A review of immune modulators and immunotherapy in infectious diseases.

The human immune system responds to harmful foreign invaders frequently encountered by the body and employs defense mechanisms to counteract such assaults. Various exogenous and endogenous factors play a prominent role in maintaining the balanced functioning of the immune system, which can result in immune suppression or immune stimulation. With the advent of different immune-modulatory agents, immune responses can be modulated or regulated to control infections and other health effects. Literature provides evidence on various immunomodulators from different sources and their role in modulating immune responses. Due to the limited efficacy of current drugs and the rise in drug resistance, there is a growing need for new therapies for infectious diseases. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of different immune-modulating agents and immune therapies specifically focused on viral infectious diseases.

Mastitis granulomatosa: una simuladora de cáncer, un gran reto diagnóstico y terapéutico / Granulomatous mastitis: a cancer simulator, a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: La mastitis granulomatosa idiopática es un padecimiento benigno de la glándula mamaria sumamente raro, simulador de cáncer de mama. Las manifestaciones clínicas más significativas son: nódulo palpable, cambios en la coloración de la piel y mastalgia. Para integrar su diagnóstico se requiere el apoyo de estudios auxiliares de imagen, sin que por ello deje de ser imprescindible la toma de biopsia para establecer el diagnóstico definitivo. No existen pautas de tratamiento debidamente establecidas, pero sí de tratamiento farmacológico y quirúrgico, ésta última se reserva para casos de recidivas, que son frecuentes. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 35 años, nuligesta; acudió a consulta debido a la aparición de un tumor palpable en la glándula mamaria derecha, de siete meses de evolución, con cambios en la coloración y retracción del pezón. La mastografía y ecografía catalogaron el tumor en BI-RADS 5. La biopsia con aguja de corte y citología integraron el diagnóstico de mastitis granulomatosa idiopática. Se indicó tratamiento farmacológico y el tumor desapareció espontáneamente. CONCLUSIONES: La mastitis granulomatosa es una enfermedad rara y de diagnóstico complejo. Para cada paciente habrá un protocolo diferente para evitar el sobretratamiento. Su pronóstico es bueno, a pesar de ser un simulador de cáncer de mama. El tratamiento aún es ambiguo, pero en primera instancia se recomiendan los corticosteroides o inmunosupresores y la cirugía se reserva para casos de recidivas.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is an extremely rare benign entity of the mammary gland, simulating breast cancer. The most significant clinical manifestations are: palpable nodule, skin discoloration changes and mastalgia. The diagnosis requires the support of auxiliary imaging studies, although a biopsy is essential to establish the definitive diagnosis. There are no well-established treatment guidelines, but there are guidelines for pharmacological and surgical treatment, the latter is reserved for cases of recurrence, which are frequent. CLINICAL CASE: A 35-year-old nulligesta patient came for consultation due to the appearance of a palpable tumor in the right mammary gland, of 7 months of evolution, with changes in color and nipple retraction. The mastography and ultrasound catalogued the tumor in BI-RADS 5. The biopsy with cutting needle and cytology integrated the diagnosis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Pharmacological treatment was indicated, and the tumor disappeared spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Granulomatous mastitis is a rare disease with a complex diagnosis. For each patient there will be a different protocol to avoid overtreatment. Its prognosis is good, despite being a breast cancer simulator. Treatment is still ambiguous but, in the first instance, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants are recommended and surgical treatment is reserved for cases of recurrence.

Incidence and severeness of COVID-19 hospitalization in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease: a nationwide cohort study from Denmark.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization in patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD); in patients with RA treated with specific DMARDs; and the incidence of severe COVID-19 infection among hospitalized patients with RA. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study from Denmark between 1 March and 12 August 2020. The adjusted incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization was estimated for patients with RA; spondyloarthritis including psoriatic arthritis; connective tissue disease; vasculitides; and non-IRD individuals. Further, the incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization was estimated for patients with RA treated and non-treated with TNF-inhibitors, HCQ or glucocorticoids, respectively. Lastly, the incidence of severe COVID-19 infection (intensive care, acute respiratory distress syndrome or death) among hospital-admitted patients was estimated for RA and non-IRD sp - individudals. RESULTS: Patients with IRD (n = 58 052) had an increased partially adjusted incidence of hospitalization with COVID-19 compared with the 4.5 million people in the general population [hazard ratio (HR) 1.46, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.86] with strongest associations for patients with RA (n = 29 440, HR 1.72, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.30) and vasculitides (n = 4072, HR 1.82, 95% CI: 0.91, 3.64). There was no increased incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization associated with TNF-inhibitor, HCQ nor glucocorticoid use. COVID-19 admitted patients with RA had a HR of 1.43 (95% CI: 0.80, 2.53) for a severe outcome. CONCLUSION: Patients with IRD were more likely to be admitted with COVID-19 than the general population, and COVID-19 admitted patients with RA could be at higher risk of a severe outcome. Treatment with specific DMARDs did not affect the risk of hospitalization.

