Skin Granulomas due to Mycobacterium gordonae

A 38-year-old woman presented with small, ulcerated, red or bluish nodules on the right hand, clinically resembling mycobacterial granulomas; these appeared a few months after a bite by a rat, while the patient was collecting frogs in a pond in the Belgian Ardennes. The histopathologic picture was compatible with a diagnosis of mycobacterial infection and rare acid-fast bacilli could be found. Repeated bacteriologic investigations were performed and these led to the identification of a strain displaying characteristics of Mycobacterium gordonae. The skin condition responded well to rifampicin (300 mg/day) within 6 months.     

In vivo induction of CD4+ T cell responses by antigens covalently linked to synthetic microspheres does not require adjuvant

Macrophages, dendritic cells or B lymphocytes have been shownto play a major role in the presentation of soluble antigensto CD4⁺ T cells. In contrast, the capacity of these cells topresent particulate antigens such as bacterial or parasiticantigens to T cells remains controversial. To investigate thisquestion, well defined particulate antigens were prepared bycovalent linkage of proteins or peptides to 1 µm in diametersynthetic microspheres. The T cell immunogenicity of such particulateantigens was analyzed in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, a solubleprotein such as hen egg lysozyme (HEL) coupled to beads stimulateda strong proliferative T cell response of lymph node cells fromHEL-primed mice or of specific T cell hybridomas. HEL coupledto beads was presented to the specific T cell hybridomas bysplenocytes or by peritoneal macrophages, but not by lymphomaB cells. Immunization of mice with several different proteinantigens or with a synthetic peptide covalently linked to beadsinduced strong CD4⁺ T cell responses in the absence of adjuvant.The strong in vivo immunogenicity of proteins coupled to beadsdid not result from a non-specific adjuvant effect of beadssince covalent linkage of the antigen to beads was strictlyrequired to induce T cell responses in the absence of adjuvant.In vivo treatment by carrageenan showed that macrophages arerequired for the in vivo stimulation of T cell responses bythese particulate antigens. Thus, these results demonstratedthe role of phagocytic cells, especially macrophages, for invivo presentation of particulate antigens. These particulateantigens represent an interesting approach for the developmentof new vaccines, and for the in vivo analysis of the role ofvarious antigen presenting cells in T cell activation and differentiation.     

Enhancing Social Initiations Using Naturalistic Behavioral Intervention: Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial for Children with Autism

Deficits in social skills are common in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and there is an urgent need for effective social skills interventions, especially for improving interactions with typically developing peers. This study examined the effects of a naturalistic behavioral social skills intervention in improving social initiations to peers through a randomized controlled trial. Analyses of multimethod, multi-informant measures indicated that children in the active group (SIMI) demonstrated greater improvement in the types of initiations which were systematically prompted and reinforced during treatment (i.e., behavior regulation). Generalization to joint attention and social interaction initiation types, as well as collateral gains in broader social functioning on clinician- and parent-rated standardized measures were also observed.

     

Quantitative study of the number of Langerhans cells per surface unit in allergic contact eczema

The key role of the Langerhans cell (LC) in the immune response and particularly in allergic contact dermatitis is well documented. At first, we determined in the epidermis of the forearm by a non-sensitized adult volunteer, the variations in the density of LC (number/mm2), following the application of various chemicals: nickel sulphate 5 p. 100; erythromycin base 2 p. 100, 2,4-dinitro-1-chlorobenzene (DNCB) 0.02 p. 100 in white petrolatum. Measurements were made at 6, 24 and 48 hours. In a second stage, the volunteer was sensitized to DNCB and a similar study was performed after application of DNCB 0.02 p. 100 at 6 and 24 hours. Normal skin was used as control. The epidermis was obtained by using the suction blister method: LC were identified by the enzymatic ATPase technique and by the immunocytological OKT6 technique. Surfaces were determined by means of a computerized digital tablet. Results obtained with the ATPase technique cannot be interpreted. The density of LC determined by the OKT6 is not significantly modified when the various chemicals are applied on the skin of the non-sensitized volunteer. After sensitization to DNCB, the number of LC is significantly increased after 6 hours of application of DNCB 0.02 p. 100 but not after 24 hours. Further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.     

Characterization of the proteinuria induced by prolonged oral administration of cadmium in female rats

Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 200 ppm cadmium (Cd) in the drinking water for 11 months. Total proteinuria and the concentrations of Cd in blood, urine, liver and kidney cortex were determined monthly. The proteinuria was characterized by Sephadex G-75 chromatography and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

From the 8th month of treatment, the Cd concentration in the kidney cortex levels off at a value of about 250 μg/g wet wt and this phenomenon coincides with the occurrece of proteinuria. The proteinuria was characterized by an increased urinary excretion of high molecular weight (HMW) proteins, particularly γ-globulins. Aminoaciduria also increased which suggests the existence of a slight tubular dysfunction. The renal dysfunction induced by chronic oral administration of Cd seems different from that observed in a previous study in which Cd was administered by the i.p. route (1 mg Cd/kg, 5 times a week for 2 months). For the same level of Cd in the kidney cortex the proteinuria induced by i.p. injection of Cd was usually of mixed type and in some cases of the tubular type. The development of this proteinuria was coincident with the levelling off of Cd concentration in the kidney cortex and in the liver. The saturation of liver by Cd is very likely at the origin of the extensive tubular lesion and of the mixed type proteinuria observed in the i.p. experiment. These results demonstrate the importance of the mode of Cd administration on the nature of the Cd-induced proteinuria in animal. They support also our proposal that both low and HMW proteins should be determined in urine for the early detection of renal damage occurring in man chronically exposed to cadmium.     

Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of the AMOR Method

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience elevated stress, yet parent-specific interventions are sparse. Thirty-five parents...     

Pivotal Response Treatment for Infants At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study

Presently there is limited research to suggest efficacious interventions for infants at-risk for autism. Pivotal response treatment (PRT) has empirical support for use with preschool children with autism, but there are no reports in the literature utilizing this approach with infants. In the current study, a developmental adaptation of PRT was piloted via a brief parent training model with three infants at-risk for autism. Utilizing a multiple baseline design, the data suggest that the introduction of PRT resulted in increases in the infants’ frequency of functional communication and parents’ fidelity of implementation of PRT procedures. Results provide preliminary support for the feasibility and utility of PRT for very young children at-risk for autism.