Palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of bromothiophenes at the C-H bond adjacent to the sulfur atom with a new activator system, AgNO3/KF.

[reaction: see text] Bromothiophene derivatives react with aryl iodides catalyzed by a palladium complex in the presence of a silver(I) nitrate/potassium fluoride system to induce coupling at the C-H bond, while the carbon-bromine bond is intact. The produced coupling product bearing the C-Br bond allows further palladium-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions in reasonable yields.

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis in actinic reticuloid syndrome.

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a rare, transient complication, which usually occurs in patients with leukemia receiving various chemotherapeutic regimens. However, similar eruptions have been observed in other conditions, including HIV-positive patients, and are often preceded by the onset of malignancies. We report the first case of NEH arising in a patient with actinic reticuloid syndrome who had been treated with methotrexate.

Demonstration of TARC and CCR4 mRNA expression and distribution using in situ RT-PCR in the lesional skin of atopic dermatitis.

Thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and its receptor, CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), have been proven to be involved in a number of allergic diseases, especially atopic dermatitis (AD). The purpose of this study was to examine the expression and distribution of TARC and CCR4 mRNAs in samples of AD (n=15, acute lesions 8, chronic lesions 7) and normal skin (n=6). The expression and distribution of TARC and CCR4 mRNAs were detected with the in situ reverse transcription (RT) -polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. TARC mRNA was expressed in epidermal keratinocytes, dermal endothelial cells and infiltrating cells. CCR4 mRNA was expressed in dermal endothelial cells and infiltrating cells. In acute AD lesional skin, there were more positive cells, and the staining intensity was stronger than in chronic lesions (p<0.05). The distribution of positive cells was as follows: In the epidermis, keratinocytes in the basal layer showed the strongest staining, and keratinocytes in the spinous layer showed moderate staining; the superficial area showed faint staining. In the dermis, infiltrating cells located in the superficial area of the dermis showed the strongest staining, positive staining intensity became weaker and the percentage of positive cells became less as the location became deeper. There were no positive cells in normal skin. These data further substantiate the role of TARC/CCR4 in the pathogenesis of AD.

Palladium-catalyzed C-H homocoupling of bromothiophene derivatives and synthetic application to well-defined oligothiophenes.

Synthesis of oligothiophenes of well-defined structures that possess 2-8 thiophene units is performed with a new synthetic strategy involving C-H homocoupling of bromothiophenes and cross-coupling with organostannanes. Tolerance of the carbon-bromine bond to the palladium-catalyzed C-H homocoupling results in oligothiophenes bearing C-Br bonds at the terminal thiophene rings, which allow further transformation by the catalysis of a transition-metal complex.

A case of anti-p200 pemphigoid with autoantibodies against both a novel 200-kD dermal antigen and the 290-kD epidermolysis bullosa acquisita antigen.

BACKGROUND: Anti-p200 pemphigoid with autoantibodies against the 200-kD dermal antigen has recently been identified. OBJECTIVES: Our patient showed small and tense blisters on her face and trunk. METHODS: Immunoblotting (IB), using extracts of normal human epidermis and dermal skin, and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), using normal human skin, were performed using the patient's serum. RESULTS: IB analysis showed that the patient's serum did not react with 180-kD bullous pemphigoid (BP180) or BP230 antigens; however, IgG autoantibodies in the patient's serum reacted with a 200-kD dermal antigen as well as the 290-kD epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) antigen. IEM showed that IgG antibodies in the patient's serum bound to the lamina lucida, as well as both the lamina densa and sublamina densa. After the treatment with prednisolone, the 290-kD protein reactivity decreased rapidly; however, the 200-kD protein band was still observed. CONCLUSION: We describe a rare case with immunoreactive autoantibodies against both a novel dermal 200-kD autoantigen and the 290-kD EBA antigen.