Search Results (31)

Background and Clinical Significance: Furuncular myiasis is a tropical parasitic skin infestation caused by dipterous fly larvae, most commonly affecting travellers to endemic regions. While returning travellers typically present with one or few lesions, extensive parasitism is rare. Increased global mobility and expanding ecological range of myiasis-causing species underscores the need for clinicians in endemic and non-endemic regions to recognise, diagnose, and manage this condition promptly. Awareness of exposure risks—including soil contact, infested clothing, and poor living conditions—is essential to reducing morbidity and preventing complications like secondary bacterial infection. Case Presentation: A healthy male in his forties returned to the UK after a month-long visit to rural Ethiopia, during which he slept on dirt floors and hung his washing on a line. He developed pruritic papular lesions that progressed to erythematous furuncles with central puncta and purulent discharge, accompanied by sensations of movement. The patient self-extracted 12 larvae in Ethiopia and subsequently sought local medical attention, receiving Albendazole, after which emerging larvae were non-motile. On UK presentation, he had 27 lesions at varying stages, 3 with signs of secondary infection. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated inflammatory markers, and wound swabs grew scanty Streptococcus pyogenes. Management included wound occlusion and systemic antibiotics. No further larvae were retrieved, precluding definitive speciation. All lesions improved over subsequent reviews. Conclusions: This case illustrates an unusually extensive presentation of presumed Cordylobia spp. myiasis in a returning traveller, highlighting potential complications following larvicidal therapy. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for myiasis in patients with compatible cutaneous lesions and relevant history. Increasing travel and shifting vector distributions make familiarity with tropical dermatoses and provision of effective safety measures essential in clinical practice. Full article

Background: Lewisite, a potent chemical warfare agent, induces rapid and progressive cutaneous damage, necessitating treatment strategies that offer both immediate decontamination and prolonged therapeutic action. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a composite topical formulation comprising 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA)-loaded emulsomes embedded within a foam vehicle to address both aspects of vesicant-induced skin injury intervention. Methods: Emulsomes composed of a stearic acid–cholesterol solid lipid core stabilized by a lecithin shell were prepared via thin film hydration and optimized by varying lipid ratios and drug loading parameters. Formulations were characterized for drug loading, particle size, and zeta potential. Physicochemical compatibility was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. Stability was evaluated under accelerated refrigerated (25 °C/60% RH) and room temperature (40 °C/75% RH) conditions. The optimized formulation was incorporated into a foam base and evaluated for decontamination efficiency, drug release kinetics, in vitro permeation, and in vivo efficacy. Results: The selected formulation (E2) exhibited high drug loading (17.01 ± 0.00%), monodisperse particle size (PDI = 0.3 ± 0.07), and stable zeta potential (−40 ± 1.24 mV). FTIR and DSC confirmed successful encapsulation with amorphous drug dispersion. The emulsome-foam demonstrated dual functionality: enhanced decontamination (66.84 ± 1.27%) and sustained release (~30% over 24 h), fitting a Korsmeyer–Peppas model. In vitro permeation showed significantly lower 4-PBA delivery from E2 versus free drug, confirming sustained release, while in vivo studies demonstrated therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions: This emulsome-foam system offers a promising platform for topical treatment of vesicant-induced skin injury by enabling both immediate detoxification and prolonged anti-inflammatory drug delivery. Full article

