Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Artif Organs 2019 Apr 23. Epub 2019 Apr 23.

Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is a severe clinical condition accompanied by low parathormone level. Conventional treatment requires life-long medication, and daily drug usage has some side-effects. To avoid this circumstance, transplantation is an alternative and curative option. Read More

Am J Hematol 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Professor of Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clnic.

Disease Overview: POEMS syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome due to an underlying plasma cell neoplasm. The major criteria for the syndrome are polyradiculoneuropathy, clonal plasma cell disorder (PCD), sclerotic bone lesions, elevated vascular endothelial growth factor, and the presence of Castleman disease. Minor features include organomegaly, endocrinopathy, characteristic skin changes, papilledema, extravascular volume overload, and thrombocytosis. Read More

Urology 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Urology. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of full thickness penile skin grafting (FTSG) for phalloplasty during acquired buried penis repair.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing complex genital reconstruction for buried penis between January 2013 and April 2018 was performed. Patients undergoing FTSG were identified. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Boston, Massachusetts; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at increased risk for varicella zoster virus reactivation and associated complications. The incidence, timing, and risk factors for severe herpes zoster (HZ) are not well described in the era of acyclovir (ACV) prophylaxis. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent first allogeneic HCT from October 2006 to December 2015 at our institution. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2019 Apr 20. Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.

Background And Objectives: Critically-ill patients present reduced endogenous melatonin blood levels, and they might benefit from its exogenous supplementation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of different routes of administration and drug formulations of melatonin. The efficiency of absorption was assessed as well as the adequacy in achieving and maintaining the physiological nocturnal blood peak. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Public Health Services, 1800 Mt Vernon Ave, Kern County, Bakersfield CA, 93306, USA. Electronic address:

We report a case of necrotizing skin infection caused by Yokenella regensburgei in an immunosuppressed patient with orthotopic liver transplantation. Initial bacterial culture identification was suggestive of Hafnia alvei. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) confirmed identification of Y. Read More

Stem Cells 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Dermatology and Allergic Diseases, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Here we report the beneficial effects of a newly identified dermal cell subpopulation expressing the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5) for the therapy of non-healing wounds. Local administration of dermal ABCB5 -derived MSCs attenuated macrophage-dominated inflammation and thereby accelerated healing of full-thickness excisional wounds in the iron overload mouse model mimicking the non-healing state of human venous leg ulcers. The observed beneficial effects were due to interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) secreted by ABCB5 -derived MSCs, which dampened inflammation and shifted the prevalence of unrestrained pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages toward repair promoting anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages at the wound site. Read More

G Ital Dermatol Venereol 2019 Jun;154(3):342-346

Difa Cooper, Caronno Pertusella, Varese, Italy -

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a very common inflammatory skin disease. It occurs in 1-3% of the population. The most supported pathogenetic theory links SD to dandruff via a common etiology, yeasts of the genus Malassezia. Read More

Malays Orthop J 2019 Mar;13(1):25-29

Department of Surgery, International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia.

Large wounds in the leg require combination of local flaps or free flap for wound coverage. Gastrocnemius musculocutaneous flap (GMCF) allows a large wound to be covered by a single local flap. However, the conventional GMCF is often associated with donor site morbidity where the exposed soleus raphe causes poor uptake of the skin graft. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 2;10:624. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.

Data from both animal models and humans have demonstrated that effector memory T cells (T) and central memory T cells (T) from unprimed donors have decreased ability to induce graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). Allospecific T from primed donors do not mediate GVHD. However, the potential of alloreactive T to induce GVHD is not clear. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 2;10:296. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Research Centre of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases, Behçet's Disease Clinic and Rheumatology-Ophthalmology Collaborative Uveitis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Anakinra (ANA) is an effective treatment choice in patients with adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). Variables affecting treatment survival include loss of efficacy or adverse events, but also the decision to discontinue treatment after long-term clinical remission. Aims of this study were: (i) to assess the drug retention rate (DRR) of ANA during a long-term follow-up looking for any difference related to the line of biologic treatment, the concomitant use of conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) and the different type of AOSD (systemic versus chronic articular); (ii) to identify predictive factors of lack of efficacy, loss of efficacy, and ANA withdrawal owing to long-term remission. Read More

