ARTIFICIAL ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION RAISES PLASMA 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D CONCENTRATIONS IN BURMESE PYTHONS ( PYTHON BIVITTATUS).

Deficiency of vitamin D can contribute to health complications that present as metabolic bone disease. The aim of this small-scale study was to determine if a high UVb irradiance would affect an increase in plasma vitamin D concentrations in Burmese pythons ( Python bivittatus). There have been inconsistent results throughout the literature concerning the usefulness of UVb radiation regarding vitamin D synthesis.

PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF VITAMIN A, B, D, AND E IN HUMBOLDT PENGUINS ( SPHENISCUS HUMBOLDTI) BEFORE AND AFTER DIETARY VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION OF THEIR FISH DIET.

In a practical feeding trial at Ouwehand Zoo, plasma concentrations of vitamin A, calcidiol (D), α-tocopherol (E), and B in 17 Humboldt penguins ( Spheniscus humboldti) were measured before and after supplementation to gain insight into the effect of supplementing these vitamins in animals being fed thawed frozen-fish diets. None of the penguins received vitamin supplements for at least 6 mo before the supplementation trial, which was conducted prior to their normal nesting and molting period. During the trial period, eight penguins received daily vitamin A, D, tocopheryl acetate, and B supplementation placed in their fish immediately prior to feeding and nine control penguins received no supplementation.

CONGENITAL NUTRITIONAL MYODEGENERATION (WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE) IN A GIRAFFE ( GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS) CALF.

It is well known that vitamin E and selenium deficiencies in domestic ruminants can lead to white muscle disease. After a clinically normal gestation period at Ouwehand Zoo in the Netherlands, a newborn giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) calf showed clinical signs of white muscle disease almost immediately after birth. The calf was rejected by the mother and was euthanized 3 days later because of deterioration of clinical signs.

House dust mite allergens Der f and Der p induce IL-31 production by blood-derived T cells from atopic dermatitis patients.

Aero-allergens, such as house dust mite (HDM), have been suggested to play a role in the initiation of atopic dermatitis (AD)-related skin inflammation. Here, we analysed the proliferation and the cytokine expression of blood-derived T cells from AD and healthy individuals upon HDM-allergen stimulation. The proliferating cells from healthy individuals and AD patients had a significantly different, distinct cytokine profile: in AD blood, we found increased frequencies of HDM-reactive IL-31-producing T cells, as well as a decreased Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 ratio, suggesting that allergen-specific T cells in blood of chronic AD patients are subject to pre-existent Th2-Tc2 and "Th31-Tc31" programming.

Clinical outbreak of babesiosis caused by Babesia capreoli in captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in the Netherlands.

From a herd of captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) consisting of two males and seven females with five calves, three calves were diagnosed on post mortem examination with a Babesia capreoli infection. The diagnosis was indicated by PCR and when the other reindeer were examined two adult females and a one-year-old male were Babesia-positive. Molecular characterization of the 18S rDNA of the parasite showed complete identity with known B.

Stress-optic modulator in TriPleX platform using a ezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin film.

We will demonstrate a stress-optic phase modulator in the passive SiN-based TriPleX platform using a layer of piezoelectric material. Regarding the stress-optic effect, the piezoelectric layer deposited on top of an optical waveguide is employed to control the phase of propagating light in the structure by applying an electrical field across the layer. In this work, it is demonstrated that the stress-optic effect lowers the power consumption by a factor of one million for quasi-DC operation and increases the modulation speed by three orders of magnitude, compared to currently used thermo-optic modulation in the TriPleX platform.

Filaggrin loss-of-function mutations and atopic dermatitis as risk factors for hand eczema in apprentice nurses: part II of a prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: Environmental exposure and personal susceptibility both contribute to the development of hand eczema. In this study, we investigated the effect of loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG), atopic dermatitis and wet work exposure on the development of hand eczema in apprentice nurses.

Methods: Dutch apprentice nurses were genotyped for the four most common FLG mutations; atopic dermatitis and hand eczema history were assessed by questionnaire.

Wet work and hand eczema in apprentice nurses; part I of a prospective cohort study.

Background /objectives: Environmental exposure and personal susceptibility both contribute to the development of hand eczema. Here, we report an investigation on wet work exposure and its influence on the risk of developing hand eczema in apprentice nurses.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed among 721 Dutch apprentice nurses.

High prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis in children and adolescents with vitiligo.

Background/aims: Vitiligo is considered to be an autoimmune disease and is known to be associated with other autoimmune diseases, particularly affecting the thyroid. In children and adolescents this association has been reported in only a few studies, with varying results. The aim of this study was to examine thyroid function and prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in children and adolescents with vitiligo and to investigate the utility of screening.

Langerhans cells favor skin flora tolerance through limited presentation of bacterial antigens and induction of regulatory T cells.

The mechanisms preventing detrimental T-cell responses against commensal skin bacteria remain elusive. Using monocyte-derived and skin-derived dendritic cells (DCs), we demonstrate that epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs), the DCs in the most superficial layer of the skin, have a poor capacity to internalize bacteria because of low expression of FcγRIIa. Furthermore, LCs show deficiency in processing and major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II)-restricted presentation of bacterial antigens, as a result of a decreased expression of molecules involved in these functionalities.

A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study to identify biomarkers associated with active treatment in psoriatic arthritis: effects of adalimumab treatment on lesional and nonlesional skin.

Background: There is a need for biomarkers to screen the effectiveness of (novel) therapeutic agents for psoriasis at an early stage.

Objective: We aimed to determine which of the changes in psoriatic skin correlates best with clinical improvement 4 weeks after effective adalimumab therapy.

Methods: Twenty-two psoriatic arthritis patients were randomized to receive adalimumab or placebo.

Expression of IL-20 in synovium and lesional skin of patients with psoriatic arthritis: differential response to alefacept treatment.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis. Alefacept (a lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-3 Ig fusion protein that binds to CD2 and functions as an antagonist to T-cell activation) has been shown to result in improvement in psoriasis but has limited effectiveness in PsA. Interleukin-20 (IL-20) is a key proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Increased frequencies of IL-31-producing T cells are found in chronic atopic dermatitis skin.

Interleukin (IL)-31 has been associated with pruritus, a characteristic feature of atopic dermatitis (AD). Local T cell responses may be responsible for the increased level of IL-31 mRNA observed in AD. We investigated the frequency of IL-31-producing T cells in AD lesions, as well as their cytokine profile.

Formation of fibrosis after nonablative and ablative fractional laser therapy.

Background: Fractional laser therapy (FLT) has become a widely accepted modality for skin rejuvenation and has also been used in various other skin diseases.

Objective: To observe long-term histologic effects of nonablative and ablative FLT in the treatment of pigment disorders.

Methods: A randomized controlled observer-blinded study was performed in 18 patients with pigment disorders.

Non-ablative 1550 nm fractional laser therapy not effective for erythema dyschromicum perstans and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a pilot study.

Background: Erythema dyschromicum perstans and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) are characterized by papillary dermal pigmentation or pigment incontinence. To date, no standard treatment is available. Fractional laser therapy (FLT) was recently reported to improve different pigment disorders.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel nortropane derivatives as potential radiotracers for muscarinic m(2) receptors.

Disturbances of the cerebral cholinergic neurotransmitter system are present in neurodegenerative disorders. SPECT or PET imaging, using radiotracers that selectively target muscarinic receptor subtypes, may be of value for in vivo evaluation of such conditions. 6β-acetoxynortropane, a potent muscarinic M(2) receptor agonist, has previously demonstrated nanomolar affinity and high selectivity for this receptor.