Cryofibrinogenemia (CF) may be secondary to COVID-19. To establish this relationship, in PRECOVID-19 and COVID-19 periods we assess: (a) frequency and clinical features in patients with CF; (b) study of CF syndrome. We study all cryofibrinogen tests performed in a single university hospital in Northern Spain, comparing two periods: PRECOVID-19 (July 2017–February 2020) and COVID-19 (March 2020–October 2022). CF syndrome was established with two positive cryofibrinogen tests plus compatible cutaneous manifestations and/or thrombotic events (TE). CF was found in 129/279 patients. In the COVID-19 period, they had more positive tests (50.2% vs. 28%; p = 0.0047), younger age (33 vs. 55 years, p = 0.054) and fewer cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (39.1% vs. 78.6%, p = 0.005). Cutaneous manifestations were the most frequent in both periods (81.4%), particularly purpuric macules (29.5%). Skin ulcers showed statistically significant differences, being more frequent in the PRECOVID-19 era (35.7% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.008). Thrombotic CV events were also observed (13.2%), particularly venous thromboembolisms (12.2%). Severe complications were more frequent in the PRECOVID-19 era, although this difference did not reach statistical significance (35.7% vs. 19.1%; p = 0.169). CF was secondary in 68/129 cases, mainly to SARS-CoV-2 (n = 45). CF syndrome was found in 27.9% of patients. After one year, most patients were clinically stable or in remission. Mild dermatological lesions were the most frequent manifestations, and most patients recovered. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to develop hesperidin solid lipid nanoparticles (HESP-SLNs) to enhance their stability, solubility, and sustained release for wound healing; further enhancement was achieved through prepared nanostructured lipid carriers (HESP-NLCs) using Tea Tree Oil (TTO) to explore their synergistic efficacy. Methods: A factorial design of 2⁴ trials was established to evaluate the influence of lipid type (X1), lipid conc (%) (X2), surfactant type (X3), and sonication amplitude (%) (X4) of prepared HESP-SLNs on the particle size (nm) (Y1), polydispersibility index (Y2), zeta potential (Y3), and encapsulation efficiency (%) (Y4). The optimized HESP-SLNs formula was selected utilizing Design Expert^® software version 13, which was additionally enhanced by preparing TTO-loaded HESP-NLCs. In vitro release, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out for both lipid nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity, in vivo wound-healing assessments, and skin irritancy tests were performed to evaluate the performance of TTO-incorporated HESP-NLCs compared to HESP-SLNs. Results: The optimized formula demonstrated PS (280 ± 1.35 nm), ZP (−39.4 ± 0.92 mV), PDI (0.239 ± 0.012), and EE% (88.2 ± 2.09%). NLCs enhanced Q6% release, (95.14%) vs. (79.69%), for SLNs and showed superior antimicrobial efficacy. Both lipid nanoparticles exhibited spherical morphology and compatibility between HESP and excipients. NLCs achieved the highest wound closure percentage, supported by histological analysis and inflammatory biomarker outcomes. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed 87% cell viability compared to untreated HSF cells, and the skin irritancy test confirmed the safety of NLCs. Conclusions: TTO-loaded HESP-NLCs are promising candidates exhibiting superior wound-healing capabilities, making them a potential therapeutic option for cutaneous wound management. Full article

The pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) is a typical fruit from the Brazilian Cerrado. From it, pequi pulp oil is extracted, a valuable product for cosmetic applications due to its high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. Carotenoids are antioxidant compounds that are easily oxidized. To improve pulp stability, emulsification techniques with carboxymethylcellulose at 1% (w/w) were used to encapsulate the pequi pulp oil at 1, 3, 5% (w/w), and 8% (w/w) of polysorbate 80^® using a high-rotation mechanical stirrer. The pequi pulp oil was first characterized by FTIR and GC-MS. The results indicated the presence of chemical groups characteristic of the oil itself and the presence of a large proportion of fatty acids, which are essential for the maintenance of cutaneous hydration and the barrier, also acting in the tissue repair process. All emulsions presented stable over 120 days with slightly acidic pH values and were compatible with human skin. The droplet diameter was less than 330 nm, and the polydispersity index was around 0.3, indicating systems with low polydispersity. The Zeta potential (ζ) exhibited negative values sufficient to stabilize the emulsified systems. All emulsions behaved as non-Newtonian fluids, presenting pseudo-plastic and thixotropic properties that are considered important for topical applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin disease caused by Leishmania parasites. Presepsin, irisin, and apelin are biomarkers that are involved in the inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum levels of specific biomarkers, such as presepsin, apelin, and irisin, and the clinical features, location, number, and size of lesions in patients with CL. Methods: This study is a single-centre, prospective cohort study involving a total of 30 patients with skin lesions compatible with CL and 30 healthy matched controls. Age, sex, type of skin lesion, location of skin lesion, number of skin lesions, and diameter of skin lesions were recorded. The levels of presepsin, irisin, and apelin measured in the blood samples of the patient group were analysed in comparison to those in the healthy control group. Results: The findings revealed that presepsin levels were significantly elevated in the patient group compared to the controls (p = 0.000). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for irisin and apelin levels (p-values 0.096 and 0.836, respectively). A negative correlation was identified between presepsin levels and the number of skin lesions, the diameter of the largest lesion, and the total diameter of the lesions (p = 0.000). Conclusions: It appears that measuring presepsin levels in patients with CL may be beneficial. Presepsin has the potential to serve as a prognostic marker in CL, offering significant benefits in guiding clinicians in assessing disease progression and response to treatment. Full article

