MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE GENERAL COVER IN SHORT-HAIRED FELINE BREEDS

The aim of the research is characterization of the skin change of the feline family, depending on the breed charac-teristics of the animals. Clarification of relations, breed-specific features of skin of representatives of the felines fam-ily in order to establish the predominant for the development of dermatotropic pathologies is one of the urgent tasks of clinical morphology and dermatology. The general regularities and breed features of the skin cover of short-haired cat were established, taking into account its regional anatomical and physiological features. The inverse relationship between the epidermis thickness and the density of the hair cover of the studied animals was revealed, regardless of the breed identity. A specific glomerate collagen morphology of dermis was found typical for all cats of short-haired breeds. The research was carried out at the Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology named after Professor A. F. Klimov, Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology after Scriabin, MBA. The object of the study involved 27 individuals of short-haired cats of reproductive age (2-5 years), including Siamese (n=5), Russian blue (n=5), Burmese (n=6), British short-haired (n=7), Bengal (n=4). The research material is the skin. A comprehensive methodological approach was used, including anatomical dissection, light microscopy of histologi-cal sections, micro-morphometry, and statistical analysis of the obtained digital data. The results obtained are the basic for assessing the morphological and functional skin state and identifying morphological changes that occur in the conditions of skin damage repair.

Clinical mimics and diagnostic challenges in tick-borne borreliosis: a systematic review

Background. Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis (TBB) is a clinically multifaceted disease posing a serious threat in most territories of the Russian Federation. New TBB outbreaks emerge and spread to the country’s south.Objectives. The review highlights the TBB clinical diversity to physicians in order to improve the diagnosis quality and opportune aid. It focuses on the early and late clinical presentation of localised and disseminated polysystemic TBB.Methods. Sources were mined in the MEDLINE, PubMed and national electronic databases (Сyberleninka, eLibrary, etc.) with keywords “tick-borne borreliosis” [клещевой боррелиоз], “Lyme disease” [болезнь Лайма], “Lyme arthritis” [Лайм-артриты], neuroborreliosis [нейроборрелиоз] for the period of 2014–2020. Selected impactive publications within 2007–2013 were also included. Research was considered eligible if borreliosis was diagnosed using specific techniques like immune-enzyme assays, immunoblotting or PCR.Results. TBB is a common and cross-disciplinary situation. The disease may progress occult or manifest in a variety of forms, from annular erythema to cardiac, peripheral and central nervous system involvement or arthritis. The polysystemic nature of lesions, often long-term of the tick bite, forces multiple specialist visits ending with misdiagnoses, late aetiotropic therapy and transition into a chronic phase through ignorance of the patient’s epidemiological record. Some patients may have the acute phase followed by irreversible neurological damage associated with memory loss, cognitive decline, arthrosis and sclerotic skin change reducing the quality of life.Conclusion. TBB can be mimicked by therapeutic, neurological, skin and ophthalmic illnesses, which warrants the physician’s attention to the epidemiological record and knowledge of specific diagnostic techniques. Further research is necessary into the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of chronic TBB and its residual manifestations.

Superficial radiotherapy and volumetric modulated Arc therapy for skin cancers within hamartomatous skin in patient with PTEN mutation: A case report

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene acts as a tumour suppressor gene. Mutations of this gene are a step in the development of many cancers. Sufferers can have large fields of symptomatic hamartomatous skin change especially in sun exposed areas. RT has been reported to cause increased acute toxicity in this cohort. A 78-year-old fit male had a confirmed PTEN variant LRG_311t1 Exon 5, c353A>C. Symptomatic skin lesions of left frontal scalp and left nasal ala were confirmed on punch biopsy to be basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and he was referred for definitive radiotherapy (RT). He was treated with lesion based superficial radiotherapy to the left nasal ala to a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions given at 5 fractions per week using a Xstrahl 300 machine via a 3cm circle applicator at 30cm source surface distance with a generating energy of 100 kV. The left frontal scalp was treated with a field-based volumetric modulated arc therapy technique to a planning target volume (PTV) of 74.8cm3 to 45 Gy with a simultaneous integrated boost PTV to 55 Gy of 4.1 cm3 to the BCC, all in 25 fractions. He developed the expected desquamation, erythema and mucositis within the nasal field and desquamation and erythema in the left temple. The PTEN mutation had no visible increase on the acute side effect profile compared with those without the mutation. After more than 6 months, the areas treated with RT remained clear of symptomatic hamartomatous skin change with no late toxicities. To our knowledge this is the longest benefit received of any treatment for fields of symptomatic hamartomatous skin change associated with PTEN mutation. It is also a report of not observing increased acute toxicity of RT in the definitive treatment of skin cancer in those with proven PTEN mutation. This one case adds evidence that definitive RT to skin may be delivered safely in this cohort. More studies with multiple patients with longer follow up are needed to confirm that those suffering with PTEN mutation can be safely and successfully treated with definitive RT for skin cancer and fields of symptomatic hamartomatous skin change with no increase in late effects.

