The contact sensitizer diphenylcyclopropenone has adjuvant properties in mice and potential application in epicutaneous immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Epicutaneous vaccination has gained increasing interest during the past decade as it offers a safe, needle-free, and patient-friendly alternative to invasive vaccine administrations. Recently, the safety and early efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy were also demonstrated in patients with hay fever, as an alternative to conventional subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (SCIT). One major challenge to epicutaneous vaccination is the barrier function of the stratum corneum, which must be overcome either by abrasive methods or by hydration. Such barrier function of the stratum corneum also hampers the use of common adjuvants used to enhance the efficacy of vaccination. METHODS: In a mouse model of allergy, we tested the adjuvant potential of diphenylcyclopropenone (DCP), a strong contact sensitizer, which is currently used for the treatment of a T cell-mediated hair loss disease (alopezia areata). RESULTS: Diphenylcyclopropenone enhanced antigen-specific IgG2a antibody responses as well as IL-10 cytokine production after epicutaneous immunization with ovalbumin (OVA). Epicutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy (EPIT) with OVA and DCP also protected sensitized mice from anaphylaxis and asthma. The protective effect was more robust than that of conventional SCIT, which did not significantly alleviate the symptoms of allergy in the murine models of anaphylaxis and asthma. CONCLUSIONS: This preclinical study confirmed previous clinical data that have demonstrated the potential of the skin as a target for allergen immunotherapy. The study also suggests that epicutaneous immunization or immunotherapy can be improved when an appropriate adjuvant such as DCP is used.

In Vivo Feasibility of Arterial Embolization with Permanent and Absorbable Suture: The FAIR-Embo Concept.

PURPOSE: Arterial embolization has been shown to be effective and safe for the management of bleeding, especially for postpartum and pelvic traumatic bleeding. We propose to evaluate the proof of concept of feasibility and effectiveness of arterial embolization with absorbable and non-absorbable sutures in a porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the acute setting (n = 1), several different arteries (mesenteric, splenic, pharyngeal, kidney) were embolized using non-absorbable sutures (NAS): Mersutures™ braided sutures (polyethylene terephthalate). In the chronic setting (n = 3), only lower pole renal arteries were embolized. On the right side, NAS was used, whereas on the left side embolization was realized with absorbable suture (AS): Vicryl® braided suture (polyglactin 910). The chronic group was followed for 3 months. The pigs received contrast-enhanced CT the day before embolization (D-1), after the embolization (D0), at 1 month and 3 months after embolization (M1 and M3); digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was done at D0 and M3 and histological analysis at M3. RESULTS: All vascular targets were effectively embolized without any pre- or postoperative complications. Both DSAs and CTs at M3 showed a 100% recanalization rate for the AS embolization and a partial reversal rate for the NAS embolization. A renal hypotrophy in the embolized region was observed during both the M1 and M3 scans for both sutures (AS and NAS) with a clear hypotrophy for the NAS embolized kidney. CONCLUSION: Embolization by AS and NAS (FAIR-Embo) is a feasible and effective treatment which opens up the possibility of global use of this inexpensive and widely available embolization agent.

Coexpression of CD40 and CD40 ligand in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides).

Microarray analysis is a promising new approach for creating specific expression profiles of multiple genes simultaneously. We quantitatively analyzed differential gene expression patterns in mycosis fungoides-derived clonal T cells and autologous, identically cultured CD4+ lymphocytes using microarrays containing 588 cDNA segments from genes relevant to cell signaling, carcinogenesis, and apoptosis. Among other dissimilarities, neoplastic T cells showed coexpression of CD40 (Bp50) and CD40 ligand (gp39, CD154). These results could be corroborated by reverse transcription-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and two-color immunofluorescence staining. Our data suggest that in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, CD40/CD40 ligand interactions might represent a paracrine loop that is crucial not only in preventing apoptosis or positively regulating growth but also in homing of neoplastic cells to the skin.

Reduced growth factor requirements and accelerated cell-cycle kinetics in adult human melanocytes transformed with SV40 large T antigen.

Melanomas develop with high frequency in transgenic mice in which oncogenic sequences of the SV40 DNA tumor virus have been specifically targeted to melanocytes. To investigate the role of SV40 in melanomagenesis, cultured human melanocytes were transformed with a retroviral shuttle vector encoding the SV40 large T antigen and examined for changes in cell-cycle kinetics and growth-factor dependence. Colonies expressing the viral oncogene were morphologically indistinguishable from their non-T-antigen-transformed counterparts. Also like normal melanocytes, the infected cells remained anchorage dependent and non-tumorigenic in nude mice. However, T-antigen-positive cultures exhibited significantly accelerated population doubling times, increased saturation densities with highly confluent monolayers and a three- to fourfold extended life span. Most interestingly, cell-cycle analysis revealed a measurable shift from quiescent to cycling cells in T-antigen-expressing cultures and an acquired ability to progress more rapidly through G1. Moreover, T-antigen-positive melanocytes proliferated in the absence of PMA and required markedly reduced levels of exogenous bFGF. These studies indicate that the viral oncogen of simian virus 40 provides melanocytes with distinct growth advantages that may render these cells unusually susceptible to additional environmental challenges necessary for full expression of the malignant phenotype.

