Metallothionein (MT) has many functions that are modulated by several factors, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cytokines. We thought that these diverse functions of MT might reflect the specific regulatory me...Metallothionein (MT) has many functions that are modulated by several factors, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cytokines. We thought that these diverse functions of MT might reflect the specific regulatory mechanisms of its expression. To understand some of the molecular mechanisms underlying MT expression, we examined the effects of several cytokines and UVB on the promoter activity of the MT gene. First, we introduced the MT promoter construct into the HaCaT keratinocytes and treated them with various concentrations of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and IL-6. The addition of IL-1α and IL-6 led to an increase in the promoter activity of the MT gene. UVB is known to induce MT expression in epidermal keratinocytes, and IL-6 is a possible mediator of MT induction by UV radiation. Therefore, we investigated whether UVB could induce MT promoter activity. Our results showed, interestingly, that UVB radiation has no or little effect on the promoter activity. This suggested a complex molecular regulation of the MT gene.展开更多
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent of cervical carcinoma and some malignant cutaneous tumors. The integration of HPV DNA into the host genome is one of the most important risk factors for malig...Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent of cervical carcinoma and some malignant cutaneous tumors. The integration of HPV DNA into the host genome is one of the most important risk factors for malignant transformation. Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old man with multiple, black-brown genital macules and nodules. Histological findings resembled those for Bowen’s disease, and we made a diagnosis of bowenoid papulosis. This condition is generally benign, but invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from bowenoid papulosis has been previously reported. Therefore, we took biopsy specimens from 10 lesions and tested them for the presence of HPV DNA. DNA sequencing identified HPV type 16 (HPV-16) DNA in all samples. Next, we excised 4 different relatively large lesions and performed an amplification of papillomavirus oncogene transcripts (APOT) assay. This assay showed that all samples had only episome-derived viral transcripts, indicating no integration of HPV DNA into the host genome. We have followed this case for 3 years, and no progression to Bowen’s disease or SCC has so far been observed. We conclude that the APOT assay is a feasible method for evaluating the malignant potential of bowenoid papulosis.展开更多
A 60-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for yellow-brown plaques accompanied by ulceration on her left lower leg. Her medical history included neither diabetes mellitus nor minor trauma. A histopatho...A 60-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for yellow-brown plaques accompanied by ulceration on her left lower leg. Her medical history included neither diabetes mellitus nor minor trauma. A histopathological examination of the plaques showed necrobiotic changes within the dermal collagen surrounded by granulomas that comprised lymphocytes, histiocytes, and giant cells. The lower dermis revealed fibrotic changes that extended into the subcutaneous tissue. The patient’s blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were within the normal ranges. We considered a diagnosis of necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) in the absence of diabetes mellitus. We reviewed 116 cases of NL that were reported in the Japanese medical literature between 1986 and 2014 and found that NL onset was most common in individuals of both sexes ≥ 60 years of age. Previous reports that reviewed NL cases in the Japanese medical literature that were published during the1900s indicated that NL occurs in people ≥ 40 years of age. We suggest that the aging population and increasingly longer life spans have increased the average age of NL onset in Japan. With regard to treatments, there were no effective treatments, but skin grafts were curative. NL treatment is very difficult, especially when ulcers are present;hence, we suggest that further research is needed to determine effective NL treatments.展开更多
While erythema nodosum is a nodular, erythematous eruption predominantly affecting the extensor aspects of the legs, breast abscesses are the result of relatively common bacterial infections, and only 2 studies have r...While erythema nodosum is a nodular, erythematous eruption predominantly affecting the extensor aspects of the legs, breast abscesses are the result of relatively common bacterial infections, and only 2 studies have reported an association between erythema nodosum and breast abscesses. Here, we report the case of a patient with repeated erythema nodosum associated with subareolar abscesses. The patient was a 34-year-old woman with painful erythematous nodules on her right shin, accompanied by an indurated lesion on her right breast 4 days before the onset of the nodules. Therefore, the patient underwent circumareolar incision, and consequently the painful erythematous nodules disappeared. However, after 39 days, the patient developed another tender, painful lesion in her right breast and painful erythematous nodules on her right shin. After another circumareolar incision, the painful erythematous nodules disappeared again. Therefore, we suggested a significant association between erythema nodosum and breast abscess in this patient. The most common underlying causative organism in breast abscess is Staphylococcus aureus;however, erythema nodosum has rarely been proven to be associated with staphylococcal infections. Therefore, the relationship between S. aureus and erythema nodosum is rather controversial. However, the resistance to the usual treatment methods and prolonged clinical course in our case suggest that the pathogenesis of erythema nodosum associated with breast abscesses might be different from that of the common form of erythema nodosum.展开更多
文摘Metallothionein (MT) has many functions that are modulated by several factors, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation and cytokines. We thought that these diverse functions of MT might reflect the specific regulatory mechanisms of its expression. To understand some of the molecular mechanisms underlying MT expression, we examined the effects of several cytokines and UVB on the promoter activity of the MT gene. First, we introduced the MT promoter construct into the HaCaT keratinocytes and treated them with various concentrations of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and IL-6. The addition of IL-1α and IL-6 led to an increase in the promoter activity of the MT gene. UVB is known to induce MT expression in epidermal keratinocytes, and IL-6 is a possible mediator of MT induction by UV radiation. Therefore, we investigated whether UVB could induce MT promoter activity. Our results showed, interestingly, that UVB radiation has no or little effect on the promoter activity. This suggested a complex molecular regulation of the MT gene.
