JAK-STAT signaling pathway inhibition: a role for treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus and dermatomyositis.

Background: Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and dermatomyositis (DM) are inflammatory autoimmune diseases that manifest primarily in the skin but can be linked to systemic complications. Although there is an in-depth understanding of the clinical presentation of these two diseases, much less is known regarding the pathophysiology. This has limited the effective treatment options for patients.

Repigmentation of hair following adalimumab therapy.

Repigmentation of canities, or age-related grey or white hair, is a rare occurrence. Generalized repigmentation of grey-white hair has been reported following inflammatory processes, and heterochromia (localized patches of hair repigmentation) is even more unusual, reported in association with medication use and malignancy. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are increasingly utilized medications for inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Intercellular trafficking of the nuclear oncoprotein DEK.

DEK is a biochemically distinct, conserved nonhistone protein that is vital to global heterochromatin integrity. In addition, DEK can be secreted and function as a chemotactic, proinflammatory factor. Here we show that exogenous DEK can penetrate cells, translocate to the nucleus, and there carry out its endogenous nuclear functions.

Attachment of Chlamydia trachomatis L2 to host cells requires sulfation.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a pathogen responsible for a prevalent sexually transmitted disease. It is also the most common cause of infectious blindness in the developing world. We performed a loss-of-function genetic screen in human haploid cells to identify host factors important in C.

Cyclosporine and psoriasis: 2008 National Psoriasis Foundation Consensus Conference.

Background: Cyclosporine is a valuable option for the treatment of psoriasis. This report summarizes studies regarding the use of cyclosporine since the last guidelines were published in 1998.

Objective: A task force of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board was convened to evaluate treatment options.

Diversity of 23S rRNA genes within individual prokaryotic genomes.

Background: The concept of ribosomal constraints on rRNA genes is deduced primarily based on the comparison of consensus rRNA sequences between closely related species, but recent advances in whole-genome sequencing allow evaluation of this concept within organisms with multiple rRNA operons.

Methodology/principal Findings: Using the 23S rRNA gene as an example, we analyzed the diversity among individual rRNA genes within a genome. Of 184 prokaryotic species containing multiple 23S rRNA genes, diversity was observed in 113 (61.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Unlabelled: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is an unpredictable, life-threatening drug reaction associated with a 30% mortality. Massive keratinocyte apoptosis is the hallmark of TEN. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes appear to be the main effector cells and there is experimental evidence for involvement of both the Fas-Fas ligand and perforin/granzyme pathways.