Melanosis is scarcely reported as a potential cause of carcass downgrading in broilers worldwide. We described the preliminary diagnostic findings of dermal and celomic fat tissue melanosis in a total of four episodes of increased downgrading in 31-to-50-day-old male Cobb500^TM broiler chicken carcasses at a processing plant in Argentina from November 2016 to March 2022. Veterinary inspectors evaluated and sampled a total of 10 carcasses. Gross findings included the gray discoloration of subcutaneous tissue in wings and legs, celomic fat tissue and peritoneum. Microscopically, melanocytes infiltrated the connective tissue and adipose cells of subcutaneous tissue in the skin of legs and wings as well as the celomic fat tissue of all 10 birds. The Fontana–Masson stain revealed black melanin granules in subcutaneous tissue and celomic fat tissue, demonstrating its value as a histologic tool to confirm grossly compatible melanosis in all of the evaluated tissues sampled at the broiler processing plant. We propose to add melanosis as one of the less frequently and rare diagnosed cutaneous darkening conditions which potentially contributes to downgrading in chicken processing plants globally. Full article

Despite the numerous efforts to find an appropriate therapeutic modality, diabetic wounds remain a global unsolved problem. Therefore, our study aimed to develop a topical formulation loaded with pine tar and to investigate its wound-healing capacity. After phytochemical profiling of pine tar, an oil-in-water emulsion with 1% pine tar was prepared. The physical, chemical, and microbiological stability of prepared pine tar cream (PTC) was assessed during six months. Additionally, safety potential was examined in healthy rats, while wound-healing potential was accessed by creating excision wounds in diabetic rats. Diabetic animals were divided into four groups: untreated or topically treated with either the cream base, PTC, or silver sulfadiazine cream. Wound healing was monitored at the following time points (0, 7, 14, and 21 days) through macroscopic, biochemical, and histological examinations. Our PTC formula showed good physicochemical properties and remained stable and compatible for cutaneous application. PTC showed a remarkable increase in wound closure rate and led to attenuation of morphological alterations in skin samples. These findings were associated with significantly improved redox status and enhanced hydroxyproline levels in PTC relative to the untreated and cream base groups. Our results demonstrated that PTC might serve as a promising tool for the management of diabetic wounds. Full article

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease. The treatment is restricted to drugs, such as meglumine antimoniate and amphotericin B, that exhibit toxic effects, high cost, long-term treatment, and limited efficacy. The development of new alternative therapies, including the identification of effective drugs for the topical and oral treatment of CL, is of great interest. In this sense, a combination of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine liposomes (Lip-ClAlPc) and the oral administration of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system containing fexinidazole (SEDDS-FEX) emerges as a new strategy. The aim of the present study was to prepare, characterize, and evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy with Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX in the experimental treatment of Leishmania (Leishmania) major. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX were prepared, and the antileishmanial efficacy study was conducted with the following groups: 1. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL); 2. SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day); 3. Lip-ClAlPc (0.05 mL)+SEDDS-FEX (50 mg/kg/day) combination; 4. FEX suspension (50 mg/kg/day); and 5. control (untreated). BALB/c mice received 10 sessions of topical Lip-ClAlPc on alternate days and 20 consecutive days of SEDDS-FEX or FEX oral suspension. Therapeutical efficacy was evaluated via the parasite burden (limiting-dilution assay), lesion size (mm), healing of the lesion, and histological analyses. Lip-ClAlPc and SEDDS-FEX presented physicochemical characteristics that are compatible with the administration routes used in the treatments. Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX led to a significant reduction in the parasitic burden in the lesion and spleen when compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and the complete healing of the lesion in 43% of animals. The Lip-ClAlPc+SEDDS-FEX combination may be promising for the treatment of CL caused by L. major. Full article

