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Journal of Surgical Case Reports May 2024Gingival enlargement is a side effect of several different medication, including immunosuppressants, anticonvulsants, and calcium channel blockers. It is an inflammatory...
Gingival enlargement is a side effect of several different medication, including immunosuppressants, anticonvulsants, and calcium channel blockers. It is an inflammatory response that starts when plaque and calculus build up on the tooth surface. The most prevalent long-term neurological condition affecting people is epilepsy. In affluent nations, the prevalence of epilepsy is ~ 1%, whereas in less developed countries, it may >2%. The preferred medication for the condition, phenytoin, has major side effects include gingival enlargement. In addition to being visually disfiguring, this enlargement frequently affects speech, chewing and eating. Furthermore, those with poor dental hygiene, causes disabilities with motor coordination and muscular limitations leading to mental disability and physical impairments are more prone to periodontal disease. This article enlightened the mechanism of drug induced gingival enlargement clinically, microbiologically, and surgically.
PubMed: 38812578
DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjae304 -
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease May 2024Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the most common orbital disease in adults, potentially leading to disfigurement and visual impairment. However, the causes of...
BACKGROUND
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is the most common orbital disease in adults, potentially leading to disfigurement and visual impairment. However, the causes of TAO are not fully understood. IL-35B cells are a newly identified regulatory B cells (Bregs) in maintaining immune balance in various autoimmune diseases. Yet, the influence of IL-35Bregs in TAO remains unexplored.
METHODS
This study enrolled 36 healthy individuals and 14 TAO patients. We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stimulated them with IL-35 and CpG for 48 h. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentages of IL-35Bregs.
RESULTS
The percentage of circulating IL-35Bregs was higher in TAO patients, and this increase correlated positively with disease activity. IL-35 significantly increased the generation of IL-35Bregs in healthy individuals. However, B cells from TAO patients exhibited potential impairment in transitioning into IL-35Breg phenotype under IL-35 stimulation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a potential role of IL-35Bregs in the development of TAO, opening new avenues for understanding disease mechanisms and developing therapeutic approaches.
Topics: Humans; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Interleukins; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Aged
PubMed: 38804861
DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1304 -
Nutrients May 2024Acne vulgaris is a widespread a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects millions of people around the world, which has a significant influence on patients' standard... (Review)
Review
Acne vulgaris is a widespread a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects millions of people around the world, which has a significant influence on patients' standard of living. The progression of this dermatosis results in the appearance of inflammatory and non-inflammatory changes, and, in severe cases, disfiguring scars and hyperpigmentation. The aetiopathogenesis of acne is complex. It involves a complex interaction of many different factors, both endo- and exogenous in their effect on the hair and sebaceous unit. Genetic predisposition, hormones, the skin and gut microbiome, psychological stress, air pollutants, aggressive facial products, and certain medications are cited as factors influencing acne formation. The link between nutrition and acne is extensively debated for many years and is still relatively controversial. Diet is commonly recognised to have a direct relationship with certain biochemical markers and the transcription of genes related to sebaceous gland function, and the proliferation of bacteria and inflammation that encourage the progression of the disease. In this review, the authors take a closer look at the existing scientific reports on the involvement of nutrition in the development of acne vulgaris.
Topics: Acne Vulgaris; Humans; Nutritional Status; Diet; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Skin
PubMed: 38794714
DOI: 10.3390/nu16101476 -
Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos 2024To study about and reflect on the disease is to highlight the ways of seeing and saying what can a body and its power to be affected before fingerprints or traces that...
To study about and reflect on the disease is to highlight the ways of seeing and saying what can a body and its power to be affected before fingerprints or traces that degrade it. This article exposes epistemological research on social representations brackets (where register know doctor) disease from the registry of Clinical Dermatology in the second half of the 19th century. This is resorted to an analysis of medical photographs preserved in archives of Colombia and Spain taking as discursive forms of seeing and saying the disease who have disfiguring effects in the body.
Topics: Photography; Humans; History, 19th Century; Spain; Colombia; Dermatology; Skin Diseases; History, 20th Century
PubMed: 38775521
DOI: 10.1590/S0104-59702024000100020 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2024Beech leaf disease (BLD) is a newly emerging disease in North America that affects American beech (). It is increasingly recognized that BLD is caused by a subspecies of...
