Clonal T cells in the blood of patients with systemic sclerosis

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that clonal T cells may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. OBSERVATIONS: A monoclonal population of T cells was found in blood samples from 13 (34%) of 38 consecutive patients with a definite diagnosis of systemic sclerosis who were prospectively examined by T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement using polymerase chain reaction analysis and denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis. In the healthy control group, the same type of examination revealed a monoclonal population of T cells in the blood samples from only 3 healthy subjects (4%)(odds ratio, 12.28; 95% confidence interval, 2.76-54.64; P = .001). Patients who had a circulating clonal population of T cells were older than those who did not (67 years vs 48 years; P = .04). There was a marked relationship between systemic sclerosis subtypes and the presence of a circulating clonal population of T cells. Twelve (43%) of 28 patients with limited cutaneous sclerosis exhibited a circulating clonal population of T cells, whereas only 1 (10%) of the 10 patients with diffuse cutanous sclerosis had evidence of T-cell clonality (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Clonally expanded T cells were more commonly detected in patients with limited cutaneous sclerosis than in those with diffuse cutaneous sclerosis, which is also in accordance with a possible role of clonal T cells in patients with limited cutaneous sclerosis.     

Malignant transformation of mastocytoma developed on skin mastocytosis into cutaneous mast cell sarcoma

Mastocytosis is a group of disorders characterized by abnormal mast cell proliferation, involving the skin in 80% of cases. Cutaneous mastocytosis, which appears in childhood in 60% of cases, usually has a benign course with a gradually regressive evolution before puberty. Mast cell sarcomas, part of the systemic forms of mastocytosis, are very rare tumors characterized by a destructive growth of highly atypical mast cells, with secondary spread, poor prognosis, and low survival rates. We report the first known case of primary cutaneous mast cell sarcoma due to the transformation of a benign solitary mastocytoma in an adult suffering from an unregressive localized cutaneous mastocytosis. Histologic characteristics of the tumor, mutation analysis, and c-Kit expression were compared with available data. Wide surgical excision of the tumor followed by adjuvant local radiotherapy were performed, and for the first time the use of imatinib was attempted, as neoplastic mast cells expressed the CD117 marker. However, they failed to control the progression of sarcoma. To date, no treatment is known to be effective for this disease, which is associated with short-term survival of the patients.     

Utilisation hors AMM d’immunoglobulines intraveineuses dans le traitement de la myocardite lupique : à propos de deux cas et revue de la littérature

Introduction

Several case reports have reported the benefit of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in many autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-2/sodium butyrate treatment cures rats bearing liver tumors after acquired 5-fluorouracil resistance

We studied the effect of immunotherapy using recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in combination with a differentiating agent, sodium butyrate (NaBut), on experimental 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant liver metastasis from colorectal cancer in rats. For this purpose, we used direct liver injection of 5-FU resistant cells, PRObR1, in syngeneic BDIX rats to establish liver tumors. The growth of liver metastasis was followed before and after NaBut/rIL-2 treatment by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of liver tumors was checked by MRI 7 days after tumor cell injection. Evaluable rats were then assigned randomly to a control and an experimental group. The different treatments were started on day 10 and administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Combined NaBut/rIL-2 treatment followed by MRI on days 56 and 91 was shown both to significantly reduce the growth of liver tumors and to prevent extrahepatic spread. In addition, NaBut/rIL-2 treatment induced a complete regression in 50% of the rats which remained free of disease. Int. J. Cancer 78:735–739, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In vivo Zika virus detection in human skin

A number of recent studies suggest that tanning has the potential to be addictive. Tanned skin is often viewed as more attractive than untanned skin, and being tanned has been associated with increased energy and self‐confidence. Additionally, sunbathing has been shown to provide pleasant feelings of warmth and relaxation to most individuals. However, sunbathing and tanning to excess are associated with an increased risk of a variety of health problems, such as skin cancers and specific eye diseases. Excessive tanning can be linked to a number of mental health disorders, such as obsessive‐compulsive behaviours, body dysmorphic disorder and impulsive control disorders. Still, much evidence suggests that excessive tanning should be regarded as a behavioural addiction, and this study describes a new, brief screening tool for assessing tanning addiction. In this study, a web‐based survey was published in the online edition of five nationwide Norwegian newspapers during March to May 2014. Questions addressed criteria that are used to diagnose addiction, and included preoccupation with tanning, tanning improving mood, more tanning being required in order to be satisfied, and restlessness or negative feelings when not tanning. People were asked about the past month and the response format adhered to a 5‐point Likert scale (from 0=never to 4=always). The new system, called the Bergen Tanning Addiction Scale, requires further testing but performed well. Tanning addiction was associated with being female, not being in a relationship, extroversion, neuroticism, anxiety and obsessive‐compulsiveness.