Multiple Keratoacanthomas after a Recent Tattoo: A Case Report

We report on a 39-year-old man who presented with seven skin lesions on the right thigh 3 weeks after receiving a large tattoo which included red and black pigments. Initially, the lesions grew fast, later their growth stabilized. Histopathology showed well-circumscribed symmetric tumors with a central keratin-filled crater along with further trademarks of a keratoacanthoma. The patient had previously had multiple tattoos with no history of similar lesions. PCR analysis of one of the lesions revealed the presence of human papillomavirus 6. All lesions were excised with a safety margin. A 3-month follow-up revealed no further lesions.

Immunological Methods for the Detection of Binders in Ancient Tibetan Murals

Tibetan mural samples from the Jiazhaer mountain cave were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM). Samples containing protein binders were first identified using ELISA, and then IFM was used to determine the location of protein binders. Using these methods, we discovered gelatin and casein in samples from wall murals, distributed in both red and black pigments. We excluded the possibility of contamination by conducting further experiments where simulated samples were spiked with milk. We conclude that both gelatin and casein were used as binders in the pigments of the Tibetan Buddhist murals in the Jiazhaer (Transliteration from Tibetan) mountain cave. This is the first evidence of casein being used as a binder in Chinese mural pigments.

Documenting the light sensitivity of Spanish Levantine rock art paintings

A case study to evaluate the use of microfading spectrometry (MFS) for the study of colored systems found in prehistoric rock art paintings was conducted in the Cova Remígia rock-shelter, Castellón (Spain). This rock shelter is part of the rock art sites of the Mediterranean basin on the Iberian Peninsula included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Some of the paintings belonging to this group are exposed to environmental factors including natural daylight, wind and rain, depending on the time of the day and the season of the year. Therefore, their preservation is a major concern to stakeholders and researchers responsible for protecting and studying these prehistoric paintings. The experimental work in Cova Remigia focused on measuring the reflectance curves (400-700 nm) and determining the photostability of various areas containing red and black pigments on the rock art paintings. The preliminary results indicate that MFS is a suitable technique for studying the response to light of rock/pigment systems found in rock art sites. The advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed.