Cystic echinococcosis in unaccompanied minor refugees from Afghanistan and the Middle East to Germany, July 2016 through June 2017.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is not covered by current refugee screening protocols. After we had detected CE among several refugees attending our clinic from Afghanistan and the Middle East, serological examinations for CE were performed for apparently healthy unaccompanied minor refugees from these regions.

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by neutrophil granulocytes: diminished proinflammatory neutrophil functions in the presence of apoptotic cells.

Neutrophil granulocytes are rapidly recruited from the bloodstream to the site of acute inflammation where they die in large numbers. Because release of toxic substances from dead neutrophils can propagate the inflammatory response leading to tissue destruction, clearance of dying inflammatory neutrophils has a critical function in the resolution of the inflammatory response. Apoptotic neutrophils are phagocytosed primarily by macrophages, provided these cells are present in adequate numbers.