The interferon inhibiting cytokine IK is overexpressed in cutaneous T cell lymphoma derived tumor cells that fail to upregulate major histocompatibility complex class II upon interferon-gamma stimulation.

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas are characterized by an accumulation of malignant clonal lymphocytes in the skin and occasionally in the blood. We compared gene transcription profiles from cultured clonal lymphocytes with autologous healthy blood lymphocytes by microarray hybridization. Cutaneous T cell lymphoma derived cells transcribed high amounts of an interferon inhibiting cytokine factor. The presence of an interferon inhibiting cytokine factor was confirmed in 12 skin biopsies of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome derived blood lymphocytes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The presence of interferon inhibiting cytokine factor mRNA in Sézary syndrome derived lymphocytes was associated with a lack of HLA class II upregulation after stimulation with interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma. This was not due to a loss of the interferon signaling cascade as the presence of interferon-signaling components was confirmed by reverse transcriptase--polymerase chain reaction on the transcriptional level. The elevated constitutive interferon inhibiting cytokine factor expression observed in cutaneous T cell lymphoma derived cells was insensitive to interferon-gamma stimulation, but was enhanced in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We suggest that interferon inhibiting cytokine factor contributes to the lack of HLA class II upregulation in lymphoma cells. Interferon inhibiting cytokine factor may participate in providing a microenvironment at the tumor site insensitive to interferon-gamma stimulation and thus prevents an efficient local immune response.

CD4 + /CD7- T cell frequency and polymerase chain reaction-based clonality assay correlate with stage in cutaneous T cell lymphomas.

In cutaneous T cell lymphomas, tumor cells can be found in skin and in other compartments. A precise definition of extracutaneous spread including blood involvement is necessary for staging and treatment design. We investigated peripheral blood in 51 patients with various types of cutaneous T cell lymphomas by the analysis of blood smears for Sézary cells, the CD4 + /CD7- T helper cell frequency in the peripheral blood by fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis and by polymerase chain reaction for the T cell receptor gamma-chain followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Eleven polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced. Thirty-five per cent of patients with stage Ia-IIb cutaneous T cell lymphomas presented a peripheral blood T cell clone. In patients with stage III-IVb cutaneous T cell lymphomas 75% were positive for clonality in the peripheral blood by polymerase chain reaction. Interestingly, three of 13 Sézary patients showed a TCR-gamma joining region pseudogene (JgammaP1/JgammaP2) usage. CD4 + /CD7- cell counts were significantly higher in patients with advanced cutaneous T cell lymphomas than in patients with early cutaneous T cell lymphomas. There was a correlation between increased percentage of circulating CD4 + /CD7- cells and detection of clonality by polymerase chain reaction (p = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the polymerase chain reaction data and the percentage of Sézary cells on blood smears. A significant correlation between CD4 + /CD7- cells and Sézary cells was found, however. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the CD4 + /CD7- cell count and clonal T cell detection in peripheral blood are independently correlated with stage. The combination of both parameters gives more information than each one separately. In conclusion, our data indicate that fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis of peripheral blood and polymerase chain reaction-based clonality assays can improve the accuracy of staging investigations in cutaneous T cell lymphomas patients.

Retreatment tuberculosis cases. Factors associated with drug resistance and adverse outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Risk factors associated with treatment failure and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) were examined among HIV-seronegative patients who were previously treated for tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study of patients referred to the study hospital for retreatment of TB between March 1986 and March 1990. PATIENTS: The patients belonged to three groups, according to outcomes following their previous treatment: 37 patients who abandoned treatment or suffered relapse after completion of therapy (group A), 91 patients who failed to respond to the first-line drug regimen (group B), and 78 patients who failed to respond to the second-line drug regimen (group C). RESULTS: Patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to rifampin and isoniazid were found in 2 (6%) in group A, 29 (33%) in group B, and 49 (65%) in group C. Cure was achieved in 77% in group A, 54% in group B, and 36% in group C. Death occurred in none of the patients in group A, 8% in group B, and 24% in group C. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, unfavorable response (failure to sterilize sputum culture, death, and abandonment) was significantly associated with infection with a multidrug-resistant M tuberculosis strain (p = 0.0002), cavitary disease (p = 0.0029), or irregular use of medications (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These observations show that a previous treatment outcome and current clinical and epidemiologic histories can be used to predict the development of MDR-TB and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing retreatment for TB. Such information may be useful for identifying appropriate patient candidates for programs such as directly observed therapy.

