Dermoscopic patterns of filiform papillae of the tongue in patients with and without connective tissue autoimmune diseases

Dermoscopy of Gottron's papules and other inflammatory dermatoses involving the dorsa of the hands

BACKGROUND

Several inflammatory dermatoses, including dermatomyositis (DM), may present as erythematous papules or plaques on the dorsal aspects of the hands over the joints. Limited skin involvement in these entities may pose a diagnostic challenge. (Video)dermoscopy is being utilized more frequently to aid in differential diagnosis of inflammatory skin conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the dermoscopic findings in Gottron's papules and compare with dermoscopic features of other dermatoses involving the dorsal aspects of the hands.

METHODS

Videodermoscopic images from patients presenting with erythematous papules or plaques on the dorsal surface of the hands were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of standardized dermoscopic parameters.

RESULTS

Dermoscopic images from patients with DM (n=12), psoriasis (n=19), chronic dermatitis (n=16), mycosis fungoides (n=7), lichen planus (n=5) and pityriasis rubra pilaris (n=3) were included. Gottron's papules were characterized by pleomorphic vessels (dotted vessels accompanied by thick or thin linear vessels with branches or linear curved vessels) in 66.7% of cases, arranged in unspecified pattern (91.7%), and accompanied by white or pink structureless areas (75.0%). Psoriatic plaques were characterized by dotted vessels arranged in a uniform pattern (94.7%). Vessels arranged in a ring pattern were nearly exclusively observed in psoriasis, while yellow structureless areas and erosions were more frequently present in chronic dermatitis. White lines, corresponding to Wickham striae, were specific for lichen planus.

CONCLUSIONS

Videodermoscopy might be of value in differentiating Gottron's papules from other dermatoses involving dorsa of the hands.

Dermoscopy and Trichoscopy in Dermatomyositis-A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

(Video)dermoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that has a well-established role in dermatooncology. In recent years, this method has also been increasingly used in the assessment of inflammatory dermatoses. So far, little is known about the (video)dermoscopic features of dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with DM were included in the study and videodermoscopic assessments of the nailfolds, scalp, and active skin lesions were performed.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with DM (10 women and 5 men) were included. Capillaroscopy showed elongated capillaries (90.9%), avascular areas (81.8%), disorganized vessel architecture (81.8%), tortuous capillaries (72.7%), dilated capillaries (72.7%), and hemorrhages (72.7%). The trichoscopic findings included linear branched vessels (80.0%), linear vessels (60.0%), linear curved vessels (53.3%), perifollicular pigmentation (40.0%), perifollicular erythema (33.3%), scaling (20.0%), white (20.0%) or yellow (20%) interfollicular scales, and white (20.0%) or pinkish (13.3%) structureless areas. Polymorphic vessels of an unspecific distribution and white or pink structureless areas were frequently observed under dermoscopy in cutaneous manifestations of DM, including Gottron's papules and Gottron's sign.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermoscopy of the nailfolds (capillaroscopy), scalp (tricoscopy), and active cutaneous lesions may be of value in the preliminary diagnosis of DM.

Application of mucous membrane dermoscopy (mucoscopy) in diagnostics of benign oral lesions - literature review and preliminary observations from International Dermoscopy Society study

Dermoscopy of mucosal surface termed "mucoscopy" is an upcoming offshoot of dermatological imaging. However, the literature on mucoscopy is limited to individual cases and small case series. An organized review or systematic analysis of mucoscopy is lacking. The aim of this review was to summarize the published literature on mucoscopic features of benign conditions affecting the oral mucosa and semi-mucosa. Additionally, the results of mucoscopic features of diseases, which have not been described before have been presented.

Effect of estradiol and Remifemin on the dorsal lingual epithelium of ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND

In this study, the ovariectomized rat model was used to explore the impact of menopause on rats' dorsal lingual epithelium; at the same time, the curative effects of Remifemin and estradiol were also observed.

METHODS

28 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups randomly, including sham-operated group (SHAM), an ovariectomized group (OVX), an ovariectomized treated with estradiol (OVX + E), an ovariectomized treated with Remifemin (OVX + iCR). Variation and possible mechanisms were studied via morphology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscope.

RESULTS

The results showed that the dorsal lingual epithelium became thinner significantly in the apex part in OVX group, as well as the levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) were lower than that in other three groups. However, they could reverse close to normal after estradiol and Remifemin treatment respectively.

CONCLUSION

The thinning in the apex of dorsal lingual epithelium might be due to the reduced proliferation in the germinal layer led by the abating of estrogen level, instead of apoptosis. This might play an important role in the pathogenesis of the menopause female tongue burning sensation. Remifemin had certain curative effect on the dorsal lingual mucosa, but a little more inferior than estrogen.

Non-invasive intravital observation of lingual surface features using sliding oral mucoscopy techniques in clinically healthy subjects

To investigate intravital morphological features of the broader area of the lingual mucosa in clinically healthy subjects, and to attempt to evaluate subclinical conditions, we evaluated detailed intravital morphological features of the lingual mucosa using our newly developed oral contact mucoscopy techniques. Clinically healthy subjects (female: 19-22 years, average age: 20.27 years, and n = 28) were enrolled. A position indicator stain was placed on the lingual mucosal surface, and sliding images were captured and then reconstructed. In addition, the lingual mucosa was divided into six areas, and morphometry of the fungiform and filiform papillae was performed. The results were statistically analyzed. There were two morphological features among clinically healthy subjects involving the filiform papillae: the length of the papillae and the degree of biofilm (tongue coat) deposition. We defined a modified tongue coat index (mTCI) with scores ranging from 0 (tongue coating not visible) to 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 (thick tongue coating) for six sections of the tongue dorsum. No subjects received a score of 2. Significant differences were found in the mTCI between the six sections of the tongue dorsum, especially between the posterior areas and the lingual apex. The fungiform papillae of some subjects exhibited elongated morphological changes. Our findings suggest that magnified lingual dorsum examination of a broader area is especially important in accurate screening for subclinical or transient conditions of potential lingual mucosal diseases. For this purpose, our new oral mucoscopy and non-invasive intravital observational techniques were especially effective.