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Clinical Immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Dec 2023Innate immune response is critical for the control of Listeria monocytogenes infection. Here, we identified developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) in...
Innate immune response is critical for the control of Listeria monocytogenes infection. Here, we identified developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) in macrophages as a major regulator of the innate immune response against L. monocytogenes infection. Both whole-body DRG2 knockout (KO) mice and macrophage-specific DRG2 KO mice had low levels of IL-6 during early infection and increased susceptibility to L. monocytogenes infection. Following an initial impaired inflammatory response of macrophages upon i.p. L. monocytogenes infection, DRG2 mice showed delayed recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes into the peritoneal cavity, which led to elevated bacterial burden, inflammatory cytokine production at a late infection time point, and liver micro-abscesses. DRG2 deficiency decreased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and impaired the inflammatory response of both bone marrow-derived and peritoneal macrophages upon L. monocytogenes stimulation. Our findings reveal that DRG2 in macrophages is critical for the initial inflammatory response and protection against L. monocytogenes infection.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Immunity, Innate; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Macrophages; Mice, Knockout; Monocytes; GTP-Binding Proteins
PubMed: 37918467
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109819 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Nov 2023Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic condition characterized by unusually high eosinophil infiltration in the lungs' interstitium and alveolar spaces....
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) is an idiopathic condition characterized by unusually high eosinophil infiltration in the lungs' interstitium and alveolar spaces. It is extremely rare, accounting for fewer than 3% of all interstitial lung diseases. CEP is frequently misdiagnosed as lung cancer, which can have catastrophic consequences for sufferers. When assessing patients with lung disease, doctors should be aware of CEP's symptoms and take its prognosis into account because it is a curable disorder.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 40-year-old female presented in the outpatient department of gynecology with a history of abnormal vaginal bleeding for 3 months and mild shortness of breath without any other significant medical history or being under any medications. Physical examination findings were not significant.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Ultrasound revealed adenomyosis and a hysterectomy was planned. Chest radiograph revealed lung mass and computed tomography scan showed a well-defined mass with a pleural-based nodule. Histopathology revealed interstitial fibrosis and eosinophilic microabscesses. CEP was diagnosed and oral prednisolone was started with a 0.5 mg/kg/day dose. Chest radiographic abnormalities resolved after one month of treatment. Currently, she is asymptomatic.
CONCLUSION
Early recognition and diagnosis of lung masses are essential for prompt treatment with corticosteroids. CEP can mimic lung malignancy and should be considered in patients with related symptoms.
PubMed: 37915693
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001296 -
Annals of Dermatology May 2023A 38-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) initiated belimumab treatment. One month later, she presented with a reddish painful swelling on her right...
A 38-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) initiated belimumab treatment. One month later, she presented with a reddish painful swelling on her right lower leg. She was treated with ceftriaxone and vancomycin. However, novel erythematous papules and indurated nodules appeared on both her lower legs. Skin biopsy revealed microabscess formation with mixed cell granuloma surrounded by inflammatory cell infiltration within the dermis with subcutaneous fat tissue. A large number of acid-fast bacilli were observed with Ziehl-Neelsen staining. DNA sequencing of both the hsp65 and the 16S rRNA sequences showed a 100% match with the corresponding region of . Mycobacterial culture revealed satellite growth enhancement on Middlebrook 7H11 agar plates around a paper strip containing hemin. She was treated with levofloxacin, rifabutin, and ethambutol. Within 13 months, her cutaneous lesions improved markedly without any side effects. The B cell-targeted biologic belimumab, a fully humanized IgG1γ monoclonal antibody that inactivates B lymphocyte stimulator, has been considered to be beneficial for active SLE. However, this therapy could increase the risk for the development of biologic therapy-associated mycobacterial infections, both tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria infections.
PubMed: 37853868
DOI: 10.5021/ad.21.077 -
Access Microbiology 2023has been known to cause a variety of clinical manifestations ranging from mild enteric illness to bacteraemia with septic shock and extraintestinal abscesses. Patients...
INTRODUCTION
has been known to cause a variety of clinical manifestations ranging from mild enteric illness to bacteraemia with septic shock and extraintestinal abscesses. Patients with liver disease and iron overload are at risk of more severe disease manifestations.
CASE REPORT
A middle-aged male with chronic alcohol use disorder presented with confusion and jaundice, with ascites and asterixis noted on examination. His blood work was remarkable for neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated liver enzymes and lactate. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed splenic microabscesses and a cirrhotic liver. was recovered from his blood cultures and he was treated with ceftriaxone following susceptibility results.
CONCLUSION
should be considered in the differential diagnosis of splenic or other extraintestinal microabscesses particularly in patients with chronic liver disease.
PubMed: 37841094
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000525.v3 -
American Journal of Clinical Pathology Feb 2024Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare aggressive T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 infection. The patients might...
OBJECTIVES
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare aggressive T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 infection. The patients might present with skin rash before, at, or after the diagnosis. The dermatopathologic finding might be diagnostically very challenging.
METHODS
We retrospectively identified 110 patients with ATLL at a single institution in a 19-year period, with 19 patients having skin biopsies. Clinical, dermatopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings were studied.
