The use of lasers and intense pulsed light sources for the treatment of pigmentary lesions. (25/124)

Lasers and intense pulsed light sources are frequently used for the treatment of pigmented lesions, and the appropriate selection of devices for different lesions is vital to achieving satisfactory clinical outcomes. In dark-skinned patients, the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is of particular importance. In general, long-pulse laser and intense pulsed light sources can be effective with a low risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) when used for the treatment of lentigines. However, for dermal pigmentation and tattoo, Q-switched lasers are effective, with a lower risk of complications. In the removal of melanocytic nevi, a combined approach with a long-pulse pigmented laser and a Q-switched laser is particularly applicable.  (+info)

Light-induced mutagenicity in Salmonella TA102 and genotoxicity/cytotoxicity in human T-cells by 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine: a chemical used in the manufacture of dyes and pigments and in tattoo inks. (26/124)

DCB, 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, is used primarily as an intermediate in the manufacture of diarylide yellow or azo red pigments for printing ink, textile, paint, and plastics. It is also used in tattoo inks. In this article, we investigate light-induced toxicity of DCB in both bacteria and human Jurkat T-cells. DCB itself is not toxic or mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA102, but is photomutagenic at concentrations as low as 2 microM and phototoxic at concentrations >100 microM when bacteria are exposed to DCB and light at the same time (1.2 J/cm2 of UVA and 2.1 J/cm2 of visible light). Furthermore, DCB is both photocytotoxic and photogenotoxic to human Jurkat T-cells. Under a light irradiation dose of 2.3 J/cm2 of UVA and 4.2 J/cm2 of visible light, it causes the Jurkat T-cells to become nonviable in a DCB dose-dependent manner and the nonviable cells reaches 60% at DCB concentrations higher than 50 microM. At the same time, DNA fragmentation is observed for cells exposed to both DCB and light, determined by single cell gel electrophoresis (alkaline comet assay). As much as 5% (average) DNA fragmentation was observed when exposed to 200 microM DCB and light irradiation. This suggests that DCB can penetrate the cell membrane and enter the cell. Upon light activation, DCB in the cells can cause various cellular damages, leading to nonviable Jurkat T-cells. It appears, the nonviable cells are not caused solely by fragmentation of cellular DNA, but by other damages such as to proteins and cell membranes, or DNA alkylation. Therefore, persons exposed to DCB through environmental contamination or through tattoo piercing using DCB-containing inks must not only concern about its toxicity without exposing to light, but also its phototoxicity.  (+info)

Tattoo pigment in sentinel lymph nodes: a mimicker of metastatic malignant melanoma. (27/124)

Tattoo pigment in the sentinel lymph nodes of melanoma patients represents a clinical challenge. If a tattoo is present in the area of the primary melanoma, the draining lymph nodes are likely to contain tattoo pigment, as well as being the site for metastatic deposits of melanoma. We describe a case report involving an elderly Caucasian male diagnosed with a Clark level-4 nodular malignant melanoma, wherein intraoperatively we encounter a darkly pigmented lymph node highly suspicious for metastatic disease. The patient had a tattoo in the vicinity of the malignant melanoma The specimen is sent for histological examination and is found to contain pigmented macrophages, but metastatic malignant melanoma is not identified. Histological confirmation of an enlarged pigmented node is essential before radical surgery is performed.  (+info)

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus and associated risk behaviours: a population-based study in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (28/124)

BACKGROUND: Limited information about the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is available in Puerto Rico, one of the areas hardest hit by the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic. We estimated the prevalence of HCV infection and identified correlates of seropositivity in the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico. METHODS: A probability cluster design was employed to select a sample of households representative of the population aged 21-64 years in San Juan during 2001-2002. All 964 subjects completed a face-to-face interview to gather data on demographics and self-reported risk behaviours followed by venipuncture for HCV antibody testing. Variables that were at least marginally associated with HCV seroprevalence (P < 0.10) in the bivariate analyses were considered for inclusion into the multiple logistic regression model to estimate the adjusted prevalence odds ratio (POR). RESULTS: Overall weighted prevalence of HCV infection was 6.3% (95% CI 3.6-10.9%). A significant (P < 0.05) higher prevalence was observed among subjects with the following characteristics: age 30-49 (9.5%), male sex (10.6%), < or =12 years of education (9.6%), no health coverage (12.6%), lifetime heroin use (39.2%), lifetime cocaine use (39.6%), tattooing practices (34.2%), history of imprisonment (32.8%), and self-reported histories of hepatitis B virus infection (30.4%) and HIV/AIDS (92.1%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that tattooing practices (POR = 8.9; 95% CI 1.7-44.7), lifetime cocaine use (POR = 5.5; 95% CI 2.2-13.5), blood transfusions prior to 1992 (POR = 4.0; 95% CI 1.6-10.1), lifetime heroin use (POR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.4-7.8), and history of imprisonment (POR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.1-4.9) remained significantly associated with HCV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The large prevalence of HCV infection observed in Puerto Rican adults residing in San Juan suggest that HCV infection is an emerging public health concern and merits further investigation.  (+info)

