Two familial cases with a lethal gracile bone dysplasia and intrauterine growth retardation

A number of more or less distinct entities with low birth weight and abnormal radiographic appearances have been identified. We studied two sisters who were unusual because of severe intrauterine growth restriction, absence of growth after birth, decrease of pre- and postnatal spontaneous mobility, and early fatal outcome. The chondro-osseous morphology documented a distinctive osteochondrodysplasia. The radiographic examination was superficially similar to gracile bone dysplasias but was inconsistent with any known types of this group. These two patients appear to have a unique gracile bone dysplasia.     

Reduced dermal infiltration of cytokine-expressing inflammatory cells in atopic dermatitis after short-term topical tacrolimus treatment

BACKGROUND: In several clinical studies, topical calcineurin inhibitors have been shown to be effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). They target signaling pathways that control gene expression, particularly the expression of cytokines. OBJECTIVE: We examined the cellular infiltrate in skin lesions of 10 patients with AD and characterized the cytokine pattern expressed by the infiltrating cells before and after short-term topical therapy with tacrolimus 1% ointment. METHODS: Skin biopsies were examined for histologic alterations (hematoxylin and eosin staining), composition of the cellular inflammatory infiltrate (immunofluorescence), and cytokine expression (ribonuclease protection assay, ELISA, immunofluorescence) before as well as 1 and 3 weeks after initiation of tacrolimus therapy. For comparison, biopsies from nonlesional AD and normal skin were analyzed. Systemic immunologic effects were assessed by analyzing peripheral blood leukocytes (immunofluorescence) as well as in vitro stimulated pan-T-cell cytokine production (ELISA). RESULTS: All patients showed a significant improvement of their skin lesions associated with a marked regression of spongiosis, acanthosis, and density of the cellular infiltrate in the dermis. The last was a result of reduced infiltration of T cells, B cells, and eosinophils. In contrast, the numbers of mast cells did not change. Moreover, the expression of the T H 2 cytokines IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 in CD4 + T cells was reduced after therapy. Interestingly, tacrolimus therapy was also associated with a reduction of CD8 + T cells expressing the T H 1 cytokine IFN-gamma. Furthermore, the numbers of epidermal CD1a + dendritic cells increased after treatment. In the peripheral blood, a decrease of granulocytes (eosinophils and neutrophils) but no changes in the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations were noticed. CONCLUSION: Topical tacrolimus treatment has anti-inflammatory effects on AD skin as indicated by reduced infiltration of cytokine expressing inflammatory cells. No evidence for drug-induced systemic immunosuppression was obtained.     

Fuhrmann syndrome of right-angle bowed femora, absence of fibulae and digital anomalies: two further cases.

We describe 2 patients with bilateral right-angle bowing of femora, absence of fibulae, and reduced, flattened and nail-less toes and symmetrical fingernail deficiency in a consanguineous family of ethnic South Vietnamese Baptists and a non-consanguineous Polish family. These cases are similar to those reported by Fuhrmann et al. (in "Skeletal Dysplasias," New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc., pp 519-524), indicating possible autosomal recessive inheritance of this rare non-lethal limb malformation syndrome.     

Development of pegylated interferons for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

The chemical attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) [PEG] to therapeutic proteins produces several benefits, including enhanced plasma half-life, lower toxicity, and increased drug stability and solubility. In certain instances, pegylation of a protein can increase its therapeutic efficacy by reducing the ability of the immune system to detect and mount an attack on the compound. A PEG-protein conjugate is formed by first activating the PEG moiety so that it will react with, and couple to, the protein. PEG moieties vary considerably in molecular weight and conformation, with the early moieties (monofunctional PEGs; mPEGs) being linear with molecular weights of 12kD or less, and later moieties being of increased molecular weights. PEG2, a recent innovation in PEG technology, involves the coupling of a 30kD (or less) mPEG to lysine that is further reacted to form a branched structure that behaves like a linear mPEG of much larger molecular weight. These compounds are pH and temperature stable, and this factor along with the large molecular weight may account for the restricted volume of distribution seen with drugs utilising these reagents. Three PEG-protein conjugates are currently approved for clinical use in the US, with more under clinical development. Pegademase is used in the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency disease, pegaspargase for the treatment of various leukaemias, and pegylated interferon-α for chronic hepatitis C virus infections. As illustrated in the case of the 2 pegylated interferon-αs, all pegylated proteins are not equal. The choice of PEG reagent and coupling chemistry is critical to the properties of the PEG-protein conjugate, with the molecular weight of the moiety affecting its rate and route of clearance from the body, and coupling chemistry affecting the strength of the covalent attachment of PEG to therapeutic protein.     

