Unilateral naevoid telangiectatic syndrome--a study of two cases

Influences of dopaminergic system dysfunction on late-life depression

Deficits in cognition, reward processing, and motor function are clinical features relevant to both aging and depression. Individuals with late-life depression often show impairment across these domains, all of which are moderated by the functioning of dopaminergic circuits. As dopaminergic function declines with normal aging and increased inflammatory burden, the role of dopamine may be particularly salient for late-life depression. We review the literature examining the role of dopamine in the pathogenesis of depression, as well as how dopamine function changes with aging and is influenced by inflammation. Applying a Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Initiative perspective, we then review work examining how dopaminergic signaling affects these domains, specifically focusing on Cognitive, Positive Valence, and Sensorimotor Systems. We propose a unified model incorporating the effects of aging and low-grade inflammation on dopaminergic functioning, with a resulting negative effect on cognition, reward processing, and motor function. Interplay between these systems may influence development of a depressive phenotype, with an initial deficit in one domain reinforcing decline in others. This model extends RDoC concepts into late-life depression while also providing opportunities for novel and personalized interventions.

Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Major Depressive Disorder

Major depression represents a complex and prevalent psychological disease that is characterized by persistent depressed mood, impaired cognitive function and complicated pathophysiological and neuroendocrine alterations. Despite the multifactorial etiology of depression, one of the most recent factors to be identified as playing a critical role in the development of depression is blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. The occurrence of BBB integrity disruption contributes to the disturbance of brain homeostasis and leads to complications of neurological diseases, such as stroke, chronic neurodegenerative disorders, neuroinflammatory disorders. Recently, BBB associated tight junction disruption has been shown to implicate in the pathophysiology of depression and contribute to increased susceptibility to depression. However, the underlying mechanisms and importance of BBB damage in depression remains largely unknown. This review highlights how BBB disruption regulates the depression process and the possible molecular mechanisms involved in development of depression-induced BBB dysfunction. Moreover, insight on promising therapeutic targets for treatment of depression with associated BBB dysfunctions are also discussed.

Unilateral nevoid telangiectasia and hyperthyroidism: a new association or coincidence?

Telangiectasia and spider angioma were distributed in a unilateral, dermatomal pattern in a female patient. Physical examination and laboratory studies revealed hyperthyroidism. The possible effects of thyroid hormones on formation of vascular nevi were considered to be noteworthy.

Unilateral dermatomal superficial telangiectasia

A three-year-old boy with unilateral dermatomal superficial telangiectasia (UDST) is the first reported case with skin lesions in two non-adjacent areas (dermatomal areas of Trigeminal2 and L4-5). In this case, onset occurred at an early age, the onset was eight months after an operation, and the liver function was normal; therefore we believe it is congenital, even though the patient had undergone an extensive right hepatectomy to remove a hamartoma in his liver at the age of four months.