Neurodegeneration with features of NIFID and ALS--extended clinical and neuropathological spectrum.

Heterogeneous clinical and neuropathological features have been observed in the recently described neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease (NIFID). The immunohistological findings common to all cases are alpha-internexin and neurofilament-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, which have not been found in comparable density in other neurodegenerative disorders. Notwithstanding these common features, the cases reported so far have shown differences concerning age at onset, constellation and dominance of symptoms as well as type and distribution of additional neuropathological findings.

Expression of the high-affinity fluoropyrimidine-preferring nucleoside transporter hCNT1 correlates with decreased disease-free survival in breast cancer.

Purpose: Nucleoside and nucleobase derivatives are currently used in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors; however, the role of plasma membrane transporters as biomarkers of drug metabolism has not been fully addressed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the concentrative nucleoside transporter hCNT1 is a predictive marker of therapeutic response.

Methods: We studied a cohort of 90 breast cancer patients who were treated with cyclophosphamide-methotrexate-5-fluorouracil after surgery and then monitored for up to 108 months.

[Skin ulceration after leflunomide treatment in two patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Leflunomide is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Skin ulcerations are not listed as a side effect for this drug, and there has been only one case report on leflunomide associated skin ulcerations. We report on two females, 59 and 63 years old respectively, who were treated with leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis and subsequently developed severe skin ulcerations.