Cutaneous Lesions of Mastocytosis: Mast Cell Count, Morphology, and Immunomolecular Phenotype.

Mastocytosis is a condition characterized by accumulation of clonal mast cells (MCs) that often involves the skin. Pathologists are often challenged with skin biopsies with a question of cutaneous lesions of mastocytosis (CLM) including cutaneous mastocytosis, mastocytosis in the skin, or systemic mastocytosis. The histopathological criteria for CLM remain poorly defined due to heterogeneity of the published literature and the lack of comparative prospective studies.

Is methotrexate safe for men with an immune-mediated inflammatory disease and an active desire to become a father? Results of a prospective cohort study (iFAME-MTX).

Introduction: Current scientific evidence guiding the decision whether men with an active desire to become a father should be treated with methotrexate (MTX) remains controversial. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the testicular toxicity profile of MTX focusing on several markers of male fertility, including semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (sDFI). As a secondary outcome, we aimed to evaluate whether MTX-polyglutamates can be detected in spermatozoa and seminal plasma and to evaluate the enzymatic activity in spermatozoa of folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS).

Patients' perspectives on a drug safety monitoring system for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases based on patient-reported outcomes.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are increasingly used in cohort event monitoring (CEM) to obtain a better understanding of patients' real-world experience with drugs. Despite the leading role for patients, little is known about their perspectives on CEM systems.

Research Design And Methods: In a cross-sectional open survey following the rationale of the Technology Acceptance Model, we aimed to obtain insight in patients' perspectives on the perceived usefulness, ease of use and attitude toward using a PRO-based drug safety monitoring system for ADRs attributed to biologics.

Diagnostic Utility of C4d by Direct Immunofluorescence in Bullous Pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease that commonly affects elderly patients. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and C3c on frozen skin biopsies is the gold standard for the diagnosis of BP. In a minority of cases, IgG and/or C3c are found negative, and in these situations, there is a need for a more stable diagnostic marker of BP.

Successful Treatment of Chronic Related Dermatoses with the Topical Endolysin Staphefekt SA.100: A Report of 3 Cases.

plays an important role in skin and soft tissue infections and contributes to the pathophysiology of complex skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis. Bacterial resistance against commonly used antibiotics has increased considerably in the last decades demanding alternative treatment approaches. We present 3 cases where patients with chronic and recurrent -related dermatoses were successfully treated with Staphefekt SA.

IMO-8400, a toll-like receptor 7, 8, and 9 antagonist, demonstrates clinical activity in a phase 2a, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Background: Aberrant toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7, 8, and 9 activation by self-nucleic acids is implicated in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) such as psoriasis. In preclinical IMID models, blocking TLR-activation reduced disease severity. IMO-8400 is a first-in-class, oligonucleotide-based antagonist of TLRs 7, 8, and 9.

Combination Therapy of Etanercept and Fumarates versus Etanercept Monotherapy in Psoriasis: A Randomized Exploratory Study.

Background: Biologics are a safe and efficacious therapy for psoriasis. The drug survival of biologics may be disappointing, primarily due to loss of efficacy. Therefore, safe combination treatments are sought to improve their clinical response.

Treatment of port wine stains using Pulsed Dye Laser, Erbium YAG Laser, and topical rapamycin (sirolimus)-A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Objective: Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) is currently the gold standard treatment for port wine stains (PWS), although the degree of lesion blanching is variable and often unpredictable. This appears to be due to reformation and reperfusion of blood vessels. Rapamycin has shown potential as an antiangiogenic agent and may prevent the revascularization after PDL treatment.

Comparison of Three Assays to Quantify Infliximab, Adalimumab, and Etanercept Serum Concentrations.

Background: To optimize treatment of inflammatory diseases, interest in the measurement of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) serum drug concentrations is increasing. Preferably, assays for the detection of these drugs should be compared using the same reference material. In this study, 2 commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and a commercially available bioassay for the determination of anti-TNFα drugs are compared.

Injection site reactions after subcutaneous oligonucleotide therapy.

Oligonucleotides (ONs) are short fragments of nucleic acids, currently being investigated as therapeutic agents. When administered subcutaneously (sc), ONs cause a specific local reaction originating around the injection site, such as erythema, itching, discomfort and pain, including more severe manifestations such as ulceration or necrosis. These injection site reactions (ISRs) are common, but rather poorly described in the literature.

[Medical indications for laser therapy in dermatology].

Laser therapy in dermatology is often associated with cosmetic procedures. However, nowadays laser therapy has become a treatment modality for many dermatological diseases. We present three cases of patients with different dermatological diseases that are highly therapy-resistant.

A de novo FLCN mutation in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax and renal cancer; a clinical and molecular evaluation.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) is an autosomal dominant condition due to germline FLCN (folliculin) mutations, characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, lung cysts, pneumothorax and renal cancer. We identified a de novo FLCN mutation, c.499C>T (p.

Familial multiple discoid fibromas: a look-alike of Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome not linked to the FLCN locus.

Background: Previously, we proposed that familial multiple trichodiscomas (OMIM 190340) is distinct from Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) (OMIM #135150). BHD is characterized by multiple fibrofolliculomas/trichodiscomas, lung cysts, pneumothorax, and renal cell cancer. Germline FLCN mutations can be detected in most but not all BHD families.

Extent and clinical consequences of antibody formation against adalimumab in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Objectives: To investigate the extent antibodies to adalimumab are formed in patients with plaque psoriasis and whether these antibodies have clinical consequences. Also, to examine the relationship between antibodies to adalimumab and adalimumab trough titers.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase in skeletal muscle: effects of hypothyroidism and fasting.

Context: The iodothyronine deiodinases D1, D2, and D3 enable tissue-specific adaptation of thyroid hormone levels in response to various conditions, such as hypothyroidism or fasting. The possible expression of D2 mRNA in skeletal muscle is intriguing because this enzyme could play a role in systemic as well as local T3 production.

Objective: We determined D2 activity and D2 mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle biopsies under control conditions and during hypothyroidism, fasting, and hyperinsulinemia.

Effect of garlic powder on C-reactive protein and plasma lipids in overweight and smoking subjects.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that garlic may have beneficial effects on risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, these findings are not unambiguously supported by randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Objective: We sought to investigate the effects of a chemically well-characterized garlic preparation on biomarkers for inflammation, endothelial function, and lipid metabolism in subjects with risk factors for CVD.

A phase I study of recombinant human C1 inhibitor in asymptomatic patients with hereditary angioedema.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a congenital disorder with recurrent attacks of localized swelling of submucosal tissue, subcutaneous tissue, or both caused by a deficiency of the plasma protein C1 inhibitor (C1 esterase inhibitor [C1INH]).

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effects of recombinant human C1INH (rhC1INH) isolated from the milk of transgenic rabbits in 12 asymptomatic patients with HAE.

Methods: rhC1INH was intravenously administered at doses of 6.