Skin Diseases

Dendritic cells (DC), considered as immunological sentinels of the organism since they are antigen presenting cells, create the link between innate and adaptive immunity. DC include myeloid dendritic cells (MDC) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC). The presence of PDC, cells capable of producing large quantities of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in response to pathogenic agents or danger signals, seems to be closely related to pathological conditions. PDC have been observed in inflammatory immunoallergic dermatological disorders, in malignant cutaneous tumours and in cutaneous lesions of infectious origin. They seem to play a crucial role in the initiation of the pathological processes of autoimmune diseases such as lupus or psoriasis. Their function within a tumour context is not as well known and is controversial. They could have a tolerogenic role towards tumour cells in the absence of an activator but they also have the capacity to become activated in response to Toll-like rece...

Skin diseases are among the most common health problems worldwide. In this article we proposed a method that uses computer vision based techniques to detect various kinds of dermatological skin diseases. We have used different types of image processing algorithms for feature extraction and feed forward artificial neural network for training and testing purpose. The system works on two phases- first pre-process the colour skin images to extract significant features and later identifies the diseases. The system successfully detects 9 different types of dermatological skin diseases with an accuracy rate of 90%.

IgG is widely used for patients with immune deficiencies and in a broad range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Up to 40% of intravenous infusions of IgG may be associated with adverse effects (AEs), which are mostly uncomfortable or unpleasant but often are not serious. The most common infusion-related AE is headache. More serious reactions, including true anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions, occur less frequently. Most reactions are related to the rate of infusion and can be prevented or treated just by slowing the infusion rate. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines, or corticosteroids also may be helpful in preventing or treating these common AEs. IgA deficiency with the potential of IgG or IgE antibodies against IgA increases the risk of some AEs but should not be viewed as a contraindication if IgG therapy is needed. Potentially serious AEs include renal dysfunction and/or failure, thromboembolic events, and acute hemolysis. These...

For the past 40 years, dermatologists have safely used contact sensitizers such as dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), and squaric acid dibutylester (SADBE) for the treatment of warts, alopecia areata, and even skin cancers. Most of these studies have utilized these powerful topical immunomodulators in acetone, a volatile solvent that precludes development of contact sensitizers as products. We have overcome these problems and stabilized these topical immunomodulators in a non-volatile, nonirritating GRAS (generally regarded as safe) vehicle. The current review article covers the traditional use of contact sensitizers for a variety of benign and malignant conditions and discusses possible mechanisms in relation to developments in modem molecular immunodermatology.

Blaschko's lines are the pattern assumed by many different naevoid and acquired skin diseases on the human skin and mucosae. They were described and drawn by Blaschko 75 years ago. These lines are to be distinguished from other linear patterns such as Voight's lines, Langer's lines, and the lines of innervation of the spinal nerves. They do not follow any known nervous, vascular or l5rmphatic structures in the skin. The epidermis and its appendageal structures, the melanocytes, the vascular system, and the fatty hypoderm, all, separately or in combination, may be involved in the morpho-logical manifestations which follow Blaschko's lines. Many of the naevoid skin conditions are lifelong (e.g. linear sebaceous naevus, unilateral naevoid telangiectasia); many of the acquired skin diseases (e.g. lichen striatus, linear psoriasis) are of relatively short duration (e.g. 1–2 years). The cause of the distribution pattern is unknown. It is possibly a form of human‘mosaicism’ where certain specific cells or groups of cells react differently from other cells due to chromosomal abnormalities. The embryological explanation of Blaschko's lines is not at all clear. Other markers in addition to the skin findings are needed to determine the time and the nature of the change responsible for these lines. The main purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of Blaschko's lines into the medical, paramedical, and general biological fields of science. In this way, it is hoped that some inter-reaction can occur between those who regularly see Blaschko's lines and those who regularly see and study other chromosomal and embryological abnormalities.

Frequent hand washing may result in skin damage and increase the number of microorganisms that colonize the skin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in total flora of healthy and damaged hands that were caused by the use of gloves, soap, and antiseptics. Samples were collected from the healthy and damaged hands of 30 health care professionals before and after washing with water and nonmedicated soap for the technique of sterile polyethylene bag. Fifteen additional volunteers (technicians and students) were asked to wash their hands 20 times with water and soap; those with complaints of irritation were evaluated separately. Damaged or healthy hands did not present statistically significant differences (P > .05) in terms of qualitative analysis of epidemiologically important microorganisms; however, washing with water and soap was effective only for healthy hands. In short, the water and soap washing of damaged hands was not effective in reducing their contamination.

Abstract: Unusual skin lesions were present at birth in four infants with Turner syndrome. The skin changes in these patients appear to have resulted either from in utero entrapment or pinching of edematous skin or from redundant skin remaining after in utero resolution of lymphedema. Distention by lymphedema is thought to cause several of the phenotypic characteristics seen in patients with Turner syndrome, including nuchal webbing and nail changes. In three of these patients the clinical appearance of the skin changes was similar to cutis verticis gyrata, marked by fixed thickened plaques in folds.