文摘Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important causative agent of cervical carcinoma and some malignant cutaneous tumors. The integration of HPV DNA into the host genome is one of the most important risk factors for malignant transformation. Here, we report the case of a 53-year-old man with multiple, black-brown genital macules and nodules. Histological findings resembled those for Bowen’s disease, and we made a diagnosis of bowenoid papulosis. This condition is generally benign, but invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from bowenoid papulosis has been previously reported. Therefore, we took biopsy specimens from 10 lesions and tested them for the presence of HPV DNA. DNA sequencing identified HPV type 16 (HPV-16) DNA in all samples. Next, we excised 4 different relatively large lesions and performed an amplification of papillomavirus oncogene transcripts (APOT) assay. This assay showed that all samples had only episome-derived viral transcripts, indicating no integration of HPV DNA into the host genome. We have followed this case for 3 years, and no progression to Bowen’s disease or SCC has so far been observed. We conclude that the APOT assay is a feasible method for evaluating the malignant potential of bowenoid papulosis.
文摘A 60-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for yellow-brown plaques accompanied by ulceration on her left lower leg. Her medical history included neither diabetes mellitus nor minor trauma. A histopathological examination of the plaques showed necrobiotic changes within the dermal collagen surrounded by granulomas that comprised lymphocytes, histiocytes, and giant cells. The lower dermis revealed fibrotic changes that extended into the subcutaneous tissue. The patient’s blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were within the normal ranges. We considered a diagnosis of necrobiosis lipoidica (NL) in the absence of diabetes mellitus. We reviewed 116 cases of NL that were reported in the Japanese medical literature between 1986 and 2014 and found that NL onset was most common in individuals of both sexes ≥ 60 years of age. Previous reports that reviewed NL cases in the Japanese medical literature that were published during the1900s indicated that NL occurs in people ≥ 40 years of age. We suggest that the aging population and increasingly longer life spans have increased the average age of NL onset in Japan. With regard to treatments, there were no effective treatments, but skin grafts were curative. NL treatment is very difficult, especially when ulcers are present;hence, we suggest that further research is needed to determine effective NL treatments.
文摘While erythema nodosum is a nodular, erythematous eruption predominantly affecting the extensor aspects of the legs, breast abscesses are the result of relatively common bacterial infections, and only 2 studies have reported an association between erythema nodosum and breast abscesses. Here, we report the case of a patient with repeated erythema nodosum associated with subareolar abscesses. The patient was a 34-year-old woman with painful erythematous nodules on her right shin, accompanied by an indurated lesion on her right breast 4 days before the onset of the nodules. Therefore, the patient underwent circumareolar incision, and consequently the painful erythematous nodules disappeared. However, after 39 days, the patient developed another tender, painful lesion in her right breast and painful erythematous nodules on her right shin. After another circumareolar incision, the painful erythematous nodules disappeared again. Therefore, we suggested a significant association between erythema nodosum and breast abscess in this patient. The most common underlying causative organism in breast abscess is Staphylococcus aureus;however, erythema nodosum has rarely been proven to be associated with staphylococcal infections. Therefore, the relationship between S. aureus and erythema nodosum is rather controversial. However, the resistance to the usual treatment methods and prolonged clinical course in our case suggest that the pathogenesis of erythema nodosum associated with breast abscesses might be different from that of the common form of erythema nodosum.
