Scleroderma is a chronic disease of unknown etiology, it is the sclerosis of the skin characterized by the appearance of circumscribed or diffuse, hard, smooth and ivory-colored areas that are immobile and give the appearance of hidebound skin. Progressed scleroderma can lead to develop various tumors by affecting organs. It is rarely reported that the tumor itself or systemic chemotherapy could be one of the causes of scleroderma. Up to now, the pathogenesis about scleroderma occurring from cancer itself or anticancer drugs are uncertain.
Chronic Disease ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil* ; Sclerosis ; Skin

Humans ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/drug therapy* ; Uric Acid

Humans ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/drug therapy* ; Neurons ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The number of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) available for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is increasing. Numerous drugs have been approved since 2010 in South America, which has increased the complexity of the treatment algorithm. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in multiple sclerosis treatments relative to the underlying causes and the availability of new DMDs in Argentina. METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out on a group of 59 patients diagnosed with RRMS who use more than one DMD. RESULTS: The first treatment switch occurred before 2010 in 27% of the patients and after 2010 in the other 73%. Efficacy was the main reason for switching during both periods. A second treatment switch was required in 25% of the patients, with this occurring after 2010 in 86.6% of them. Interferon was the most-used drug before 2010 and fingolimod was the most-used drug thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified that the tendency for treatment changes has increased following the arrival of new drugs. Efficacy has been the main cause of these changes.
Argentina ; Drug Therapy ; Fingolimod Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Interferons ; Multiple Sclerosis* ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting ; Retrospective Studies ; South America

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of natalizumab in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's disease(CD).

METHODSLiteratures from 1998 to 2009 were searched in databases including MEDLINE,EMBASE,The Cochrane Library, and CBM for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomization controlled trials. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.0 software and then a Meta analysis was performed. The main indicators included the rate of adverse reactions, the rate of serious adverse reactions,response rate,and remission rate.

RESULTSThirteen trials entered the final analysis. The main findings in the MS trials included: the rate of serious and general adverse effects were no significantly different among different groups (P>0.05). The new lesions rate was not significantly different within 3 months after treatment [RR=0.99, 95%CI (0.82, 1.18), P=0.87], but was significantly lower in 6 months in the treatment group [RR=0.45, 95%CI (0.33, 0.60), P<0.00001], and such advantage was maintained till 2 years later [RR=0.49, 95%CI (0.45, 0.53), P<0.00001]. The 2-year relapse rate was also significantly lower in the treatment group [RR=0.51, 95%CI (0.38, 0.69), P<0.0001]. The main findings in CD trials were as follows: The incidences between serious reactions and general adverse reactions were not significantly different (P>0.05). The remission rate was not significantly different between treatment group and control group in the 2nd week [RR=4.67, 95%CI (0.65, 33.26), P=0.12], but became significantly higher in the treatment group after 12 weeks [RR=1.46, 95%CI (1.26, 1.70), P<0.00001]. The response rate was significantly higher in the treatment group [RR=1.53, 95%CI (1.15, 2.03), P=0.004].

CONCLUSIONSThe rates of serious and general adverse reactions are not remarkably increased after natalizumab treatment for both MS and CD. The new lesions rate and 2-year relapse rate of MS as well as the response rate and remission rate of CD are all improved after natalizumab treatment,especially after long-term administration. Although severe adverse effect such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy may occur,its clinical application can be further promoted after cautiously balancing the benefits and risks.

Although mediastinal involvement by Hodgkin's disease is frequent, the initial presentation of the lymphoma by an endobronchial lesion is rare. A 23-year-old man was admitted with progressive dyspnea. Initial chest roentgenogram showed atelectasis of right middle and lower lobe. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed a polypoid mass obstructing the right mainstem bronchus. The mass lesion was histologically confirmed as Hodgkin's disease, nodular sclerosis type. He received systemic chemotherapy and improved rapidly.
Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Hodgkin Disease* ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Sclerosis ; Thorax ; Young Adult

Bleomycin, an antitumor antibiotic, has several dose-related skin toxicities, including hyperpigmentation, sclerosis, gangrenes, nail changes, and erythema in certain selected skin sites. A case of hyperpigmentation in a linear pattern due to in tavenous injection of bleomycin in a 37-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma at nasopharynx is described. After 9 months since bleomycin chemotherapy started, dark brownish colored linear hyperpigmentation developed along veins of the skin of both arms.
Adult ; Arm ; Bleomycin* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy ; Erythema ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Nasopharynx ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Veins

Humans ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/drug therapy* ; Benzofurans/therapeutic use* ; Double-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis(MS) shows the pathological characteristics of "inflammatory injury of white matter" and "myelin repair disability" in the central nervous system(CNS). It is very essential for MS treatment and reduction of disease burden to strengthen repair, improve function, and reduce disability. Accordingly, different from the simple immunosuppression, we believe that key to strengthening remyelination and maintaining the "damage-repair" homeostasis of tissue is to change the current one-way immunosuppression strategy and achieve the "moderate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis. Traditional Chinese medicine shows huge potential in this strategy. Through literature research, this study summarized the research on remyelination, discussed the "mode-rate pro-inflammation-effective inflammation removal" homeostasis and the "damage-repair" homeostasis based on microglia, and summed up the key links in remyelination in MS. This review is expected to lay a theoretical basis for improving the function of MS patients and guide the application of traditional Chinese medicine.
Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/pathology* ; Remyelination/physiology* ; Myelin Sheath/pathology* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Homeostasis