PAK has a striking similarity to LM/LMM in clinical and dermatoscopic features, thus representing a diagnostic challange. All dermatoscopic findings except black blotches were observed in PAK. As dermatoscopic diagnosis of a pigmented skin lesion cannot be based on the presence of a single criterion, we may conclude that histopathology still remains the gold standard for correct diagnosis.

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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a "slow" bacterial pathogen, which induces several gastroduodenal diseases. Varying degrees of inflammation can be present in the gastric mucosa of patients infected with H. pylori. The case presented here is a male patient suffering from dyspepsia and nausea. His upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed pan gastritis. Histological examination of multiple gastric biopsies taken from the body and antrum showed a rare morphological expression of H. pylori gastritis characterized by diffuse plasma cell infiltration with extensive Russell body formation. Diffuse infiltration of plasma cells with Russell bodies in gastric mucosa can cause difficulties in differentiation from neoplastic processes. However, immunohistochemically, the infiltrating cells in the gastric mucosa stained negatively with cytokeratins while they expressed both kappa and lambda light chains showing their polyclonal nature. The presence of diffuse plasma cells with Russell bodies in the gastric mucosa may represent a different presentation of H. pylori gastritis. There are only two case reports of similar presentation and both have been called "Russell body gastritis".

Abnormally high levels of ERK1/2 activity may be involved in endometriosis, possibly by stimulating endometrial cell survival.

Basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare skin cancer which has areas of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and a transition zone between them. However, dermoscopic features of BSC are not well described in the published work, except one study. The aim of the present study was to better identify and clarify the dermoscopic findings of BSC in the largest group of patients in the published work and to describe its dermoscopic features according to histopathologically BCC-dominant, SCC-dominant and intermediate categories. Dermoscopic features of 36 histopathologically proven BSC and their dermatopathological correlates were retrospectively analyzed. Dermoscopic features were evaluated by pattern analysis. Keratin mass (91.7%) was the most common dermoscopic feature. Surface scaling (77.8%), ulceration (69.4%), white structureless areas (69.4%), white clods (66.7%) and blood spots on keratin mass (66.7%) were the other frequent findings. Polymorphous vascular pattern consisting of various combinations of branched, serpentine, straight, coiled or looped vessels were detected in 61% of the lesions. BSC has BCC-dominant vascular features together with otherwise SCC-dominant morphology, the common pattern seen in BSC lesions being BCC-dominant polymorphous or monomorphous vasculature, together with dermoscopic findings of keratinization. White circles, known to be a valuable clue to SCC and keratoacanthoma, were present at the same magnitude in BSC in our study. The observed histological correlation of eosinophilic keratin overlying the epithelium which lined follicular infundibulae in these tumors, provides a plausible new perspective on dermoscopic white circles.

To determine whether combination treatment of HBeAg(-) chronic hepatitis B is beneficial we studied 78 patients with HBeAg(-), HBV DNA-positive chronic hepatitis B who were randomized to lamivudine, 100 mg, qd, for 12 months or lamivudine-interferon (9 MU, t.i.w.) in combination. In the combination arm, 2 months of lamivudine treatment preceded 10 months of combination treatment. Biochemical, virologic and histologic responses were assessed at the end of treatment, after six and a median 27 months of drug-free follow-up (short- and long-term follow-up, respectively). Virologic response was defined as undetectable HBV DNA with a hybridization assay and biochemical response as normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Change in HBV DNA was also assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Presence of YMDD mutants at the end of treatment was investigated with a line probe assay. Both treatment regimes led to a median 2 log decline in HBV DNA levels. Virologic end of treatment responses were 90 and 92% with mono- and combination treatment, respectively. Corresponding virologic responses at short- and long-term follow-up were 59 and 54%, and 27 and 25%, respectively. Patients having a baseline HBV DNA value > or =200 pg/mL were more likely to relapse within 6 months off therapy than those patients with a baseline HBV DNA level <200 pg/mL (P = 0.041). YMDD mutants were observed in 53% of patients receiving lamivudine compared with 24% of patients receiving the combination regime (P = 0.017). In conclusion, efficacy of combination treatment is similar to lamivudine monotherapy. However, combination treatment decreases the development of YMDD mutant strains compared with lamivudine monotherapy.

Carvacrol containing products such as Origanum onites have been used as phytotherapeutic agents in the treatment of serious skin injury. It has been suggested that carvacrol is the active component of these herbs because of its anti-microbial property. With the anti-microbial activity and as an ingredient of these herbs, carvacrol is a promising molecule for the treatment of skin injury. In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy of carvacrol on healing progress after excisional skin injury. Here, Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups and treated with carvacrol and vehicle. Carvacrol was administrated topically at a concentration of %12.5 for the 5 consecutive days after excisional skin injury. Tissue samples were harvested on days 3 rd , 8th and 12 th after injury. Significant beneficial effect of carvacrol was observed at the end of the experiment. In the acute phase of the injury, carvacrol treatment increased tissue granulation and decreased wound depth moderately. These effect of carvacrol was associated with increased TNF-α. However, at the second half of the experiment the elevated level of TGF-B 1 was observed as compared with control animals. The level of IL-1 β was increased in carvacrol treated animals only on day 8. Here, we provide evidence that carvacrol improves wound healing by regulating pro-inflammatory molecules TNF-α, IL-1 β and TGF-β 1 .

Postirradiation morphoea is an uncommon side-effect of radiotherapy. We report a 74-year-old woman who was treated with radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma. About 3.5 years after the first dose of radiotherapy, the patient developed linear morphoea starting from the radiation port and affecting distant, nonirradiated skin. Lesions of radiation-induced morphoea are generally described as well-demarcated, indurated plaques with varying amounts of associated erythema; however, there is no previous publication of unilateral band-like distribution of morphoea associated with radiotherapy, to our knowledge.