Julia Creek dunnarts are an endangered species of carnivorous marsupials and the focus of multiple conservation strategies involving significant resources such as captive breeding programs. Despite the relevance for conservation, no study to date has focused on evaluating geriatric diseases in dunnarts. This study describes the pathology findings in a group of one wild and thirty-five captive-born, mostly geriatric Julia Creek dunnarts that failed to produce offspring over multiple breeding periods. A total of 20 females and 16 males were submitted for a postmortem examination, with ages ranging from 9 to 42 and 12 to 42 months for females and males, respectively. Of these, 10 had unremarkable findings. The most common condition in females was cystic glandular hyperplasia (n = 8), typical of hormonal dysregulation profiles in senescence, particularly hyperestrogenism. Rarely, cutaneous disease represented by unidentified dermal round cell infiltrates was observed in females (n = 2). Primary reproductive hormonal dysregulation was also suspected in males diagnosed with testicular degeneration, aspermatogenesis and/or atrophy (n = 3). Cutaneous round cell infiltrates, possibly compatible with epitheliotropic lymphomas, were seen in males (n = 3), and 2/3 affected males also had concurrent testicular degeneration or atrophy, indicating male sex could be a predictor for lymphoid neoplasia in aged dunnarts, especially in individuals with concurrent testosterone-luteinizing hormone dysregulation as it occurs in gonadectomized animals. The role of an underlying viral etiology is also explored. This study is the first to describe major spontaneous diseases in endangered aged Julia Creek dunnarts, providing an important understanding of senescence and geriatric diseases within a conservation context. Full article

The outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum (SC), ensures protection against harmful xenobiotics, and alterations in its lipidic matrix composition are related to several cutaneous dysfunctions. The skin barrier function is usually attributed to ceramides, but the role of free fatty acids, such as stearic acid, has been increasingly acknowledged. This research work aimed to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) based on stearic acid and glyceryl distearate, in order to explore the potential of these materials as the basis of lipid nanoparticles. Different blends of stearic acid, Precirol^® ATO 5, Capryol^® 90 and Tween^® 80 were probed to prepare SLN and NLC. These lipid nanoparticles were further characterised according to particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), pH, and viscosity. Accelerated and long-term stability tests were also performed for 90 days, as well as in vivo assays to evaluate safety and efficacy. Overall, most nanoparticles showed interesting properties for topical application if they had sizes less than 300 nm, PDI below 0.3, pH compatible with skin and viscosity lower than 5 mPa.s. In long-term stability studies, the SLN_2 and NLC_2 formulations stood out, as they remained stable over time. In vivo biocompatibility tests conducted in human volunteers showed no negative impact of the formulations when applied openly or under occlusion. Efficacy studies with the most stable nanoparticles made of Precirol^® ATO 5 showed an increase in skin hydration. The nanoparticles developed in this study have shown potential to be used for cosmetic purposes, and the blend of lipids provided good biocompatibility and moisturising properties. Full article

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer has emerged as an alternative treatment for skin cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To increase the cutaneous penetration of the drug, some strategies are used, such as the association of nanocarriers and physical methods. Thus, herein we address the development of nanoparticles based on poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), optimized with the Box–Behnken factorial design, for topical application of MB associated with sonophoresis. The MB-nanoparticles were developed using the double emulsification-solvent evaporation technique and the optimized formulation resulted in an average size of 156.93 ± 8.27 nm, a polydispersion index of 0.11 ± 0.05, encapsulation efficiency of 94.22 ± 2.19% and zeta potential of −10.08 ± 1.12 mV. Morphological evaluation by scanning electron microscopy showed spherical nanoparticles. In vitro release studies show an initial burst compatible with the first-order mathematical model. The nanoparticle showed satisfactory generation of reactive oxygen species. The MTT assay was used to assess cytotoxicity and IC₅₀; values of 79.84; 40.46; 22.37; 9.90 µM were obtained, respectively, for the MB-solution and the MB-nanoparticle without and with light irradiation after 2 h of incubation. Analysis using confocal microscopy showed high cellular uptake for the MB-nanoparticle. With regard to skin penetration, a higher concentration of MB was observed in the epidermis + dermis, corresponding to 9.81, 5.27 μg/cm² in passive penetration and 24.31 and 23.81 μg/cm² after sonophoresis, for solution-MB and nanoparticle-MB, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of MB encapsulation in PCL nanoparticles for application in skin cancer using PDT. Full article

