Th1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cell pattern in psoriatic patients: modulation of cytokines and gene targets induced by etanercept treatment and correlation with clinical response.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is sustained by pro-inflammatory CD4+ T helper cells mainly belonging to the Th1, Th17 and Th22 lineage. OBJECTIVE: To identify whether treatment with the anti-tumour-necrosis-factor antagonist etanercept is able to induce significant modulations in transcription factor and cytokine mRNA gene expressions related to the different T cell immune response polarization (Th1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T cells, Treg and to correlate them with clinical response. METHODS: The study population included 19 psoriasis patients treated with etanercept and 19 healthy subjects. Blood samples were collected at baseline and every 4 weeks during treatment. Taqman quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to analyse the expression of: Stat-4, T-bet, IL-12p35 and IFN-γ (Th1-related); GATA-3, IL-4 (Th2-related); Stat-3, RORγt, IL-23p19 (Th17-related); Foxp3, IL-2 (Treg-related). Flow cytometry was applied to analyse CD4+CD25+(bright)Foxp3+ cells in peripheral blood. RESULTS: Upregulation of Th1 and Th17 and downregulation of Treg subsets was found at baseline. The response to etanercept could be associated with a significant reversal of the Th1/Th17 activation, and a concomitant upregulation of Th2 and Treg subsets. CONCLUSION: Our data may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the achievement of clinical response in psoriasis and could be helpful for the identification of early predictive markers of response.

Observation of the psi(4415)-->DD2*(2460) decay using initial-state radiation.

We report measurements of the exclusive cross section for e(+)e(-)-->D(0)D(-)pi(+) over the center-of-mass energy range 4.0 GeV to 5.0 GeV with initial-state radiation and the first observation of the decay psi(4415)-->D(0)D(-)pi(+). From a study of the resonant substructure in psi(4415) decay we conclude that the psi(4415)-->D(0)D(-)pi(+) decay is dominated by psi(4415)-->DD(2)(*)(2460). We obtain B(psi(4415)-->D(0)D(-)pi(nonresonant)(+))/B(psi(4415)-->DD(2)(*)(2460)-->D(0)D(-)pi(+))<0.22 at 90% C.L. The analysis is based on a data sample collected with the Belle detector with an integrated luminosity of 673 fb(-1).

Measurement of the e+e- -->pi+pi- J/psi cross section via initial-state radiation at Belle.

The cross section for e(+)e(-)-->pi(+)pi(-)J/psi between 3.8 and 5.5 GeV/c(2) is measured using a 548 fb(-1) data sample collected on or near the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at KEKB. A peak near 4.25 GeV/c(2), corresponding to the so called Y(4260), is observed. In addition, there is another cluster of events at around 4.05 GeV/c(2). A fit using two interfering Breit-Wigner shapes describes the data better than one that uses only the Y(4260), especially for the lower-mass side of the 4.25 GeV enhancement.

Observation of two resonant structures in e+ e- -->pi+ pi- psi(2S) via initial-state radiation at Belle.

The cross section for e+ e- --> pi+ pi- psi(2S) between threshold and sqrt[s]=5.5 GeV is measured using 673 fb(-1) of data on and off the Upsilon(4S) resonance collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. Two resonant structures are observed in the pi+ pi- psi(2S) invariant-mass distribution, one at 4361 +/- 9 +/- 9 MeV/c2 with a width of 74 +/- 15 +/- 10 MeV/c2, and another at 4664 +/- 11 +/- 5 MeV/c2 with a width of 48 +/- 15 +/- 3 MeV/c2, if the mass spectrum is parametrized with the coherent sum of two Breit-Wigner functions. These values do not match those of any of the known charmonium states.

Transformed mycosis fungoides: clinicopathological features and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Transformation of mycosis fungoides (T-MF) occurs in 8-55% of MF patients. Its early histopathological diagnosis is of tremendous importance to better define the management and to establish the prognosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that advanced-stage MF at diagnosis of transformation is the predominant risk factor of poor outcome. The 5-year survival rates for stage IIB and IV MF are 26.9% and 10.6%, respectively. The prognostic value of the immunophenotypic characterization of the infiltrate has not been thoroughly studied in the literature. OBJECTIVES: To retrieve clinical, histological and immunophenotypic features of T-MF in our patient population and analyse their prognostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A register-based retrospective study was performed including all patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) registered in our two departments from January 2000 to December 2005. Among 208 patients with CTCL, 17 patients with proven transformation of their MF were studied. Clinical features and staging as well as immunophenotypic and pathological findings at the time of the initial diagnosis of MF and of the diagnosis of T-MF were analysed. RESULTS: Our results, in accordance with previously published material, indicate that the main clinical prognostic factor in T-MF is the stage of the initial disease at the time of the transformation. Patients with stage IIB-IV MF have a poor prognosis. In our study, strong expression of CD30 is linked to a better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that pathological and immunopathological documentation of progressive MF is important in order to identify T-MF early; however, the differential diagnosis is sometimes difficult. Aside from already acknowledged prognostic factors such as older age, advanced initial disease and short delay to transformation, the CD30 immunophenotype could be regarded as a useful additional prognostic marker in T-MF.

Measurement of the near-threshold e+e- --> D(*)+/-D(*)-/+ cross section using initial-state radiation.

We report a measurement of the exclusive e+e- -->D(*)+/-D*-/+ cross section as a function of center-of-mass energy near the D(*)+/-D*-/+ threshold with initial-state radiation. A partial reconstruction technique is used to increase the efficiency and to suppress background. The analysis is based on a data sample collected with the Belle detector with an integrated luminosity of 547.8 fb(-1).