Immune thrombocytopenia with clinical significance in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study of 90 patients.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with immune thrombocytopenia with clinical significance (ITPCS) associated with SLE.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included SLE patients who experienced ≥1 ITPCS (defined as ITP with attributable bleeding disorders and/or a platelet count <30×109/l). Other causes of secondary thrombocytopenia were excluded.

IgG4-Related Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Pattern in 18F-FDG PET/CT.

A 17-year-old adolescent girl was admitted with chronic arthralgia, Raynaud phenomenon, pericarditis, and evidences of chronic diffuse inflammation. F-FDG PET/CT scan was performed to search systemic vasculitis and showed diffuse moderate uptake in the kidneys. We suggested the existence of a nephritis, but the ultrasonography result was normal, and no treatment was introduced.

Central nervous system involvement in Whipple disease: clinical study of 18 patients and long-term follow-up.

Whipple disease (WD) is a rare multisystemic infection with a protean clinical presentation. The central nervous system (CNS) is involved in 3 situations: CNS involvement in classic WD, CNS relapse in previously treated WD, and isolated CNS infection. We retrospectively analyzed clinical features, diagnostic workup, brain imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study, treatment, and follow-up data in 18 patients with WD and CNS infection.

TCR stimulation drives cleavage and shedding of the ITIM receptor CD31.

CD31 is a transmembrane molecule endowed with T cell regulatory functions owing to the presence of 2 immunotyrosine-based inhibitory motifs. For reasons not understood, CD31 is lost by a portion of circulating T lymphocytes, which appear prone to uncontrolled activation. In this study, we show that extracellular T cell CD31 comprising Ig-like domains 1 to 5 is cleaved and shed from the surface of human T cells upon activation via their TCR.

Macrophage plasticity in experimental atherosclerosis.

As in human disease, macrophages (MØ) are central players in the development and progression of experimental atherosclerosis. In this study we have evaluated the phenotype of MØ associated with progression of atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout (KO) mouse model.We found that bone marrow-derived MØ submitted to M1 and M2 polarization specifically expressed arginase (Arg) II and Arg I, respectively.

Septic arthritis of the hip with psoas abscess caused by Non-typhi Salmonella infection in an immunocompetent patient.

Osteoarticular infections caused by Non-typhi Salmonella are exceptionally encountered. We report a case of a bacteriologically documented hip infection associated with a psoas abscess due to Non-typhi Salmonella. A 64-year-old immunocompetent male was admitted in our department for pain and motion range limitation in the right hip with fever.