Burns 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), Montreal, Canada. Electronic address:

Biofilm forms when bacteria surrounded by an extracellular matrix aggregate on a surface. It can develop on many surfaces, including wound dressings; this can be particularly nefarious for burn patients undergoing skin grafting (autograft) for burn wound coverage as they often suffer from compromised immune system function. Autograft donor sites are particularly vulnerable to biofilm formation; as such, timely healing of these sites is essential. Read More

JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Importance: Acute rejection is one of the most frequent complications in facial transplantation, with potentially severe consequences for the recipient if overlooked. Clinical signs, such as erythema or edema, are helpful to diagnose acute rejection in the early follow-up stage; however, it is not well known whether these clinical signs remain reliable markers of acute rejection beyond the second posttransplant year.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of clinical signs of acute rejection after facial transplantation over time. Read More

Plast Reconstr Surg 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Medical Education, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.

Objective: The deep intramuscular approach during buttock augmentation with fat grafting has been associated with a significantly increased risk for pulmonary fat embolism. This study was designed to provide guidance for the injection into the subcutaneous fat i.e. Read More

Plast Reconstr Surg 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Background: In immunologic research, mice have advantages over other animals, such as low costs, easy handling, suitable lifecycle, and adequate laboratory resources. However, mice vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) surgery is not popular, partly because of technical difficulties and high mortality rates. Our goal was to demonstrate a face transplantation model in mice that includes skin, mandible and oral mucosa. Read More

Ann Hematol 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital, Regensburg, Germany.

Refractory skin ulcers due to severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remain to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.We performed an allogeneic donor skin transplantation in seven adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for cGVHD-associated refractory skin ulcers. While four patients received a split skin graft (SSG), in one patient, a full thickness skin graft for two small refractory ulcers of the ankle was performed, and one patient received in vitro expanded donor keratinocyte grafts derived from hair roots of the original unrelated donor. Read More

Blood 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

We examined the impact of total body irradiation (TBI) dose and fractionation on risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMN) in the era of reduced intensity and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Among 4,905 one-year survivors of allogeneic HCT for hematologic malignancies (N=4,500) or non-malignant disorders (N=405) transplanted between 1969-2014 we identified 581 SMNs (excluding squamous and basal cell of skin) in 499 individuals. With a median length of follow-up of 12. Read More

J Burn Care Res 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery The Burn and Complex Wound Center The University of Chicago Medicine Chicago, IL.

Introduction: Under ideal circumstances, severely frostbitten extremities are rapidly rewarmed and treated with thrombolytic therapy within 6-24 hours. In an "inner city," urban environment, most patients who suffer frostbite injuries present in a delayed fashion, sustain repeated injuries further complicated by psychological issues or intoxication, and are rarely ideal candidates for thrombolytic therapy within the prescribed timeframe. We describe our experience with the treatment of urban frostbite injuries. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 May 7;17(5):3403-3410. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, P.R. China.

Marjolin's ulcer is a type of malignant tumor that occurs in scar tissue. The present study aimed to summarize and analyze the aetiology, clinical characteristics, treatment methods, metastasis and prognosis of this disease. A total of 140 cases of Marjolin's ulcer encountered at the Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital (Chongqing, China) between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 1;10:652. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Section of Immunology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, and Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.

