Penile porokeratosis mimicking annular lichen planus

Sir, Porokeratosis is a group of cutaneous diseases presented by epidermal keratinization [1]. Herein, we report the case of a patient with porokeratosis who responded well to carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy. A 22-year-old Vietnamese male visited our department with an asymptomatic plaque on the penis present for three months. He denied a family history of similar lesions. A cutaneous examination of the penis revealed an annular, well-circumscribed plaque with slightly raised borders with scales (Fig. 1a). Other mucocutaneous lesions were absent. Fungal microscopy, a rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test, and a Treponema pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test were negative. Histological findings revealed a hyperkeratotic lesion with a discrete parakeratotic column. There was the presence of a cornoid lamella, which was a parakeratotic column overlying a small vertical zone of dyskeratotic and vacuolated cells within the epidermis (Fig. 2a). There was also a focal loss of the granular layer. A mild lymphocytic infiltrate could be seen around an increased number of capillaries in the underlying dermis (Fig. 2b). CO2 laser removal was performed. There was no recurrence after a twelve-month follow-up (Fig. 1b). However, a hypopigmented scar was seen. Porokeratosis is an uncommon disorder of keratinization with clinical variants, such as classical porokeratosis of Mibelli, disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, linear porokeratosis, and porokeratosis palmaris et plantaris disseminata [2]. Porokeratosis involving the genital areas and other adjacent sites is rare [2]. Genital porokeratosis was first described by Helfman in 1985 [3]. More than 69 cases have been reported in the literature [1]. The pathophysiology of genital porokeratosis remains unknown. It has been supposed that porokeratosis is linked to repeated minor frictional trauma. A benign lesion may transform into squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma [4]. However, no malignant transformation of genital porokeratosis has been noted in the literature. Genital porokeratosis manifests itself clinically as classic or plaque-type porokeratosis of Mibelli [2]. Histological findings revealed a cornoid lamella with the absence of a granular layer and dyskeratotic cells in the upper spinous zone [2]. Our case may mimic some annular lesions, such as secondary syphilis, fungal infection, and annular lichen planus. Because a fungal examination and syphilis serology were negative, we could exclude fungal infection and annular secondary syphilis. The distinctive histology of porokeratosis such as a cornoid lamella with a decreased granular layer may help to differentiate between porokeratosis and annular lichen planus [4]. Numerous therapeutic methods of treatment exist, including surgical excision, CO2 laser, cryotherapy, topical retinoids, 5% 5-fluorouracil, vitamin D3 analogs, imiquimod cream, and 3% diclofenac gel [2,5].

The cost-sensitive approximation of neighborhood rough sets and granular layer selection

Neighborhood rough sets (NRS) are the extended model of the classical rough sets. The NRS describe the target concept by upper and lower neighborhood approximation boundaries. However, the method of approximately describing the uncertain target concept with existed neighborhood information granules is not given. To solve this problem, the cost-sensitive approximation model of the NRS is proposed in this paper, and its related properties are analyzed. To obtain the optimal approximation granular layer, the cost-sensitive progressive mechanism is proposed by considering user requirements. The case study shows that the reasonable granular layer and its approximation can be obtained under certain constraints, which is suitable for cost-sensitive application scenarios. The experimental results show that the advantage of the proposed approximation model, moreover, the decision cost of the NRS approximation model will monotonically decrease with granularity being finer.

Analysis of Histological Features of the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus of Albino Rats Using Haematoxylin & Eosin Stain- An Observational Study

