A distinct four-value blood signature of pyrexia under combination therapy of malignant melanoma with dabrafenib and trametinib evidenced by an algorithm-defined pyrexia score.

Pyrexia is a frequent adverse event of BRAF/MEK-inhibitor combination therapy in patients with metastasized malignant melanoma (MM). The study's objective was to identify laboratory changes which might correlate with the appearance of pyrexia. Initially, data of 38 MM patients treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib, of which 14 patients developed pyrexia, were analysed retrospectively.

Dealing with Corticosteroid and High-Dose Cyclosporine Therapy in a Pyoderma Gangrenosum Patient Contracting a COVID-19 Infection.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare and chronic neutrophil inflammation belonging to the spectrum of autoinflammatory disorders. Immunosuppressive therapy is the cornerstone of successful treatment. However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, physicians struggle with therapeutic strategies during infection.

Cutaneous Malignancies in Tattoos, a Case Series of Six Patients.

Background: A variety of side effects following the tattooing of the skin were reported over the years. Analytical studies showed that some tattoo inks contain harmful compounds.

Methods: We presented six patient cases with cutaneous malignancies in tattooed skin and performed an extensive literature research.

Upregulation of CCL7, CCL20, CXCL2, IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-9 in Skin Samples of PCB Exposed Individuals-A Preliminary Study.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are well known immunotoxic and carcinogenic compounds. Although cutaneous symptoms are the hallmark of exposure to these compounds, exact pathophysiologic mechanisms are not well understood. We took skin biopsies from moderately high PCB exposed workers ( = 25) after an informed consent and investigated the expression of immunological markers such as CCL-7, CCL-20, CXCL2, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9, EPGN and NRF2 by RT-qPCR, and compared expression levels with plasma PCB levels.

Metabolic activation and toxicological evaluation of polychlorinated biphenyls in Drosophila melanogaster.

Degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is initiated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and includes PCB oxidation to OH-metabolites, which often display a higher toxicity than their parental compounds. In search of an animal model reflecting PCB metabolism and toxicity, we tested Drosophila melanogaster, a well-known model system for genetics and human disease. Feeding Drosophila with lower chlorinated (LC) PCB congeners 28, 52 or 101 resulted in the detection of a human-like pattern of respective OH-metabolites in fly lysates.