Evaluation of Porcine Versus Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells From Three Distinct Donor Locations for Cytotherapy.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based cytotherapies fuel the hope for reduction of chronic systemic immunosuppression in allotransplantation, and our group has previously shown this capability for both swine and human cells. MSCs harvested from distinct anatomical locations may have different behavior and lead to different outcomes in both preclinical research and human trials. To provide an effective reference for cell therapy studies, we compared human and porcine MSCs from omental fat (O-ASC), subcutaneous fat (SC-ASC) and bone marrow (BM-MSC) under rapid culture expansion with endothelial growth medium (EGM). Methods: MSCs isolated from pigs and deceased human organ donors were compared for yield, viability, cell size, population doubling times (PDT), surface marker expression and differentiation potential after rapid expansion with EGM. Immunosuppressant toxicity on MSCs was investigated in vitro for four different standard immunosuppressive drugs. Immunomodulatory function was compared in mixed lymphocyte reaction assays (MLR) with/without immunosuppressive drug influence. Results: Human and porcine omental fat yielded significantly higher cell numbers than subcutaneous fat. Initial PDT was significantly shorter in ASCs than BM-MSCs and similar thereafter. Viability was reduced in BM-MSCs. Porcine MSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, CD90, while human MSCs expressed CD73, CD90 and CD105. All demonstrated confirmed adipogenic differentiation capacity. Cell sizes were comparable between groups and were slightly larger in human cells. Rapamycin revealed slight, mycophenolic acid strong and significant dose-dependent toxicity on viability/proliferation of almost all MSCs at therapeutic concentrations. No relevant toxicity was found for Tacrolimus and Cyclosporin A. Immunomodulatory function was dose-dependent and similar between groups. Immunosuppressants had no significant adverse effect on MSC immunomodulatory function. Discussion: MSCs from different harvest locations and donor species differ in terms of isolation yields, viability, PDT, and size. We did not detect relevant differences in immunomodulatory function with or without the presence of immunosuppressants. Human and pig O-ASC, SC-ASC and BM-MSC share similar immunomodulatory function in vitro and warrant confirmation in large animal studies. These findings should be considered in preclinical and clinical MSC applications.

INASL Guidelines on Management of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Patients receiving Chemotherapy, Biologicals, Immunosupressants, or Corticosteroids.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) reactivation in patients receiving chemotherapy, biologicals, immunosupressants, or corticosteroids is emerging to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with current or prior exposure to HBV infection. These patients suffer a dual onslaught of illness: one from the primary disease for which they are receiving the culprit drug that led to HBV reactivation, and the other from HBV reactivation itself. The HBV reactivation not only leads to a compromised liver function, which may culminate into hepatic failure; it also adversely impacts the treatment outcome of the primary illness. Hence, identification of patients at risk of reactivation before starting these drugs, and starting treatment aimed at prevention of HBV reactivation is the best strategy of managing these patients. There are no Indian guidelines on management of HBV infection in patients receiving chemotherapy, biologicals, immunosupressants, or corticosteroids for the treatment of rheumatologic conditions, malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, dermatologic conditions, or solid-organ or bone marrow transplantation. The Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL) had set up a taskforce on HBV in 2016, with a mandate to develop consensus guidelines for management of various aspects of HBV infection, relevant to India. In 2017 the taskforce had published the first INASL guidelines on management of HBV infection in India. In the present guidelines, which are in continuation with the previous guidelines, the issues on management of HBV infection in patients receiving chemotherapy, biologicals, immunosupressants, or corticosteroids are addressed.

A Case of Scleredema Associated with Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) is rare systemic inflammatory disease with typical skin manifestations and muscular involvement. Various skin lesions can accompany this disease, such as Gottron's sign, Heliotrope rash, mechanic's hands, V sign and shawl sign. Scleredema is a very rare skin manifestation in DM. We report a case of DM in a 63-year-old woman, who had scleredema on her thighs. A diagnosis of DM was established by clinical manifestation, elevated muscle enzyme levels, electromyogram measures, and muscle biopsy findings. She was successfully treated with the immunosuppressants methotrexate, cyclosporine, and steroids (low dose).