Marked pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia secondary to a red-pigmented tattoo. a case report

Tattooing is gaining increasing popularity in developed countries in recent years. Adverse cutaneous reactions of many different types against coumponds in tattoo inks are being reported more and more often in medical literature,especially against red-pigmented tattoo. Delayed immune-mediated reactions can manifest in several ways and different histological patterns have been described This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Third structure determination by powder diffractometry round robin (SDPDRR-3)

The results from a third structure determination by powder diffractometry (SDPD) round robin are discussed. From the 175 potential participants having downloaded the powder data, nine sent a total of 12 solutions (8 and 4 for samples 1 and 2, respectively, a tetrahydrated calcium tartrate and a lanthanum tungstate). Participants used seven different computer programs for structure solution (ESPOIR, EXPO, FOX, PSSP, SHELXS, SUPERFLIP, and TOPAS), applying Patterson, direct methods, direct space methods, and charge flipping approach. It is concluded that solving a structure from powder data remains a challenge, at least one order of magnitude more difficult than solving a problem with similar complexity from single-crystal data. Nevertheless, a few more steps in the direction of increasing the SDPD rate of success were accomplished since the two previous round robins: this time, not only the computer program developers were successful but also some users. No result was obtained from crystal structure prediction expert

Role of the progesterone receptor for paclitaxel resistance in primary breast cancer

Paclitaxel plays an important role in the treatment of primary breast cancer. However, a substantial proportion of patients treated with paclitaxel does not appear to derive any benefit from this therapy. We performed a prospective study using tumour cells isolated from 50 primary breast carcinomas. Sensitivity of primary tumour cells to paclitaxel was determined in a clinically relevant range of concentrations (0.85–27.2 μg ml−1 paclitaxel) using an ATP assay. Chemosensitivity data were used to study a possible association with immunohistochemically determined oestrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) status, as well as histopathological parameters. Progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA expression was also determined by quantitative RT–PCR. We observed a clear association of the PR status with chemosensitivity to paclitaxel. Higher levels of immunohistochemically detected PR expression correlated with decreased chemosensitivity (P=0.008). Similarly, high levels of PR mRNA expression were associated with decreased paclitaxel chemosensitivity (P=0.007). Cells from carcinomas with T-stages 3 and 4 were less sensitive compared to stages 1 and 2 (P=0.013). Multiple regression analysis identified PR receptor status and T-stage as independent predictors of paclitaxel chemosensitivity, whereas the ER, N-stage, grading and age were not influential. In conclusion, in vitro sensitivity to paclitaxel was higher for PR-negative compared with PR-positive breast carcinoma cells. Thus, PR status should be considered as a possible factor of influence when designing new trials and chemotherapy protocols

Topoisomerase II alpha gene copy loss has adverse prognostic significance in ERBB2-amplified breast cancer: a retrospective study of paraffin-embedded tumor specimens and medical charts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Amplification of the <it>ERBB2 </it>(<it>Her-2/neu</it>) oncogene, which occurs in approximately 25% of breast carcinomas, is a known negative prognostic factor. Available data indicate that a variable number of nearby genes on chromosome 17q may be co-amplified or deleted, forming a continuous amplicon of variable size. In approximately 25% of these patients, the amplicon extends to the gene for <it>topoisomerase II alpha </it>(<it>TOP2A</it>), a target for anthracyclines. We sought to understand the significance of these associated genomic changes for breast cancer prognosis and predicting response to therapy.</p> <p>Methods and patients</p> <p>Archival tissue samples from 63 breast cancer patients with <it>ERBB2 </it>amplification, stages 0–IV, were previously analyzed with FISH probes for genes located near <it>ERBB2</it>. In the present study, the clinical outcome data were determined for all patients presenting at stages I–III for whom adequate clinical follow up was available.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four amplicon patterns (Classes) were identified. These were significantly associated with the clinical outcome, specifically, recurrence of breast cancer. The Amplicon class IV with deleted <it>TOP2A </it>had 67% (6/9) cases with recurrence, whereas the other three classes combined had only 12% (3/25) cases (p-value = 0.004) at the time of last follow-up. <it>TOP2A </it>deletion was also significantly associated with time to recurrence (p-value = 0.0002). After adjusting for age in Cox regression analysis, the association between <it>TOP2A </it>deletion and time to recurrence remains strongly significant (p-value = 0.002) whereas the association with survival is marginally significant (p-value = 0.06).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>TOP2A </it>deletion is associated with poor prognosis in <it>ERBB2</it>-amplified breast carcinomas. Clarification of the mechanism of this association will require additional study.</p

Structural effects on the emission properties of Pr 3+

International audienceSingle crystals of Ba 2 NaNb 5 O 15 doped with Pr 3+ have been grown from sodium tetraborate flux. Their emission properties have been measured as a function of the doping level under different excitation and temperature conditions. The experimental observations have been accounted for by considering the effects of the crystal structure, of the doping mechanisms and of the interactions between host lattice and doping ions. The proposed conclusions have been verified by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements and the resulting site occupancies of the active ions have been discussed in the light of the synthesis procedure

A TLR/CD44 axis regulates T cell trafficking in experimental and human multiple sclerosis

In the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders, the modulation of leukocytes′ trafficking plays a central role, still poorly understood. Here, we focused on the effect of TLR2 ligands in trafficking of T helper cells through reshuffling of CD44 isoforms repertoire. Concurrently, strain background and TLR2 haplotype affected Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and expression of splicing factors. During EAE, mCD44v9-v10 was specifically enriched in the forebrain and showed an increased ability to bind stably to osteopontin. Similarly, we observed that hCD44v7 was highly enriched in cells of cerebrospinal fluid from MS patients with active lesions. Moreover, TLRs engagement modulated the composition of CD44 variants also in human T helper cells, supporting the hypothesis that pathogens or commensals, through TLRs, in turn modulate the repertoire of CD44 isoforms, thereby controlling the distribution of lesions in the CNS. The interference with this mechanism(s) represents a potential tool for prevention and treatment of autoimmune relapses and exacerbations

Lichen sclerosus and hidradenitis suppurativa: Two case reports of a new possible association

We report the cases of two women affected by lichen sclerosus also having clinical signs of hidradenitis suppurativa. Lichen sclerosus is a chronic autoimmune disease, in which activated fibroblasts produce significantly altered collagen leading to fibrosis Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease affecting folliculopilosebaceous unit and apocrine gland, which lesions are nodules and abscesses. The association between lichen sclerosus and autoimmune disorders is well known, but not the one with hidradenitis suppurativa. We present two case reports of these unusual comorbidities

Tumors in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: a single-center retrospective study

Objective: To investigate the risk and pattern of tumors in italian neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective single institution case review of 711 patients (seen between March 1992 and February 2018) with NF1 was conducted to identify individuals with diagnoses of both NF1 and neoplasm. NF1-associated tumors have been collected and analyzed. Results: We identified 221 tumors in 191 subjects with a percentage of 26.9%, diagnosed at a median age of 32.5 years (range, 0.6-70.1 years); 111 of these patients were females (58%) and all were fol-lowed up for a median of 5.3 years. The cumulative risks for tumor in patients with NF1 by the ages of 30 and 60 years were 10% and 42.5%, respectively. In our patients with tumor, overall survival at 70 years was significantly shorter than in those without it (50% vs 95%, P&lt;0.0001). We found an unequivocally increased incidence for breast cancer in females (33 cases observed). Conclusions: Tumors that develop in patients with NF1 are heterogeneous, our data are consistent with other reports suggesting an increase in some cancers risk among these individuals, therefore systematic medical follow-up in people with NF1 is important