Subungual angioleiomyoma masquerading as a glomus tumour.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Baran.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We biopsied longitudinal erythronychia in 16 subjects, and found an onychopapilloma in 14 cases and Bowen's disease in the remaining two. Shared clinical features in addition to erythronychia (or sometimes an interrupted line made up of splinter haemorrhages) were typically a longitudinal marked ridge of the nail bed expanded at the distal nail bed as subungual keratosis, and associated localized onycholysis. The presentation of Bowen's disease in this pattern has not been previously reported. In all cases of onychopapilloma of the nail bed, acanthosis and papillomatosis were evident, and were associated with a keratogenous zone identical to the nail matrix. In addition, we found multinucleate giant cells in two onychopapillomas. We have therefore suggested that the term 'localized, distal, subungual keratosis with multinucleate cells' should be replaced by 'onychopapilloma' (nail-producing papilloma).
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Ciclopirox nail lacquer solution 8% has been shown to be effective in the treatment of dermatophyte onychomycosis of mild to moderate severity Other studies report the effectiveness of ciclopirox nail lacquer in onychomycosis caused by Candida sp and nondermatophyte molds. Ciclopirox nail lacquer may also be valuable in the treatment of early cases of reinfection/relapse. Ciclopirox nail lacquer solution 8% may be an important adjunct to oral antifungal therapy in certain presentations that might be poorly responsive to oral antifungal therapy alone (eg, lateral onychomycosis, longitudinal spike, dermatophytoma, and extensive onycholysis). In some cases, surgical therapies may need to be considered in addition to, or in preference to, topical nail lacquer treatment. The use of ciclopirox nail lacquer solution 8% as an adjunct to oral antifungal therapy may widen the spectrum of activity of the combination because of the broad spectrum of coverage provided by the lacquer. The use of combination therapy may be synergistic in terms of efficacy, enabling a reduction in the duration and cumulative dosage of oral therapy. This could result in a decrease in the frequency and severity of systemic adverse effects associated with the oral antimycotics and the need to be vigilant about drug interactions. Studies need to be conducted to determine the place of combination oral and topical lacquer therapy in the management of onychomycosis.
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a relatively common condition affecting toenails more than fingernails. It is caused predominantly by dermatophytes. Onychomycosis can cause pain and discomfort and has the potential to be a source of morbidity. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ciclopirox nail lacquer solution 8% used to treat onychomycosis of the toe in the United States and in centers worldwide. METHODS: Two identically designed, double-blind, vehicle controlled, parallel group multicenter studies were performed in the United States to evaluate the use of ciclopirox nail lacquer to treat mild to moderate toe onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes. In the first study, 223 patients were randomized to treatment (ciclopirox group: 112, vehicle group: 111), and in the second study, 237 subjects were randomized (ciclopirox group: 119, vehicle group: 118). Before randomization, patients were to have clinical features of onychomycosis in at least one great toe with positive light microscopic examination and a positive dermatophyte culture. The test material was applied daily for a period of 48 weeks to all toenails and affected fingernails, covering the entire nail plate and approximately 5 mm of surrounding skin. At baseline, subjects had between 20% to 65% area of target nail involved. Physician's assessments were carried out every 4 weeks, and mycologic evaluation and photographic planimetry using standardized photographs were performed every 12 weeks during the 48 weeks of treatment. In studies conducted outside the United States, patients were also to have clinical, microscopic, and culture evidence of onychomycosis. However, these studies included some patients infected with nondermatophyte organisms (eg, Candida species), and the area of nail involvement was generally greater than observed in the US studies. Treatment regimens also varied in the non-US studies with lacquer applications that were sometimes less frequent than the once daily treatment used in the US studies (eg, alternate day or twice weekly). In addition, the typical duration of treatment was 6 months in the non-US studies as compared with 48 weeks in the United States. Outcome measures were similar to those used in the US trials, although a non-photographic planimetric method was used to quantify disease extent. RESULTS: Data from the pivotal US trials have demonstrated that ciclopirox nail lacquer 8% topical solution is significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum, and of mild to moderate toe onychomycosis without lunula involvement. At the end of the 48-week treatment period, the mycologic cure rate (negative culture and negative light microscopy) in study I was 29% vs 11% in the ciclopirox and vehicle groups, respectively. Similarly, the mycologic cure rate for study II was 36% vs 9%, respectively. In the non-US studies, the mycologic cure rates ranged from 46.7% to 85.7%. In addition, ciclopirox nail lacquer has demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity with efficacy against Candida species and some nondermatophytes