Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033774 (pruritus)
 14,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An HIV positive male from Brazil, living in Italy since 1989, developed a single non-itching, papulo-erythematous infiltrative lesion on the face after 2 months from the beginning of HAART. A diagnosis of leprosy was made, suggesting that the immunodeficiency masked the disease, until the skin manifestation became evident with immune-recovery.
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PMID:Tuberculoid leprosy in a patient with AIDS: a manifestation of immune restoration syndrome. 1576 79

The cross-talk of ubiquitination with other types of posttranscriptional modifications, such as phosphorylation, regulates the stability of many proteins. We have previously demonstrated that c-Jun is a substrate of Itch, a HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. c-Jun is also a substrate of the tyrosine kinase c-Abl. Here we report that genetic ablation of c-Abl accelerated c-Jun degradation. Phosphorylation of the tyrosine within the PPXY motif by c-Abl inhibited c-Jun ubiquitination and its binding by Itch. The nuclear localization of c-Abl, triggered by T-cell activation signals, was essential for its activity in regulating c-Jun transcription activity. These findings define a potential molecular mechanism for the immunodeficiency in mice lacking the c-abl gene.
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PMID:The tyrosine kinase c-Abl protects c-Jun from ubiquitination-mediated degradation in T cells. 1690 4

A series of 18 allergic cats with multifocal Malassezia spp. overgrowth is reported: atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 16, an adverse food reaction in another and one was euthanized 2 months after diagnosis of Malassezia overgrowth. All the cats were otherwise healthy and those tested (16 out of 18) for feline leukaemia or feline immunodeficiency virus infections were all negative. At dermatological examination, multifocal alopecia, erythema, crusting and greasy adherent brownish scales were variably distributed on all cats. Cytological examination revealed Malassezia spp. overgrowth with/without bacterial infection in facial skin (n = 11), ventral neck (n = 6), abdomen (n = 6), ear canal (n = 4), chin (n = 2), ear pinnae (n = 2), interdigital (n = 1) and claw folds skin (n = 1). Moreover, in two cats Malassezia pachydermatis was isolated in fungal cultures from lesional skin. Azoles therapy alone was prescribed in seven, azoles and antibacterial therapy in eight and azoles with both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy in three of the cats. After 3-4 weeks of treatment, substantial reduction of pruritus and skin lesions was observed in all 11 cats treated with a combined therapy and in five of seven treated solely with azoles. Malassezia spp. overgrowth may represent a secondary cutaneous problem in allergic cats particularly in those presented for dermatological examination displaying greasy adherent brownish scales. The favourable response to treatment with antifungal treatments alone suggests that, as in dogs, Malassezia spp. may be partly responsible for both pruritus and cutaneous lesions in allergic cats.
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PMID:Malassezia spp. overgrowth in allergic cats. 1784 19

A 30-year-old man diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection 10 years earlier, presented with large tense blisters associated with minimal itching of 10 days' duration. He had no history of oral or genital erosions or ulcerations and showed no symptoms of HIV-related illnesses. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) had been started 6 weeks earlier when his CD4 count was 116/mL. He initially received nevirapine 200 mg once daily; after 2 weeks with no skin eruptions or other adverse reactions, the dose was increased to 200 mg twice daily. Other components of his HAART included lamivudine and stavudine. The patient was not taking any other prescription or alternative medicines. During the past year, he experienced 4 episodes of intensely itchy urticarial lesions that subsided with antihistamines. The present episode of bullous lesions was also preceded by urticarial lesions. On examination, he had multiple, large, tense bullae over relatively normal-looking skin involving all parts of the body (Figure 1). There were a few well-defined erosions. Nikolsky and bullae spread signs were negative, and no oral or genital erosions or ulcerations were noted. Results of a complete blood count, renal and liver function tests, and chest x-ray were within normal limits. Skin biopsy from one of the blisters showed a subepidermal bulla filled with eosinophils and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (Figure 2). The underlying dermis showed perivascular inflammatory infiltrate composed of polymorphonuclear and lymphomononuclear cells. The overall features were suggestive of bullous pemphigoid. A direct immunofluorescence test could not be done because of possible risk of cross-infection to the operator of the cryostat. Workup for herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus infection also could not be performed. HAART was discontinued temporarily with the suspicion that it was the causative factor. The patient was started on oral prednisolone 40 mg/d and topical clobetasol propionate (0.05%). Within 1 week of treatment, he had significant improvement with almost complete disappearance of the lesions. A few small, tense vesicles continued to appear between. Once the lesions completely disappeared, the prednisolone was gradually tapered off and all the components of HAART were resumed. The patient did well without any recurrence of lesions, thus virtually excluding HAART as the cause of the bullous pemphigoid-like eruptions. Subsequently, he did not return for follow-up.
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PMID:Bullous eruption in a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. 1832 12

