Granulomatous rosacea: Like leukemid in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia

Introduction. Skin findings in leukemias may be divided into specific lesions (leukemia cutis) and non-specific lesions (leukemids) which may be found in up to 80% of all patients with leukemias. The leukemids vary clinically and they are usually a manifestation of bone marrow or immunologic impairment, but also Sweet syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythroderma, maculopapular exanthema, prurigo-like papules, generalized pigmentation, follicular mucinosis, generalized pruritus may be found during the course of leukemia. Case report. We report a 70-year-old male with a 3-month history of erythema, papules and pustules on the face, ears and neck and over a month history of refractory anemia, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, and fever. Physical examination revealed symmetric erythematous, violaceous papules, papulo-nodules and plaques with slate scale and sparse, small pustules on the face, earlobes and neck. Histopathologic findings of involved skin showed diffuse mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate with perifollicular accentuation and focal granulomatous inflammation in the papillary and upper reticular dermis. Extensive checkup revealed the presence of acute myeloid leukemia French- American-British (FAB) classification subtype M2, with signs of three-lineage dysplasia. The patient was treated by L6 protocol which led to complete remission, both in bone marrow and skin, but after seven months he had relapse of leukemia with the fatal outcome. Conclusion. This case indicates the importance of skin eruptions in the context of hematological malignancies

Correlation of antibodies against desmogleins 1 and 3 with indirect immunofluorescence and disease activity in 72 patients with pemphigus vulgaris

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) have both been used for testing of antibodies to desmogleins 1 and 3 (anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3) and for the serologic diagnosis of pemphigus. IIF values and antibody concentrations and profile do not always correlate with a specific clinical phenotype and with the disease activity. The purpose of the present study was to correlate the clinical phenotype of patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and the disease activity with anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 antibodies and IIF titers. A total of 72 patients with PV underwent ELISA serum testing for the presence and titers of anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 and IIF which were correlated with the severity of the disease (evaluated using the Pemphigus Disease Area Index, PDAI), clinical phenotype, and clinical course. In 79.2% patients there was a perfect correlation between the clinical phenotype and antibody profiles; in 20.8% patients, clinical features and antigenic findings were discordant. A statistically significant correlation was found between disease activity and a) anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 concentrations (Rho=0.679, P&lt;0.001 and Rho=0.363, P=0.02, respectively) and b) IIF titers (Rho=0.426, P&lt;0.01), as well between IIF titers and anti-Dsg3 and anti-Dsg1 antibodies (Rho=0.742, P&lt;0.01 and Rho=0.372, P=0.02, respectively).  This study supports the previous observations that the disease severity in most patients with pemphigus correlates with IIF titers, which in turn is determined by the quantities of Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibodies, as well as the previous observation that the clinical phenotype and antibody profile are not always in correlation. </p

Responsible Knowledge Management in Energy Data Ecosystems

This paper analyzes the challenges and requirements of establishing energy data ecosystems (EDEs) as data-driven infrastructures that overcome the limitations of currently fragmented energy applications. It proposes a new data- and knowledge-driven approach for management and processing. This approach aims to extend the analytics services portfolio of various energy stakeholders and achieve two-way flows of electricity and information for optimized generation, distribution, and electricity consumption. The approach is based on semantic technologies to create knowledge-based systems that will aid machines in integrating and processing resources contextually and intelligently. Thus, a paradigm shift in the energy data value chain is proposed towards transparency and the responsible management of data and knowledge exchanged by the various stakeholders of an energy data space. The approach can contribute to innovative energy management and the adoption of new business models in future energy data spaces

