Epitope load identifies kidney transplant recipients at risk of allosensitization following minimization of immunosuppression

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Psoriasis confined strictly to vitiligo areas – a Koebner‐like phenomenon?

Vitiligo and psoriasis are both common skin disorders. However, psoriasis strictly confined to pre-existing vitiligo areas is rare and suggests a causal relationship. We report here on two patients with a strict anatomical colocalization of vitiligo and psoriasis. The histopathological examinations showed typical changes for both diseases together with a dense infiltrate of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. By immunohistochemistry, intracytoplasmatic granzyme B and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected within the T-cell population, suggesting the functional activity of these cells and the creation of a local T helper 1 (Th1)-cytokine milieu. Additionally, in one patient we could identify anti-melanocytic T cells by tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis. These skin-infiltrating lymphocytes might trigger, by the local production of Th-1 cytokines such as TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the eruption of psoriatic plaques in patients with a genetic predisposition for psoriasis.     

Report of a National Conference on Donation after Cardiac Death

A national conference on organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) was convened to expand the practice of DCD in the continuum of quality end-of-life care. This national conference affirmed the ethical propriety of DCD as not violating the dead donor rule. Further, by new developments not previously reported, the conference resolved controversy regarding the period of circulatory cessation that determines death and allows administration of pre-recovery pharmacologic agents, it established conditions of DCD eligibility, it presented current data regarding the successful transplantation of organs from DCD, it proposed a new framework of data reporting regarding ischemic events, it made specific recommendations to agencies and organizations to remove barriers to DCD, it brought guidance regarding organ allocation and the process of informed consent and it set an action plan to address media issues. When a consensual decision is made to withdraw life support by the attending physician and patient or by the attending physician and a family member or surrogate (particularly in an intensive care unit), a routine opportunity for DCD should be available to honor the deceased donor's wishes in every donor service area (DSA) of the United States.     

Treatment of advanced colorectal and gastric adenocarcinomas with 5-fluorouracil and high-dose folinic acid

We report the results of an expanded trial of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) combined with high-dose folinic acid for treatment of patients with advanced colorectal or gastric adenocarcinoma. In each treatment course, the patients received both FUra (340-400 mg/m2/day by iv infusion over 15 minutes) and folinic acid (200 mg/m2/day by iv bolus) for 5 consecutive days, with a 21-day interval between courses. Eighty-six patients with colorectal carcinoma were evaluated. The combined complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 39% for 54 patients who did not receive prior chemotherapy and 22% for 32 patients who had previously received chemotherapy. Four patients who were previously resistant to FUra attained objective responses. The median time to disease progression for the 28 responders was 10 months. The median survival time of responders was 19.5 months, and the probability of their being alive at 2 years was 40%. Of 27 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 13 (48%) responded to therapy. Their median time to disease progression was 5.5 months. The median survival time of responders was 11 months, and their probability of being alive at 15 months was 30%. Toxicity was within acceptable limits. Toxic effects included stomatitis, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, skin rash, and mild myeloid hypoplasia. In a separate study, plasma concentrations of L-folates above 10(-5) M were achieved after a rapid single iv injection of 200 mg/m2 of folinic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Enhanced activity of mouse peritoneal cells after aclacinomycin administration

We have investigated the activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages by injection of aclacinomycin (ACM). Macrophages from ACM-treated mice have an increased phagocytic activity as measured by Candida ingestion. The microbicidal activity indirectly evaluated by chemiluminescence and superoxide determination in response to stimulation with zymosan and 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13 alpha-acetate is also greater in the cells from treated mice. Direct measurement of the cytostatic function, and of in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity shows comparable significant increases against L1210 or P815 target cells. The enhanced antitumoral activity could not be attributed to the residual presence of ACM in the peritoneal cells since no drug was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography and since their freeze-thaw lysates incubated with P815 cells did not modify the growth of tumor cells as measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation. We also checked that the presence of ACM did not influence the intensity of the chemiluminescence. In all tests performed, only i.p. ACM administration could stimulate the peritoneal cells. Since the doses of ACM inducing an increase in macrophage activity are effective on the survival of tumor-bearing mice, the participation of this mechanism in tumor control might be suggested.