A 52-year-old black woman presented with a 5-year history of gradual swelling and slowed hair growth involving the vertex and both parietal regions of the scalp. Gradually, the swelling progressed to involve the entire scalp, only sparing a peripheral crown. She reported no history of trauma or medications. Slight pruritus of the involved area was the only accompanying symptom. There was no family history of a similar condition. Her past medical history included surgery for ovarian cysts, 10 years previously, and cholelithiasis. Physical examination revealed diffuse hair thinning and alopecia, more prominent along the vertex and parietal regions (Fig. 1a). There was no evidence of scalp inflammation, scaling, or increased hair fragility. The scalp was mildly tender on palpation and had a boggy, spongy consistency. The hairs which still remained in the involved areas were thin, short, and soft (Fig. 1b). The involved area was slightly hypopigmented when compared with adjacent noninvolved scalp. The rest of the physical examination was within normal limits. No abnormalities of the hair shaft were observed on microscopic examination of several plucked hairs. Laboratory investigations, including a complete blood cell count, blood chemistry, urinalysis, sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibodies, and serologic tests for syphilis, hepatitis B and C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, were negative. A computed tomography scan of the skull demonstrated diffuse and regular thickening of subcutaneous fatty tissue of the scalp, disclosing a maximum scalp thickness of 15 mm at the vertex (Fig. 2). The biopsy from the vertex revealed a normal epidermis and dermis, with diffuse loss of hair follicles. The most striking feature consisted of a large increase in thickness of the subcutaneous fatty tissue (Fig. 3a). Pre-existing hair follicles were replaced by vertical fibrous tracts of lamellar fibroplasia with no inflammatory infiltrate (Fig. 3b). Adipocytes showed a normal size and shape, but the connective tissue septa, which are normally present separating the subcutaneous tissue into fat lobules, were lacking, and subcutaneous fatty tissue consisted of a continuous and diffuse sheet of mature adipocytes (Fig. 3c). Orcein stain revealed normal contents of elastic fibers with foci of condensation at the sites of disappeared pre-existing hair follicles (Fig. 3d). Colloidal iron and Alcian blue (pH 2.5) stains revealed no mucin deposits.
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PMID:Lipedematous alopecia: an uncommon clinicopathologic variant of nonscarring but permanent alopecia. 1847 57

The recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of 2 medications--methylnaltrexone and alvimopan--introduces a new class of therapeutic entities to clinicians. These peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists selectively reverse opioid actions mediated by receptors outside the central nervous system, while preserving centrally mediated analgesia. Methylnaltrexone, administered subcutaneously, has been approved in the United States, Europe, and Canada. In the United States, it is indicated for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness (eg, cancer, AIDS) who are receiving palliative care, when response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient. Alvimopan, an orally administered medication, has been approved in the United States to facilitate recovery of gastrointestinal function after bowel resection and primary anastomosis. Clinical and laboratory studies performed during the development of these drugs have indicated that peripheral receptors mediate other opioid effects, including decreased gastric emptying, nausea and vomiting, pruritus, and urinary retention. Laboratory investigations with these compounds suggest that opioids affect fundamental cellular processes through mechanisms that were previously unknown. These mechanisms include modifications of human immunodeficiency virus penetration, tumor angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and bacterial virulence.
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PMID:Development of peripheral opioid antagonists' new insights into opioid effects. 1882 66

Interaction of ICOS with its ligand is essential for germinal center formation, T cell immune responses, and development of autoimmune diseases. Human ICOS deficiency has been identified worldwide in nine patients with identical ICOS mutations. In vitro studies of the patients to date have shown only mild T cell defect. In this study, we report an in-depth analysis of T cell function in two siblings with novel ICOS deficiency. The brother displayed mild skin infections and impaired Ig class switching, whereas the sister had more severe symptoms, including immunodeficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial pneumonitis, and psoriasis. Despite normal CD3/CD28-induced proliferation and IL-2 production in vitro, peripheral blood T cells in both patients showed a decreased percentage of CD4 central and effector memory T cells and impaired production of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines upon CD3/CD28 costimulation or PMA/ionophore stimulation. The defective polarization into effector cells was associated with impaired induction of T-bet, GATA3, MAF, and retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear hormone receptor (RORC). Reduced CTLA-4(+)CD45RO(+)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells and diminished induction of inhibitory cell surface molecules, including CTLA-4, were also observed in the patients. T cell defect was not restricted to CD4 T cells because reduced memory T cells and impaired IFN-gamma production were also noted in CD8 T cells. Further analysis of the patients demonstrated increased induction of receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), lack of IFN-gamma response, and loss of Itch expression upon activation in the female patient, who had autoimmunity. Our study suggests that extensive T cell dysfunction, decreased memory T cell compartment, and imbalance between effector and regulatory cells in ICOS-deficient patients may underlie their immunodeficiency and/or autoimmunity.
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PMID:Impaired CD4 and CD8 effector function and decreased memory T cell populations in ICOS-deficient patients. 1938 Aug

The authors present a case of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in a male patient, HIV negative and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive. Although it is well-known that in HCV positive patients the onset of cutaneous diseases such as porphyria cutanea tarda, mixed essential cryoglobulinemia, lichen planus, polyarteritis nodosa, itch/prurigo, is possible, papers on its association with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV negative patients are rare in the literature. Such an association is probably not a matter of chance: in fact, the changes to the immune system induced by the HCV virus, in synergy with those induced by the Human Herpetic virus-8, could likewise play a role in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma as happens in patients with immunodeficiency .
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PMID:Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma and HCV infection: only a casual relationship? A case report. 1952 12

Cimex lectularius (the "bedbug") is an insect that feeds nocturnally, taking a requisite blood meal from a sleeping human or other parasitized host. Immunological reactions to bedbug saliva vary, but typically, bites yield erythematous and pruritic papules. The face and distal extremities, areas uncovered by sleeping clothes or blankets, are preferentially involved. Until the late 1990s, bedbug infestations in the United States were declining. Resurgence is attributed to increased travel and resistance to insecticides. Although hepatitis or human immunodeficiency virus is not effectively transmitted by the bedbug, pruritus and the fear and perceived violation of an infestation can be debilitating. Bedbugs are small but robust, and their ability to remain ensconced in crevices within the bedroom makes eradication difficult. As more patients present with bedbug bites, physicians must possess the knowledge to diagnose, treat, and educate with regard to bedbug bites and bedbug infestations.
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PMID:Bedbugs. 1958 May 78

Rhinitis is characterized by rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itch and/or postnasal drip. Often the first step in arriving at a diagnosis is to exclude or diagnose sensitivity to inhalant allergens. Non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) comprises multiple distinct conditions that may even co-exist with allergic rhinitis (AR). They may differ in their presentation and treatment. As well, the pathogenesis of NAR is not clearly elucidated and likely varied. There are many conditions that can have similar presentations to NAR or AR, including nasal polyps, anatomical/mechanical factors, autoimmune diseases, metabolic conditions, genetic conditions and immunodeficiency. Here we present a case of a rare condition initially diagnosed and treated as typical allergic rhinitis vs. vasomotor rhinitis, but found to be something much more serious. This case illustrates the importance of maintaining an appropriate differential diagnosis for a complaint routinely seen as mundane. The case presentation is followed by a review of the potential causes and pathogenesis of NAR.
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PMID:Non-allergic rhinitis: a case report and review. 2018 Oct 75


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