Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory dermatitis in developed countries, and has a major impact on those affected. Little is known about AD in elderly patients. This ...prospective multicentre observational study described the clinical characteristics and burden of AD in elderly subjects ≥ 65 years, as well as the therapeutic options chosen for this population in routine care, and compared findings with those in young adults with AD < 30 years. Cohort data from adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD enrolled in a French national prospective registry (December 2020 to May 2023) were analysed. Patients ≥ 65 years made up 12.5% of the total adult cohort and presented less head-and-neck and extremity involvement, and were less affected by generalized forms than young adult patients. Elderly patients predominantly had late-onset AD and had similar disease severity to younger adults. Although the overall impact of AD appeared to be lower in elderly patients and treatment was initially less used in this age group, the substantial impact on sleep and psychiatric comorbidities was similar in older and younger adult patients. Better understanding of AD in elderly patients and the establishment of age-specific treatment guidelines may help dermatologists manage the disease in older people.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aims at reporting 11 cases of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurring in patients on immunotherapy. The increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncodermatology is associated with ...the appearance of immunologic adverse effects linked to nonspecific stimulation of the immune system. CTS has not been reported in this context. A retrospective multicenter review was performed on CTSs occurring on immunotherapy and confirmed with electroneuromyography. Data were collated from patients' files. Most of the time, CTS was severe, bilateral, with a motor deficit and confirmed axonal damage on electroneuromyography. In 4 cases, it was associated with rheumatological adverse effects (arthralgia/inflammatory synovitis). The most effective treatment appeared to be general corticosteroid therapy, even at low doses (<15 mg/d), or surgery. An imputability of the CTS of these patients to immunotherapy was considered due to the unusual intensity of the symptoms and the absence of other predisposing factors (diabetes and dysthyroidism well-controlled). Its combination with other immunologic adverse effects and the efficacy of general corticosteroid therapy suggests an immunologic origin. CTS is probably an immunologic adverse effect of immunotherapy. It is often severe or misleading in presentation and affects quality of life. The recognition of this adverse effect should make it possible to provide patients with appropriate care.
Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a low-grade cutaneous lymphoma accounting for more than half of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs). Due to the rarity of CTCL, randomized studies are lacking, and ...treatment is based mainly on the recent published European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer guidelines. Basically, early-stage MF is treated with skin-directed treatments, whereas advanced-stage MF requires more aggressive therapies. Among the skin-directed therapies, nitrogen mustard has been used for more than 50 years. A gel formulation was developed recently, showing a slight decrease in efficacy, counterbalanced by better tolerance (essentially due to a decrease in delayed hypersensitivity reactions). This review aims to summarize the current management of MF and the role of chlormethine gel in the treatment of the disease.
The purpose of this qualitative exploratory single case study was to explore general education middle school teachers' perceptions and lived experiences using metacognitive instruction to improve the ...behaviors of special needs students in a school setting in the Northeastern United States. This research addressed the problem of whether general education middle school teachers need to explore metacognitive instruction as a behavioral intervention for special needs students with behavior problems. The conceptual framework used for this study was based on Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive theory. Three open-ended, semi-structured interviews with eleven middle school teachers were conducted to capture their voices and gather insight into their perceptions of special needs students with behavioral problems. Braun and Clarke's (2021) six-step were used to identify codes, and themes that align with the research questions. The key findings highlighted teachers’ comprehension and the significance of metacognitive strategies when working with students with special needs. In addition, general education teachers benefit from professional development to enhance their knowledge and use of metacognition in the classroom despite their overall understanding of its benefits. The findings of this study add to existing research on metacognitive instruction's effectiveness in promoting positive behavior outcomes for special needs students. Metacognitive instruction was reportedly hindered by time constraints, large classes, and a lack of training among teachers. Based on the results, it is recommended that teachers of students with special needs and behavior problems implement metacognitive instruction, and that school administrators promote teachers' self-efficacy in their ability to support students with special needs. Practice recommendations for research could develop and evaluate teacher training on metacognitive strategies for special needs populations to improve teachers' perspective of behavioral intervention selection and implementation.
