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Biomedical subjects

C Rose

Publications and source records attributed to C Rose.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Treatment of lichen planus pemphigoides with acitretin and pulsed corticosteroids].

A patient with lichen planus pemphigoides first developed multiple pruritic papules and subsequently, tense blisters on trunk and extremities. Histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy demonstrated both the typical changes of lichen planus and subepidermal blisters as in bullous pemphigoid. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy revealed both cytoid bodies and linear C3 deposits at the dermal-epidermal junction. By indirect immunofluorescence microscopy on 1 M NaCl-split-skin, circulating autoantibodies labeled the epidermal side of the split. Immunoblot analysis showed binding of the antibodies to the cell-derived soluble 120 kD domain of the 180 kD bullous pemphigoid antigen and to a recombinant form of the immunodominant NC16A region of this protein. When treated with pulsed intravenous corticosteroids, the patient continued to develop new papules and blisters, but when oral acitretin was added, the skin lesions cleared. The immunoblot reactivity of the patient's autoantibodies well reflected disease activity, while the indirect immunofluorescence microscopy titers did not.

Acitretin↗

Ontogeny, regional and cellular distribution of the novel metalloprotease neprilysin 2 in the rat: a comparison with neprilysin and endothelin-converting enzyme-1.

The localisation of the gene transcripts of a recently discovered peptidase, neprilysin 2 (NEP2), was established by in situ hybridisation in rat tissues during development and adulthood. It was compared with those of neprilysin (NEP), a closely related enzyme in terms of sequence homology or substrate specificity, and of endothelin-converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1) which, like the other two, belongs to the M-13 sub-family of zinc-dependent metallopeptidases. The ontogeny of the three enzymes differed markedly, the expression of NEP2 being restricted to developing and differentiating fields of the CNS, whereas NEP and ECE-1 genes were broadly expressed early on in the CNS and periphery. In contrast to the wide expression of NEP and ECE-1 in peripheral adult tissues and in CNS, NEP2 was almost exclusively expressed in selected neuronal populations of the brain and spinal cord. The only exceptions were the intermediate and anterior lobes of the pituitary as well as the choroid plexuses, where NEP2 was also strongly expressed. These localisations as well as those in the hypothalamic nuclei, together with the previously established pattern of cleaved peptides, suggest the involvement of NEP2 in the metabolism of neurohormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis.Complementary distributions of NEP and NEP2 mRNAs were observed in a large number of brain areas with, for instance the former being highly expressed in the striatum in which NEP2 transcripts were almost undetectable. In contrast, NEP2 was highly expressed in numerous thalamic, hypothalamic and brainstem nuclei from which NEP was absent. Since both peptidases are able to cleave the same neuropeptides, this pattern may suggest a complementary role in their peptide inactivation functions in the CNS. Finally, ECE-1 mRNAs were generally observed in neuronal populations known to express the pre-proendothelin-1 gene, confirming the function of the metallopeptidase in endothelin-1 generation.

Animals↗

An open randomised trial of second-line endocrine therapy in advanced breast cancer. comparison of the aromatase inhibitors letrozole and anastrozole.

It was previously shown that letrozole (Femara) was significantly more potent than anastrozole (Arimidex) in inhibiting aromatase activity in vitro and in inhibiting total body aromatisation in patients with breast cancer. The objective of this study was to compare letrozole (2.5 mg per day) and anastrozole (1 mg per day) as endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer previously treated with an anti-oestrogen. This randomised, multicentre and multinational open-label phase IIIb/IV study enrolled 713 patients. Treatment was for advanced breast cancer that had progressed either during anti-oestrogen therapy or within 12 months of completing that therapy. Patients had tumours that were either positive for oestrogen and/or progesterone receptors (48%) or of unknown receptor status (52%). The primary efficacy endpoint was time to progression (TTP). Secondary endpoints included objective response, duration of response, rate and duration of overall clinical benefit (responses and long-term stable disease), time to treatment failure, and overall survival, as well as general safety. There was no difference between the treatment arms in TTP; median times were the same for both treatments. Letrozole was significantly superior to anastrozole in the overall response rate (ORR) (19.1% versus 12.3%, P=0.013), including in predefined subgroups (receptor status-unknown, and soft-tissue- and viscera-dominant site of disease). There were no significant differences between the treatment arms in the rate of clinical benefit, median duration of response, duration of clinical benefit, time to treatment failure or overall survival. Both agents were well tolerated and there were no significant differences in safety. These results support previous data documenting the greater aromatase-inhibiting activity of letrozole and indicate that advanced breast cancer is more responsive to letrozole than to anastrozole as second-line endocrine therapy.

