Adhesion molecule profiles in atopic dermatitis vs. allergic contact dermatitis: Pharmacological modulation by cetirizine

Background. Experimental data suggest that there is an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells in atopic dermatitis (AD) skin compared to allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). This imbalance (Th2 and Th1 predominance, respectively) implies the production of different cytokines in these two conditions leading to different expression of adhesion molecules on skin endothelial cells. Objective. The expression of VCAM-1 (IL-4/Th2-dependent) and ICAM-1 (INF-γ/IL-1) on dermal vessels was compared in six patients with AD and six patients with ACD. The effect of cetirizine, a highly selective H1-receptor antagonist on the expressions was studied. Methods. Six patients with AD were challenged with Dermatophagoides pteronyssimus (DPT patch tests applied to clinically normal skin) and six patients with ACD challenged in the same way with allergens of the European standard series. Skin biopsies at challenged sites were performed before and 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. The experiment was carried out under double-blind cross-over conditions during a 4-day treatment with a placebo and cetirizine. Results. In AD patients, the scores for both VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were high before and after challenge. In ACD patients, the ICAM-1 score was high at each experimental time, but the VCAM-1 score, which was significantly lower before challenge, increased at 6, 24 and 48 h after challenge. The administration of cetirizine significantly reduced the VCAM-1 expression in AD patients at each experimental time. Conclusion. It is concluded that the increased VCAM-1 expression in AD patients compared to ACD may reflect greater IL-4 and/or IL-13 production in situ. The study also confirms the existence of a modulating effect of cetirizine in vivo on adhesion molecule expression.SCOPUS: ar.jFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Interleukins-6 and -11 expression in primary breast cancer and subsequent development of bone metastases.

Breast cancers frequently metastasize to bone where they often cause extensive tumor-induced osteoclast-mediated osteolysis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-11 are two cytokines exhibiting osteolytic properties through their potent stimulation of osteoclast formation. We investigated the expression of IL-6 and IL-11 in 99 invasive primary breast tumors by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. We examined their potential as predictive factors for further development of bone metastases. 52/90 (57%) of tumor samples showed IL-6 cytoplasmic immunostaining. There was no significant association between IL-6 status and any of the classical prognostic factors. 15/89 (17%) of the tumor samples expressed IL-11 mRNA. A positive IL-11 mRNA status was associated with a low tumor grade (P=0.05). Tumors expressing IL-11 mRNA had a statistically significant (P=0.002) higher rate of bone metastases occurrence (12/15, 80%) than IL-11 negative tumors (27/74, 37%). Such association was not found for IL-6. Our findings demonstrate for the first time IL-11 gene expression in some primary invasive breast tumors and suggest the potential of this cytokine as possible biological predictive factor for the development of bone metastases.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

CHANGING THE ELECTRONIC DENSITY OF THE DISTAL PHENYL RING OF 4-ARYL-1,2,3,6-TETRAHYDROPYRIDINE DERIVATIVES TO INFLUENCE THE AFFINITY FOR 5-HT1A RECEPTORS

4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(THP) moiety was shown to be favourable compared to the classical 4-phenyl-piperazine in terms of affinity for 5-HT1A receptors in a series of 4-arylpiperazine-ethyl carboxamides. The almost planar orientation found in the 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-THP compounds appeared to be an important spatial requirement for an optimal interaction with the 5-HT1A receptor in this series. This orientation tends to stabilize the ligand binding by an edge-to-face CH-Π interaction between the phenyl ring of the 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-THP compounds and the side chain of the Phe 6.52 residue in the binding pocket .In the present study, the electronic distribution of the distal benzene ring is modified by introducing substituents with different electronic and/or physicochemical characteristics to explore the impact on this interaction on the affinity for 5-HT1A receptors. These substituents were placed either in 4 or 3 and 5 position of the distal ring in order to avoid a sterical constraint if present in 2 or 6 position. In a quinoxalinamide series, the 3,5-dimethyl substituted analogue has the highest affinity for 5-HT1A receptors as expected. A reinforced interaction with the Phe 6.52 residue might explain this affinity but increased basicity and lipophilicity might also have a role

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis arising at the site of basal cell carcinoma excision

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) may be associated with a wide range of neoplastic disorders. However, the combination of a LCH and a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin still represents a highly unusual condition. In this publication, we report the case of a 48-year-old woman who developed a localized LCH involving the area of a previously excised BCC. Although the exact pathogenesis of this peculiar association remains yet to be elucidated, the hypothesis of an exaggerated Langerhans' cell reaction in response to the underlying BCC appears to be attractive.SCOPUS: ar.jFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the sinonasal tract in an eleven-year-old girl.

Case ReportsJournal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Glomeruloid microvascular proliferation in angiomyomatous hamartoma of the lymph node.

Case ReportsLetterSCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

CXCR4 expression on membranes from macular pucker and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Enhancing a CH−π Interaction to Increase the Affinity for 5‑HT_1A Receptors

An electrostatic interaction related to a favorable position of the distal phenyl ring and a phenylalanine residue in the binding pocket would explain the higher 5-HT_1A affinity of a 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (THP) analogue compared to the corresponding 4-phenylpiperazine analogue. To explore a possible reinforcement of this interaction to increase the affinity for 5-HT_1A receptors, different 4-substituted-phenyl analogues were synthesized and tested. The most important increase of affinity is obtained with two electron-donating methyl groups in positions 3 and 5

La Poste: l'urgence de changer de cap!

Les événements des derniers jours à Louvain-la-Neuve remettent crûment en lumière l’absurdité de la gestion actuelle de la Poste belge. La direction de la Poste entend réaliser par tous les moyens des économies. Tous les moyens, cela signifie aussi de faire pression afin que l’on expulse des citoyens qui par leur action mettent en lumière les légitimes revendications de la population. Les citoyens ne sont pas dupes : remplacer des bureaux de poste par des points poste, ce n’est pas améliorer le service rendu. [...