RESULTS
The cohort included 13 skin-first (5 acute, 5 lymphomatous, 2 chronic, 1 smoldering), 6 skin-second (4 acute, 1 lymphomatous, 1 smoldering), and 91 patients without skin biopsy. Some nonphotoprotected areas of body such as the forearm and lower lip were also seen. Skin manifestations included papular (5), erythroderma (1), nodulotumoral (3), plaques (1), patches (1), and a combination of skin rashes (2). Histopathologic findings included large pleomorphic cells, angiocentrism, epidermal infiltration with large Pautrier-like microabscesses, and folliculotropism. Fifteen (78.9%) cases showed CD4+/CD7-/CD25+. Next-generation sequencing study was conducted on 5 patients using either blood or bone marrow samples, revealing multiple genetic mutations across multiple signaling pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
Pleomorphic large, atypical cells with CD4+/CD25+/CD7- immunophenotype from a non-"bathing trunk" location, especially in a patient from endemic regions, raise suspicion for ATLL. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement is almost always positive, and the neoplasm usually demonstrates multiple mutations by next-generation sequencing study.
Topics: Adult; Humans; United States; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell; Retrospective Studies; Tertiary Care Centers; Skin Neoplasms; Lymphoma
PubMed: 37830309
DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad120 -
Current Microbiology Oct 2023Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) continues to be difficult to diagnose. Novel biomarkers in biological specimens offer promise. Detection of Mycobacterium...
Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) continues to be difficult to diagnose. Novel biomarkers in biological specimens offer promise. Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA in urine could prove useful in diagnosis of EPTB, possibly due to disseminated disease or micro-abscesses reported in kidneys. The current study was designed to detect Mtb DNA in stored urine samples from patients with EPTB. Diagnosis of EPTB was reached using Microbiological Reference Standards (MRS) on samples from the disease site using WHO Recommended Diagnostics (WRD), [smear microscopy, liquid culture (MGIT-960)] and GX (molecular WRD, mWRD) and Comprehensive reference standards [CRS, clinical presentation, microbiological reference standards, radiology, histopathology]. GX-Ultra was performed on urine samples stored in -80C deep freezer, retrospectively. Of 70 patients, 51 (72.9%) were classified as confirmed TB, 11 (15.7%) unconfirmed TB, and 8 (11.4%) unlikely TB. GX-Ultra in urine samples demonstrated sensitivity of 52.9% and specificity of 57.9% against MRS, and higher sensitivity of 56.5% and specificity of 100% against CRS. The sensitivity and specificity of GX-Ultra in urine was 53.6% and 75% for pus sample subset and 52.2% and 53.3% for fluid sample subset. Urine being non-invasive and easy to collect, detection of Mtb DNA using mWRD in urine samples is promising for diagnosis of EPTB.
Topics: Humans; Tuberculosis, Extrapulmonary; Retrospective Studies; Kidney; Microscopy; DNA
PubMed: 37796343
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03503-w -
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2023
Topics: Humans; Aspergillus; Encephalitis; Abscess; Immunocompetence
PubMed: 37792845
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0391-2023 -
Experimental Dermatology Jan 2024Pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans is a rare inflammatory condition, affecting the skin and/or mucous membrane. Some cases include both skin and mucous involvement,... (Review)
Review
Pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans is a rare inflammatory condition, affecting the skin and/or mucous membrane. Some cases include both skin and mucous involvement, whereas others develop either skin or mucous lesions only. The typically affected areas are the scalp, face, trunk and extremities, including the flexural areas and umbilicus. Clinical features show erosive granulomatous plaques, keratotic plaques with overlying crusts and pustular lesions. Among mucous lesions, oral mucosa is most frequently involved, and gingival erythema, shallow erosions, cobblestone-like papules on the buccal mucosa or upper hard palate of the oral cavity are also observed. Some of the lesions assume a 'snail track' appearance. Although there are several similarities between pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans and other diseases, that is pyoderma gangrenosum, pemphigus vegetans and pemphigoid vegetans, the histopathological features of pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans are unique in that epidermal hyperplasia, focal acantholysis and dense inflammatory infiltrates with intraepidermal and subepidermal eosinophilic microabscesses are observed. Direct immunofluorescence findings are principally negative. Activated neutrophils are supposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans. The expression of IL-36 and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was observed in the lesional skin, and additionally, eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) was detected in pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans. A possible pathogenic role of NETs and EETs in the innate immunity and autoinflammatory aspects of pyodermatitis pyostomatitis vegetans was discussed.
Topics: Humans; Pemphigus; Pyoderma; Stomatitis; Extracellular Traps; Neutrophils; Erythema; Organic Chemicals
PubMed: 37694984
DOI: 10.1111/exd.14931 -
The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical... 2023Actinomycosis of the tonsils is uncommon even though the causative organisms are normal commensal of the oropharyngeal tract that may colonise the tonsillar crypts with...
Actinomycosis of the tonsils is uncommon even though the causative organisms are normal commensal of the oropharyngeal tract that may colonise the tonsillar crypts with resultant infection in apparently healthy individuals. Diagnosis is often incidental in tonsillectomy specimens sent to the pathology laboratory for varied diseases. This is a 10-year study of tonsillectomy specimens diagnosed with actinomycosis. Specimens were formalin-fixed and paraffin processed and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, gromott methenamine silver and periodic acid-Schiff. Four cases of tonsillar actinomycosis were diagnosed from a total of 772 tonsillectomy specimens. Histologically, characteristic oeosinophilic granules with peripheral radial protuberances surrounded by microabscesses were seen. Tonsillar actinomycosis is often an incidental diagnosis; however, a high index of suspicion should be entertained in patients with recurrent tonsillitis and/or tonsillar hypertrophy of unknown cause.
Topics: Humans; Nigeria; Palatine Tonsil; Tonsillitis; Actinomycosis
PubMed: 37675704
DOI: 10.4103/npmj.npmj_325_22