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Biomedical subjects

A Claudy

Publications and source records attributed to A Claudy.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Drug hypersensitivity syndrome associated with a primary HHV6 infection].

INTRODUCTION: Drug hypersensitivity syndrome is a severe life-threatening drug reaction. An association between this syndrome and HHV6 reactivation has been hypothesized. CASE-REPORT: A 45 year-old women was treated with sulfasalazine for polyarthralgia. One month after beginning the treatment, she developed a drug hypersensitivity syndrome with severe acute hepatic failure. HHV6 serology and serum PCR revealed a primary HHV6 infection. DISCUSSION: We report the second case of drug hypersensitivity syndrome associated with a primary HHV6 infection. An immunological disorder may explain such an association by increasing viral replication. Detection and titration of anti-HHV6 antibodies in each case of drug hypersensitivity syndrome should help to confirm this association and possibly modify treatment strategy.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Nicorandil-associated anal ulceration].

BACKGROUND: Nicorandil is a potassium-channel activator used in the treatment of angina pectoris. The first cases of anal ulcerations induced by nicorandil were published in 2002. CASE REPORT: A 71-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of anal ulcerations occurring within a few months of initiation of treatment with Nicorandil. Histological tests on a biopsy sample showed granulation tissue with non-specific chronic inflammation. Nicorandil was stopped and this resulted in complete healing of the ulcers after three months. DISCUSSION: Nicorandil can induce chronic and extensive anal ulcerations. The pathogenesis is unknown. Patients are usually treated with high doses of nicorandil. Dermatologists should be aware of this rare side-effect which heals after withdrawal of the drug.

Aged↗

Use of allogenic epidermal sheets for difficult wound healing: selection and testing of relevant growth factors.

The clinical interest of using allogenic epidermal sheets (AES) has largely been shown [1,2,3]. As well as covering, they also stimulate healing, by simultaneously secreting numerous growth factors (GFs), although little is known on their mechanism of action. Our objectives were to: (a) devise a test for the efficacy of AES release, (b) select keratinocyte-secreting strains and optimal culture conditions. Three GFs were selected: IL-1alpha, IL-8 and VEGF. Three different keratinocyte strains were cultured for 3 and 6 days after confluence for 3 passages. Assays were performed after 3 h and 24 h+3 h after dispase treatment (AES conservation for 24 h then change of medium and sampling after 3 h). AES were found to secrete GFs in DMEM and the amounts were greater when cultured for 6 rather than 3 days after confluence. Each strain had different secretory patterns depending on passage and time in culture, this variability being explained by inter-individual heterogeneity.

Cell Proliferation↗

[Kaposi's sarcoma and organ transplantation: 22 cases].

BACKGROUND: The discovery of the Human Herpes virus 8 (HHV8) improved our knowledge of the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma. After organ transplantation, Kaposi's sarcoma exhibits distinctive features compared with other forms of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 22 cases of post-transplant Kaposi's sarcoma (12 kidneys, 2 kidney-pancreas, 6 livers and 2 hearts). The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze clinical and virological characteristics in these transplant patients and to specify the frequency of HHV8 seroconversions in this population. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients showed cutaneous lesions and 9 had visceral involvement. HHV8 serology was positive in 16/20 patients at transplantation and in 21/22 cases at the time of Kaposi's sarcoma diagnosis. Most cases corresponded to viral reactivations whereas seroconversions occurred in 2 cases and may have been linked to viral transmission by the graft. Treatment led to recovery in 68p. 100 of the cases. Two heart-transplant patients died from their disease. We included in our series two cases of re-transplanted patients without recurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma and one case of familial Kaposi's sarcoma. DISCUSSION: Seroconversions after transplantation emphasize the interest of systematic screening of HHV8 serology in transplant recipients and their donors.

Adult↗

TGFbeta inhibits CD1d expression on dendritic cells.

