The co-occurrence pattern of epiphytic lichen communities was evaluated relative to microenvironmental heterogeneity along an edge-interior forest gradient. We collected data on the occurrence of 57 epiphytic lichen species from 452 plots in a Mediterranean forest remnant. We used two realistic null models to test for non-randomness in the structure of epiphytic lichen communities and generaliz...

The Lithopanspermia space experiment was launched in 2007 with the European Biopan facility for a 10-day spaceflight on board a Russian Foton retrievable satellite. Lithopanspermia included for the first time the vagrant lichen species Aspicilia fruticulosa from Guadalajara steppic highlands (Central Spain), as well as other lichen species. During spaceflight, the samples were exposed to select...

Background Alitretinoin is a vitamin A derivative. It’s a pan-agonist of Retinoic Acid Receptors and Retinoid X Receptors. It interferes with keratinocytes’ proliferation and differentiation and exerts immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity. Its clinical efficacy in the treatment of chronic hand eczema is well demonstrated. Recently, various case reports and case series pointed out its...

Lichens are symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria. Microcystins are potent toxins that are responsible for the poisoning of both humans and animals. These toxins are mainly associated with aquatic cyanobacterial blooms, but here we show that the cyanobacterial symbionts of terrestrial lichens from all over the world commonly produce microcystins. We scre...

INTRODUCTION Bioimpedance is a measure of the electrical properties of biological tissues. In the last two decades bioimpedance has been successfully introduced in clinical diagnosis of cancer. It has been demonstrated that tumoral tissues often show lower bioimpedance values than healthy tissues. The aim of this work is to assess the bioimpedentiometric differences between healthy and Oral Lic...

Lichen simplex (LS) is characterized by circumscribed, lichenified, pruritic patches that may develop on any part of the body. Macular amyloidosis (MA) is the form of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses a pulsed electric current generated transcutaneously by a device to cause impulses to be carried along large-diameter afferent nerves...

Background: Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), nodular prurigo (NP), and neurotic excoriation (NE) are considered as psychogenic pruritus disorders. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is also classified by some as a psychocutaneous disorder to point out the influence of psychologic factors in its recurrence, persistence and precipitation. AD and psychogenic pruritus share many common features including ...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of Herpes Simplex virus, Epstein Barr virus and Human Papilloma virus -16 in oral lichen planus cases and to evaluate whether any clinical variant, histopathological or demographic feature correlates with these viruses. STUDY DESIGN The study was conducted on 65 cases. Viruses were detected immunohistochemically. We evaluate...

Air pollution is an increasing critical issue and the focus of innumerable studies and monitoring activities. In addition to automatic monitoring systems typically used to measure fine dust, ozone, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide, the use of bioaccumulation monitors can also be exploited, especially when monitoring large areas. The advantage of biomarkers is the very low costs involved compared...