Superficial and subcutaneous mycoses

Tegument mycoses are classified into three groups: 1) Superficial skin mycoses or superficial mycoses: infections sustained by fungi limited to the skin horny layer or the hair extrafollicular portion, without a significant inflammatory response in the host. 2) Skin mycoses (dermatophytosis) sensu stricto: fungal infections in which skin and its annexes, at the level of the keratinized layers, are involved with an evident immune response by the host 3) Mycosis of the subcutaneous tissue: fungal infections that mainly affect the subcutaneous tissue and secondarily, by contiguity, skin, bones and other tissues, with a strong immune response by the host [...].

Clinical and morphological substantiation of need for application narrow-wave ultraviolet therapy for improving the quality of treatment and duration of remission in patients with psoriasis

The goal is substantiating clinically and morphologi­cally the need for narrow-wave (311 nm) ultraviolet (UV) therapy to improve the quality of treatment and the du­ration of remission in patients with psoriasis. Materials and methods. Under observation were 134 patients with common psoriasis (82 men and 52 women aged 23 to 65 years). For UV therapy, the PSOROLIGHT 100-6 photo- therapeutic apparatus (medical equipment Viola Ukraine, Poltava) with a wavelength of 311 nm was used. Initial radiation doses were determined depending on the skin photo type. The standard course of treatment consisted of 15-20 procedures with a regimen 3-4 times a week. Results. In patients of group I, 2 times faster regression of the rash was observed, and in 54 (81.8%) patients of group I, the rash disappeared after 15-20 procedures, in 52 (78.8%) after 6-8 months, the skin process was stable , after a year in 41 (62.12%). In biopsy samples in 8 (88.9%) patients of group I, moderate acanthosis and hyperkeratosis were observed, there were no signs of parakeratosis in 7 (77.8%), the thickness of the horny layer was restored in 8 (88.9%) and granular layers of patients of the first group. Conclusions. All of the above gives reason to justify the need for narrow-wave ultravio­let therapy in patients with psoriasis to improve the qual­ity of treatment and the duration of remission in patients with psoriasis. Conclusions. All of the above gives reason to justify the need for narrow-wave ultraviolet therapy in patients with psoriasis to improve the quality of treatment and the duration of remission in patients with psoriasis.

Comparative Effects of Retinoic Acid or Glycolic Acid Vehiculated in Different Topical Formulations

Retinoids and hydroxy acids have been widely used due to their effects in the regulation of growth and in the differentiation of epithelial cells. However, besides their similar indication, they have different mechanisms of action and thus they may have different effects on the skin; in addition, since the topical formulation efficiency depends on vehicle characteristics, the ingredients of the formulation could alter their effects. Thus the objective of this study was to compare the effects of retinoic acid (RA) and glycolic acid (GA) treatment on the hairless mouse epidermis thickness and horny layer renewal when added in gel, gel cream, or cream formulations. For this, gel, gel cream, and cream formulations (with or without 6% GA or 0.05% RA) were applied in the dorsum of hairless mice, once a day for seven days. After that, the skin was analyzed by histopathologic, morphometric, and stereologic techniques. It was observed that the effects of RA occurred independently from the vehicle, while GA had better results when added in the gel cream and cream. Retinoic acid was more effective when compared to glycolic acid, mainly in the cell renewal and the exfoliation process because it decreased the horny layer thickness.