Study of Clinical Profile Associated with Obesity amongst Dermatology Patients In A Tertiary Care Centre

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic. Obesity is associated with a number of dermatoses, including acanthosis nigricans, skin tag, keratosis pilaris, hyperandrogenism and hirsutism, striae distensae, and adiposis dolorosa. Objective: To elucidate the various skin changes in obesity and to determine if it is considered as an obesity marker. Methodology: 100 patients, aged 18 years or above satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were drawn for a period of 18 months. Results: Out of 100 patients 54% were female, in their third and fourth decade. By occupation most of the females were housewives (40%) and the majority of males were farmers (14%). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the most common systemic illness (24%). Pseudoacanthosis nigricans was the most prevalent skin change. 51% of patients had skin tags. 48% had striae distensae as a skin change. 10.86% male and 14.81% female patients had stasis dermatitis, 6% had leg venulectasias and 2% had leg ulcer. 26% had plantar hyperkeratosis. 41% of our patients had one or other types of fungal infections. Bacterial infections were detected in 15% cases, folliculitis being the commonest. Conclusion: Obesity is strongly related to several skin alterations that could be considered as markers of excessive weight. The dermatoses that showed a statistically significant relationship with obesity were Pseudo acanthosis nigricans, Skin tag, Striae, Plantar hyperkeratosis and Fungal infections. Prevention of obesity is important to prevent these dermatoses and dermatologists must work with primary care physicians and patients to reduce the harmful effects of obesity on the skin.

Incidence of Skin Hyperpigmentation in Black Patients Receiving Treatment with Immunomodulatory Medications

Introduction Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), particularly lenalidomide, are associated with adverse skin reactions most commonly rash, xeroderma, and pruritus. While multiple myeloma disproportionately impacts black patients, the clinical trials used for registration of these medications predominantly enrolled white patients. The incidence and severity of skin pigment changes in black patients are therefore not known. Hyperpigmentation can be a highly visible and distressing side effect leading to noncompliance. Methods This retrospective study evaluated all patients treated with thalidomide, lenalidomide or pomalidomide from January 2013 to March 2020 across all indications at Boston Medical Center. An internally developed survey consisting of 14-questions was mailed to all patients identified through prescriptions written in the electronic medical record (Epic). The survey questions included ethnicity and race identification and whether skin changes, particularly hyperpigmentation, occurred during treatment. For those patients with skin changes, follow-up questions asked about the nature of the skin change, pattern, location and duration. Distress related to skin changes was reported on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being minimal distress and 10 being maximal distress. Photographs were requested (if available) before, during and after IMiD therapy. Results A total of 214 patients were identified who were prescribed thalidomide (4, 1.9%), lenalidomide (204, 95.3%) or pomalidomide (81, 37.9%). Of the 214 surveys, 106 (49.5%) were completed and all of the responses were included in statistical analysis. Of the 106 patients, 49 (46.2%) identified as black/African American and 57 (53.8%) reported being non-black (Asian, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian/Alaskan Native, White, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander or other). Skin changes were reported by 27 (25.5%) of the patients who completed surveys. Consistency and description of the skin changes can be found in Table 1. Hyperpigmentation (skin darkening), specifically, was reported by 20 (40.8%) of the black/African American patients and 2 (3.5%) of the non-black patients. The most commonly reported location of hyperpigmentation was on the palms and soles (15, 68.2%), forearms (7, 31.8%) and face (6, 27.3%). Onset began within 3 months of starting therapy in 10 (45.5%) of these patients. Of the 11 patients who are no longer on IMiD therapy, 4 (36.6%) had full resolution of skin changes, 5 (45.5%) noted partial resolution, and 2 (18.2%) had no improvement. The reported distress score ranged from 1-9 (median 5). Photographs of typical skin hyperpigmentation will be included at conference presentation. Conclusion Skin hyperpigmentation due to IMiD therapy is commonly seen in black/African American patients. Specifically, hyperpigmentation is 11.6 times more likely to occur in black/African American patients as compared to all other races. In these patients, hyperpigmentation is most noticeable on the palms, face and soles of the feet. These changes typically occur early in the course of therapy and do not completely reverse, even long after drug cessation. It is important for providers to discuss the possibility of these skin changes when using IMiDs in this patient population. Disclosures Blevins: Epizyme: Other: Focus Group. Hughes:Karyopharm: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Rigel: Other: advisory board. Sarosiek:Spectrum: Research Funding. Sanchorawala:UpToDate: Patents & Royalties; Abbvie: Other: advisory board; Proclara: Other: advisory board; Caleum: Other: advisory board; Regeneron: Other: advisory board; Oncopeptide: Research Funding; Caelum: Research Funding; Prothena: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Sloan:Abbvie: Consultancy; Stemline: Consultancy.

ANALYSES OF SKIN LESION AREAS AFTER THRESHOLDING

Melanoma is one of the fastest spreading cancers. The aim of the article is to segment the skin lesions from human skin dermatoscopic images covered by melanoma. Threshold segmentation was used, which allows a single skin lesion to be analyzed. It shows the four areas of each based on their color. The created software monitors the border of skin lesion areas. Segmentation and analysis of the resulting images with different areas of skin change was carried out in the Matlab software.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Multiple Autoimmune Disease Presented with Extensive Peripheral Gangrene

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease and can be associated with other autoimmune diseases. SLE usually presents with skin change and rarely presents with gangrene. SLE gangrene usually involves the digits of upper extremities. We report the first case of SLE associated with an extremely rare constellation of neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and diabetes mellitus type 1, presented with a rare form of the SLE gangrene which involves bilateral lower extremities up to midlegs, a case that has not yet been reported in the literature. Although SLE gangrene may respond to immunosuppressants, it has a high risk of complications that can end up with amputations.