Background: The study determined the histological layers of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the albino rat brain samples has been used in the study. The Cerebral cortex is composed of the Molecular layer, external granular, external pyramidal layer, internal granular layer and interior pyramidal layer. The layers of the hippocampus are alveus, stratum oriens, stratum pyramidale, stratum radiatum, stratum lacunosum and stratum moleculare. The aim of the study is to analyze the detailed histological features of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus layers of albino rats at the magnification of 10X,100X,40X. By using haematoxylin and eosin stain as an observational study. Materials and Methods: The samples were preserved and fixed with the formalin and stained by haematoxylin and eosin and observed with a light microscope. Results: The molecular layer is the superficial layer containing neurons. The outer granular layer of the cells are densely packed. Outer pyramidal layer contains rich pyramidal cells, Inner granular layer contains stellate cells, Inner pyramidal layer contains glial cells and the deeper multiform layer is composed of pyramidal cells. The hippocampus contains three layers of cornu Ammonia CA1, CA2, CA3. CA1 responds to memory and is covered by the choroid plexus. CA2 contains 3 major cell dentate gyrus, pyramidal cells, pyramidal neurons and CA3 composed of stratum lucidum. Conclusion: The study of brain analysis of histological features of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the brain adds a greater insight in understanding the histology of various types of layers in rat brain and morphology of brain cells.

Cerebellar Patterning Defects in Mutant Mice

The cerebellar cortex is highly compartmentalized and serves as a remarkable model for pattern formation throughout the brain. In brief, the adult cerebellar cortex is subdivided into five anteroposterior units—transverse zones—and subsequently, each zone is divided into ∼20 parasagittal stripes. Zone-and-stripe pattern formation involves the interplay of two parallel developmental pathways—one for inhibitory neurons, the second for excitatory. In the inhibitory pathway, progenitor cells of the 4th ventricle generate the Purkinje cells and inhibitory interneurons. In the excitatory pathway, progenitor cells in the upper rhombic lip give rise to the external granular layer, and subsequently to the granular layer of the adult. Both the excitatory and inhibitory developmental pathways are spatially patterned and the interactions of the two generate the complex topography of the adult. This review briefly describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underly zone-and-stripe development with a particular focus on mutations known to interfere with normal cerebellar development and the light they cast on the mechanisms of pattern formation.

Effect of Noradrenaline on the Facial Stimulation-Evoked Mossy Fiber-Granule Cell Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Cerebellar Cortex

Noradrenaline is an important neuromodulator in the cerebellum. We previously found that noradrenaline depressed cerebellar Purkinje cell activity and climbing fiber–Purkinje cell synaptic transmission in vivo in mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of noradrenaline on the facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar cortical mossy fiber–granule cell synaptic transmission in urethane-anesthetized mice. In the presence of a γ-aminobutyrateA (GABAA) receptor antagonist, air-puff stimulation of the ipsilateral whisker pad evoked mossy fiber–granule cell synaptic transmission in the cerebellar granular layer, which expressed stimulus onset response, N1 and stimulus offset response, N2. Cerebellar surface perfusion of 25 μM noradrenaline induced decreases in the amplitude and area under the curve of N1 and N2, accompanied by an increase in the N2/N1 ratio. In the presence of a GABAA receptor blocker, noradrenaline induced a concentration-dependent decrease in the amplitude of N1, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 25.45 μM. The noradrenaline-induced depression of the facial stimulation-evoked mossy fiber–granule cell synaptic transmission was reversed by additional application of an alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist or an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, but not by a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist or an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist. Moreover, application of an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, UK14304, significantly decreased the synaptic response and prevented the noradrenaline-induced depression. Our results indicate that noradrenaline depresses facial stimulation-evoked mossy fiber–granule cell synaptic transmission via the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor in vivo in mice, suggesting that noradrenaline regulates sensory information integration and synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortical granular layer.

Filaggrin: from history of discovery to clinical usage (literature review)

The article is of an overview nature and contains up-to-date information about one of the main factors in the violation of the skin barrier, filaggrin dysfunction, which is a component of the natural moisturizing factor. The data on the leading role of the filaggrin defect in the pathogenesis of a number of dermatoses make it an attractive target for the creation of topical dermatocosmetics in order to compensate for its deficiency. The first and only registered emollient with a modulator of filaggrin activity from unsaponifiable fractions of vegetable oils is filagrinol, which stimulates the maturation of profilaggrin by activating ATPases involved in dephosphorylation of profilaggrin and inducing the incorporation of histidine into the granular layer [30]. It is expected that thanks to plant lipids this formula enhances the skin’s ability to renew, significantly slowing down the aging process and restores the skin’s water-holding capacity, thereby normalizing the degree of hydration.