La peau et son horloge chronobiologique au quotidien.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2002), 57(10), 661-5

Some cutaneous functions of importance are governed by periodical variations according to the nycthemeral timing. Similarly to other organs, the skin is under the influence of a coherent organisation of ... [more ▼]

Some cutaneous functions of importance are governed by periodical variations according to the nycthemeral timing. Similarly to other organs, the skin is under the influence of a coherent organisation of circadian and nythemeral rhythms modulating various biological cycles which usually display a wide amplitude. The cutaneous biorhythms in humans suggest that during daylight the skin boosts diverse protective functions with regard to environmental threats. In the evening and at night, the skin increases its renewal and diverse metabolic processes. Biorhythms in the skin which are in line with the organism's needs, merit to be recognized. Chronophysiology, chronopathology and clinical chronopharmacology may help reach optimal therapeutic decisions. [less ▲]

L'image du mois. Sclérose tubéreuse de Bourneville.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2002), 57(7), 425-7

Euclidean and fractal computer-assisted corneofungimetry: a comparison of 2% ketoconazole and 1% terbinafine topical formulations.

in Dermatology : International Journal for Clinical & Investigative Dermatology (2002), 204(3), 222-7

BACKGROUND: The corneofungimetry bioassay was designed as a unique model predicting the efficacy of topical and oral antifungals in dermatomycoses. OBJECTIVE: In this 2-step study performed in two groups ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: The corneofungimetry bioassay was designed as a unique model predicting the efficacy of topical and oral antifungals in dermatomycoses. OBJECTIVE: In this 2-step study performed in two groups of 15 volunteers, corneofungimetry was used to compare the effect of 5-day b.i.d. treatments with 2% ketoconazole and 1% terbinafine creams. METHODS: The bioassay was performed using 10 isolates of each of the 3 fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and Candida albicans put to grow on human stratum corneum. Controls were stratum corneum either untreated or enriched in propylene glycol contained in an unmedicated vehicle. Quantitative assessments were made using both Euclidean and fractal geometry parameters. RESULTS: In comparison with untreated stratum corneum, the fungitoxic activity of the 2% ketoconazole and 1% terbinafine formulations was obvious and similar against dermatophytes. By contrast, 2% ketoconazole was significantly more active against C. albicans than 1% terbinafine. The propylene-glycol-containing vehicle did not exhibit a significant effect upon the dermatophyte growth. Positive linear correlations were yielded between the extent area and the fractal dimension D of dermatophyte mycelia. By contrast, D appeared unrelated to the relative area of dermatophyte growth compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The combination of Euclidean and fractal analyses improves the information provided by the corneofungimetry bioassay. Creams containing 2% ketoconazole and 1% terbinafine appear equally effective against dermatophytes while the former is more potent against Candida albicans. [less ▲]

L'image du mois. Une onychopathie ponctuée en dé a coudre.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2002), 57(3), 129-30

Invasive tricholemmal carcinoma of the nose.

in Dermatology : International Journal for Clinical & Investigative Dermatology (2002), 204(4), 315-7

Tricholemmal carcinoma is a rare entity. It must be distinguished from the benign proliferating variant of the tricholemmal cyst. We report a case of tricholemmal carcinoma massively invading the nose ... [more ▼]

Tricholemmal carcinoma is a rare entity. It must be distinguished from the benign proliferating variant of the tricholemmal cyst. We report a case of tricholemmal carcinoma massively invading the nose. The neoplasm was excised surgically with a satisfactory outcome. [less ▲]

Clinicopathological differential diagnosis of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (Lyell's syndrome) and acute graft-versus-host reaction.

in Current Topics in Pathology. Ergebnisse der Pathologie (2001), 94

Zoonoses cutanées transmises par les chiens et les chats

in Revue Médicale de Liège (1998), 53(9), 532-536

Pets like dogs and cats are responsible for a series of zoonotic disorders. Some of these diseases are inflicted by bites, scratches or licking. Others result from a close contact with fur, or are ... [more ▼]

Pets like dogs and cats are responsible for a series of zoonotic disorders. Some of these diseases are inflicted by bites, scratches or licking. Others result from a close contact with fur, or are transmitted by ectoparasites or by the contaminated environment. Some systemic infectious and parasitic diseases are transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. Such situation may lead to endemic problems in some communities. [less ▲]

