Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE): an underrecognized complication?

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Properties of Graphene: A Theoretical Perspective

In this review, we provide an in-depth description of the physics of monolayer and bilayer graphene from a theorist's perspective. We discuss the physical properties of graphene in an external magnetic field, reflecting the chiral nature of the quasiparticles near the Dirac point with a Landau level at zero energy. We address the unique integer quantum Hall effects, the role of electron correlations, and the recent observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in the monolayer graphene. The quantum Hall effect in bilayer graphene is fundamentally different from that of a monolayer, reflecting the unique band structure of this system. The theory of transport in the absence of an external magnetic field is discussed in detail, along with the role of disorder studied in various theoretical models. We highlight the differences and similarities between monolayer and bilayer graphene, and focus on thermodynamic properties such as the compressibility, the plasmon spectra, the weak localization correction, quantum Hall effect, and optical properties. Confinement of electrons in graphene is nontrivial due to Klein tunneling. We review various theoretical and experimental studies of quantum confined structures made from graphene. The band structure of graphene nanoribbons and the role of the sublattice symmetry, edge geometry and the size of the nanoribbon on the electronic and magnetic properties are very active areas of research, and a detailed review of these topics is presented. Also, the effects of substrate interactions, adsorbed atoms, lattice defects and doping on the band structure of finite-sized graphene systems are discussed. We also include a brief description of graphane -- gapped material obtained from graphene by attaching hydrogen atoms to each carbon atom in the lattice.Comment: 189 pages. submitted in Advances in Physic

Long term treatment with infliximab in pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Purpose: To report a case of pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) successfully treated with infliximab and methotrexate for ten years. Observations: A 9-year-old Hispanic girl with VKH disease, was successfully treated with oral methotrexate 15 mg/week and oral prednisone 40 mg/day (1mg/kg/day). But when oral prednisone was tapered to 10 mg/day over a 3-month period, inflammation recurred. Patient was considered as corticosteroid-dependent thus infliximab 7mg/kg/pulse was started on days 0, 15, 60 and every 60 days thereafter. Six months after, infliximab was increased to 10mg/kg/pulse as cells in the anterior chamber were still observed. After four months of treatment, ocular inflammation was fully controlled, oral prednisone was tapered to discontinuation over a period of 10 months and methotrexate was maintained at 15 mg/week. At 1-year follow up, infliximab was reduced to 6 mg/kg/pulse as patient remained stable on examination. After being treated for 3-years it was decided to discontinue infliximab however, 2 + anterior chamber cells recurred after a dose was skipped thus infliximab was restarted. After 10 years treatment with infliximab 6 mg/kg/pulse every 60 days and methotrexate 15 mg/week associated, no relapsing inflammatory episodes and resolution of physical features of Cushing's syndrome were observed. Conclusion and importance: Combined therapy of infliximab and methotrexate for up to 10 years was efficacious in this girl in controlling recurrent inflammation without associated side effects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest reported clinical follow up of a pediatric VKH case supporting the use of infliximab and methotrexate without steroids treatment. Keywords: Anti TNF biological agents, Infliximab, Pediatric, Uveitis, Vogt-koyanagi-harad