A transplanted organ is usually rejected without any major immunosuppressive treatment because of vigorous alloimmune responsiveness. However, continuous global immunosuppression may cause severe side effects, including nephrotoxicity, tumors, and infections. Therefore, it is necessary to seek novel immunosuppressive agents, especially natural ingredients that may provide sufficient efficacy in immunosuppression with minimal side effects. Read More

J Immunol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892

With the increased use of cancer immunotherapy, a number of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are being identified. These irAEs can be compared with known autoimmune disorders in similar tissues, with important similarities and differences. Understanding the etiology of irAEs may bring to light concepts applicable to immune responses in cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease. Read More

Mol Genet Metab 2019 Apr 3. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Pediatric Metabolic Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital and Amsterdam Lysosome Center "Sphinx", Academic Medical Center, University Hospital of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare, X-linked, lifelong progressive lysosomal storage disorder. Severely deficient α-galactosidase A activity in males is associated with the classic phenotype with early-onset, multisystem manifestations evolving to vital organ complications during adulthood. We assessed the ability of 2 low-dose agalsidase beta regimens to lower skin, plasma, and urine globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) levels, and influence clinical manifestations in male pediatric Fabry patients. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Apr 13;238:111874. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Center for Animal Resource and Development, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Designed Animal and Transplantation Research Institute, Institute of GreenBio Science Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Dendropanax morbifera Leveille (DM) has been used in traditional medicines for infectious and skin diseases, and dysmenorrhea. It exhibits a diverse therapeutic potential including anti-cancer, anti-thrombotic, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities.

Aim Of The Study: Despite promising health benefits of DM, knowledge of its potential adverse effects is very limited. Read More

Wound Manag Prev 2019 Mar;65(3):38-44

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

For patients with an ostomy, a poor fitting appliance may cause leakage, peristomal dermatitis, and frequent appliance changes.

Purpose: The purpose of this case study was to report the outcome of fat grafting to augment peristomal soft tissue and improve appliance fit.

Case Study: A 57-year-old woman with a history of Crohn's disease presented with soft-tissue deficiency and uneven contour around her ileostomy site. Read More

Ann Plast Surg 2019 May;82(5):512-519

From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and.

Background: On June 27, 2015, a colored powder explosion occurred in Taiwan. As a result, 499 people were injured, and over 200 people were in critical condition because of severe burns. Forty-nine casualties were transported to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Read More

Front Pediatr 2019 28;7:107. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, United States.

Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) is caused by genetic defects in the phagocyte NADPH oxidase leading to potentially severe infections with catalase positive micro-organisms. With the innate immune system being affected this disease usually presents before the age of 5 years with infections involving the skin, lung, liver or lymphnodes. Infections with specific catalase positive organisms, especially and prompt a workup for CGD in affected patients. Read More

J Skin Cancer 2019 10;2019:7089482. Epub 2019 Mar 10.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Skin Cancer Center Hannover, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

Background: Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NSMC) is the most common malignancy after organ transplantation. Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are particularly prone to develop NMSC as compared to renal or hepatic transplant recipients due to higher dosages of immunosuppression needed. Everolimus, an immunosuppressant used in organ transplant recipients, is thought to inherit a lower risk for NMSC than calcineurin inhibitors, especially in renal transplant recipients. Read More

Ann Burns Fire Disasters 2018 Dec;31(4):266-270

National Burns Unit, Saint James' Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a rare, potentially fatal disorder that involves large areas of skin desquamation. Patients with toxic epidermal necrolysis are frequently referred to burn centres for expert wound management and early comprehensive critical care as this has been shown to improve patient outcome and mortality. The authors describe the first report of medication-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis occurring in a patient during acute burn management in a tertiary burn care facility. Read More

Indian J Dermatol 2019 Mar-Apr;64(2):85-89

Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Background: Organotypic tissue-cultured skin equivalents are used for a broad range of applications either as possible substitute for animal tests or for transplantation in patient-centered care.

Aims: In this study, we implemented melanocytes in a tissue-cultured full-thickness skin equivalent, consisting of epidermis and dermis. The versatility of this skin-like model with respect to pigmentation and morphological criteria was tested. Read More

Cell Transplant 2019 Apr 15:963689719833305. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

2 Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Burns, and Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Severe burns are often treated by means of autologous skin grafts, preferably following early excision of the burnt tissue. In the case of, for example, a large surface trauma, autologous skin cells can be expanded in vitro prior to transplantation to facilitate the treatment when insufficient uninjured skin is a limitation. In this study we have analyzed the impact of the enzyme (trypsin or accutase) used for cell dissociation and the incubation time on cell viability and expansion potential, as well as expression of cell surface markers indicative of stemness. Read More

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019 Apr;33(4):475-478

Department of Hand Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong Jiangsu, 226001,

Objective: To summarize the effectiveness of modified arterialized venous flaps in repairing soft tissue defect of fingers.