Background: Acceptability tests are designed to demonstrate that there is no chance that cosmetics would irritate or distress users in day-to-day situations. Objectives: to develop and validate a tool or scale that dermatologists, general practitioners, and other healthcare professionals can employ to assess a cosmetic product’s tolerability, safety of usage, and pleasantness. Methods: A three-step modified Delphi technique was used in the consensus process. Two rounds of online surveys and a final face-to-face meeting were performed. Fifty experts for the Delphi panel were chosen to reflect a holistic array of expertise and perspectives in pharmacovigilance, dermatology, and cosmetic safety assessments. In round 1, 80 statements and 115 statements related to skin tolerance and cosmetic safety/efficacy, respectively, were distributed to all members of the expert panel. The expert panel was asked to rate the extent to which they agreed with each statement in the questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale and given a chance to include a remark beside each item. A statement had to receive 80% of the panel’s approval to be accepted. Results: A total of 50 professional experts were recruited in the Delphi questionnaire rounds (response rate = 63%). The expert panel reached a consensus on 30 statements to evaluate skin tolerability and 34 statements to evaluate cosmetic safety and efficacy (agreement rate level ≥ 80%). The experts also proposed a generic, systematic approach that would allow patients to report both functional and physical symptoms in addition to those discovered during an examination (clinical signs). The confrontation of these symptoms determines whether the investigated cosmetic product is ultimately cutaneously acceptable. Conclusion: The tool that was proposed during this study offered good content validity. Future studies are recommended to test the developed tools in practice to evaluate the good skin compatibility and the safety and quality of cosmetics in the UAE and other nations. Full article

Although nicotinic acid (NA) has several clinical benefits, its potency cannot be fully utilized due to several undesirable side effects, including cutaneous flushing, GIT-associated symptoms, etc. To overcome such issues and improve the NA efficacy, a new inorganic–organic nanohybrids system was rationally designed. For making such a hybrid system, NA was intercalated into LDH through a coprecipitation technique and then coated with Eudragit^® S100 to make the final drug delivery system called Eudragit^® S100-coated NA-LDH. The as-made drug delivery system not only improved the NA release profile but also exhibited good bio-compatibility as tested on L929 cells. Such an inorganic–organic nanohybrid drug delivery agent is expected to reduce the undesirable side effects associated with NA and hopefully improve the pharmacological effects without inducing any undesirable toxicity. Full article

Background: Chronic wounds continue to be a global concern that demands substantial resources from the healthcare system. The process of cutaneous wound healing is complex, involving inflammation, blood clotting, angiogenesis, migration and remodeling. In the present study, commercially available alginate wound dressings were loaded with heparin. The purpose of the study was to enhance the angiogenic potential of alginate wound dressings and analyze the antibacterial activity, biocompatibility and other relevant properties. We also aimed to conduct some molecular and gene expression studies to elaborate on the mechanisms through which heparin induces angiogenesis. Methods: The physical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Swelling ability was measured by soaking hydrogels in the Phosphate buffer at 37 °C, and cell studies were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of hydrogels in NIH3T3 (fibroblasts). Real-time PCR was conducted to check the molecular mechanisms of heparin/alginate-induced angiogenesis. The physical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: FTIR confirmed the formation of heparin-loaded alginate wound dressing and the compatibility of both heparin and alginate. Among all, 10 µg/mL concentration of heparin showed the best antibacterial activity against E. coli. The swelling was considerably increased up to 1500% within 1 h. Alamar Blue assay revealed no cytotoxic effect on NIH3T3. Heparin showed good anti-microbial properties and inhibited the growth of E. coli in zones with a diameter of 18 mm. The expression analysis suggested that heparin probably exerts its pro-angiogenetic effect through VEGF and cPGE. Conclusions: We report that heparin-loaded alginate dressings are not cytotoxic and offer increased angiogenic and anti-bacterial potential. The angiogenesis is apparently taken through the VEGF pathway. Full article