Religious Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Henna, derived from a combination of natural leaves and coloring additives, is a common decorative dye traditionally used in many Islamic religious celebrations. Para‐phenylenediamine (PPD), a major component of black henna tattoo, is a strong sensitizer and common allergen. We report a case of severe connubial allergic contact dermatitis after black henna heterotransfer in a girl.     

Nickel Allergy and Our Children's Health: A Review of Indexed Cases and a View of Future Prevention

Nickel is the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from early childhood through adolescence. Studies have shown that skin piercings and other nickel‐laden exposures can trigger the onset of nickel ACD in those who are susceptible. Nickel ACD causes a vast amount of cutaneous disease in children. Cases of nickel ACD in children have been reported in peer‐reviewed literature from 28 states. Common items that contain inciting nickel include jewelry, coins, zippers, belts, tools, toys, chair studs, cases for cell phones and tablets, and dental appliances. The diagnosis of nickel ACD has been routinely confirmed by patch testing in children older than 6 months suspected of ACD from nickel. Unlike in Europe, there are no mandatory restrictions legislated for nickel exposure in the United States. Denmark has demonstrated that regulation of the nickel content in metals can lower the risk of ACD and the associated health care–related costs that arise from excess nickel exposure. To further awareness, this article reviews the prominent role of nickel in pediatric skin disease in the United States. It discusses the need for a campaign by caretakers to reduce nickel‐related morbidity. Lastly, it promotes the model of European legislation as a successful intervention in the prevention of nickel ACD.     

Experiences with risk estimates for carriers of chromosomal reciprocal translocations

The risk estimates for individual carriers of ten different familial reciprocal translocations detected among 500 couples with reproductive failures are presented. These were established by application of the empirical data analysed by Stengel-Rutkowski et al. (1988) and the guidelines given in Stene & Stengel-Rutkowski (1988). Different risks were estimated for unbalanced offspring at birth or at second trimester prenatal diagnosis for abortions, or stillbirths/early deaths. These risk estimates varied considerably from translocation to translocation. Carriers of five translocations had risks for offspring with single-segment imbalances. The birth risk figures ranged from 0.1% to 13.8%. Carriers of five other translocations had risks for double-segment imbalances with birth risks ranging from 0% to 3.2%. The estimated risk figures were independent of the method of ascertainment. Among the parents of the index cases we found nine maternal carriers and only one paternal carrier. This presentation illustrates the need for individual risk counselling of each carrier with reciprocal translocation regarding further family planning.     

Characterization of human hepatocytes isolated from non-transplantable livers

INTRODUCTION: The successful use of hepatocytes depends on a reliable demonstration of the functional and morphological integrity of isolated cells. Herein we investigated whether the isolation and cryopreservation of primary human hepatocytes can compromise cell viability and liver-specific characteristics. MATERIAL/METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from encapsulated human liver segments by a modified 2-step perfusion technique. Isolated cells were Percoll-purified, cryopreserved, and stored in liquid nitrogen for 1-12 months. For rapid assessment of fresh and cryopreserve/thawed hepatocyte yield and viability, the cells were stained with trypan blue or labeled with fluorochromes. For immunocytochemical analysis, the cells were labeled with monoclonal antibodies for the presence of the following antigens and chemokines: CD3, CD45Ro, CD45Ra, CD34, CD68, CD90, CD95, CD20, HLA-DR, Ki67, PCNA, Bcl-2, p53, CXCR3, CXCR4, and SDF-1. The cells were tested for several specific functions, such as ureagenesis, energy status, MTT activity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and total CYP450 content. RESULTS: Assessment of both freshly isolated (Percoll-purified) and cryopreserved/thawed hepatocytes revealed a low constitutive level of contamination by non-parenchymal cells compared with crude (unpurified) preparations and tissue sections. All viable hepatocytes showed intact morphology and retained CYP450 protein, energy status, and urea synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Modifications in hepatocyte preparations, such as depletion of dead, damaged, and nonparenchymal cells, improves cell purity, which can be adapted to further evaluation of hepatocyte immunogenicity. These data illustrate the importance and feasibility of human hepatocyte banking.     

Essential role of Src-family protein tyrosine kinases in NF-kappaB activation during B cell development

The nature of signals that govern the development of immunoglobulin heavy chain-dependent B cells is largely unknown. Using mice deficient for the B cell-expressed Src-family protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs) Blk, Fyn and Lyn, we show an essential role of these kinases in pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR)- mediated NF-kappaB activation and B cell development. This signaling defect is SFK specific, as a deficiency in Syk, which controls pre-B cell development, does not affect NF-kappaB induction. Impaired NF-kappaB induction was overcome by the activation of protein kinase C (PKC)-lambda, thus suggesting the involvement of PKC-lambda in pre-BCR-mediated SFK-dependent activation of NF-kappaB. Our data show the existence of a functionally distinct SFK signaling module responsible for pre-BCR-mediated NF-kappaB activation and B cell development.     

T helper type 2-like cells and therapeutic effects of interferon-γ in combined immunodeficiency with hypereosinophilia (Omenn's syndrome)

We characterized the defects of CD4+ cells in a 17-month-old girl suffering from combined immunodeficiency with hypereosinophilia (Omenn's syndrome). Because the vast majority of peripheral blood CD4⁺ cells expressed the CD45R0 isoform, we purified circulating CD4⁺ CD45R0⁺ cells from the patient and healthy individuals in order to compare their production of cytokines. The patient's CD4⁺ CD45R0⁺ cells spontaneously produced high levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5) in vitro (1600 pg/ml after 24 h of culture) and this was associated with the presence of IL-5 in serum (323 pg/ml). After stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187, they produced higher levels of IL-4 (306 vs. 55 ± 4 pg/ml) and IL-5 (2900 vs. 213 ± 72 pg/ml) and lower levels of IL-2 (17 vs. 63 ± 17 IU/ml) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) (16 vs. 299 ± 70 IU/ml) than controls CD4⁺ CD45R0⁺ cells. This T helper type 2 (Th2) pattern was confirmed by the detection using reverse polymerase chain reaction of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 mRNA within peripheral blood mononuclear cells. During a therapeutic trial with human IFN-γ (40 μg/day) which ameliorated the clinical status of the patient, we observed a down-regulation of the in vivo expression of IL-5 and IL-10, a normalization of the eosinophil count and an improvement of the Tcell response to phytohemagglutinin. This observation indicates for the first time that Th2-like cells might be involved in certain forms of congenital immunodeficiency and that IFN-γ might down-regulate their activities in vivo.