The CD1 family of cell surface glycoprotein has been demonstrated to be a third lineage of antigen-presenting molecules for specific T cell responses. They present lipidic, glycolipidic antigen and hydrophobic peptide to T cells. CD1d restricted T cells play a role in autoimmune disease and in tumor immunity. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), a member of the family of polypeptide growth factors synthetized by human keratinocytes, has inhibitory effects on proliferation and differentiation of immune cells, especially on CD1d-restricted natural killer T cells. These properties led us to investigate the role of TGFbeta in CD1d expression on dendritic cells (DC), which are known to play a key role in initiation of the immune response. Here, we observed CD1d molecules on DC developed from PBMC with GM-CSF and IL4 but not with GM-CSF, IL4 and TGFbeta for 7 d. RT-PCR and FACS analysis (mAb 42.1) performed at various stages of differentiation on CD34+ HPC show that CD1d mRNA levels and CD1d molecule expression at the cell surface decreased progressively during the differentiation process. Thus, while committing DC-precursors differentiation toward the Langerhans cell (LC) pathway, TGFbeta likely inhibits CD1d transcription. Therefore, LC freshly recovered from epidermal sheet were evaluated by flow cytometry. In accordance with in vitro observation, they did not expressed measurable levels of CD1d molecules at the cell membrane. Thus, TGFbeta produced by keratinocytes contribute to selectively downregulate CD1d expression on intraepidermal-resident LC.

Antigens, CD1↗

[Cutaneous lipids: from physiology to the clinical].

The primary function of the epidermis is to produce the waterimpermeable stratum corneum that permits terrestrial life. Extracellular glycosylceramides are the main precursors of the stratum corneum ceramides which play a role in the cohesion of corneocytes and the establishment of the barrier function. The physiological desquamative process depends upon the transformation of glycosylceramides to ceramides and of cholesterol sulfate to cholesterol. Intracellular ceramides participate to the terminal differentiation process of the epidermis. Abnormalities in the synthesis and/or the secretory mechanisms of the epidermal lipids induce various skin disorders. Such diseases may have a genetic background or result from the influence of environmental factors.

Ceramides↗

[Acquired zinc deficiency in a breast-fed premature infant].

UNLABELLED: Symptomatic zinc deficiency can occur in exclusively breast-fed infants. We report a case in a preterm infant. CASE REPORT: A 3-months-old exclusively breast-fed premature infant presented with peri-orificial and acral eczematoid lesions. Laboratory investigations revealed lowered zinc levels in the infant's serum and in her mother's milk. A rapid healing occurred after oral zinc supplementation. DISCUSSION: Zinc deficiency in breast-fed infants is a rare disease caused by a low level of zinc in mother's milk. The clinical features resemble those of acrodermatitis enteropathica. Oral zinc supplementation is required until weaning.

Breast Feeding↗

Differential expression of the CD10 antigen (neutral endopeptidase) in primary versus metastatic malignant melanomas of the skin.

The CD10 antigen is a neutral endopeptidase expressed by a variety of mesenchymal tumours (haemopoietic or not), including a subset of malignant melanomas. We investigated the expression of CD10 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of 72 cutaneous melanomas (28 primary, 26 metastatic to the skin and 18 lymph node metastases). The CD10 antigen was expressed by 18 of the 26 (69%) and 11 of the 18 (61%) melanomas metastatic to the skin or lymph nodes, respectively; in contrast, only six of the 28 primary melanomas (21.4%) expressed appreciable CD10 reactivity, and expression was usually lower (in terms of the percentage of immunoreactive cells) than that found in metastatic tumours. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CD10 positivity for metastatic malignant melanoma were calculated to be 0.66, 0.79, 0.83 and 0.6, respectively. Our results suggest that the CD10 antigen is upregulated during the process of metastasis in melanomas. From a diagnostic point of view, the expression of CD10 appears to be an additional feature for the histological differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic melanomas.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