Mean telomere length in human leukocyte DNA samples reflects the different lengths of telomeres at the ends of the 23 chromosomes and in an admixture of cells. However, only rudimentary information ...is available regarding the distribution of telomere lengths in all chromosomes and the different cell types in leukocyte samples. Understanding the configuration of leukocyte telomere length distribution (LTLD) could be helpful in capturing intrinsic elements that are not provided by the mean leukocyte telomere length (mLTL). The objective of this study was to analyse LTLD and its temporal variation in adults. Leukocyte samples were donated on two occasions (8 years apart) by 72 participants in the ADELAHYDE study. Telomere length was measured by Southern blotting of the terminal restriction fragments. Individuals with comparable mLTLs displayed different shapes of LTLDs. Inter-individual variation in LTLD shape was much larger than intra-individual variation in LTLD shape between baseline and follow-up leukocyte samples. These results show an important individual stability of LTLD shape over time indicating that each individual has a characteristic LTLD signature.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study investigated the prevalence of TIL subpopulations, TLS, PD-1 and PD-L1 in tumors from TNBC patients harboring wild-type or mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline genes.
This TNBC cohort included ...85% TIL-positive (≥10%) tumors with 21% classified as TILhi (≥50%). Interestingly, the BRCAmut group had a significantly higher incidence of TILpos tumors compared to the BRCAwt group (P = 0.037). T cells were dominant in the infiltrate but no statistically significant differences were detected between BRCAwt and BRCAmut for CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells or CD20+ B cells. TLS were detected in 74% of tumors but again no significant differences between the BRCA groups. PD-1 expression was observed in 33% and PD-L1 in 53% (any cell, cut-off ≥1%) tumors for the entire TNBC cohort. PD-1 expression correlated with PD-L1 and both with TIL and TLS but was not associated with BRCA mutational status.
Our analyses reveal that BRCAwt and BRCAmut TNBC are similar except for a significant increase of TILpos tumors in the BRCAmut group. While BRCA gene mutations may not directly drive immune infiltration, the greater number of TILpos tumors could signal greater immunogenicity in this group.
•TIL, TLS, PD-1 and PD-L1 scores are comparable in BRCA wild-type and mutated TNBC.•A higher frequency of TIL-intermediate tumors are observed in BRCA-mutated TNBC.•BRCA gene mutations do not appear to directly drive immune infiltration.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In the dataset presented in this article, sixty sugarcane samples were analyzed by eight visible / near infrared spectrometers including seven micro-spectrometers. There is one file per spectrometer ...with sample name, wavelength, absorbance data calculated as log10 (1/Reflectance), and another file for reference data, in order to assess the potential of the micro-spectrometers to predict chemical properties of sugarcane samples and to compare their performance with a LabSpec spectrometer. The Partial Least Square Regression (PLS-R) algorithm was used to build calibration models. This open access dataset could also be used to test new chemometric methods, for training, etc.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In these times of COVID-19 pandemic, concern has been raised about the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on immunocompromised patients, particularly on those receiving B-cell depleting agents ...and having therefore a severely depressed humoral response. Convalescent plasma can be a therapeutic option for these patients. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of convalescent plasma is crucial to optimize such therapeutic approach. Here, we describe a COVID-19 patient who was deeply immunosuppressed following rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) and concomitant chemotherapy for chronic lymphoid leukemia. His long-term severe T and B cell lymphopenia allowed to evaluate the treatment effects of convalescent plasma. Therapeutic outcome was monitored at the clinical, biological and radiological level. Moreover, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers (IgM, IgG and IgA) and neutralizing activity were assessed over time before and after plasma transfusions, alongside to SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantification and virus isolation from the upper respiratory tract. Already after the first cycle of plasma transfusion, the patient experienced rapid improvement of pneumonia, inflammation and blood cell counts, which may be related to the immunomodulatory properties of plasma. Subsequently, the cumulative increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies due to the three additional plasma transfusions was associated with progressive and finally complete viral clearance, resulting in full clinical recovery. In this case-report, administration of convalescent plasma revealed a stepwise effect with an initial and rapid anti-inflammatory activity followed by the progressive SARS-CoV-2 clearance. These data have potential implications for a more extended use of convalescent plasma and future monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of immunosuppressed COVID-19 patients.
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