1,721,018 research outputs found
Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Cytopenias in Inborn Errors of Immunity Revealing Novel Therapeutic Targets
Full text linkAutoimmune diseases are usually associated with environmental triggers and genetic predisposition. However, a few number of autoimmune diseases has a monogenic cause, mostly in children. These diseases may be the expression, isolated or associated with other symptoms, of an underlying inborn error of immunity (IEI). Autoimmune cytopenias (AICs), including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), autoimmune neutropenia (AN), and Evans' syndrome (ES) are common presentations of immunological diseases in the pediatric age, with at least 65% of cases of ES genetically determined. Autoimmune cytopenias in IEI have often a more severe, chronic, and relapsing course. Treatment refractoriness also characterizes autoimmune cytopenia with a monogenic cause, such as IEI. The mechanisms underlying autoimmune cytopenias in IEI include cellular or humoral autoimmunity, immune dysregulation in cases of hemophagocytosis or lymphoproliferation with or without splenic sequestration, bone marrow failure, myelodysplasia, or secondary myelosuppression. Genetic characterization of autoimmune cytopenias is of fundamental importance as an early diagnosis improves the outcome and allows the setting up of a targeted therapy, such as CTLA-4 IgG fusion protein (Abatacept), small molecule inhibitors (JAK-inhibitors), or gene therapy. Currently, gene therapy represents one of the most attractive targeted therapeutic approaches to treat selected inborn errors of immunity. Even in the absence of specific targeted therapies, however, whole exome genetic testing (WES) for children with chronic multilineage cytopenias should be considered as an early diagnostic tool for disease diagnosis and genetic counseling
Early Identification of Lung Fungal Infections in Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) Using Multidetector Computer Tomography
Full text linkPURPOSE:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of early detection of pulmonary fungal infections by lung CT scan in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).
METHODS:
A retrospective study on 14 patients affected with CGD for a total of 18 infectious episodes was performed. Revision of clinical data and CT scan analysis before and after treatment was performed.
RESULTS:
The presence of lung nodules <30 mm was evaluated in 18 infectious episodes in 14 patients. A total of 125 nodules in 18 CT scans were identified. Identification of the infectious agent through biopsy and in vitro culture resulted positive only in 3/18 cases. The remaining cases received clinical/radiologic diagnosis of suspected pulmonary fungal infection. In all cases, the introduction of empirical antifungal treatment resulted in reduction in size or complete resolution of the pulmonary lung nodules in all patients affected with CGD.
CONCLUSIONS:
Lung CT scan allows for early detection of pulmonary fungal infection in CGD. Pulmonary nodules (<30 mm), single or multiple, uni- or bilateral, with or without a halo sign may represent the first radiologic sign of pulmonary fungal infection in CGD
Correlation of bone marrow abnormalities, peripheral lymphocyte subsets and clinical features in uncomplicated common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients
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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Novel compound heterozygous mutations in a child with Ataxia-Telangiectasia showing unrelated cerebellar disorders
No full textWe report the case of a 6-year-old female patient with Ataxia Telangiectasia, an extremely rare condition, who developed in addition a left cerebellar astrocytoma and a right cerebellar infarction, considered as two independent events. Children with AT have an increased risk of developing cancer, but only few cases of glioma are reported and, at our knowledge, no other case of unrelated cerebellar glioma and cerebellar infarction in with the same AT patient have been described. The molecular analysis of ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated) gene showed that the patient is compound heterozygote for two previously unreported mutations: c.3291delC (p.Phe1097fs) at exon 25 and c.8198A>C (p.Gln2733Pro) at exon 58. The role of the identified ATM gene mutations in the pathogenesis of Ataxia Telangiectasia and the coexisting cerebellar disorders is discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Gastrointestinal Pathologic Abnormalities in Pediatric- and Adult-Onset Common Variable Immunodeficiency
No full textNeurovisual Assessment in Children with Ataxia Telangiectasia
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Aim Visual impairment is present in almost all patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and, due to their early onset, constitute an important disabling aspect of the syndrome: the quality of vision is limited by dyspraxia and oculomotor abnormal movements. The purpose of this observational study was to describe visual disorders, notably oculomotor impairment, in a sample of children with AT.
Methods Fifteen AT patients (mean age 12 years and 4 months) underwent a neurovisual evaluation, particularly focused on oculomotor functions (fixation, smooth pursuit, saccades, and abnormal ocular movements). We compared the visual profile obtained with that described using the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) subscale of oculomotor dysfunction.
Results Refractive errors were seen in eight patients and strabismus in three. Major oculomotor findings were fixation abnormalities (6/15), saccadic impairment (15/15), and abnormal smooth pursuit (14/15). Abnormal ocular movements were seen in 13/15 (saccadic intrusion in 8 and nystagmus in 5). Using ICARS scale, 13/15 children presented gaze-evoked nystagmus, 4/15 a clearly saccadic pursuit, and 11/15 dysmetria of saccades.
Discussion We propose a clinical neurovisual evaluation, which could be integrated with ICARS scores in the study of oculomotor involvement in AT pediatric patients. We strongly recommend the empowerment of visual functions to slow down progressive global disability of these patients.</jats:p
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