UNLABELLED
Beech leaf disease (BLD) is a newly emerging disease in North America that affects American beech (). It is increasingly recognized that BLD is caused by a subspecies of the anguinid nematode subsp. (hereafter ) which is likely native to East Asia. How nematode infestation of leaves affects the leaf microbiome and whether changes in the microbiome could contribute to BLD symptoms remain uncertain. In this study, we examined bacterial and fungal communities associated with the leaves of across nine sites in Ohio and Pennsylvania that were either symptomatic or asymptomatic for BLD and used qPCR to measure relative nematode infestation levels. We found significantly higher levels of infestation at sites visibly symptomatic for BLD. Low levels of nematode infestation were also observed at asymptomatic sites, which suggests that nematodes can be present without visible symptoms evident. Bacterial and fungal communities were significantly affected by sampling site and symptomology, but only fungal communities were affected by nematode presence alone. We found many significant indicators of both bacteria and fungi related to symptoms of BLD, with taxa generally occurring in both asymptomatic and symptomatic leaves, suggesting that microbes are not responsible for BLD but could act as opportunistic pathogens. Of particular interest was the fungal genus which is common in the and is reported to overwinter in buds-a strategy consistent with . The specific role microbes play in opportunistic infection of leaves affected by will require additional study.
IMPORTANCE
Beech leaf disease (BLD) is an emerging threat to American beech () and has spread quickly throughout the northeastern United States and into southern Canada. This disease leads to disfigurement of leaves and is marked by characteristic dark, interveinal banding, followed by leaf curling and drop in more advanced stages. BLD tends to especially affect understory leaves, which can lead to substantial thinning of the forest understory where is a dominant tree species. Understanding the cause of BLD is necessary to employ management strategies that protect and the forests where it is a foundation tree species. Current research has confirmed that the foliar nematode subsp. is required for BLD, but whether other organisms are involved is currently unknown. Here, we present a study that investigated leaf-associated fungi and bacteria of to understand more about how microorganisms may contribute to BLD.
Topics: Fagus; Animals; Plant Leaves; Plant Diseases; Fungi; Bacteria; Mycobiome; Pennsylvania; Ohio; Microbiota; Nematoda
PubMed: 38775476
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00142-24 -
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery May 2024In Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs, the protagonist has a facial cleft. The authors aimed to comprehend the psychological experience of a patient with a facial cleft by...
In Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs, the protagonist has a facial cleft. The authors aimed to comprehend the psychological experience of a patient with a facial cleft by analyzing this novel. The novel concerns the life of a young nobleman, Gwynplaine, disfigured as a child, who travels with his protector and companion, the vagabond philosopher Ursus, and Dea, a baby girl he rescued. During the oppressive rule of the king, one of his adversaries was Lord Linnaeus Clancharlie, who had taken refuge in Switzerland. The tyrannical monarch ordered the execution of Gwynplaine's father and commissioned a surgeon, Dr Hardquannone, to carve the boy's face into a perpetual grin. The king declared that he should "laugh forever at his fool of a father." Subsequently, the king sold the boy to a group who specialized in the mutilation and disfigurement of children. On the psychology of a boy with an appearance giving the impression of laughing, Hugo wrote: "By laughing Gwynplaine made people laugh. However, he wasn't laughing. His face laughed, his thoughts did not." When Ursus met Gwynplaine, Ursus asked the boy: "What are you laughing at?" The boy replied: I'm not laughing. Ursus: Then you are terrible. Gwynplaine's unnatural laughter, which stems from an artificial deformation of the muscles, is a silent form of laughter. It represents the eternal laughter of those who do not truly laugh, signifying emotional emptiness and an accompanying sense of indifference. Plastic surgeons can restore an "unnatural laughing face" to a "natural smiling face."
PubMed: 38775464
DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010318 -
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology May 2024Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is a rare neurological condition characterized by self-induced injury to the face in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Chronic...
Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is a rare neurological condition characterized by self-induced injury to the face in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Chronic scratching or picking cause ulceration, scarring, and tissue loss. TTS typically occurs following damage to the trigeminal nerve, often from surgical procedures, trauma, or stroke. We present a case of trigeminal trophic syndrome in an elderly lady who successfully responded to oral N-acetylcysteine. An increased awareness of this rare syndrome and potential treatment options will encourage a prompt diagnosis and possibly prevent permanent disfiguration.
PubMed: 38767230
DOI: 10.1093/ced/llae212 -
Clinical & Translational Oncology :... May 2024Treating aggressive superficial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) poses challenges due to invasiveness. Palliative care is recommended for inoperable cases with extensive...