Adult↗

Combined epirubicin and vinorelbine as first-line therapy in metastatic breast cancer: a pilot study performed by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group.

This pilot study investigated the tolerability and efficacy of increasing doses of epirubicin and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Acute toxicity was manageable at all dose levels for combinations of epirubicin 60-90 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 15-25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 repeated every 3 weeks. Myelotoxicity was the most frequent toxic event, with a significant increase in grade 4 leukopenia from 0% at dose level 1 (60+15 mg/m2) to 26% at dose level 6 (90+25 mg/m2). Signs of acute or chronic cardiotoxicity grades 2-4 were seen in 15% of the patients and included arrhythmia and decreased function. No significant association was established between dose and nonhematological toxicity. Objective responses were observed in 49 of the 99 evaluable patients (49.5%, 95% CI 39.9-59.2), 18 being complete and 31 partial responses. Responses were observed at all six dose levels. In conclusion, acute toxicity was manageable at all dose levels for combinations of epirubicin 60-90 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 15-25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8. In the treatment of advanced breast cancer, improvement of the antitumor efficacy by the addition of vinorelbine to epirubicin remains to be demonstrated in a randomized phase III trial.

Adult↗

[Eosinophilic ulcer of the mouth mucosa. Differential mouth ulcer diagnosis].

Eosinophilic ulcers of the oral mucosa represent a rare, self-limiting disease of unknown origin. Single lesions occur typically in the oral cavity or on the lower lip. Characteristically, they have a short history and resolve spontaneously. Diagnosis is verified by the histologic feature of a deep polymorphic inflammatory infiltrate with numerous eosinophils. The clinical aspect shows a usually nontender ulcer with a white or yellowish base and elevated indurated borders or a tumor with central ulceration. Lymphadenopathy is not found. Differential diagnoses include malignant tumors and the primary stage of syphilis. We present three cases recently diagnosed in our department to show the characteristics and the different appearances of the disease. A 74-year-old woman presented with an ulcer at the base of the tongue, a 59-year-old man had one on the lower lip, and in a 48-year-old man the lesion was atypically located at the edge of the mouth. Here we demonstrate the importance of knowledge of the disease, its course, and the characteristic histology to avoid troublesome diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Aged↗

[Morphological and functional MRI studies after correction of aortic isthmus stenosis].

PURPOSE: To compare the results of different methods for postoperative assessment after coarctation repair by magnetic resonance imaging and to evaluate their reliability. The morphometric results are contrasted to functional parameters of CW Doppler, oscillometric pressure gradient and flow quantification in VEC-MRI. METHODS: 54 patients (age: 6 to 36 years) were assessed by MRI 3 to 31 years after coarctation repair. The aortic diameters were compared to growth-dependent normal values and to the diameter of the ascending (AA) and descending aorta (DA), and their mean values (MV). RESULTS: Patients after coarctation repair had mostly subnormal diameters of AA (mean value: 80% of normal) and AD (95% of normal). Compared to the control group, mean dispersion of AD diameters was significantly larger in the patient group (2.6 vs. 1.5 mm, p < 0.001). Degree of stenosis varied with the method. It was similar when using normal values and the diameter for DA, but dispersion was smaller when normal values were used. Correlation of the functional parameter to the degree of stenosis was weak. The highest correlation (r = 0.78) was reached when using normal values as the reference with mean cross-sectional velocity from VEC-MRI. CONCLUSION: The use of normal values as the reference for quantification of residual coarctation is more reliable than common methods. Since only one measurement is needed, it seems to be less susceptible to errors and more practical. MRI offers not only a tool for accurate morphologic assessment, but with VEC-MRI it is also possible to obtain a functional parameter which is superior to oscillometric pressure gradient and CW Doppler.

