Prognostic factors for patients with cancer-associated dermatomyositis: a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of 73 patients.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with dermatomyositis (DM) complete clinical response and overall survival with a focus on the use of immunosuppressive therapies in patients with cancer-associated DM.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, retrospective cohort study. Multivariable survival analyses used a Cox model with time-dependent covariates and adjustments with inverse probability censoring weighting.

[Anterior orbital ischemia secondary to type 1 cryoglobulinemia: A case report and literature review].

Introduction: Type 1 cryoglobulinemia is characterized by a large number of clinical signs. The lack of specificity of these signs can make diagnosis difficult. Ocular manifestations are rarely described across medical literature.

Pruritus and brain tumours: A prospective and descriptive study.

Background: Pruritus, especially localised to the nostrils, has been reported as a specific sign of brain tumours.

Objectives: The main goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of pruritus in a group of patients with brain tumours. The second outcome was to better characterise this pruritus with a specific questionnaire and a skin examination.

Observational case-control study of small-fiber neuropathies, with regards on smoking and vitamin D deficiency and other possible causes.

Introduction: Small fiber neuropathies (SFNs) are disorders of skin nerve endings inducing pruritus, burning pain, numbness, and paresthesia. The aims of this study were to search for putative etiologies of SFN and their occurrence in a cohort of patients and to compare patients with SFN to a group of patients without SFN to highlight potential factors associated with SFN.

Methods: This study was observational, retrospective, and monocentric.

Sensitive Skin Syndrome: A Low-Noise Small-Fiber Neuropathy Related to Environmental Factors?

Background And Objectives: Patients frequently complain of mild, transient, unpleasant skin sensations that cannot be diagnosed as common neuropathies. Dermatologists have termed these symptoms "sensitive skin syndrome." This narrative review was performed for a better knowledge by other specialists.

Pacific-Ciguatoxin-2 and Brevetoxin-1 Induce the Sensitization of Sensory Receptors Mediating Pain and Pruritus in Sensory Neurons.

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning syndromes are induced by the consumption of seafood contaminated by ciguatoxins and brevetoxins. Both toxins cause sensory symptoms such as paresthesia, cold dysesthesia and painful disorders. An intense pruritus, which may become chronic, occurs also in CFP.

Causes of Pruritus in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Melanomas or Skin Carcinomas.

Pruritus is a frequent adverse event during the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with a frequency estimated to be between 11 and 47%. The underlying causes remain poorly understood. The main goal was to search for putative causes of pruritus occurring in patients treated with ICIs for melanomas and cutaneous carcinomas.

Calcium Increase and Substance P Release Induced by the Neurotoxin Brevetoxin-1 in Sensory Neurons: Involvement of PAR2 Activation through Both Cathepsin S and Canonical Signaling.

Red tides involving expose humans to brevetoxins (PbTxs). Oral exposition triggers neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, whereas inhalation induces a respiratory syndrome and sensory disturbances. No curative treatment is available and the pathophysiology is not fully elucidated.

Alteration of Pressure-Induced Vasodilation in Aging and Diabetes, a Neuro-Vascular Damage.

Skin is constantly subjected to pressure at different levels. Pressure-induced vasodilation (PIV) is one of the response mechanisms to low pressure that maintains the homeostasis of the skin. PIV results from the interaction of primary afferent nerves and vascular endothelium of skin vessels.

Hepatic Production of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Context: The bone-derived hormone fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 controls phosphate homeostasis and urinary phosphate excretion. FGF23 plasma levels increase in the early stage of renal insufficiency to prevent hyperphosphatemia. Recent evidence suggests that this increase has effects on cardiac and immune cells that compromise patients' health.

Screening for intracranial aneurysms in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is cost-effective.

Intracranial aneurysm rupture is a dramatic complication of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It remains uncertain whether screening should be widespread or only target patients with risk factors (personal or familial history of intracranial aneurysm), with an at-risk profession, or those who request screening. We evaluated this in a single-center cohort of 495 consecutive patients with ADPKD submitted to targeted intracranial aneurysm screening.

Screening for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Survey of 420 Nephrologists.

Background: Despite a high prevalence of intracranial aneurysm (ICA) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), rupture events are rare. The current recommendations for ICA screening are based on expert opinions and studies with low levels of evidence.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to describe the attitudes of practicing nephrologists in Europe towards screening for ICA using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

[Therapeutic gîtes in child psychiatry].

Therapeutic gîtes in child psychiatry. A therapeutic stay in a gîte is a project led by a multidisciplinary team. It enables children to experiment with the notion of pleasure and to develop their level of socialisation, their personality and their independence, outside the family environment.

The results of major clinical trials: critical assessment, the circulation of information and media coverage.

The round table elected to focus its discussion on trials that, in terms of their importance, are likely to modify medical practices and behaviour. Such trials may be pre- or postmarketing studies. For the findings of a trial to result in a change in practice, they must be credible and fulfil the basic methodological criteria.

Repair of the in vitro HIV-1-induced immunosuppression and blockade of the generation of functional suppressive CD8 cells by anti-alpha interferon and anti-Tat antibodies.

The acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from normal donors results in inhibition of cell proliferation and generation of functional suppressive T cells. Cultured HIV-1 infected PBMCs but not uninfected PBMCs, following irradiation, can inhibit the proliferation of antigen-activated autologous T cells in a dose-dependent way. CD8+ cell subpopulation is responsible for this inhibition.

Which nutrient supplements for optimal HIV-1 production by cultured human lymphocytes?

Under standard conditions, all established cell-lines of HIV-1-infected lymphocytes are cultured in a medium containing a high percentage of serum. We have found that whilst partial or total serum depletion impedes their cell growth, it dramatically increases their virus production. Serial subcultures in serum-depleted medium are necessary to insure permanent cell growth and a relatively high reverse transcriptase activity.

Evidence for an antiviral effect and interferon neutralizing capacity in human sera; variability and implications for HIV infection.

The antiviral effect (AVE) and interferon neutralizing capacity (INC) of sera originating from either seronegative or HIV-infected individuals were determined. As a rule, sera from seropositive subjects exhibited higher AVE titers than sera from seronegative individuals. Similarly, the INC of sera from HIV-infected patients, was most often stronger than that of sera from seronegative individuals.

Biological effect of active anti-IFN alpha immunization in HIV-infected patients.

Circulating interferon (IFN) was investigated in HIV-1 seropositive patients by measuring the IFN alpha antiviral effect in the serum. While serum of healthy seronegative individuals exhibits an antiviral effect, not due to IFNs, considered as background, serum of seropositive patients showed an additional antiviral effect due to the abnormal presence of IFN alpha. Increased titers of IFN alpha were found in the course of the HIV infection and seemed to correlate with the evolution of AIDS disease.

Antioxidant system in rat testicular cells.

The activity of the enzymes involved in the antioxidant defence--superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reductase (GR), S-transferase (GST)--as well as the glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in different rat testicular cell populations. A differential distribution of these components among testicular cell types was clearly observed. Sertoli and peritubular cells had elevated SOD and GSH-dependent enzyme activities associated with a high GSH content.

Effect of purified IgGs from HIV-1-infected and non infected individuals on immune activation.

The purification and analysis of IgGs from sera of HIV-1-infected and non infected individuals are reported. The effect of antibodies purified from sera of infected individuals on antigen-induced T cell proliferation was investigated in relation to their possible involvement in an autoimmune reaction in AIDS, in view of the previously unravelled striking peptide similarities between HIV-1 gp120 and the immunoregulatory CD4 and Fas molecules. However, our data do not allow definite conclusions to be drawn.