Methods: Between January 2017 and April 2018, 16 patients with soft defects of fingers were treated. There were 12 males and 4 females, with an average age of 41 years (range, 24-74 years). Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2019 Mar 23. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Division of Hematology, Respiratory Medicine and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Saga University, Saga, Japan; Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Saga University, Saga, Japan.

Mogamulizumab, a defucosylated humanized monoclonal antibody against the C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), has been approved for the treatment of relapsed adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Compared with conventional chemotherapy, mogamulizumab monotherapy displayed more efficacy in relapsed ATL, making mogamulizumab a promising therapeutic agent. However, mogamulizumab could increase graft-versus-host disease, resulting in poor survival outcome in the allogenic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) setting. Read More

Clin Dermatol 2019 Mar - Apr;37(2):160-166. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Departments of Pathology and Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

The pathogenesis of psoriasis may involve a breakdown of immune tolerance to cutaneous microorganisms. Psoriasis is associated with a higher incidence of Crohn disease and periodontitis, two diseases involving impaired tolerance and abnormal immune activation in response to intestinal and oral microbiota, respectively. In addition, guttate and chronic plaque psoriasis are associated with Streptococcus pyogenes colonization. Read More

Breast J 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Breast Cancer Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.

Transplant Proc 2019 Apr 8;51(3):880-889. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Transplantation, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.

Application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) enables a novel approach to the therapy of graft- vs-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Herein we present our preliminary experience with the use of allogeneic bone marrow‒derived MSC in 9 pediatric patients after hematopoietic transplantation complicated by severe acute or chronic GVHD (aGVHD, cGVHD) resistant to steroids and second-line immunosuppressants. The MSC therapy was applied concurrently with immunosuppressive treatment in 5 patients as a single infusion, in four patients as 2-6 infusions. Read More

Chin J Traumatol 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India.

Purpose: Defects around the distal one third of the leg and ankle are difficult to manage by conservative measures or simple split thickness skin graft. Distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap is a well described flap for such defects.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis conducted on 25 patients with soft tissue and bony defects of distal third of lower leg and ankle, which were treated using distally based peroneus brevis muscle flap from January 2013 to January 2018. Read More

J Wound Care 2019 Apr;28(Sup4):S12-S17

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: To use both acellular human dermis and skin grafting simultaneously for improved skin grafting without contracture. The study also aims to address the lack of research on the application of an acellular human dermis in diverse clinical cases.

Method: The study examined patients who had received acellular human dermis (CGDerm, CGBio, Seoul, Korea) and split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) simultaneously for lower limb, full-thickness skin defects between September 2012 and June 2014. Read More

J Dermatolog Treat 2019 Apr 11:1-17. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

a Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Sezione Fotoradioterapia , UO Dermatologia , Milan , Italy.

Background: Radiotherapy is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the ageing population, in non-surgical candidates, or when the tumour is extensive or localised in a cosmetically-sensitive area such as the lips.

Objective: We report our 44-year experience in treating basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vermilion lip using superficial radiotherapy.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with biopsy-proven BCC or SCC of the lip were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 26;10:577. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Autoimmunity, Transplantation, and Inflammation Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.

The nuclear hormone receptor retinoic acid receptor-related-orphan-receptor-gamma t (RORγt) is the key transcription factor required for Th17 cell differentiation and for production of IL-17 family cytokines by innate and adaptive immune cells. Dysregulated Th17 immune responses have been associated with the pathogenesis of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. In this article, we describe the pharmacology of a potent and selective low molecular weight RORγt inhibitor identified after a structure-based hit-to-lead optimization effort. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2019 Mar-Apr;53(2):251-256

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, SaglikBilimleri University, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.