A primary cutaneous non-T, non-B CD4+, CD56+ lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous lymphomas are heterogeneous clonal lymphoproliferative disorders originating from B or T lymphocytes. OBSERVATION: We describe a patient with a unique primary cutaneous lymphoma characterized by a bruise-like aspect of the skin lesions, a CD4+, CD43+, CD56+, CD2-, CD3-, CD8-, T-cell receptor-negative phenotype of the medium-sized to large lymphoid tumor cells and an undetermined genotype (T-cell receptor beta and immunoglobulin heavy chain in germline configuration, no clonal T-cell receptor gamma population as detected after analysis with polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and fast relapse after radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This non-B, non-T cutaneous lymphoma cannot be classified by any current lymphoma classification. It seems to represent a new disease entity with peculiar clinical, histologic, and molecular features.

New perspectives in experimental and clinical research for cutaneous T cell lymphomas.

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL) are lymphoproliferative disorders, which can be classified by an adaptation of the Kiel classification. The most common CTCL, Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), are monoclonal T helper memory lymphomas. They belong to the group of peripheral T cell lymphomas. However, CTCL includes other disease entities such as granulomatous slack skin, pagetoid reticulosis, and lipotropic CTCL. Polymerase chain reaction of the T cell receptor (TCR)-gamma and screening of the PCR products for sequence-specific mobility in acrylamide gels has increased the detection limit for clonal T cells in the skin. This method will help to define the relationship of CTCL to other lymphoproliferative disorders and may contribute to the early diagnosis of CTCL. In SS, the malignant CTCL clone secretes a T helper-2 cytokine pattern, which might be responsible for the systemic immunosuppression in CTCL patients. New treatment modalities (IL-12) might correct these immunologic abnormalities. Cutaneous B cell lymphomas mostly are follicular center cell derived and usually have a good prognosis. Therapy of cutaneous lymphomas should take into account prognostic factors, the most reliable of which in CTCL is the tumor mass expressed by the tumor burden index.

Proteus syndrome.

A 34-year-old male patient was referred with a recalcitrant leg ulcer overlying an extensive vascular malformation, which had led several times to septic soft tissue infections. During his infancy he had been diagnosed to have Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. Clinical examination revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the lower extremities, an extensive portwine stain on the more severely affected left limb as well as prominent venous varicosities of both legs. Hands and feet showed striking cerebriform palmoplantar hypertrophy, and macrodactily with syndactily of several fingers. All toes had been amputated in early childhood due to extreme overgrowth and currently the patient walked on his forefeet in a prominent pes equinus deformity. Further symptoms consisted in several lipomas at both arms, another portwine stain at the left hemithorax and a single café-au-lait spot at the left scapula. Angio-magnetic resonance imaging scans of both legs showed an extensive venous-lymphatic vascular malformation involving the whole subcutis and infiltrating the muscle. The chronic wound was interpreted as venous stasis ulceration. Local percutaneous sclerotherapy of the dilated veins underneath the ulcer was discussed, but considered to carry a relevant risk of skin necrosis with consecutive progression of the wound. A conventional split-skin graft led to complete wound healing. Since, the patient consequently wears custom-made compression stockings and remained free from recurrences. The syndromatic constellation of palmoplantar overgrowth, multiple lipomas, giant fingers and toes, limb overgrowth, venous-lymphatic malformation and a café-au-lait spot led to the diagnosis of Proteus syndrome. The possible aetiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and management of this rare disorder are discussed.

Direct intralymphatic injection of peptide vaccines enhances immunogenicity.

Research to enhance the efficiency of vaccines focuses mainly on improving either the adjuvant or the type and form of the antigen. This study evaluates the influence of the administration route on the efficiency of a peptide-based vaccine. Peptide vaccines are generally administered subcutaneously or intradermally, from where they must reach secondary lymphatic organs to induce an immune response. We analyzed the efficacy of peptide vaccines administered directly into a lymph node. Using a MHC class I-binding peptide from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, we found that intralymphatic injection enhanced immunogenicity by as much as 10(6) times when compared to subcutaneous and intradermal vaccination. Intralymphatic administration induced CD8 T cell responses with strong cytotoxic activity and IFN-gamma production that conferred long-term protection against viral infections and tumors. These results should have immediate implications for clinical immunotherapy of infectious disease and cancer.

Graduate education in optometry--what do we need?

Current needs in graduate education are addressed. In particular, the areas of biological sciences need to be addressed. Mechanisms to achieve a combined degree program are proposed.

An appropriate patient base for clinical optometric education.

The reasons for the need of an expanded patient base for adequate clinical instruction in the 4-year professional program are discussed. Optometric education must establish the "reasonable set" standard for patient size and diversity particularly in view of its expanded scope of professional responsibility.