Metabolism of pigment yellow 74 by rat and human microsomal proteins. (29/124)

Pigment Yellow 74 (PY74) is a monoazo pigment that is used in yellow tattoo inks. The metabolism of PY74 was investigated using rat liver and human liver microsomes and expressed human cytochromes P450 (P450s). Two phase I metabolites were isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR techniques. One metabolite (PY74-M1) was a ring hydroxylation product of PY74, 2-((2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)azo)-N-(2-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxobutanamide. The second metabolite (PY74-M2) was identified as 2-((2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl)azo)-N-(2-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-oxobutanamide, which is the O-demethylation product of PY74-M1. These metabolites were formed by in vitro incubations of PY74 with 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver microsomes and to a much lesser extent by liver microsomes from untreated or phenobarbital-induced rats. The role for CYP1A in the metabolism of PY74 was confirmed using expressed human P450s. The catalytic ability of the P450s for metabolism of PY74 was CYP 1A2 > CYP 1A1 > CYP 3A4 approximately CYP 1B1 (no activity with CYP 2B6, 2C9, 2D6 or 2E1). The metabolism of PY74-M1 to PY74-M2 was catalyzed only by CYP 1A2 and CYP 1A1 (no activity from CYP 1B1, 2B6, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4). These results demonstrate that the tattoo pigment PY74 is metabolized in vitro by P450 to metabolites that should be available for phase II metabolism and excretion.  (+info)

Endoscopic tattoo of the colon might be standardized to locate tumors intraoperatively. (30/124)

BACKGROUND: Small colonic lesions which are identified during endoscopy are usually difficult to locate intra-operatively. Endoscopic tattoo of the colon seems the most efficient method, however it does fail in some cases to identify the lesion peroperatively. We studied this method to evaluate its efficacy. METHODS: Nineteen patients were tattooed during colonoscopy with "India ink" (drawing ink Rotring ). These patients had lesions in which difficulties were anticipated when retracing them again during colorectal surgery. Seventeen patients underwent colonic surgery. One patient underwent laparoscopic polypectomy and the other TEM (Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery). RESULTS: The visibility of the "India ink" peroperatively and afterwards during histological examination were evaluated. The tattoos were visible in 68.4 % patients intraoperatively. Histopathological macroscopic examination of the specimens showed ink in 73.6 % patients. In 31.5 % patients the tattoo could not be recognised peroperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopy assisted tattooing of the colon has been reported to be a safe method to landmark lesions in the colon. In the majority of our patients the tattoo was obvious during surgery. Endoscopic tattoo seems an efficient technique in identifying small colonic lesions intraoperatively.  (+info)

Tattoos, incarceration and hepatitis B and C among street-recruited injection drug users in New Mexico, USA: update. (31/124)

To the Editor:In a previous report [1], we described significant risks for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) positivity associated with receipt of tattoos, particularly while incarcerated, among a street-recruited population of injection drug users (IDUs) in New Mexico, United States from 1995 to 1997. Another recent report in this Journal, based on a study conducted on prisoners in Australia, found tattooing in prison to be an independent risk for HCV [2]. Another report also described a strong association between tattoos and HCV, but found the strongest association to be with commercial tattooing venues [3]. That study found the risk associated with receipt of tattoos in prison elevated, but not statistically significant. That same report reviewed other articles and found a significant risk for HCV infection associated with tattoos in six out of eight studies that had data available. Further, a recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) document summarized the literature on risks for hepatitis infections in correctional settings and developed extensive control guidelines [4].  (+info)

Evaluation of hematopoietic stem cell donors. (32/124)

Donation of hematopoietic stem cells, either through bone marrow or peripheral blood collection, is a generally safe procedure for healthy donors. Serious adverse events are uncommon and death is exceedingly rare. Nevertheless, all donors must be carefully evaluated and fully informed prior to donation. This should be done by clinicians having good understanding of the potential physical and psychological complications of donation and the factors that may increase these risks. Additionally, donors and graft products must be evaluated for the potential to transmit infections and other diseases to the recipient and to satisfy an increasing number of national and international regulatory requirements. Donors must be able to provide informed consent without coercion or pressure. Special attention to the clinical, psychological and social needs of pediatric donors is necessary.  (+info)