Adolescent↗

[Cylindrocarcinoma in a patient with Brooke-Spiegler syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous cylindromas are benign adnexal tumors that may occur as a solitary lesion or in a multiple familiar pattern. Malignant change is rare. The association of multiple trichoepitheliomas and cylindromas, the so called Brooke-Spiegler Syndrome, is supposed to be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. PATIENTS: A 55 year old woman presented with multiple skin tumors on the scalp, as well as the nasolabial and periauricular area since the age of 20 years. Her daughter and her nephew were also affected. Tumors were surgically removed for cosmetic reasons and showed histological signs of benign cylindromas and trichoepitheliomas. 35 years after diagnosis patient presented with a large exulceration on the right occipital area with intracranial invasion. Staging revealed multiple metastases in both lungs. Patient died 1 month later. RESULTS: Histological examination showed beside zones of massive necrosis multiple mitosis. The jigsaw puzzle pattern and the thick PAS positive basal layer, the striking characteristics of benign cylindromas, were lost. These histological findings and the clinical presentation led to the diagnosis of cylindrocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Cylindrocarcinoma is an aggressive tumor with tendency to a local destructive growth and metastases. As malignant transformation of a benign cylindroma occurs more often in the multiple form a close follow-up of patients with multiple cylindromas is necessary. A family study is indicated.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic↗

[Bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis, dysautonomia and restrictive cardiomyopathy in a case of POEMS syndrome].

We report a case of POEMS syndrome (Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, M protein and Skin changes) with unusual clinical features. A 62-year-old woman presented a severe polyneuropathy with dysphonia and vegetative symptoms, including bradycardia and sphincterial disorders. The clinical examination showed facial hyperpigmentation, cachexia, anasarca and splenomegaly. She also presented restrictive cardiomyopathy and endocrine disturbances. Nerve conduction studies revealed a severe demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed an elevated protein level. We detected a biclonal gammapathy (Ig G and Ig A with lambda light chain) and lytic pelvic bone lesions. Later, she developed a severe ventilatory failure due to a bilateral phrenic nerve paralysis leading to a mechanical ventilation. Steroids followed by localized radiotherapy partially improved the respiratory status and stabilized the neuropathy. Phrenic nerve paralysis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, vegetative symptoms and cranial nerve palsy are exceptional in POEMS syndrome. Moreover, this case emphasizes the importance of radiological investigations since the discover of plasmocytoma may improve the prognosis of POEMS syndrome.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Familial aggregation of sarcoidosis. A case-control etiologic study of sarcoidosis (ACCESS).

Despite reports of familial clustering of sarcoidosis, little empirical evidence exists that disease risk in family members of sarcoidosis cases is greater than that in the general population. To address this question, we estimated sarcoidosis familial relative risk using data on disease occurrence in 10,862 first- and 17,047 second-degree relatives of 706 age, sex, race, and geographically matched cases and controls who participated in the multicenter ACCESS (A Case-Control Etiology Study of Sarcoidosis) study from 1996 to 1999. Familial relative risk estimates were calculated using a logistic regression technique that accounted for the dependence between relatives. Sibs had the highest relative risk (odds ratio [OR] = 5.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-15.9), followed by avuncular relationships (OR = 5.7; 95% CI = 1.6-20.7), grandparents (OR = 5.2; 95% CI = 1.5-18.0), and then parents (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 1.2-11.3). In a multivariate model fit to the parents and sibs data, the familial relative risk adjusted for age, sex, relative class, and shared environment was 4.7 (95% CI = 2.3-9.7). White cases had a markedly higher familial relative risk compared with African-American cases (18.0 versus 2.8; p = 0.098). In summary, a significant elevated risk of sarcoidosis was observed among first- and second-degree relatives of sarcoidosis cases compared with relatives of matched control subjects.

