Reticulated acanthoma with sebaceous differentiation mimicking melanoma

The Effect of Volatile Oil from Chinese Mugwort Leaf on Human Demodecid Mites In Vitro

BACKGROUND

Human demodecid mites including Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis Akbulatova can cause acne, rosacea, epifolliculitis, blepharitis, seborrheic dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, acromastitis and such skin health problems. Artemisia (Composiate) are widely distributed in temperate regions in the northern hemisphere. It has been reported that 17 species of plants in Artemisia used to be mugwort in China. Mugwort volatile oil (MVO) has antibacterial and antiviral effects, can relieve cough and asthma, acts as an expectorant, choleretic and sedative, and promotes circulation and enhances immunity.

PURPOSE

This research was to observe the effect of MVO on two types of human demodecid mites in vitro.

METHODS

The MVO was obtained via the supercritical CO₂ extraction method, and the human demodecid mites were acquired with cellophane tape. MVO had a distinct killing effect on two types of human demodecid mites, Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. The body of the demodecid mites has a classical temporal process, which consists of excitement, contractions, death and transparency. The killing time was lengthened with decreasing concentration, thus showing an evident dependence on concentration.

RESULTS

The experiment showed that 3.125% was the minimum effective concentration of MVO for killing D. brevis, and 6.25% was the minimum effective concentration for killing D. folliculorum; the killing effect of MVO on D. brevis was greater than on D. follilorum.

CONCLUSION

This result suggests that mugwort, which acts as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has a noticeable killing effect on human demodecid mites.

Dermoscopy in Monitoring and Predicting Therapeutic Response in General Dermatology (Non-Tumoral Dermatoses): An Up-To-Date Overview

Besides the well-known use in supporting the non-invasive diagnosis of non-tumoral dermatoses (general dermatology), dermoscopy has been shown to be a promising tool also in predicting and monitoring therapeutic outcomes of such conditions, with the consequent improvement/optimization of their treatment. In the present paper, we sought to provide an up-to-date overview on the use of dermoscopy in highlighting response predictor factors and evaluating therapeutic results in the field of general dermatology according to the current literature data. Several dermatoses may somehow benefit from such applications, including inflammatory conditions (psoriasis, lichen planus, dermatitis, granulomatous conditions, erythro-telangiectatic rosacea, Zoon balanitis and vulvitis, cutaneous mastocytosis, morphea and extra-genital lichen sclerosus), pigmentary disorders (vitiligo and melasma) and infectious dermatoses (scabies, pediculosis, demodicosis and viral warts).

Clinical value of high-resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI in diagnosis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

While uncomplicated cases of skin squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) can be treated with surgery topical therapy alone, more objective and non-invasive examination methods are needed to guide clinicians to make more detailed biopsy and surgical plans for lesions with atypical or subcutaneous growth. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) is a novel skin imaging method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective collection of 19 patients with clinically suspected cSCC. All patients underwent high-resolution DCE-MRI using a 70-mm microscopy coil before operation. The imaging features and results of surgical pathology were recorded. K^trans , K_ep , V_e values, and the time-signal curve (TIC) types were determined using DCE images.

RESULTS

16 cases of cSCC, 3 cases of acanthoma. The subcutaneous invasion of all lesions was clearly displayed, of which 8 lesions invaded the subcutaneous fat layer, 5 invaded the muscle layer, 1 invaded the periosteum, 2 invaded the cap fascia, and the layer of all lesions invasion judged by HR-MR imaging was consistent with the postoperative pathology. The main manifestations of cSCC were ill-defined margin, obvious inhomogeneous enhancement, higher perfusion parameters value and type-III TIC, while acanthoma showed well-defined and type-I TIC. Some imaging findings (such as boundary, enhancement) and DCE perfusion parameters of the two groups overlap.

CONCLUSION

High-resolution DCE-MRI can fully and directly display the subcutaneous invasion of cSCC, and more work needs to be done to prove its value. Next, we will expand the sample size, and further explore its value in the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of cSCC from acanthoma or other skin tumors.