but no significant statistical difference was found between fungal keratitis and amoebic keratitis (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Advanced age and the summer and winter seasons are identified as risk factors for infectious keratopathy in T2DM patients, and T2DM patients are more prone to bacterial keratitis.