Adolescent↗

Clinical characteristics of patients in a case control study of sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis may be affected by sex, race, and age. A Case Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis (ACCESS) enrolled 736 patients with sarcoidosis within 6 mo of diagnosis from 10 clinical centers in the United States. Using the ACCESS sarcoidosis assessment system, we determined organ involvement for the whole group and for subgroups differentiated by sex, race, and age (less than 40 yr or 40 yr and older). The study population was heterogeneous in terms of race (53% white, 44% black), sex (64% female, 36% male), and age (46% < 40 yr old, 54% > or = 40 yr old). Women were more likely to have eye and neurologic involvement (chi(2) = 4.74, p < 0.05 and chi(2) = 4.60, p < 0.05 respectively), have erythema nodosum (chi(2) = 7.28, p < 0.01), and to be age 40 yr or over (chi(2) = 6.07, p < 0.02) whereas men were more likely to be hypercalcemic (chi(2) = 7.38, p < 0.01). Black subjects were more likely to have skin involvement other than erythema nodosum (chi(2) = 5.47, p < 0.05), and eye (chi(2) = 13.8, p < 0.0001), liver (chi(2) = 23.3, p < 0.0001), bone marrow (chi(2) = 18.8, p < 0.001), and extrathoracic lymph node involvement (chi(2) = 7.21, p < 0.01). We conclude that the initial presentation of sarcoidosis is related to sex, race, and age.

Adult↗

Value of epidermal growth factor receptor, HER2, p53, and steroid receptors in predicting the efficacy of tamoxifen in high-risk postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Few studies have examined the possible importance of biologic prognostic factors in breast cancer connected with differentiation and growth in predicting response to a specific adjuvant treatment. HER2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and p53 have all been suggested as possible markers of tamoxifen resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions between adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen and the content of EGFR, HER2, and p53 in steroid receptor-positive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,716 high-risk postmenopausal breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to treatment with tamoxifen (868 women) or to observation (848 women) in a prospective trial (Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group's 77c protocol). The content of the steroid receptors and expression of p53, EGFR, and HER2 were determined by immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded tissue. The length of follow-up was 10 years. The end point for this analysis was disease-free survival. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated no increased risk of recurrence after treatment with tamoxifen for HER2-, EGFR-, and p53-positive, high-risk, steroid receptor-positive patients. Patients with steroid receptor-positive tumors and positive immunohistochemical staining for HER2, EGFR or p53 benefited from treatment with tamoxifen for 1 year, although the latter variable contained independent prognostic information by itself. CONCLUSION: With the statistical power of the present randomized study, we did not find support for the hypothesis that HER2/EGFR or p53 status predicts benefit from tamoxifen treatment in estrogen receptor-positive patients with early-stage breast cancer. Thus, neither HER2, EGFR, nor p53 overexpression/accumulation should be used as a contraindication for giving tamoxifen.

Aged↗

Frequency and genome load of Epstein-Barr virus in 509 breast cancers from different geographical areas.

Since the few data exploring a possible association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and breast cancer are conflicting, we investigated this association together with the influences of geographical areas. 509 breast cancers were sampled from areas with varying risks of nasopharynx carcinoma (NPC) such as North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia, high-risk area); southern France (Marseille, intermediate-risk area); and northern Europe (northern France, the Netherlands and Denmark; low-risk areas). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a subregion of EBV BamHIC encoding the EBERs demonstrated that 31.8% of the tumours contained the viral genome. No significant differences were observed among the geographical areas. However, positive samples showed higher loads of the EBV genome in the NPC high- and intermediate-risk areas than in the low-risk areas. EBV type 1 was the dominant strain. In situ hybridization studies using a(35)S-labelled riboprobe for EBER1 and a laser capture microdissection, combined with quantitative PCR, showed that EBV localization was restricted to some tumour epithelial cell clusters. EBV could not be detected in the stroma. Considering the whole population covered, the presence of the EBV genome was not correlated with age, menopausal status, tumour, size, nodal status or histological grade.

Adult↗

Fatal aplastic anaemia associated with clopidogrel.

