Definitive Cure (definitive + cure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Therapy of HIV infection

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 6 2004
Yuchi C. Chang
ABSTRACT:, HIV is a devastating disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. Symptoms of illness can manifest in every organ system, including the skin. Although there is no definitive cure, the creation of antiretroviral drugs and aggressive treatment regimens have dramatically altered disease morbidity and mortality. However, the precise drug selection is often difficult and intimidating given the sheer abundance of drug therapies available. In this article, the HIV disease course is reviewed and different classes of antiretroviral medications are presented with emphasis on initial drug regimens, potential adverse effects, particularly those of dermatologic nature, possible drug interactions, patient compliance, and the emergence of drug resistance. [source]


Psoralen and ultraviolet A and narrow-band ultraviolet B in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by vitiligo disease activity score: an open prospective comparative study

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 10 2007
A Bhatnagar
Abstract Background Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder with great cosmetic and psychological morbidity and an unpredictable course. No treatment available is a definitive cure. Systemic psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) has been the mainstay of treatment. Narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) was later introduced. In this study, we have compared the phototherapy modalities PUVA and NBUVB in inducing stability in vitiligo, assessed by using vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA), for the first time. Aims To investigate the position of NBUVB vis-à-vis PUVA in terms of stability achieved during therapy as indicated by the VIDA scores. Subjects and methods It was an open, prospective study of 50 patients divided equally in PUVA and NBUVB groups. The study period was from January 2004 to June 2005. This study was done as a part of a larger project to compare the efficacy of mentioned modalities in degree of repigmentation. Results In the NBUVB group, disease activity was present in 40% patients before commencement of therapy, which was reduced to 16% at the end of therapy (statistically significant, P = 0.049). In the PUVA group, similar figures were 20% and 16%, respectively. In the NBUVB group, 50% of patients whose disease was active prior to commencement of therapy had less than 50% repigmentation, whereas an equal number of patients had repigmentation of more than 50%. Almost an equal number of stable patients had less than and more than 50% repigmentation. In the PUVA group, 4 of the 5 (80%) patients who had active disease had less than 50% repigmentation, whereas only 1 patient (20%) with active disease obtained more than 50% repigmentation. The time to attain stability was 3.6 ± 2.1 months in the NBUVB group and 3.22 ± 3.1 months in the PUVA group. Eight of the 10 (80%) patients with unstable disease in the NBUVB group achieved stability, whereas 2 of the 5 (40%) patients of similar pre-treatment status in the PUVA group achieved stability. Conclusion NBUVB was in a more statistically advantageous position vis-à-vis PUVA, in respect to stability achieved and efficacy in both active and stable disease in a comparable time period. [source]


Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning for chronic granulomatous disease complicated by invasive Aspergillus infection

PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 3 2006
Jairam Sastry MBBS, MRCPCH
Abstract Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent infections, often resulting in impaired quality of life and death. Allogeneic BMT provides a definitive cure for CGD, but carries a significant risk of mortality and morbidity. The risk is higher for those who have invasive fungal infection prior to transplant. Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) is associated with less toxicity from the conditioning agents and may provide an alternative option for all non-malignant diseases. We report a case of successful allogeneic BMT after RIC for a case of X-linked CGD complicated by severe invasive aspergillosis (IA). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006;47:327,329. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The Preauricular Sinus: A Review of its Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Associations

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Noah S. Scheinfeld M.D.
Usually asymptomatic, they manifest as small dells adjacent to the external ear near the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix, most frequently on the right side. Preauricular sinuses can be either inherited or sporadic. When inherited, they show an incomplete autosomal dominant pattern with reduced penetrance and variable expression. They may be bilateral, increasing the likelihood of being inherited, in 25,50% of cases. Preauricular sinuses are features of other conditions or syndromes in 3,10% of cases, primarily in association with deafness and branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome. When other congenital anomalies coexist with these sinuses, auditory testing and renal ultrasound should be considered. Sinuses may become infected, most commonly with gram-positive bacteria, in which case their exudates should be cultured and appropriate antibiotics administered. Recurrent infection is a clear indication for complete excision and provides the only definitive cure. Recurrence rates after surgery range from 9% to 42%. Meticulous excision by an experienced head and neck surgeon minimizes the risk of recurrence. [source]


Modeling of congenital erythropoietic porphyria by RNA interference: a new tool for preclinical gene therapy evaluation

THE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 8 2010
Elodie Robert-Richard
Abstract Background Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a deficiency in uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS), the fourth enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. We recently demonstrated the definitive cure of a murine model of CEP by lentiviral vector-mediated hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy. In the perspective of a gene therapy clinical trial, human cellular models are required to evaluate the therapeutic potential of lentiviral vectors in UROS-deficient cells. However, the rare incidence of the disease makes difficult the availability of HSCs derived from patients. Methods RNA interference (RNAi) has been used to develop a new human model of the disease from normal cord blood HSCs. Lentivectors were developed for this purpose. Results We were able to down-regulate the level of human UROS in human cell lines and primary hematopoietic cells. A 97% reduction of UROS activity led to spontaneous uroporphyrin accumulation in human erythroid bone marrow cells of transplanted immune-deficient mice, recapitulating the phenotype of cells derived from patients. A strong RNAi-induced UROS inhibition allowed us to test the efficiency of different lentiviral vectors with the aim of selecting a safer vector. Restoration of UROS activity in these small hairpin RNA-transduced CD34+ cord blood cells by therapeutic lentivectors led to a partial correction of the phenotype in vivo. Conclusions The RNAi strategy is an interesting new tool for preclinical gene therapy evaluation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]