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Abstract. Breast mimicking tissue optical phantoms with sufficient structural integrity to be deployed as standalone imaging targets are developed and successfully constructed with biologically relevant concentrations of water, lipid, and blood. The results show excellent material homogeneity and reproducibility with inter-and intraphantom variability of 3.5 and 3.8%, respectively, for water and lipid concentrations ranging from 15 to 85%. The phantoms were long-lasting and exhibited water and lipid fractions that were consistent to within 5% of their original content when measured 2 weeks after creation. A breast-shaped three-compartment model of adipose, fibroglandular, and malignant tissues was created with water content ranging from 30% for the adipose simulant to 80% for the tumor. Mean measured water content ranged from 30% in simulated adipose to 73% in simulated tumor with the higher water localized to the tumor-like material. This novel heterogeneous phantom design is composed of physiologically relevant concentrations of the major optical absorbers in the breast in the near-infrared wavelengths that should significantly improve imaging system characterization and optimization because the materials have stand-alone structural integrity and can be readily molded into the sizes and shapes of tissues commensurate with clinical breast imaging.

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Dermatologists commonly prescribe medications such as antibiotics and corticosteroids that can increase the risk for candidiasis. Though conventional antifungals are often effective against candidiasis, they are not without side effects and species of Candida are gaining resistance. Probiotics help treat conditions such as post‐antibiotic diarrhea and infectious diarrhea, and thus have the potential to help with Candida infections, as well. For this reason, we provide an overview of therapies prescribed in dermatology that may increase the risk for candidiasis, and we review the literature on whether probiotics are useful in the treatment and prevention of oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis to help dermatologists treating the condition be better informed about their supplemental use with conventional antifungals.

Scleromyxedema and lichen myxedematosus (LM) are rare disorders that fall along the spectrum of primary cutaneous mucinoses. Scleromyxedema is a systemic form that classically presents with generalized waxy papules, sclerodermoid eruption, and monoclonal gammopathy; LM is a localized form limited to the skin that classically presents with white, firm, waxy papules and lacks monoclonal gammopathy. According to diagnostic criteria established in 2001, the diagnosis of both conditions requires absence of thyroid disease. However, atypical cases that lack monoclonal gammopathy and that present with hypothyroidism have been reported, suggesting that these criteria may require revision. First, we report a case of a 58-year-old female with a history of Hashimoto thyroiditis and biopsy-proven scleromyxedema responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy with delayed presentation of monoclonal gammopathy. Next, we report a case of a 54-year-old female with a history of hypothyroidism, Hodgkin’s lymphoma in remission after radiation and chemotherapy, and concurrent rheumatoid arthritis, with biopsy-proven LM temporarily responsive to systemic steroids. Our cases demonstrate that patients with papular mucinoses can have a multitude of concurrent and prior rheumatologic and endocrine conditions, including thyroid disease, which should not preclude a diagnosis of scleromyxedema and LM.

The study was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of Thomas Jefferson University for the involvement of human subjects.

The pathogenesis of increased stroke risk in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains unclear. Our study investigated the relationship between adventitial and intimal CD3+ T cells and brain arterial remodeling that potentially contributes to HIV-related vasculopathy and stroke. Large brain arteries from 84 HIV+ cases and 78 HIV- cases were analyzed to determine interadventitial and luminal diameters, intimal and wall thickness, percentage stenosis, and presence of atherosclerosis. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to detect and visually score CD3, a pan T cell marker, in the intima and adventitia. Our study showed that adventitial CD3+ T cells are lower among persons with HIV, especially if CD4<200, though intimal CD3+ T cells did not differ by HIV status. Among those with HIV but CD4<200 at time of death, intimal CD3+ T cells were associated with hypertrophic outward remodeling, while among those with HIV and CD4>200 or HIV- controls, intimal CD3+ T cells were associated with hypertrophic inward remodeling. We conclude that intimal lymphocytic inflammation is involved in brain arterial remodeling that may contribute to HIV-related cerebrovascular pathology. Although mortality from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has decreased with the use of combination antiretroviral therapies, there is now an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease associated with HIV. Thus, there is a need to understand the pathogenesis of stroke in HIV infection. Our study examines how lymphocytic inflammation in brain arteries may contribute to increased cerebral vasculopathy. With this understanding, our study can potentially help direct future therapies to target and prevent brain arterial remodeling processes associated with HIV.