OBJECTIVE
Treating aggressive superficial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) poses challenges due to invasiveness. Palliative care is recommended for inoperable cases with extensive tumors near vital organs, risking disfigurement or functional impairment. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an emerging cutaneous tumor treatment, but its efficacy against superficial SCC remains uncertain. This study conducts a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis to evaluate ECT's effectiveness against superficial SCC and provide current evidence for clinical practice.
METHODS
Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched for studies up to May 2023. The random effects model analyzed complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), with subgroup assessment based on drug dosage, treatment response evaluation, tumor size, primary/recurrent status, and tumor location.
RESULTS
Ten studies involving 162 patients and 208 tumors were included. Pooled CR and PR rates for ECT-treated superficial SCC were 66.5% (95% CI 48.4%-82.5%; I = 84%) and 20.3% (95% CI 10.5%-32.3%; I = 70%), respectively. Subgroup analysis indicated ECT's superiority in treating primary tumors (PR: 70%, CR: 30%) and tumors ≤ 3 cm (PR: 81.3%, CR: 10.1%) compared to recurrent tumors (PR: 56.7%, CR: 36.5%) and tumors > 3 cm (PR: 45.2%, CR: 34.4%).
CONCLUSION
This single-arm meta-analysis confirms ECT's efficacy against superficial SCC, especially in primary tumors and those ≤ 3 cm in diameter. The study highlights the impact of tumor location and response evaluation on ECT's benefits, warranting further investigation through additional research.
PubMed: 38758386
DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03522-4 -
Archives of Virology May 2024Chinese bayberry is a fruit that is appreciated for its taste. A novel totivirus associated with rolling, disfiguring, chlorotic and vein-clearing symptoms on the leaf...
Chinese bayberry is a fruit that is appreciated for its taste. A novel totivirus associated with rolling, disfiguring, chlorotic and vein-clearing symptoms on the leaf apices of Chinese bayberry was identified by transcriptome sequencing and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The complete genome of the virus was determined to be 4959 nucleotides long, and it contains two open reading frames (ORFs). Its genomic organization is similar to that of previously reported totiviruses. ORF1 encodes a putative coat protein (CP) of 765 aa, and ORF2 encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 815 aa. These two putative proteins share 55.1% and 62.6%, amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with the corresponding proteins of Panax notoginseng virus A, respectively. According to the demarcation criteria for totivirus species established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), the new virus should be considered a member of a new species in the genus totivirus, family Orthototiviridae, which we have tentatively named ''Myrica rubra-associated totivirus'' (MRaTV).
Topics: Genome, Viral; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Plant Leaves; Myrica; Whole Genome Sequencing; Totivirus; Viral Proteins; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; RNA, Viral
PubMed: 38753216
DOI: 10.1007/s00705-024-06048-w -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... May 2024Proptosis in Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) can result in facial disfigurement and visual dysfunction. Treatment with Insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR)...
CONTEXT
Proptosis in Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) can result in facial disfigurement and visual dysfunction. Treatment with Insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) inhibitors has been shown to be effective in reducing proptosis but with side effects.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that inhibition of IGF-IR indirectly and more selectively with PAPP-A inhibitors attenuates IGF-IR signaling in TED.
DESIGN
Informed consent was obtained from TED patients undergoing surgery, and retro-orbital tissue collected for fibroblast isolation and culture.
SETTING
Surgeries were performed in Mayo Clinic operating suites. Cell culture was performed in a sterile tissue culture facility.
PATIENT SAMPLES
Retro-orbital tissue was collected from 19 TED patients.
INTERVENTIONS
Treatment of TED fibroblasts with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Flow separation of CD34- and CD34+ orbital fibroblasts, the latter representing infiltrating fibrocytes into the orbit in TED.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
PAPP-A expression and proteolytic activity, IGF-I stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway and inhibition by immuno-neutralizing antibodies against PAPP-A, CD34+ status and associated PAPP-A and IGF-IR expression.
RESULTS
Pro-inflammatory cytokines markedly increased PAPP-A expression in TED fibroblasts. IGF-IR expression was not affected by cytokine treatment. Inhibition of PAPP-A's proteolytic activity suppressed IGF-IR activation in orbital fibroblasts from TED patients. TED fibroblasts that were CD34+ represented ∼80% of the cells in culture and accounted for ∼70% of PAPP-A and IGF-IR expressing cells.
CONCLUSIONS
These results support a role for PAPP-A in TED pathogenesis and indicate the potential for novel therapeutic targeting of the IGF axis.
PubMed: 38752390
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae339