G. Proietto | Università degli Studi "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti Pescara (original) (raw)
Papers by G. Proietto
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1998
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: Incorporating Medical and Surgical Dermatology, 2004
Background: Nail psoriasis is a common problem in psoriatic patients and often it is difficult to... more Background: Nail psoriasis is a common problem in psoriatic patients and often it is difficult to cure. Several treatments have been proposed in the last decade using new molecules like vitamin-D analog and/or immunosoppressive drugs both systemically and locally. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate a combination of cyclosporin and topical calcipotriol cream versus cyclosporin alone in a matched group of patients treated with cyclosporin alone. Method: Fifty-four patients affected by severe psoriasis and nail involvement were selected and matched for severity of nail involvement, sex, age, and cyclosporin dosage. Group A included 21 patients treated with cyclosporin alone (3.5 rug/kg/day) for three months. Group B included 33 patients treated with the same cyclosporin dosage plus, for the same time, topical application of calcipotriol cream twice a day. Evaluation for clinical improvement was the personal feeling of the patient after three months, while clinical appearance of the lesions was evaluated by the same dermatologist using digital pictures and who was blind as to the treatment of the patient. A score ranging from + to +++ was used in order to evaluate the improvement, and data were statistically evaluated with the Wilcoxon test. Results: Both cyclosporin alone and a combination of cyclosporin with topical calcipotriol twice a day were useful for treating nail psoriasis after three months of therapy although the combined therapy showed a better overall result in both mild and severe nail psoriasis. Improvement of the clinical appearance of the nail lesions was seen in about 79% of patients in group B (p~0.0004) versus about 47% of patients in group A (p~0.15). ConclusionsIn patients with severe involvement of nail psoriasis we suggest the use of a combination of topical calcipotriol twice a day with systemic treatment such as cyclosporine. Sommaire Antecedents: Le psoriasis ungueal est une affection frequente et souvent difficile a guerir qui se presente chez les patients souffrant de psoriasis. Plusieurs traitements ont ete proposes durant la derniere decennie qui impliquent I'usage systemique ou local de nouvelles molecules telles que l'analogue de la vitamine D ou des medicaments immunosuppresseurs. Objectif: Notre objectif etait de comparer l'effet d'un traitement combine de la cyclosporine et du calcipotriol topique en creme avec l'effet de la cyclosporine utilisee seule, dans un groupe apparetlle de patients traites ala cyclosporine. Method54 patients souffrant de psoriasis aigu impliquant l'ongle ont ete choisis et appareilles selon la gravite
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1998
Background and Design Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are disea... more Background and Design Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are diseases with similar clinical, histological, and immunofluorescent findings. Diagnosis requires the use of immunoelectron microscopy, immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting, but in recent years the differential diagnosis has been based on a cheaper technique named salt split skin. This study demonstrates that with a suction blister the fracture is at the same level as that obtained with the sodium split method and that it is also faster and cheaper. Suction blisters on normal skin and autoimmune perilesional bullous lesions, obtained with a hand vacuum pump, were studied by direct immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to evaluate the level of the split on normal suction split skin. Normal human split skin was also used as a substrate for an indirect immunofluorescent study using sera of patients with BP (68 sera), EBA (10 sera) and cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) (16 sera). Direct immunofluorescent examination was also done on perilesional skin after artificial separation obtained with a handvacuum pump in patients with the same diseases listed above (32 BP, 11 CP, 6 EBA). Results On normal human skin split by suction or sodium chloride (NaCl; 1 mol/l) direct immunofluorescence and electron microscopy demonstrated that the split is at the lamina lucida level. Indirect immunofluorescent study of both normal human skin and perilesional skin split using suction as a substrate showed IgG deposits localized on the floor of the suction blister in all cases of EBA, whereas in over 88% of cases of BP and in over 62% of CP the IgG were localized on the roof. Similar results were obtained with direct immunofluorescence in perilesional skin. Conclusions 'Suction split' represents a simple technique to differentiate EBA from BP. This method provides final response in a few hours compared to at least 1-2 days with the sodium split method. Furthermore, the suction split method is cheaper and the tissue can be re-utilized for molecular biology and immunohistochemical studies.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2001
The pathogenesis of AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis is D ysregulation towards a predomi... more The pathogenesis of AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis is D ysregulation towards a predominant Th2 cytokines expresstill unknown. The expression of chemokines and Th2-type sion (IL-4 and IL-5) has been implicated in diseases charactercytokines is increased in other conditions associated with tissue ized by eosinophilic activation, such as parasitic infection, as eosinophilia and in allergic reactions. We evaluated the mRNA well as atopic or allergic diseases (8). It has been suggested expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction that Th2 cytokines play a role in Ofuji disease (9), a disease of two Th2 cytokines (interleukin-4 and interleukin-5) and of which is closely related to AID S-EF. IL-5 mediates blood two chemokines (RANTES and eotaxin) in the skin of 6 patients eosinophilia (10) and in the tissue it could prolong mature with AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis; the tissue localizeosinophils survival and stimulate their proin ammatory funcation of eotaxin was shown by immunohistochemistry. We tions (11). R ecently, it has been shown that this cytokine demonstrated the increased expression of interleukin-4, exerts its eOE ects on eosinophils, enhancing the chemotactic interleukin-5, RANTES and eotaxin in lesional skin of the eOE ects of chemokines such as regulated upon activation normal patients compared to normal skin of HIV + individuals. We
European journal of dermatology : EJD
Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness... more Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness with a characteristic cutaneous eruption. Population-based cohort studies provide evidence of an increased frequency of cancer in dermatomyositis patients. Many signs and serology tests have been suggested as markers for malignancy in dermatomyositis. We performed a case-control study on the patients admitted in our institutions for dermatomyositis. Clinical and laboratory data were collected and statistical analysis was performed to reveal important predictive signs of malignancy in dermatomyositis. We found no statistical difference in the clinical or laboratory parameters between the dermatomyositis patients with or without malignancy, with the exception of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In our study group an erythrocyte sedimentation rate higher than 35 mm/hr was very strongly associated with the presence or the development of a malignancy. Given the high positive and negative ...
Journal of Dermatological Science, 1998
The British journal of dermatology, 2000
BACKGROUND The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is main... more BACKGROUND The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed of CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, is believed to play an important part in the pathogenesis of the disease. Previous studies suggest that cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-4 and IL-5 could be involved in the pathogenesis of DH. These cytokines appear to drive tissue infiltration and maturation of eosinophils. Part of the effect of T-helper (Th) 2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) on eosinophils could be mediated by eotaxin, which is a highly specific chemotactic protein induced by various cytokines [IL-4, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha and interferon-gamma]. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the expression of eotaxin and its inducers, IL-13 and TNF-alpha, in DH. METHODS We examined lesions collected from 10 DH patients with active disease. Sections from each specimen were incubated with anti-IL-13, anti-TNF-...
Surgical treatment for acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is usually radical and severely invalidat... more Surgical treatment for acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is usually radical and severely invalidating, given its distinctly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. We report on a 76-year-old male patient with ALM of the left thumb who refused total amputation that would limit his gripping function. A "surgical degloving" was consequently performed, followed by plastic reconstruction with a radial antebrachial (the so-called Chinese) flap. A year after surgery, the patient was able to perform most finalized thumb movements without difficulty, and no metastases were recorded over a 5-year follow-up. The authors discuss the indications for such a treatment for thinner ALM in relation to the biological behavior of ALM.
Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registr... more Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registry-derived epidemiologic data on malignant melanoma in Italy are available only in some northern regions of the country. Aim To report the number and characteristics of incident cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo, a central-southern Italian region. Methods Screening of the archives of the pathology departments of regional hospitals from 2002 to 2005 was performed. For each patient, clinical and pathologic data were collected. Cases of metastatic, multiple, or relapsing melanoma were excluded. Results Six hundred and seventy-two cases of primary melanoma were recorded, with an incidence rate of 14.1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Differences related to gender (41.1% males and 58.9% females) and age (35% in the 50-70-year age group) were found. The trunk (30.7%) and lower limbs (25.94%) were the most frequent sites observed. The superficial spreading histiotype and thin melanoma (≤ 1.00 mm) were more often recorded (44.8% and 62%, respectively). Conclusions Despite the bias present in this study, linked to the nature and source of the data, we believe that the figures found in this report are comparable with those obtained in the international literature from other Mediterranean countries.
International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 1995
Lupus Erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disorder with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Ski... more Lupus Erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disorder with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Skin lesions of LE express several cytokines which correlate to histological findings such as IL-1 and IL-6 which are mediators of epidermal growth and proliferation. Skin lesions of LE are generally treated with immunosuppressive agents such as oral or topically applied corticosteroids. Recently a new drug, calcipotriol, a vitamin D3 analogue has been useful in treatment of psoriasis with no ad verse effect on calcium metabolism. This drug shares immunomodulatory effects with vit. D3 by inhibiting several cytokines produced by keratinocytes. In order to test the clinical effectiveness of calcipotriol in cutaneous lesions of LE we have investigated several proinflammatory cytokines such as: IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α. Using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase system we have found IL-1 in both forms, IL-6 and TNF-α in basal keratinocytes in patients affected with LE, af...
International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty ac... more Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the cellular membrane. They have been used as a specific index of cellular lipoperoxidation and as an indirect measure of oxidative stress. However, these molecules also present several biological activities. An oxidative environment measured as the presence of other indirect measurements of reactive oxygen species lipoperoxidation has recently been described in basal cell carcinoma, the most frequent type of non-melanoma skin cancer. This study aims to measure the levels of 8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha, an isoprostane widely studied in other models as a by-product of ROS-induced lipid peroxidation, in basal cell carcinoma and in UVA irradiated healthy skin. We found that 8-iso-PGF2 alpha is present in higher levels in BCC specimens compared to healthy non sun-exposed skin, confirming previous studies on the production of lipoperoxidation in this tumor. Moreover, we demonstrated t...
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1997
International Journal of Dermatology, 2009
Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades.
G Ital Dermatol …, 1994
... Adjuvant therapy with recombinant alpha-interferon in nonmetastatic melanoma. TERAPIA ADIUVAN... more ... Adjuvant therapy with recombinant alpha-interferon in nonmetastatic melanoma. TERAPIA ADIUVANTE CON INTERFERON-ALFA RICOMBINANTE NEL MELANOMA CUTANEO. by M Amatetti, G Proietto, A Paolini, C Feliciani, C Cazzato ... Lara Vallés, Marta González, Isabel Polo ...
The British journal of dermatology, 1998
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease, in which a perivascul... more Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease, in which a perivascular cellular infiltrate, composed mainly of CD4+ T lymphocytes together with a varying number of neutrophils and eosinophils, is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of blister formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of cytokines such as the interleukins IL-4 and IL-5 and to quantify the distribution of T cells as well as their state of activation using alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedures in seven patients with typical clinical and histological features of DH. A strong extracellular staining with anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody was detected in the upper dermis with a prevalent perivascular pattern in perilesional areas, whereas in the dermal-epidermal separation sites there was an intense, scattered distribution. IL-5 was intensely expressed, mainly at the intracellular level, by eosinophils and lymphocytes. Concerning RT-PCR, five DH patients showed a strong positive signal for both IL-4 and IL-5 cytokines while two patients showed a faint signal for both IL-4 and IL-5; these last two cases were histologically poor in inflammatory cells. In view of these results, it can be hypothesized that the recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils in DH may be induced not only by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-8 as previously demonstrated, but also by Th2 cytokines as well.
A 75-year-old man with a longstanding history of MDS had a 2-year history of erythematous papules... more A 75-year-old man with a longstanding history of MDS had a 2-year history of erythematous papules involving the trunk and extremities. A previous biopsy seen at another institution was diagnosed as
British Journal of Dermatology, 2000
The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed... more The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed of CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, is believed to play an important part in the pathogenesis of the disease. Previous studies suggest that cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-4 and IL-5 could be involved in the pathogenesis of DH. These cytokines appear to drive tissue infiltration and maturation of eosinophils. Part of the effect of T-helper (Th) 2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) on eosinophils could be mediated by eotaxin, which is a highly specific chemotactic protein induced by various cytokines [IL-4, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha and interferon-gamma]. To evaluate the expression of eotaxin and its inducers, IL-13 and TNF-alpha, in DH. METHODS We examined lesions collected from 10 DH patients with active disease. Sections from each specimen were incubated with anti-IL-13, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-eotaxin antibodies. Chloroacetyl esterase reaction was performed to show mast cell infiltration. Eotaxin was mainly expressed at the tips of the dermal papillae, within the microabscesses. Positivity was also found in the lymphomonocytic infiltrate in the dermis. IL-13 was expressed in the dermal infiltrate and TNF-alpha was found in the inflammatory infiltrate and in dermal vascular cells. These findings confirm the importance of the lymphomonocytic infiltrate and of Th2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of this disease, suggesting that tissue infiltration in DH is mediated by cell-specific chemokines such as eotaxin and not only by non-specific chemokines such as IL-8.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1998
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: Incorporating Medical and Surgical Dermatology, 2004
Background: Nail psoriasis is a common problem in psoriatic patients and often it is difficult to... more Background: Nail psoriasis is a common problem in psoriatic patients and often it is difficult to cure. Several treatments have been proposed in the last decade using new molecules like vitamin-D analog and/or immunosoppressive drugs both systemically and locally. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate a combination of cyclosporin and topical calcipotriol cream versus cyclosporin alone in a matched group of patients treated with cyclosporin alone. Method: Fifty-four patients affected by severe psoriasis and nail involvement were selected and matched for severity of nail involvement, sex, age, and cyclosporin dosage. Group A included 21 patients treated with cyclosporin alone (3.5 rug/kg/day) for three months. Group B included 33 patients treated with the same cyclosporin dosage plus, for the same time, topical application of calcipotriol cream twice a day. Evaluation for clinical improvement was the personal feeling of the patient after three months, while clinical appearance of the lesions was evaluated by the same dermatologist using digital pictures and who was blind as to the treatment of the patient. A score ranging from + to +++ was used in order to evaluate the improvement, and data were statistically evaluated with the Wilcoxon test. Results: Both cyclosporin alone and a combination of cyclosporin with topical calcipotriol twice a day were useful for treating nail psoriasis after three months of therapy although the combined therapy showed a better overall result in both mild and severe nail psoriasis. Improvement of the clinical appearance of the nail lesions was seen in about 79% of patients in group B (p~0.0004) versus about 47% of patients in group A (p~0.15). ConclusionsIn patients with severe involvement of nail psoriasis we suggest the use of a combination of topical calcipotriol twice a day with systemic treatment such as cyclosporine. Sommaire Antecedents: Le psoriasis ungueal est une affection frequente et souvent difficile a guerir qui se presente chez les patients souffrant de psoriasis. Plusieurs traitements ont ete proposes durant la derniere decennie qui impliquent I'usage systemique ou local de nouvelles molecules telles que l'analogue de la vitamine D ou des medicaments immunosuppresseurs. Objectif: Notre objectif etait de comparer l'effet d'un traitement combine de la cyclosporine et du calcipotriol topique en creme avec l'effet de la cyclosporine utilisee seule, dans un groupe apparetlle de patients traites ala cyclosporine. Method54 patients souffrant de psoriasis aigu impliquant l'ongle ont ete choisis et appareilles selon la gravite
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1998
Background and Design Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are disea... more Background and Design Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are diseases with similar clinical, histological, and immunofluorescent findings. Diagnosis requires the use of immunoelectron microscopy, immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting, but in recent years the differential diagnosis has been based on a cheaper technique named salt split skin. This study demonstrates that with a suction blister the fracture is at the same level as that obtained with the sodium split method and that it is also faster and cheaper. Suction blisters on normal skin and autoimmune perilesional bullous lesions, obtained with a hand vacuum pump, were studied by direct immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to evaluate the level of the split on normal suction split skin. Normal human split skin was also used as a substrate for an indirect immunofluorescent study using sera of patients with BP (68 sera), EBA (10 sera) and cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) (16 sera). Direct immunofluorescent examination was also done on perilesional skin after artificial separation obtained with a handvacuum pump in patients with the same diseases listed above (32 BP, 11 CP, 6 EBA). Results On normal human skin split by suction or sodium chloride (NaCl; 1 mol/l) direct immunofluorescence and electron microscopy demonstrated that the split is at the lamina lucida level. Indirect immunofluorescent study of both normal human skin and perilesional skin split using suction as a substrate showed IgG deposits localized on the floor of the suction blister in all cases of EBA, whereas in over 88% of cases of BP and in over 62% of CP the IgG were localized on the roof. Similar results were obtained with direct immunofluorescence in perilesional skin. Conclusions 'Suction split' represents a simple technique to differentiate EBA from BP. This method provides final response in a few hours compared to at least 1-2 days with the sodium split method. Furthermore, the suction split method is cheaper and the tissue can be re-utilized for molecular biology and immunohistochemical studies.
Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2001
The pathogenesis of AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis is D ysregulation towards a predomi... more The pathogenesis of AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis is D ysregulation towards a predominant Th2 cytokines expresstill unknown. The expression of chemokines and Th2-type sion (IL-4 and IL-5) has been implicated in diseases charactercytokines is increased in other conditions associated with tissue ized by eosinophilic activation, such as parasitic infection, as eosinophilia and in allergic reactions. We evaluated the mRNA well as atopic or allergic diseases (8). It has been suggested expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction that Th2 cytokines play a role in Ofuji disease (9), a disease of two Th2 cytokines (interleukin-4 and interleukin-5) and of which is closely related to AID S-EF. IL-5 mediates blood two chemokines (RANTES and eotaxin) in the skin of 6 patients eosinophilia (10) and in the tissue it could prolong mature with AIDS-associated eosinophilic folliculitis; the tissue localizeosinophils survival and stimulate their proin ammatory funcation of eotaxin was shown by immunohistochemistry. We tions (11). R ecently, it has been shown that this cytokine demonstrated the increased expression of interleukin-4, exerts its eOE ects on eosinophils, enhancing the chemotactic interleukin-5, RANTES and eotaxin in lesional skin of the eOE ects of chemokines such as regulated upon activation normal patients compared to normal skin of HIV + individuals. We
European journal of dermatology : EJD
Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness... more Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by proximal symmetrical muscle weakness with a characteristic cutaneous eruption. Population-based cohort studies provide evidence of an increased frequency of cancer in dermatomyositis patients. Many signs and serology tests have been suggested as markers for malignancy in dermatomyositis. We performed a case-control study on the patients admitted in our institutions for dermatomyositis. Clinical and laboratory data were collected and statistical analysis was performed to reveal important predictive signs of malignancy in dermatomyositis. We found no statistical difference in the clinical or laboratory parameters between the dermatomyositis patients with or without malignancy, with the exception of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In our study group an erythrocyte sedimentation rate higher than 35 mm/hr was very strongly associated with the presence or the development of a malignancy. Given the high positive and negative ...
Journal of Dermatological Science, 1998
The British journal of dermatology, 2000
BACKGROUND The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is main... more BACKGROUND The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed of CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, is believed to play an important part in the pathogenesis of the disease. Previous studies suggest that cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-4 and IL-5 could be involved in the pathogenesis of DH. These cytokines appear to drive tissue infiltration and maturation of eosinophils. Part of the effect of T-helper (Th) 2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) on eosinophils could be mediated by eotaxin, which is a highly specific chemotactic protein induced by various cytokines [IL-4, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha and interferon-gamma]. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the expression of eotaxin and its inducers, IL-13 and TNF-alpha, in DH. METHODS We examined lesions collected from 10 DH patients with active disease. Sections from each specimen were incubated with anti-IL-13, anti-TNF-...
Surgical treatment for acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is usually radical and severely invalidat... more Surgical treatment for acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is usually radical and severely invalidating, given its distinctly aggressive nature and poor prognosis. We report on a 76-year-old male patient with ALM of the left thumb who refused total amputation that would limit his gripping function. A "surgical degloving" was consequently performed, followed by plastic reconstruction with a radial antebrachial (the so-called Chinese) flap. A year after surgery, the patient was able to perform most finalized thumb movements without difficulty, and no metastases were recorded over a 5-year follow-up. The authors discuss the indications for such a treatment for thinner ALM in relation to the biological behavior of ALM.
Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registr... more Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades. Cancer registry-derived epidemiologic data on malignant melanoma in Italy are available only in some northern regions of the country. Aim To report the number and characteristics of incident cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Abruzzo, a central-southern Italian region. Methods Screening of the archives of the pathology departments of regional hospitals from 2002 to 2005 was performed. For each patient, clinical and pathologic data were collected. Cases of metastatic, multiple, or relapsing melanoma were excluded. Results Six hundred and seventy-two cases of primary melanoma were recorded, with an incidence rate of 14.1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Differences related to gender (41.1% males and 58.9% females) and age (35% in the 50-70-year age group) were found. The trunk (30.7%) and lower limbs (25.94%) were the most frequent sites observed. The superficial spreading histiotype and thin melanoma (≤ 1.00 mm) were more often recorded (44.8% and 62%, respectively). Conclusions Despite the bias present in this study, linked to the nature and source of the data, we believe that the figures found in this report are comparable with those obtained in the international literature from other Mediterranean countries.
International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 1995
Lupus Erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disorder with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Ski... more Lupus Erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disorder with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Skin lesions of LE express several cytokines which correlate to histological findings such as IL-1 and IL-6 which are mediators of epidermal growth and proliferation. Skin lesions of LE are generally treated with immunosuppressive agents such as oral or topically applied corticosteroids. Recently a new drug, calcipotriol, a vitamin D3 analogue has been useful in treatment of psoriasis with no ad verse effect on calcium metabolism. This drug shares immunomodulatory effects with vit. D3 by inhibiting several cytokines produced by keratinocytes. In order to test the clinical effectiveness of calcipotriol in cutaneous lesions of LE we have investigated several proinflammatory cytokines such as: IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α. Using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase system we have found IL-1 in both forms, IL-6 and TNF-α in basal keratinocytes in patients affected with LE, af...
International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty ac... more Isoprostanes are prostaglandin isomers produced from the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the cellular membrane. They have been used as a specific index of cellular lipoperoxidation and as an indirect measure of oxidative stress. However, these molecules also present several biological activities. An oxidative environment measured as the presence of other indirect measurements of reactive oxygen species lipoperoxidation has recently been described in basal cell carcinoma, the most frequent type of non-melanoma skin cancer. This study aims to measure the levels of 8-isoprostaglandin F2alpha, an isoprostane widely studied in other models as a by-product of ROS-induced lipid peroxidation, in basal cell carcinoma and in UVA irradiated healthy skin. We found that 8-iso-PGF2 alpha is present in higher levels in BCC specimens compared to healthy non sun-exposed skin, confirming previous studies on the production of lipoperoxidation in this tumor. Moreover, we demonstrated t...
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 1997
International Journal of Dermatology, 2009
Background Malignant melanoma incidence has increased worldwide in recent decades.
G Ital Dermatol …, 1994
... Adjuvant therapy with recombinant alpha-interferon in nonmetastatic melanoma. TERAPIA ADIUVAN... more ... Adjuvant therapy with recombinant alpha-interferon in nonmetastatic melanoma. TERAPIA ADIUVANTE CON INTERFERON-ALFA RICOMBINANTE NEL MELANOMA CUTANEO. by M Amatetti, G Proietto, A Paolini, C Feliciani, C Cazzato ... Lara Vallés, Marta González, Isabel Polo ...
The British journal of dermatology, 1998
Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease, in which a perivascul... more Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a chronic subepidermal blistering disease, in which a perivascular cellular infiltrate, composed mainly of CD4+ T lymphocytes together with a varying number of neutrophils and eosinophils, is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of blister formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of cytokines such as the interleukins IL-4 and IL-5 and to quantify the distribution of T cells as well as their state of activation using alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedures in seven patients with typical clinical and histological features of DH. A strong extracellular staining with anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody was detected in the upper dermis with a prevalent perivascular pattern in perilesional areas, whereas in the dermal-epidermal separation sites there was an intense, scattered distribution. IL-5 was intensely expressed, mainly at the intracellular level, by eosinophils and lymphocytes. Concerning RT-PCR, five DH patients showed a strong positive signal for both IL-4 and IL-5 cytokines while two patients showed a faint signal for both IL-4 and IL-5; these last two cases were histologically poor in inflammatory cells. In view of these results, it can be hypothesized that the recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils in DH may be induced not only by granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-8 as previously demonstrated, but also by Th2 cytokines as well.
A 75-year-old man with a longstanding history of MDS had a 2-year history of erythematous papules... more A 75-year-old man with a longstanding history of MDS had a 2-year history of erythematous papules involving the trunk and extremities. A previous biopsy seen at another institution was diagnosed as
British Journal of Dermatology, 2000
The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed... more The dermal and perivascular infiltrate in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which is mainly composed of CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, is believed to play an important part in the pathogenesis of the disease. Previous studies suggest that cytokines such as interleukin (IL) -8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IL-4 and IL-5 could be involved in the pathogenesis of DH. These cytokines appear to drive tissue infiltration and maturation of eosinophils. Part of the effect of T-helper (Th) 2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) on eosinophils could be mediated by eotaxin, which is a highly specific chemotactic protein induced by various cytokines [IL-4, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha and interferon-gamma]. To evaluate the expression of eotaxin and its inducers, IL-13 and TNF-alpha, in DH. METHODS We examined lesions collected from 10 DH patients with active disease. Sections from each specimen were incubated with anti-IL-13, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-eotaxin antibodies. Chloroacetyl esterase reaction was performed to show mast cell infiltration. Eotaxin was mainly expressed at the tips of the dermal papillae, within the microabscesses. Positivity was also found in the lymphomonocytic infiltrate in the dermis. IL-13 was expressed in the dermal infiltrate and TNF-alpha was found in the inflammatory infiltrate and in dermal vascular cells. These findings confirm the importance of the lymphomonocytic infiltrate and of Th2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of this disease, suggesting that tissue infiltration in DH is mediated by cell-specific chemokines such as eotaxin and not only by non-specific chemokines such as IL-8.