Skin tags: a link between lesional mast cell count/tryptase expression and obesity and dyslipidemia

Congenital giant fibroepithelial polyp of the scrotum in an infant: the first case report from China

Giant fibroepithelial polyp (FP) of the scrotum in infants is a rare disease. We reported the first case of FP in China. The child was only 9 months and 12 days old and was admitted to the hospital due to rapid growth and rupture of the scrotal mass. The patient underwent scrotal exploration under general anesthesia, and the mass was cystic-solid with clear boundaries. The tumor did not invade the sarcolemma of the scrotum and testicular tissue. The intraoperative pathological frozen section tended to be benign, and the scrotum's tumor and subcutaneous pedicle tissue were removed entirely after 0.5 cm from the boundary of the mass. The operation was successful. The mass was confirmed as FP by postoperative pathology. 6 months after the operation, the incision healed well without recurrence. This case report has a detailed diagnosis and treatment process and adequate examination results. It can provide a reference for diagnosing and treating FP in infants and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Increase in mast cell marker expression in the synovium of obese patients with osteoarthritis of the knee

Purpose: While research suggests that obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the mechanisms are not fully understood. Mast cell (MC) numbers are increased in the osteoarthritic synovium and in the adipose tissue of obese individuals. We hypothesized that MC numbers are increased in the synovium of obese KOA patients. This study investigated MC marker and MC-generated cytokine/growth factor expression in the synovium of obese KOA patients. Patients and methods: Patients radiographically diagnosed with KOA (male: 38, female: 132) were allocated to three groups based on their body mass index (BMI): normal (<25 kg/m²), overweight (25-29.99 kg/m²) and obese (≥30 kg/m²), according to the World Health Organization BMI classification. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to compare the expression of MC markers (CD117, CD203c) and growth factors/cytokines (FGF2, VEGFA, TNFA, and IL8) in patients' synovium among the groups. Results: CD117 expression was significantly higher in the obese group than in the normal and overweight groups. CD203c and FGF2 expression were higher in the obese group than in the normal group. FGF2 expression levels were significantly correlated with those of CD117 (ρ=0.487) and CD203c (ρ=0.751). Conclusion: MC markers CD117 and CD203c, and FGF2 were highly expressed in the synovium of obese KOA patients. Further investigations are needed to reveal the role of MCs in the relationship between obesity and osteoarthritis pathology.

Mast cells participate in chronic low-grade inflammation within adipose tissue

Obesity is reckoned as one of the civilization diseases, posing a considerable global health issue. Evidence points towards a contribution of multitude immune cell populations in obesity pathomechanism and the development of chronic low-grade inflammation in the expanded adipose tissue. Notably, adipose tissue is a reservoir of mast cells which number in individuals with obesity particularly increased. Some of them tend to degranulation what generate secretion of strong pro-inflammatory and regulatory mediators, as well as cytokines/chemokines. Several lines of evidence suggest that mast cells are strictly associated with pro-inflammatory status in adipose tissue by their indirect impact on immune cell attraction and activation. Furthermore, mast cells affect adipose tissue remodelling and fibrosis by adipocyte differentiation, fibroblast proliferation and enhancing extracellular matrix proteins expression. This review will summarize current knowledge on mast cell features and their role in the development of chronic low-grade inflammation within adipose tissue.