Hypophosphatasia

Radiographic analysis of 24 cases of hypophosphatasia (H) from 9 Paediatric Centres was performed. 3 cases were of neonatal (lethal), 18 cases of infantile (severe) and 3 cases of late (benign) type. Some of the patients were in reality borderline cases between these groups.In the authors' material all the patients showed radiographic signs of the disease. These were divided into diagnostic, characteristic and suggestive features.All of the patients had in common generalised (usually irregular) osteoporosis, generalised (usually irregular) metaphyseal changes, craniostenosis (13 of 18 infantile cases) or widened cranial sutures and often bowing of the long bones.Besides the well know radiographic features of hypophosphatasia some less well known, rare or new ones such as, 1. spurs of the long bones (Bowdler sign), 2. distal femoral central metaphyseal defects and epiphyseal defects, 3. S-like deformities of the tibiae, 4. abnormal shape of the distal phalanges of the fingers, 5. multiple rib fractures and slender bones, 6. wedging of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae, 7. partial premature fusion of the epiphyses, 8. nephrocalcinosis, 9. loss of lamina dura around the teeth, 10. variation in radiographic appearances of a pair of siblings with lethal form, and, 11. rapid changes in roentgen appearances, are discussed. In two of our patients (siblings) phosphoethanolamine was undetectable in the urine.The authors doubt if a normal skeletal survey may be present at any stage in any of the three major types of hypophosphatasia.Presented at the 13th Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Radiology, Stockholm, Sweden, May 19–22, 1976, and at the 27th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australian College of Radiologists, Jakarta, Indonesia, October 10–15, 1976     

Acroosteolysis

Four cases of idiopathic acroosteolysis are reported. The first is a common phalangeal type, the second, the Hozay variety. The third case was diagnosed after a mumps infection, and marked regress of the changes was noted in the following years. The fourth case shows skin changes, periostitis, mild osteosclerosis, and skull changes as well as acroosteolysis.     

Early osseous abnormalities in Menkes' Kinky Hair Syndrome

Bone changes in a 4m.o. infant with Menkes' Kinky Hair Syndrome, who also had a skeletal survey as a newborn, are reported. Whereas the late bone changes were diagnostic, the neonatal ones were similar to congenital rubella and cytomegalic virus infection. However the distribution of the metaphyseal changes was different.     

Dysplasia metaphysaria,Typ Vaandrager-Pena

A report is given on a 10 year old girl with dwarfism, disturbances of metaphyseal ossification, which were localised especially in the distal metaphyses of the long bones and metaphyses of the tubular bones; the biochemical tests were normal. This girl shoewed similar radiographic changes as patients described by Vaandrager and Pena. In the authors' opinion it is a new entity, different from all hitherto known well-defined types of metaphyseal dysplasia. The eponyme Vaandrager-Pena is proposed for this rare but well defined type of metaphyseal dysplasia.

     

Intrauterine dwarfism,peculiar facies and thin bones with multiple fractures - a new syndrome

Three newborns with thin ribs and thin long bones with multiple fractures are reported. Whereas one patient presents a syndromic association of bone dysplasia and intrauterine dwarfism two other patients cannot be appropriately evaluated due to lack of basic clinical and pathologic data.