Clopidogrel, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, was initially thought to be free of the side-effects of ticlopidine. We describe a man who developed aplastic anaemia after 5 months of treatment with clopidogrel. There were no other plausible causes. We suggest that his fatal aplastic anaemia might have been induced by clopidogrel.

Aged↗

Antibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3, but not to BP180, induce blisters in human skin grafted onto SCID mice.

Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are blistering skin diseases associated with IgG autoantibodies to desmosomal and hemidesmosomal components. When autoantibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3 from patients with pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV) or rabbit antibodies against the murine hemidesmosomal component BP180 are passively transferred into neonatal mice, they induce blisters in the skin of the mice. To develop an animal model that would duplicate the findings in the skin of the patients more closely, full-thickness human skin from healthy volunteers was grafted onto SCID mice. Injection of the purified IgG fraction from the serum of PF and PV patients led to subcorneal and suprabasal splits in the human grafts and human IgG was deposited intercellularly in the upper and lower layers of the epidermis, respectively. Interestingly, anti-BP180 autoantibodies purified from the serum of BP patients and from a rabbit immunized with recombinant human BP180 strongly bound to the basement membrane zone of the grafts (n=32), fixed murine complement, led to the recruitment of neutrophils to the upper dermis of the graft, but did not induce subepidermal blisters. We report a novel experimental model for PF and PV which should greatly facilitate further studies to dissect the immunopathological mechanisms in these diseases. Specifically, this model can be used to identify pathogenically relevant epitopes on human desmogleins 1 and 3 and to develop novel strategies for the treatment of pemphigus.

Animals↗

[Hornstein-Knickenberg and Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome. Report of a case with spontaneous pneumothorax and aplasia of the left internal carotid artery].

A 36-year-old man presented with multiple skin-colored papules on his face, neck and back of several years duration. His father, sister and probably his grandfather suffered from similar skin lesions. The histological examination revealed fibrofolliculomas in all three cases. At the age of 33 years the patient developed a spontaneous pneumothorax, and one year later a subarachnoidal hemorrhage due to aplasia of the left carotid artery. His grandfather had died from metastatic rectal carcinoma. A diagnosis of Hornstein-Knickenberg-/Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome was made, which is characterized by fibrofolliculomas and colon adenomas. Our familial observation speaks in favor of autosomal dominant transmission of the Hornstein-Knickenberg-/Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome. Apart from the skin several other organs may be involved, including the kidneys, urogenital tract, eyes and endocrine system. By this report we wish to draw intention to the typical skin lesions which can be the marker for neoplasia and other characteristic associated findings.

Adult↗

Anomalies of the abdominal aorta in Williams-Beuren syndrome--another cause of arterial hypertension.

UNLABELLED: Vascular disease in Williams-Beuren syndrome is based on an elastin arteriopathy which may cause stenoses in small and great vessels. This study presents the pattern of stenotic lesions of the abdominal aorta and the incidence of arterial hypertension. From 112 patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome followed since 1975, 25 patients were studied by aortography. The diameter of the thoracic aorta and the change in diameter to the iliac bifurcation were compared with normal data. Renal artery stenosis was suspected when the proximal vessel diameter was less than 50% of the distal diameter. Of the 25 patients, 20 had vascular stenosis of whom 19 patients were affected by segmental narrowing either of the thoracic aorta (n=9) or the abdominal aorta (n = 7) or both (n = 3). Hypoplasia of the abdominal aorta was characterised by the smallest diameters at the renal artery level and an increased diameter of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. A total of 11 patients had renal arterial stenosis, associated with narrowing of other aortic segments in 10 cases. Only one patient had a solitary stenosis of the renal artery. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 17 patients, 2 of them had no vascular lesions; in the remaining 15 patients stenosis was present in more than one segment (aorta 6, renal artery stenosis 1, both 8). CONCLUSION: Narrowing of the abdominal aorta in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome is a frequent morphological manifestation of the arteriopathy. Isolated renal arterial stenosis was rare, since it was more frequently combined with a narrowed aorta. Hypertension is a common symptom in the affected group and must be regarded as a manifestation of generalised arteriopathy rather than renal hypoperfusion.

Adolescent↗