T-cell immune function in tumor, skin, and peripheral blood of advanced stage melanoma patients: implications for immunotherapy.

Purpose: To predict the potential antitumor effect of antigen-specific T cells in melanoma patients, we investigated T-cell effector function in relation to tumor-escape mechanisms.

Experimental Design: CD8(+) T cells isolated from tumor, adjacent normal skin, and peripheral blood of 17 HLA-A2(+) patients with advanced-stage melanoma were analyzed for their antigen specificity and effector function against melanocyte differentiation antigens MART-1, gp100, and tyrosinase by using HLA-A2/peptide tetramers and functional assays. In addition, the presence of tumor-escape mechanisms PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, FoxP3 and loss of HLA or melanocyte differentiation antigens, both required for tumor cell recognition and killing, were studied.

Ablative fractional laser therapy as treatment for Becker nevus: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Becker nevus (BN) is an uncommon pigment disorder characterized by hyperpigmentation and sometimes hypertrichosis. To date, no effective treatment has been available.

Objectives: We sought to assess efficacy and safety of ablative 10,600-nm fractional laser therapy (FLT) in the treatment of BN.

A randomized trial of methotrexate versus azathioprine for severe atopic eczema.

Background: Patients with severe atopic eczema frequently require systemic treatment to control their disease. Methotrexate and azathioprine are proposed as off-label treatment options, but direct comparisons are lacking.

Objectives: We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of methotrexate versus azathioprine in adults with severe atopic eczema.

Validation and refinement of the Millennium Criteria for atopic dermatitis.

There is no gold standard for a definite diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. For the time being, several lists of diagnostic criteria have been proposed, some of them in actual use. The Millennium Criteria have been proposed to diagnose atopic dermatitis and to differentiate it from atopiform dermatitis.

Skin-depigmenting agent monobenzone induces potent T-cell autoimmunity toward pigmented cells by tyrosinase haptenation and melanosome autophagy.

In this study, we report the previously unknown mechanism of inducing robust anti-melanoma immunity by the vitiligo-inducing compound monobenzone. We show monobenzone to increase melanocyte and melanoma cell immunogenicity by forming quinone-haptens to the tyrosinase protein and by inducing the release of tyrosinase- and melanoma antigen recognized by T cells-1 (MART-1)-containing CD63+ exosomes following melanosome oxidative stress induction. Monobenzone further augments the processing and shedding of melanocyte-differentiation antigens by inducing melanosome autophagy and enhanced tyrosinase ubiquitination, ultimately activating dendritic cells, which induced cytotoxic human melanoma-reactive T cells.

Nonablative 1550-nm fractional laser therapy versus triple topical therapy for the treatment of melasma: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Various treatments are currently available for melasma. However, results are often disappointing.

Objective: We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of nonablative 1550-nm fractional laser therapy and compare results with those obtained with triple topical therapy (the gold standard).

Etanercept: an overview of dermatologic adverse events.

Objectives: To provide a comprehensive overview of dermatologic adverse events of etanercept described in the literature (including all study types, case reports, and surveys) and to present information on the occurrence, severity, treatment, and course of these adverse events.

Data Sources: MEDLINE and EMBASE.

Study Selection: All reports on individual patients who developed a dermatologic adverse event associated with systemic etanercept treatment for any indication in any type of original article were included.

Overrepresentation of IL-17A and IL-22 producing CD8 T cells in lesional skin suggests their involvement in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Background: Although recent studies indicate a crucial role for IL-17A and IL-22 producing T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, limited information is available on their frequency and heterogeneity and their distribution in skin in situ.

Methodology/principal Findings: By spectral imaging analysis of double-stained skin sections we demonstrated that IL-17 was mainly expressed by mast cells and neutrophils and IL-22 by macrophages and dendritic cells. Only an occasional IL-17(pos), but no IL-22(pos) T cell could be detected in psoriatic skin, whereas neither of these cytokines was expressed by T cells in normal skin.