INTRODUCTION Morphea (localized scleroderma) is a rare cutaneous disease characterized by skin fibrosis of unknown pathogenesis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a potent profibrotic factor. The role of TGF-β in morphea remains unclear. AIM The goal of this study was to estimate the expression level of TGF-β1 in skin and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as the plasma levels o...

INTRODUCTION Morphea (localized scleroderma) is a relatively rare disease characterized by excessive skin fibrosis. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) are largely distributed within the human genome with hundreds of thousands of elements. The HERV have been widely studied in autoimmune disorders, yet hardly ever assessed in diseases with a good prognosis such as morphea. AIM In this study w...

INTRODUCTION Common femoral endarterectomy and/or profundoplasty are procedures commonly performed on patients with functional or critical limb ischaemia. CASE PRESENTATION A 61-year-old Caucasian British man was referred to our unit with recent onset of severe left calf and thigh claudication and rest pain in his left foot. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed occlusive disease of the lef...

Pseudoaneurysms of the profunda femoris artery have been reported following different types of trauma and from orthopedic procedures performed in the proximal femur. Two cases of profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm with two rare causes are presented. The first one is a core decompression of femoral head for osteonecrosis and the second one is a proximal femur fracture nailing. Awareness and ...

We report the case of a 48-year-old woman who developed morphea-like plaques after 1 year of treatment with D-penicillamine at 250 mg daily for a seronegative erosive arthritis of rheumatoid type. The rash began as several red itchy patches on the trunk; these became thickened and shiny over about 3 months. The histological appearance was of increased dermal fibrosis with an inflammatory infilt...

Linear morphea is a distinct form of morphea that occurs as a linear band usually with a single unilateral distribution. The lower extremities are most often involved. This dermatosis appears as a linear induration not necessarily related to the derm induration. We report herein a case of 20-year-old Iranian girl who had a linear sclerotic patch on right lower extremity with clinical and ...

BACKGROUND Knowledge of the anatomical variations of the profunda femoris artery and its circumflex branches is important during angiographic diagnostic procedures as well as during performing surgery in the femoral region. The aim of this study was to examine the original sites, distances and variations of the profunda femoris artery and its circumflex branches. MATERIALS AND METHODS The stu...

INTRODUCTION To date, only scant data has been reported regarding the anatomy of the radial nerve and profunda brachii artery and their relationships while within the triangular interval of the posterior arm. As this area has recently gained attention for using motor branches of the triceps muscle for nerve transfers, the present study was conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen adult cadave...

Localized scleroderma, or morphea, is a chronic disease that causes a thickening and induration of the skin. For plaque type morphea, the treatments of choice include super-potent corticosteroids and calcipotriol. For the more generalized forms, as well as the linear forms, UVA is currently the best therapeutic modality. Patients with localized scleroderma are managed by both rheumatologists an...