Biomedical subjects

A Davis-Daneshfar

Publications and source records attributed to A Davis-Daneshfar.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Bowen's disease of the glans penis (erythroplasia of Queyrat) in plasma cell balanitis.

We report a case of a persistent penile plaque on the glans penis of allegedly more than 20 years' duration, which was refractory to circumcision and local treatment. Over the years, the patient repeatedly presented with a circumscribed inflammatory lesion of the glans penis, diagnosed as Zoon's balanitis on the basis of clinical aspects and two biopsies. Because of unresponsiveness of the lesion to circumcision and focal steroid infiltration, repeated biopsies were performed in an attempt to rule out malignancy. Two further biopsies were carried out. One again showed the features of a plasmacellular inflammation, while the other finally revealed the histopathologic features of erythroplasia of Queyrat (carcinoma in situ or Bowen's disease of the glans penis). We assume that either the former biopsy specimens were taken from a plasma cell-rich reactive infiltrate around the neoplastic lesion, or that carcinoma in situ may have arisen due to the chronic inflammation of Zoon's balanitis plasmacellularis. Radiotherapy was performed with good clinical response and subsequent histopathologic proof of complete remission of the lesion.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Adjuvant immunotherapy in malignant melanoma: impact of antibody formation against interferon-alpha on immunoparameters in vivo.

In an adjuvant clinical trial for high-risk patients with malignant melanoma by using recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and recombinant interferon-alpha 2b (rIFN-alpha 2b), we monitored the development of antibodies against rIFN-alpha and various immunoparameters as biologic markers for IFN activity in vivo. Thirty-one patients (22 men, nine women) with high-risk malignant melanoma received eight 6-week cycles of rIL-2 and rIFN-alpha. Serum samples of all patients were screened for the presence of antibodies against IFN-alpha by a solid enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Specimens testing positive in the EIA were assessed for their ability to neutralize the antiviral effects of IFN-alpha in vitro in an antibody-neutralizing bioassay (ANB). Furthermore, serum levels of neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), anticardiolipin and antithyroglobulin were evaluated. Of 31 patients, 11 (36%) developed binding antibodies; three (27%) of them had antibodies with neutralizing capacities (range, 350-28,000 INU/ml). Of male patients, 8 (36%) of 22 versus 1 (11%) of nine female patients developed antibodies. Statistical analysis (unpaired t test) revealed that all patients with antibody titers showed significant (p < 0.04) lower serum levels of beta 2-microglobulin and reproducible decreases in sIL-2R levels, whereby those with neutralizing antibodies showed significantly (p < 0.0001) lower values than did those with binding antibodies. Elevations of anticardiolipin (17 of 31) and antithyroglobulin (one of 31) were not correlated to the presence of IFN antibodies. Our results show the in vivo significance of antibodies against rIFN-alpha, especially of those with neutralizing capacities. Monitoring of antibody formation as well as immunoparameters like beta 2-microglobulin in clinical trials can contribute to identifying patients who, if necessary, might benefit from alternative IFN treatment, for instance, by using natural IFNs.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1996

No detection of HTLV-I proviral DNA in lesional skin biopsies from Swiss and German patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

The search for an infective agent linked to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) has also included the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Using sensitive techniques such as Southern blotting under low stringency conditions of hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primer sets designed to match pol, env and pX sequences of HTLV-I, we have screened lesional skin biopsies of 50 Swiss and German patients suffering from CTCL. No evidence of proviral integration of HTLV-I could be demonstrated in any of our patients. Our results, as well as a review of the literature, indicate that at least for European patients, HTLV-I does not seem to play a role in the aetiology of CTCL.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1995

[Strategies for gene therapy of melanoma].

Active unspecific immunotherapy in an adjuvant or palliative setting has been shown to enhance survival in melanoma patients, and gene therapy now offers new perspectives for active specific immunotherapy. Gene therapy includes the transfer of genetic material performed by either viral or non-viral methods and in vivo or ex vivo. For melanoma the following approaches are suggested: vaccination with tumour-specific, HLA-associated antigens using peptides or 'naked DNA', vaccination with melanoma cells transfected with cytokine genes or B7, adoptive immunotherapy with specific T-lymphocytes or transfected tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, or transfection of tumour cells with a tumour suppressor gene whose dysfunction plays a crucial role in melanoma.

Cytokines↗

PubMed1995

[Tonsural trichotillomania].

Tonsure trichotillomania is a subtype of trichotillomania in which the scalp exhibits a tonsural pattern of alopecia over the crown, extending to the frontal margin and sparing the lateral margins and the nape of the neck. It differs from the more common form of childhood trichotillomania in that predominantly female adolescents are affected and its incidence is related to quite severely pathologic psychodynamics, often with a disturbed relationship to female sexuality. The treating physician should be more guarded in assessing the prognosis; hair plucking often continues for years. Two patients with tonsure alopecia, associated in one case with trichotillomania of the pubic hair and in the other with enuresis, are presented.

Adolescent↗