Lack of functional TCR-epitope interaction is associated with herpes zoster through reduced downstream T cell activation.

The role of T cell receptor (TCR) diversity in infectious disease susceptibility is not well understood. We use a systems immunology approach on three cohorts of herpes zoster (HZ) patients and controls to investigate whether TCR diversity against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) influences the risk of HZ. We show that CD4 T cell TCR diversity against VZV glycoprotein E (gE) and immediate early 63 protein (IE63) after 1-week culture is more restricted in HZ patients.

A review on PUVA pricks-A debilitating adverse event.

Purpose: PUVA phototherapy is indicated for various dermatological conditions. Adverse events due to PUVA phototherapy are seen in a sizable number of patients and can result in therapy cessation. This review will focus on PUVA pricks, an adverse event first reported by Tegner in 1979.

Contact allergy mimicking trench foot infection: a case study.

Hard-to-heal wounds are a major cause of morbidity and/or mortality. Multiple aetiologies can be identified and wounds can be treated according to their aetiology and macroscopic appearance. However, evidence behind the wide range of locally applied treatments is weak, without clear guidelines available to treat a variety of wound aetiologies.

The Challenges of Crizotinib Treatment in a Child With Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

Survival in cases involving childhood malignancy is reaching nearly 80% in high-income countries, yet cancer remains one of the leading disease-related causes of death in children. In adult oncology the role of targeted therapies is established, but information regarding the use of these therapies in children is limited, largely because targeted therapies were developed in the context of adult pathologies. The few pediatric reports regarding crizotinib, an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, seem promising.

Extra-anogenital giant cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas require multidisciplinary management.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a highly prevalent cancer and the majority of cSCC have a good prognosis. However, a subset of cSCC can progress to advanced disease. We present the first reported case of a giant cSCC located on the breast.

Case Report: VEXAS Syndrome: From Mild Symptoms to Life-Threatening Macrophage Activation Syndrome.

Recently, a novel disorder coined VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome was identified in patients with adult-onset inflammatory syndromes, often accompanied by myelodysplastic syndrome1. All patients had myeloid lineage-restricted somatic mutations in UBA1 affecting the Met41 residue of the protein and resulting in decreased cellular ubiquitylation activity and hyperinflammation. We here describe the clinical disease course of two VEXAS syndrome patients with somatic UBA1 mutations of which one with a mild phenotype characterized by recurrent rash and symmetric polyarthritis, and another who was initially diagnosed with idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease and developed macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of the VEXAS syndrome.

Hepatocellular transport and gastrointestinal absorption of lanthanum in chronic renal failure.

Lanthanum carbonate is a new phosphate binder that is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and eliminated largely by the liver. After oral treatment, we and others had noticed 2-3 fold higher lanthanum levels in the livers of rats with chronic renal failure compared to rats with normal renal function. Here we studied the kinetics and tissue distribution, absorption, and subcellular localization of lanthanum in the liver using transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectrometry, and X-ray fluorescence.

Role of dietary phosphorus and degree of uremia in the development of renal bone disease in rats.

The remnant kidney rat model has been extensively used for the evaluation of bone changes due to uremia. The present study aimed to assess the effect of the dietary phosphorus availability and of the severity of renal failure on bone histomorphometric changes and various biochemical markers over time in this model. Chronic renal failure (CRF) was induced in male Wistar rats by 5/6th nephrectomy.

Lanthanum: a safe phosphate binder.

Accumulation of inorganic phosphate due to renal functional impairment contributes to the increased cardiovascular mortality observed in dialysis patients. Phosphate plays a causative role in the development of vascular calcification in renal failure; treatment with calcium-based phosphate binders and vitamin D can further increase the Ca x PO(4) product and add to the risk of ectopic mineralization. The new generation of calcium-free phosphate binders, sevelamer and lanthanum, can control hyperphosphatemia without adding to the patients calcium load.

Development and reversibility of impaired mineralization associated with lanthanum carbonate treatment in chronic renal failure rats.

Background: We have previously shown that administration of the new phosphate binder lanthanum (La) carbonate at high doses during 12 weeks induces a mineralization defect (MD) in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats most likely due to the powerful phosphate binding. In this study, we want to investigate the fate and possible biological activities of La once it is accumulated in bone.

Methods: CRF animals (5/6th nephrectomy) received La carbonate (2,000 mg/kg/day) via oral gavage for 2 or 6 weeks and were sacrificed immediately at the end of the treatment period and after a wash out period of 2 and 8 weeks.

Localization of lanthanum in bone of chronic renal failure rats after oral dosing with lanthanum carbonate.

Background: Lanthanum carbonate has been shown to be a safe, effective phosphate-binding agent. We have shown that an impaired mineralization in chronic renal failure rats treated with high doses of lanthanum carbonate develops secondary to phosphate depletion and is therefore pharmacologically mediated rather than a direct effect of lanthanum on bone. Although bulk bone lanthanum concentrations are low, it is important to consider the localization within a given tissue.

Time-evolution and reversibility of strontium-induced osteomalacia in chronic renal failure rats.

Background: Patients with impaired renal function can accumulate strontium in the bone, which has been associated with the development of osteomalacia. A causal role for strontium in the development of the disease was presented in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats. Strontium-ranelate has been put forward as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Spectrum of renal bone disease in end-stage renal failure patients not yet on dialysis.

Background: During the last few years the spectrum of renal osteodystrophy (ROD) in dialysis patients has been studied thoroughly and the prevalence of the various types of ROD has changed considerably. Whereas until a decade ago most patients presented with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH), adynamic bone (ABD) has become the most common lesion within the dialysis population over the last few years. Much less is known about the spectrum of ROD in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients not yet on dialysis.

Useful biochemical markers for diagnosing renal osteodystrophy in predialysis end-stage renal failure patients.

Background: Various biochemical markers have been evaluated in dialysis patients for the diagnosis of renal osteodystrophy (ROD). However, their value in predialysis patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) is not yet clear.

Methods: Bone histomorphometric evaluation was performed and biochemical markers of bone turnover were determined in serum of an unselected predialysis ESRF population (N = 84).

Dose-dependent effects of strontium on bone of chronic renal failure rats.

Background: We previously reported on increased bone strontium (Sr) levels in dialysis patients with osteomalacia versus those presenting other types of renal osteodystrophy. A causal role of strontium in the development of osteomalacia was established in a chronic renal failure (CRF) rat model.

Methods: In the present study we investigated whether the effect of Sr on bone was related to dosage.