Project description:Comprehensive expression profiling of disseminated neuroblastoma with favorable and unfavorable outcome using SAGE. Results provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of spontaneous regression and progression of metastatic neuroblastoma and may be used for improving risk estimation of patients with disseminated neuroblastoma. Keywords: gene expression SAGE-based, neuroblastoma, primary tumor, disseminated disease Samples analyzed: 9 (stage 4S neuroblastoma: n=5, stage 4 neuroblastoma: n=3, neuroblastoma cell line: n=1)
Project description:Comprehensive expression profiling of disseminated neuroblastoma with favorable and unfavorable outcome using SAGE. Results provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of spontaneous regression and progression of metastatic neuroblastoma and may be used for improving risk estimation of patients with disseminated neuroblastoma. Keywords: gene expression SAGE-based, neuroblastoma, primary tumor, disseminated disease
Project description:Of 150,000 new coccidioidomycosis infections that occur annually in the United States, ≈1% disseminate; one third of those cases are fatal. Immunocompromised hosts have higher rates of dissemination. We identified 8 patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis who had defects in the interleukin-12/interferon-γ and STAT3 axes, indicating that these are critical host defense pathways.
Project description:We describe a case of life-threatening disseminated coccidioidomycosis in a previously healthy child. Like most patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis, this child had no genomic evidence of any known, rare immune disease. However, comprehensive immunologic testing showed exaggerated production of interleukin-4 and reduced production of interferon-γ. Supplementation of antifungal agents with interferon-γ treatment slowed disease progression, and the addition of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 blockade with dupilumab resulted in rapid resolution of the patient's clinical symptoms. This report shows that blocking of type 2 immune responses can treat infection. This immunomodulatory approach could be used to enhance immune clearance of refractory fungal, mycobacterial, and viral infections. (Supported by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.).
Project description:We describe a patient with a disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Biomarkers in serum during itraconazole therapy showed a rapid clearing of Coccidioides DNA as detected by PCR. Coccidioides antibody detection by lateral flow assay became negative after one year and decreased from 1:64 to 1:8 in the complement fixation test after two years. The (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan levels normalised after two years without increase after cessation of antifungal therapy. Biomarkers in serum may guide treatment decisions in disseminated coccidioidomycosis.