The COVID-19 pandemic had a great negative impact on nursing homes, with massive outbreaks being ... more The COVID-19 pandemic had a great negative impact on nursing homes, with massive outbreaks being reported in care facilities all over the world, affecting not only the residents but also the care workers and visitors. Due to their advanced age and numerous underlying diseases, the inhabitants of long-term care facilities represent a vulnerable population that should benefit from additional protective measures against contamination. Recently, multiple countries such as France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, and the United States of America reported that an important fraction from the total number of deaths due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection emerged from nursing homes. The scope of this paper was to present the latest data regarding the COVID-19 spread in care homes worldwide, identifying causes and possible solutions that would limit the outbreaks in this overlooked category of population. It is the authors’ hope that raising awareness on this matter would encourage more studies to be conducte...
Staphylococcus spp. is a facultative pathogen, which can be found in the commensal microbiota of ... more Staphylococcus spp. is a facultative pathogen, which can be found in the commensal microbiota of humans, most often in moist skinfolds and mucous membranes. This microorganism has the ability to cause various infections, in almost every organ of the body, with an increased frequency in the skin and soft tissues, being involved in pathologies like acne, folliculitis, furunculosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, cellulitis, abscesses, but also in secondary infections in diseases with an altered cutaneous barrier. The prolonged evolution of these diseases and severe outcome can be influenced by various factors, most importantly being the antimicrobial resistance. We have evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, according to the Comite de l` Antibiogramme de la Societe Francaise de Microbiologie recommendations, for strains of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from acne or different types of skin and soft tissue infections in patients recommended to receive autologous bacterial vaccin...
Beiu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons At... more Beiu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Melanonychia represents a brown to black discoloration of the nail plate that may be induced by b... more Melanonychia represents a brown to black discoloration of the nail plate that may be induced by benign or malignant causes. Two main mechanisms are involved in the appearance of melanonychias, i.e., melanocytic activation and melanocytic hyperplasia. The distinction between the two can be made based on the medical history of the patient, the clinical picture, dermoscopy, and histopathological examination and is essential for the adequate management of the patient. We review the main causes of melanonychia, with emphasis on the clues to the diagnosis of subungual melanoma.
Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a benign endothelial proliferation, usu... more Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a benign endothelial proliferation, usually intravascular, that may mimic angiosarcoma. In this report, four new cases of IPEH involving the oral region are described. The affected sites were the lower lip, labial comissure and the submandibular region. After clinical evaluation, the complete removal of the lesions showed a circumscribed and soft mass. Histologically, the major feature was a reactive proliferation of endothelial cells composed of small papillary structures with hypocellular and hyalinized cores arising in an organized thrombus. Immunohistochemical staining for CD34 was strongly positive in endothelial cells. Vimentin and laminin immunolabelling were also consistent with a vascular origin. In order to verify the proliferative potential of the lesions, the Ki-67 antibody was used, revealing low percentage of labeled cells (<20%). No immunoreactivity for GLUT-1 was observed. Since the complete removal is curative, no additional treatment was necessary, and no signs of recurrence had been observed until now. Due to the particular features of IPEH, it is important for pathologists and clinicians to become familiar with this lesion. Additionally, the specific histological arrangement, including the absence of cellular pleomorphism, mitotic activity and necrosis, represents a guide to help in the differential diagnosis. Moreover, the vascular origin and the proliferative index should be assessed by immunohistochemistry in order to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Darier disease (DD), also known as dyskeratosis follicularis, is a rare genodermatosis classicall... more Darier disease (DD), also known as dyskeratosis follicularis, is a rare genodermatosis classically characterized by persistent hyperkeratotic papules and plaques affecting the seborrheic areas. Due to its variable expressivity, it can present with very discrete clinical features for many years, leading to diagnostic errors and incorrect treatments. We report an unusual case of Darier disease in a 69-year-old male patient in which the classical features of DD had a remarkably late onset. This patient had a several decades' history of small, recurrent, scattered papules, limited to the face, for which he had received multiple diagnostic interpretations, such as acne or recurrent staphylococcal skin infection. We established the diagnosis of DD with superinfected lesions, and initiated treatment with intravenous antibiotics and oral retinoids. Results were extremely satisfactory in a very short time. This case shows an extremely unusual clinical course of Darier disease and is illustrative for the variable expressivity of the disease. It highlights the need to take dyskeratosis follicularis into account in patients with a longstanding history of persistent, hyperkeratotic papules, from unknown origin, even in the absence of the classical clinical findings.
Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an “ideal” technique that achieves e... more Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an “ideal” technique that achieves expeditious recovery and reduces scarring to the minimum, thus ensuring function preservation. The classic approach to wound management is represented by topical treatments, such as antibacterial or colloidal agents, in order to prevent infection and promote a proper wound-healing process. Nanotechnology studies submicroscopic particles (maximum diameter of 100 nm), as well as correlated phenomena. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold, zinc) are increasingly being used in dermatology, due to their beneficial effect on accelerating wound healing, as well as treating and preventing bacterial infections. Other benefits include: ease of use, less frequent dressing changes and a constantly moist wound environment. This review highlights recent findings regarding nanoparticle application in wound management.
Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that affects approximately 85% of teenagers... more Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that affects approximately 85% of teenagers. There are multiple factors involved in the pathogenesis, among which an imbalance in the skin microbiota, with an increased representation of Cutibacterium (former Propionibacterium) acnes, that activates innate immunity and leads to chronic inflammation. This review highlights recent observations regarding the influence of different Cutibacterium acnes phylotypes in acne and the importance of antimicrobial resistance of acne-associated strains.
Sexually transmitted diseases represent a public health problem with extremely diverse clinical, ... more Sexually transmitted diseases represent a public health problem with extremely diverse clinical, social and economic implications, which is often underestimated by both doctors and patients. The increasing incidence of persistent or recurrent urethritis might be explained by the emergence of microorganisms resistant to the latest treatments available. In this review we aim to provide a general overview of the therapeutic management of persistent and recurrent urethritis, according to the most recent international recommendations.
International journal of molecular sciences, Jan 12, 2018
Wound healing involves a complex interaction between immunity and other natural host processes, a... more Wound healing involves a complex interaction between immunity and other natural host processes, and to succeed it requires a well-defined cascade of events. Chronic wound infections can be mono- or polymicrobial but their major characteristic is their ability to develop a biofilm. A biofilm reduces the effectiveness of treatment and increases resistance. A biofilm is an ecosystem on its own, enabling the bacteria and the host to establish different social interactions, such as competition or cooperation. With an increasing incidence of chronic wounds and, implicitly, of chronic biofilm infections, there is a need for alternative therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology shows promising openings, either by the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles or their function as drug carriers. Nanoparticles and nanostructured coatings can be active at low concentrations toward a large variety of infectious agents; thus, they are unlikely to elicit emergence of resistance. Nanoparticles m...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) is an uncommon and controversial skin lesion, sharing features o... more Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) is an uncommon and controversial skin lesion, sharing features of both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and trichoepithelioma. In this article, we present a case of FeP and synthesise current concepts on the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon tumour. We report the case of an 88-year-old male patient presenting to the dermatology clinic for a sharply demarcated, pink, exophytic cutaneous tumour situated in the left inguinal region. The histopathological examination performed after complete surgical excision of the lesion revealed a diagnosis of FeP. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. The terms `fibroepithelioma` and `Pinkus` have been searched in bibliographical databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, without time limitation up to February 15th, 2017. Seventy-nine articles that fulfilled all the required conditions were identified. Relevant citations and additional articles identified from references have be...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently encountered neoplasm worldwide. While nodular B... more Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently encountered neoplasm worldwide. While nodular BCC is the most frequent clinical subtype, other forms of BCC, such as superficial, cystic, morpheiform, infiltrative, and pigmented may also be encountered. We present the case of a 67-year-old male with a relatively well-defined infiltrative, pigmented plaque with multiple colours and peripheral growth situated in the right axillary region. The histopathologic examination performed after complete surgical excision of the tumour revealed a complex pigmented BCC with macronodular, fibroepithelioma-like, cystic, focally infiltrative and basosquamous features. Uncommon locations of BCCs in sun-protected areas such as the axillary region require a higher degree of suspicion for diagnosis. The complex histology of the presented case, including subtypes with differing biologic attributes, emphasises the importance of histopathological examination in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy, accounting for the majority of al... more Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy, accounting for the majority of all non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). In the past several decades the worldwide incidence of BCC has constantly been increasing. Even though it is a slow growing tumour that, left untreated, rarely metastasizes, it has a distinctive invasive growth pattern, posing a considerable risk for local invasion and destruction of underlying tissues, such as muscle, cartilage, bone or vital structures. Advanced BCCs include such locally invasive or metastatic tumours. Complete surgical excision is the standard therapy for most uncomplicated BCC cases with good prognosis and cure rates. Treatment of advanced forms of BCCs poses significant therapeutic challenges, most often requiring complicated surgery, radiotherapy, and/or targeted therapies directed towards the sonic hedgehog signalling pathway (SHH). We present two cases of large BCCs located on the scalp and posterior thorax, which underwent sur...