Responsible Knowledge Management in Energy Data Ecosystems

This paper analyzes the challenges and requirements of establishing energy data ecosystems (EDEs) as data-driven infrastructures that overcome the limitations of currently fragmented energy applications. It proposes a new data-and knowledge-driven approach for management and process-ing. This approach aims to extend the analytics services portfolio of various energy stakeholders and achieve two-way flows of electricity and information for optimized generation, distribution, and electricity consumption. The approach is based on semantic technologies to create knowledge-based systems that will aid machines in integrating and processing resources contextually and intelligently. Thus, a paradigm shift in the energy data value chain is proposed towards transparency and the responsible management of data and knowledge exchanged by the various stakeholders of an energy data space. The approach can contribute to innovative energy management and the adoption of new business models in future energy data spaces. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Methylprednisolone inhibits interleukin-17 and interferon-gamma expression by both naive and primed T cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing cells are increasingly considered to be the major pathogenic population in various autoimmune disorders. The effects of glucocorticoids, widely used as therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, on IL-17 generation have not been thoroughly investigated so far. Therefore, we have explored the influence of methylprednisolone (MP) on IL-17 expression in rat lymphocytes, and compared it to the effect of the drug on interferon (IFN)-γ.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Production of IL-17 in mitogen-stimulated lymph node cells (LNC) from non-treated rats, as well as in myelin basic protein (MBP)-stimulated draining LNC from rats immunized with spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund's adjuvant was significantly reduced by MP. The reduction was dose-dependent, sustained through the follow-up period of 48 hours, and was not achieved through anti-proliferative effect. Additionally, MP inhibited IL-17 production in purified T cells as well, but to less extent than in LNC. In its influence on IL-17 production MP inhibited Ror-γT transcription factor expression, as well as Jun phosphorylation, but not ERK or p38 activation in mitogen-stimulated LNC. Importantly, MP collaborated with IFN-γ in inhibiting IL-17 generation in LNC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed difference in the effect of MP on IL-17 and IFN-γ could be important for the understanding of the variability in the efficiency of glucocorticoids in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.</p

Altered cytokine expression in Helicobacter pylori infected patients with bleeding duodenal ulcer

Objective Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which an important role has infection with H. pylori. The most common complication of peptic ulcer is bleeding. The presence of H. pylori triggers local and systemic cytokine signaling which may affect processes such as healing, gastric or duodenal rupture, and carcinogenesis. In this study, we examined the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF, TGF-β and IL-17A in serum by enzyme immunoassay and their mRNA expressions in periulcer biopsies obtained from patients with bleeding peptic ulcer by means of real-time-PCR. Results We have shown that pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF concentrations in serum were significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the concentrations of TGF-β and IL-17A were significantly lower compared to non-infected subjects. IL-17A expression in periulcer mucosa was significantly higher in patients who were infected with H. pylori, while the expression of other cytokines, there was no significant difference compared to non-infected controls. Considering higher serum concentrations in non-infected subjects and higher IL-17A expression in mucosal tissue of infected patients, our data support the studies that found IL-17A has protective role in eradication of H. pylori infection in infected patients

Ekspresija nukleozidnih transportera u primarnoj kulturi astrocita pacova

Mnoge ćelije u CNS-u preuzimaju nukleozide iz vanćelijske teĉnosti i koriste ih za sintezu nukleotida u putevima uštede. Nukleozidi se kroz membranu astrocita transportuje putem dve genske familije nukleozidnih transportera: ekvilibrativnih (ENT1 i ENT2) koji omogućavaju jednosmernu olakšanu difuziju i koncentrativnih (CNT2) koji omogućavaju jednosmerni sekundarno aktivni transport kroz ćelijsku membranu. Cilj ovog istraţivanja je bio ispitivanje ekspresije razliĉitih klasa nukleozidnih transportera na primarno kultivisanim astrocitima pacova, kao i uticaj hroniĉno povećane koncentracije adenozina u vanćelijskom medijumu na stepen njihove ekspresije. Eksperimenti su raĊeni u primarnoj kulturi astrocita pacova soja Wistar. Ćelije su u toku 21 dana kontinuirano tretirane adenozinom u koncentracijama od 25µM i 100µM. Kvantifikacija genske ekspresije je vršena RT-qPCR analizom na svakih 7 dana i izraţena je kao ΔCt vrednost u odmosu na vrednost koamplifikovanog β-aktina. Rezultati su pokazali da se u primarnim astrocitima pacova eksprimiraju transporteri i ekvilibrativnog i koncentrativnog tipa. Najveću ekspresiju nakon 7-og dana u kulturi je pokazao koncentrativni transporter CNT 2 (ΔCt=7,13±0,42), dok je stepen ekspresije za ekvilibrativne transportere bio nešto niţi za ENT 1 ΔCt=9,48±0,29, a za ENT 2 ΔCt=8,67±0,24. TakoĊe je uoĉeno da se tokom kultivisanja u vremenskom periodu od 21-og dana postepeno smanjuje genska ekspresija svih ispitivanih transportera: za CNT 2 ΔCt=12,75±0,51; za ENT 1 ΔCt=12,78±0,41; i za ENT 2 ΔCt=12,37±0,44. U uslovima kontinuiranog prisustva adenozina u primarnoj kulturi astrocita (25µM, odnosno 100µM) nakon 7,14 i 21 dana, nije došlo do znaĉajne promene u ekpresiji ni jednog od ispitivanih transportera u odnosnu na populaciju ćelija koja nije bila izloţena tretmanu adenozinom.VII/XIII Kongres neurologa Srbije : Septembar 11-14, Kragujevac, 2008