L1-protein in incipient lymphocyte-depleted graft-versus-host disease. Expression in keratinocytes and coexpression with Factor XIIIa in dermal cells

in Turkish Journal of Dermatology = Dermatopatoloji Dergisi (1998), 7

With the introduction of effective immunosuppressive regimens some cutaneous rashes following bone marrow transplant may appear histologically unremarkable. We report three cases of cyclosporin-abated ... [more ▼]

With the introduction of effective immunosuppressive regimens some cutaneous rashes following bone marrow transplant may appear histologically unremarkable. We report three cases of cyclosporin-abated cutaneous graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) where the most straightful histologic clue was the epidermal L1-protein (calprotectin) expression revealed by a positive immunolabelling using the Mac 387 antibody. The epidermis looked otherwise normal and inflammatory cells were scant in the dermis. The expression of calprotectin by keratinocytes occurred early in cutaneous GVHR. In addition, CD45RO-positive T memory lymphocytes were exceedingly rare in the dermis while a few Mac 387-positive monocytes coexpressed Factor XIIIa immunoreactivity. Hyperplasia of the Factor XIIIa-positive dendrocytic population was obvious. Calprotectin and Factor XIIIa immunolagellings should be regarded as a diagnostic adjunct in lymphocyte-depleted cutaneous GVHR. Calprotectin positivity of the epidermis is indicative although not specific for such condition. However, its combination with a low lymphocytes/monocytes ratio in the dermis which is enriched in plup dendrocytes is almost diagnostic. [less ▲]

Factor Xiiia-Positive Dendrocytes and Proliferative Activity of Cutaneous Cancers

in Virchows Archiv : An International Journal of Pathology (1996), 429(1), 43-48

Factor XIIIa-positive dendrocytes present at the periphery and inside epithelial neoplasms are an heterogeneous group of cells. They are subsets of mesenchymal cells, cancer-associated macrophages and ... [more ▼]

Factor XIIIa-positive dendrocytes present at the periphery and inside epithelial neoplasms are an heterogeneous group of cells. They are subsets of mesenchymal cells, cancer-associated macrophages and antigen-presenting cells. Factor XIIIa, other tissue transglutaminases, alpha 2-macroglobulin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha represent a complex network of mediators influencing tumour progression in the skin. In the present study we searched for the presence of dendrocytes and alpha 2-macroglobulin deposits inside and in the vicinity of cutaneous carcinomas (90 basal cell carcinomas and 46 squamous cell carcinomas) and malignant melanomas (69 primary and 28 metastatic tumours). We also studied the proliferation of the same neoplasms by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. Dendrocytes were numerous, abutting on and infiltrating most basal cell carcinomas and thin malignant melanomas. In contrast, they were present in only low numbers or even absent in thick primary malignant melanomas and in their metastases. They appeared unmodified around squamous cell carcinomas compared with the surrounding skin. Extracellular deposits of alpha 2-macroglobulin were often found in locations where dermal dendrocytes were numerous. No correlation was found between the Ki-67 indices of carcinomas and the density of peritumoral dendrocytes. In contrast, negative relationships were found between the Ki-67 indices and the number of dendrocytes present inside basal cell carcinomas and thin malignant melanomas. This study has yielded circumstantial evidence to link the density of factor XIIIa-positive dendritic cells and a low proliferative rate of neoplastic cells in basal cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas. [less ▲]

The frequency of cutaneous vasculitis is not increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate

in Journal of Rheumatology (1996), 23(2), 253-257

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the frequency, type, and immunohistological features of clinical cutaneous vasculitis developing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated or not with methotrexate as well ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the frequency, type, and immunohistological features of clinical cutaneous vasculitis developing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated or not with methotrexate as well as their demographic, clinical and biological characteristics. METHODS: Ninety-one patients with RA receiving 9.5 mg/wk of methotrexate (MTX) were compared for an average observation time of 18 months to 130 matched patients with RA treated with various drugs excluding MTX. RESULTS: Whether receiving MTX or not, 5.4% of patients with RA developed a clinical cutaneous vasculitis. There were significant differences between both groups for 2 variables only: a higher percentage of polyneuropathies and a higher level of immune complex-plasma levels in non-MTX patients. The immunohistological analysis did not differentiate both groups. CONCLUSION: The percentage of cutaneous vasculitis that developed under MTX therapy was not different from that occurring as a natural complication of longstanding severe RA. [less ▲]