The COVID-19 pandemic had a great negative impact on nursing homes, with massive outbreaks being ... more The COVID-19 pandemic had a great negative impact on nursing homes, with massive outbreaks being reported in care facilities all over the world, affecting not only the residents but also the care workers and visitors. Due to their advanced age and numerous underlying diseases, the inhabitants of long-term care facilities represent a vulnerable population that should benefit from additional protective measures against contamination. Recently, multiple countries such as France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, and the United States of America reported that an important fraction from the total number of deaths due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection emerged from nursing homes. The scope of this paper was to present the latest data regarding the COVID-19 spread in care homes worldwide, identifying causes and possible solutions that would limit the outbreaks in this overlooked category of population. It is the authors’ hope that raising awareness on this matter would encourage more studies to be conducte...
Staphylococcus spp. is a facultative pathogen, which can be found in the commensal microbiota of ... more Staphylococcus spp. is a facultative pathogen, which can be found in the commensal microbiota of humans, most often in moist skinfolds and mucous membranes. This microorganism has the ability to cause various infections, in almost every organ of the body, with an increased frequency in the skin and soft tissues, being involved in pathologies like acne, folliculitis, furunculosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, cellulitis, abscesses, but also in secondary infections in diseases with an altered cutaneous barrier. The prolonged evolution of these diseases and severe outcome can be influenced by various factors, most importantly being the antimicrobial resistance. We have evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, according to the Comite de l` Antibiogramme de la Societe Francaise de Microbiologie recommendations, for strains of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from acne or different types of skin and soft tissue infections in patients recommended to receive autologous bacterial vaccin...
Beiu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons At... more Beiu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 4.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Melanonychia represents a brown to black discoloration of the nail plate that may be induced by b... more Melanonychia represents a brown to black discoloration of the nail plate that may be induced by benign or malignant causes. Two main mechanisms are involved in the appearance of melanonychias, i.e., melanocytic activation and melanocytic hyperplasia. The distinction between the two can be made based on the medical history of the patient, the clinical picture, dermoscopy, and histopathological examination and is essential for the adequate management of the patient. We review the main causes of melanonychia, with emphasis on the clues to the diagnosis of subungual melanoma.
Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a benign endothelial proliferation, usu... more Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a benign endothelial proliferation, usually intravascular, that may mimic angiosarcoma. In this report, four new cases of IPEH involving the oral region are described. The affected sites were the lower lip, labial comissure and the submandibular region. After clinical evaluation, the complete removal of the lesions showed a circumscribed and soft mass. Histologically, the major feature was a reactive proliferation of endothelial cells composed of small papillary structures with hypocellular and hyalinized cores arising in an organized thrombus. Immunohistochemical staining for CD34 was strongly positive in endothelial cells. Vimentin and laminin immunolabelling were also consistent with a vascular origin. In order to verify the proliferative potential of the lesions, the Ki-67 antibody was used, revealing low percentage of labeled cells (<20%). No immunoreactivity for GLUT-1 was observed. Since the complete removal is curative, no additional treatment was necessary, and no signs of recurrence had been observed until now. Due to the particular features of IPEH, it is important for pathologists and clinicians to become familiar with this lesion. Additionally, the specific histological arrangement, including the absence of cellular pleomorphism, mitotic activity and necrosis, represents a guide to help in the differential diagnosis. Moreover, the vascular origin and the proliferative index should be assessed by immunohistochemistry in order to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Darier disease (DD), also known as dyskeratosis follicularis, is a rare genodermatosis classicall... more Darier disease (DD), also known as dyskeratosis follicularis, is a rare genodermatosis classically characterized by persistent hyperkeratotic papules and plaques affecting the seborrheic areas. Due to its variable expressivity, it can present with very discrete clinical features for many years, leading to diagnostic errors and incorrect treatments. We report an unusual case of Darier disease in a 69-year-old male patient in which the classical features of DD had a remarkably late onset. This patient had a several decades' history of small, recurrent, scattered papules, limited to the face, for which he had received multiple diagnostic interpretations, such as acne or recurrent staphylococcal skin infection. We established the diagnosis of DD with superinfected lesions, and initiated treatment with intravenous antibiotics and oral retinoids. Results were extremely satisfactory in a very short time. This case shows an extremely unusual clinical course of Darier disease and is illustrative for the variable expressivity of the disease. It highlights the need to take dyskeratosis follicularis into account in patients with a longstanding history of persistent, hyperkeratotic papules, from unknown origin, even in the absence of the classical clinical findings.
Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an “ideal” technique that achieves e... more Wound healing has been intensely studied in order to develop an “ideal” technique that achieves expeditious recovery and reduces scarring to the minimum, thus ensuring function preservation. The classic approach to wound management is represented by topical treatments, such as antibacterial or colloidal agents, in order to prevent infection and promote a proper wound-healing process. Nanotechnology studies submicroscopic particles (maximum diameter of 100 nm), as well as correlated phenomena. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold, zinc) are increasingly being used in dermatology, due to their beneficial effect on accelerating wound healing, as well as treating and preventing bacterial infections. Other benefits include: ease of use, less frequent dressing changes and a constantly moist wound environment. This review highlights recent findings regarding nanoparticle application in wound management.
Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that affects approximately 85% of teenagers... more Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit that affects approximately 85% of teenagers. There are multiple factors involved in the pathogenesis, among which an imbalance in the skin microbiota, with an increased representation of Cutibacterium (former Propionibacterium) acnes, that activates innate immunity and leads to chronic inflammation. This review highlights recent observations regarding the influence of different Cutibacterium acnes phylotypes in acne and the importance of antimicrobial resistance of acne-associated strains.
Sexually transmitted diseases represent a public health problem with extremely diverse clinical, ... more Sexually transmitted diseases represent a public health problem with extremely diverse clinical, social and economic implications, which is often underestimated by both doctors and patients. The increasing incidence of persistent or recurrent urethritis might be explained by the emergence of microorganisms resistant to the latest treatments available. In this review we aim to provide a general overview of the therapeutic management of persistent and recurrent urethritis, according to the most recent international recommendations.
International journal of molecular sciences, Jan 12, 2018
Wound healing involves a complex interaction between immunity and other natural host processes, a... more Wound healing involves a complex interaction between immunity and other natural host processes, and to succeed it requires a well-defined cascade of events. Chronic wound infections can be mono- or polymicrobial but their major characteristic is their ability to develop a biofilm. A biofilm reduces the effectiveness of treatment and increases resistance. A biofilm is an ecosystem on its own, enabling the bacteria and the host to establish different social interactions, such as competition or cooperation. With an increasing incidence of chronic wounds and, implicitly, of chronic biofilm infections, there is a need for alternative therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology shows promising openings, either by the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles or their function as drug carriers. Nanoparticles and nanostructured coatings can be active at low concentrations toward a large variety of infectious agents; thus, they are unlikely to elicit emergence of resistance. Nanoparticles m...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) is an uncommon and controversial skin lesion, sharing features o... more Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus (FeP) is an uncommon and controversial skin lesion, sharing features of both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and trichoepithelioma. In this article, we present a case of FeP and synthesise current concepts on the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon tumour. We report the case of an 88-year-old male patient presenting to the dermatology clinic for a sharply demarcated, pink, exophytic cutaneous tumour situated in the left inguinal region. The histopathological examination performed after complete surgical excision of the lesion revealed a diagnosis of FeP. A systematic review of the literature was conducted. The terms `fibroepithelioma` and `Pinkus` have been searched in bibliographical databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, without time limitation up to February 15th, 2017. Seventy-nine articles that fulfilled all the required conditions were identified. Relevant citations and additional articles identified from references have be...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently encountered neoplasm worldwide. While nodular B... more Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently encountered neoplasm worldwide. While nodular BCC is the most frequent clinical subtype, other forms of BCC, such as superficial, cystic, morpheiform, infiltrative, and pigmented may also be encountered. We present the case of a 67-year-old male with a relatively well-defined infiltrative, pigmented plaque with multiple colours and peripheral growth situated in the right axillary region. The histopathologic examination performed after complete surgical excision of the tumour revealed a complex pigmented BCC with macronodular, fibroepithelioma-like, cystic, focally infiltrative and basosquamous features. Uncommon locations of BCCs in sun-protected areas such as the axillary region require a higher degree of suspicion for diagnosis. The complex histology of the presented case, including subtypes with differing biologic attributes, emphasises the importance of histopathological examination in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of ...
Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, Jan 25, 2017
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy, accounting for the majority of al... more Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy, accounting for the majority of all non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). In the past several decades the worldwide incidence of BCC has constantly been increasing. Even though it is a slow growing tumour that, left untreated, rarely metastasizes, it has a distinctive invasive growth pattern, posing a considerable risk for local invasion and destruction of underlying tissues, such as muscle, cartilage, bone or vital structures. Advanced BCCs include such locally invasive or metastatic tumours. Complete surgical excision is the standard therapy for most uncomplicated BCC cases with good prognosis and cure rates. Treatment of advanced forms of BCCs poses significant therapeutic challenges, most often requiring complicated surgery, radiotherapy, and/or targeted therapies directed towards the sonic hedgehog signalling pathway (SHH). We present two cases of large BCCs located on the scalp and posterior thorax, which underwent sur...
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