in non-US studies. Ciclopirox nail lacquer is considered extremely safe regarding causally related treatment emergent adverse-effects (TEAEs), with most TFAEs transient and localized to the site of action (eg, erythema and application site reaction). In the US studies, TFAEs were generally mild and cleared while the patient continued to use the nail lacquer. CONCLUSIONS: Studies conducted worldwide demonstrate the efficacy of ciclopirox nail lacquer for the treatment of finger and toe onychomycosis. Both controlled and open-label studies confirm the excellent safety profile of this topical therapy. Thus, the nail lacquer provides a treatment choice with a favorable benefit-to-risk ratio. With its novel mechanism of action and its topical route of administration, ciclopirox nail lacquer offers an innovative approach to the treatment of this often difficult-to-manage disease
BACKGROUND: Echinococcus disease is endemic in sheep-and cattle-raising areas world wide. Its prevalence is also high in the Mediterranean region including Turkey. OBJECTIVE: To determine the presentation, approach to surgical treatment and outcome of hydatid disease in an endemic region. METHODS: From January 1989 to December 1998 288 patients, aged between 1 and 71 years with a mean age of 31 years (134 female, 154 male), were operated on for pulmonary hydatidosis. Clinical charts of the patients were reviewed retrospectively in a tertiary referral hospital. RESULTS: Of 288 patients, 30 patients were asymptomatic, the rest (89%) were symptomatic, cough and chest pain being the most common symptoms. Fifty-three patients (18%) had associated liver hydatid cysts. Bilateral lung hydatid cysts were present in 18 patients (6%). Recurrent hydatid cysts were observed in 33 patients (11%). Seventy-seven patients (27%) presented with complicated hydatid cysts. Postoperative morbidity was observed in 3 patients [bronchopleural fistula (2), infection of the cyst space (1)] and postoperative mortality in 1 patient who presented with hydatid lung disease associated with liver and brain cysts. In the remaining 98. 6%, no complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, hydatidosis is still an important public health problem in Turkey and in an endemic country such as Turkey hydatid lung disease should be considered initially in a patient presenting with a corresponding chest roentgenogram and a compatible epidemiologic history. Surgery is indicated in all symptomatic and/or enlarging or infected cysts. When necessary lobectomy or wedge resection can be the procedure of choice. Single-stage combined resection is preferred in hydatid lung disease with associated liver hydatid cysts. Total postoperative complication and mortality rate is low and we recommend a close follow-up of the operated cases to diagnose postoperative recurrence early in its course.
Plant xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET, EC 2.4.1.207) degrades its substrate by a transglycosylation mechanism while endo-cleaving xyloglucan (XG) molecules at their beta-1,4-linked polyglucosyl main chain and transferring the newly generated reducing chain ends to hydroxyls at C-4 of non-reducing glucosyl ends of the main chains of other XG molecules or of low-Mr XG-fragments (OS). Kinetic data obtained with purified nasturtium seed (Tropaeolum majus, L.) XET while using high-Mr xyloglucan and 3H-labeled XGOS alditols (DP 7-9) as substrates could be best fitted to the model for Ping-Pong Bi Bi reaction mechanism. Such mechanism is typical for transglycosylases operating with retention of the anomeric configuration of the formed glycosidic bond and involving the formation of a covalent glycosyl-enzyme reaction intermediate.
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a widespread refractory disease deleteriously affecting quality of life via social stigma and disrupting daily activities. Many physicians perceive onychomycosis as a cosmetic rather than a medical problem. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to develop a questionnaire-based instrument to quantify the impact of onychomycosis on patients' quality of life. METHODS: The questionnaire was developed and validated in a multinational cross-sectional study. Completed questionnaires from 532 patients were analyzed: 284 toenail, 248 fingernail (onychomycosis or paronychia). RESULTS: The degree of quality of life impairment from onychomycosis varied by country studied, possibly reflecting cross-national health perception differences. Longer duration of disease, greater involvement of individual nails, and greater number of nails involved were associated with more serious adverse effects. Many physicians underestimated the associated degree of pain. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that onychomycosis physically and psychologically affects patients' lives. The questionnaire may be a valuable tool in evaluating the effect of therapeutic agents on quality of life of patients with onychomycosis.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Longitudinal melanonychia displaying features of keratinized acanthoma is described in two patients. In both cases, a pigmented band consisting of a subungual keratinized epithelial ridge originated in the nail bed. We have been able to show, using the clinical and histological findings, that the origin of the pigment is linked to its synthesis within the acanthoma of the nail bed. These lesions are reminiscent of pigmented seborrhoeic keratosis. The horny cysts are replaced, because of the special physiological longitudinal arrangement of the ridges in the nail bed, by a single, prominent, longitudinal, keratinized and pigmented mass.
Three patients with onychomycosis due to Trichophyton soudanense with an "endonyx" type of nail invasion are presented. Endonyx onychomycosis is clinically characterized by a diffuse milky-white discolouration of the affected nail, in the absence of nail bed hyperkeratosis or onycholysis. Nail plate surface and nail thickness are normal. The pathology shows a contrast between the great number of fungal hyphae visible in the nail plate and the absence of fungal elements in the nail bed. The nail bed does not show inflammatory changes or hyperkeratosis and adheres strictly to the lowermost layers of the nail plate. The hyponychium is normal and does not contain hyphae. The endonyx pattern of nail infection appears to be specific to T. soudanense nail invasion and may possibly reflect the high affinity of T. soudanense to hard keratins.
Genes that specify cell fate can influence multiple aspects of neuronal differentiation, including axon guidance, target selection and synapse formation. Mutations in the unc-42 gene disrupt axon guidance along the C. elegans ventral nerve cord and cause distinct functional defects in sensory-locomotory neural circuits. Here we show that unc-42 encodes a novel homeodomain protein that specifies the fate of three classes of neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans nervous system: the ASH polymodal sensory neurons, the AVA, AVD and AVE interneurons that mediate repulsive sensory stimuli to the nematode head and anterior body, and a subset of motor neurons that innervate head and body-wall muscles. unc-42 is required for the expression of cell-surface receptors that are essential for the mature function of these neurons. In mutant animals, the ASH sensory neurons fail to express SRA-6 and SRB-6, putative chemosensory receptors. The AVA, AVD and AVE interneurons and RME and RMD motor neurons of unc-42 mutants similarly fail to express the GLR-1 glutamate receptor. These results show that unc-42 performs an essential role in defining neuron identity and contributes to the establishment of neural circuits in C. elegans by regulating the transcription of glutamate and chemosensory receptor genes.
The population groups predisposed to onychomycosis and factors associated with a poor response to antifungal therapy may be subdivided into (a) genetic, (b) environmental, (c) systemic conditions, (d) local nail characteristics, and (e) other miscellaneous items. By paying attention to the scenarios that may lead to a suboptimal response to the therapy and a higher probability of relapse of the onychomycosis, it may be possible to improve the overall cost-effectiveness of treatments for onychomycosis. Besides attempting to achieve a cure when treating onychomycosis it is important to take steps to prevent reinfection with fungal organisms.
BACKGROUND: Onychomatricoma is a nail matrix tumor that has been well characterized clinically but not histologically. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish histologic criteria for the diagnosis of onychomatricoma to differentiate it from other fibroepithelial tumors of the nail matrix. METHODS: We observed 12 cases and were able to examine 4 of these excised specimens, including the attached nail plate. In 8 patients, avulsion of the nail was performed before excision of the tumor so that the nail plate was examined separately from the tumor. RESULTS: Onychomatricoma is a fibroepithelial tumor consisting of 2 anatomic zones. The proximal zone is located beneath the proximal nail fold with a proximal border starting at the root of the nail and distal border corresponding to the cuticle. It is characterized by deep epithelial invaginations filled with a thick V-shaped keratogenous zone, a thickened nail plate without cavitation but with an undulating inferior border ending in ungual spurs, and a fibrillary stroma clearly demarcated from the undersurface. The distal zone corresponds to the lunula and is characterized by multiple "glove finger" digitations lined with matrix epithelium and oriented around antero-oblique connective tissue axes; perforation of the nail plate by multiple cavities that, generally at the distal edge of the lunula, lose their epithelial digitations and become filled with serous fluid; the connective-tissue stoma of the digitations extends deeply into the dermis and is not demarcated form healthy tissue. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the mentioned characteristics, we have been able to define onychomatricoma histologically. In addition, we have identified an unusual clinical form of onychomatricoma that has the appearance of a cutaneous horn and is situated at the junction of the undersurface of the proximal nailfold and the lateral nailfold.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Twelve cases of distal digital keratoacanthoma (DKA) affecting the subungual area or the proximal nail fold are reported. The distal phalanx of the toe was affected in three cases. Spontaneous resolution occurred in one; one other recurred after surgery. We also discuss the link between DKA and incontinentia pigmenti subungual tumours; these entities are indistinguishable.