Background: Treatment of tibial diaphyseal nonunions are rather difficult. Plate-screw, intramedullary nailing and external fixation are the methods used for treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment results of aseptic diaphyseal nonunions following tibia fractures by intramedullary compressive tibia nailing (IMCN) with or without bone graft. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of linear chromosomes, and they are maintained by a ribonucleoprotein complex called telomerase. Variants in genes encoding for telomerase components have been associated with a spectrum of disease in the lung, skin, bone marrow, and liver. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomerase RNA component genes have been observed at a higher prevalence in patients with liver disease compared with the general population; however, the presence of variants in other components of the telomerase complex and their impact on clinical outcomes has not been explored. Read More

Exp Hematol Oncol 2019 28;8. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

1Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM 1209, UMR CNRS 5309, Grenoble, France.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have radically changed the landscape of anti-tumor therapies in several malignancies. However the adverse events associated with immune checkpoint blockade in combination with other treatments remains to be thoroughly documented. Here we report the case of a 33-year-old male with classical Hodgkin lymphoma who was successfully treated for lymphoma but experienced serious and eventually fatal multisystem organ failure following nivolumab administration and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Read More

Nat Protoc 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Laboratory for Organ Regeneration, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.

Organ systems play essential roles in the physiological functions required for homeostasis. A 3D integumentary organ system (3D-IOS) comprises the skin and skin appendages such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands. This protocol describes how to induce the differentiation of murine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into a 3D-IOS. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2019 Jun 16;24:37-40. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.

species are fungal opportunistic pathogens frequently seen in chronic lung diseases such as in cystic fibrosis (CF). They can cause a wide spectrum of diseases mainly in immunodeficient patients. Invasive, disseminated infections with poor prognosis have been described after lung transplantation. Read More

Allergy 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Uniersität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Comprehensive Allergy-Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, member of GA2LEN, Berlin, Germany.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a proven therapeutic option for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Many guidelines or national practice guidelines have been produced but the evidence-based method varies, many are complex and none propose care pathways. This paper reviews care pathways for AIT using strict criteria and provides simple recommendations that can be used by all stakeholders including health professionals. Read More

Acta Biomater 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval and Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Canada. Electronic address:

Organs are needed for the long-term replacement of diseased or wounded tissues. Various technologies based on cells seeded in synthetic or biomaterial scaffolds, or scaffold-free methods have been developed in order to produce substitutes that mimic native organs and tissues. For cell-based approaches, the use of living allogeneic fibroblasts could potentially lead to the production of "off-the-shelf" bioengineered organs/tissues. Read More

Nat Rev Rheumatol 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Rheumatology, Center of Experimental Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune fibrotic disease of unknown aetiology that is characterized by vascular changes in the skin and visceral organs. Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can improve skin and organ fibrosis in patients with progressive disease and a high risk of organ failure, indicating that cells originating in the bone marrow are important contributors to the pathogenesis of SSc. Animal studies also indicate a pivotal function of myeloid cells in the development of fibrosis leading to changes in the tissue architecture and dysfunction in multiple organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidney. Read More

Cell Mol Immunol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Monocytes and macrophages have long been associated with acute and chronic allograft rejection; this is mediated by their abilities to promote inflammation, kill target cells via antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and modulate adaptive immunity. Our present study showed that allogeneic antigen-primed macrophages acutely rejected skin grafts with specificity after adoptive transfer into MHC-matched immunodeficient mice. The ability of primed macrophages to reject allografts essentially requires the help of CD4 T cells and does not require the help of CD8 T cells. Read More

Haematologica 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

This is a phase 2 dose escalation trial of carfilzomib in combination with thalidomide and dexamethasone for induction and consolidation in transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The results of 4 dose levels are reported. Induction therapy consisted of 4 cycles of carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m2 (n=50), 20/36 mg/m2 (n=20), 20/45 mg/m2 (n=21) and 20/56 mg/m2 (n=20) on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 of a 28-day cycle; thalidomide 200 mg on day 1 through 28 and dexamethasone 40 mg weekly. Read More