Faculty Bibliography

Use of the biologic agents in moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis has provided novel and highly efficacious treatment options. Generally less systemically toxic than more traditional agents, the risks and benefits for these agents must also be considered. We present a review of the iatrogenic effects associated with use of the biologic agents in psoriasis. Focus is placed on antitumor necrosis factor agents, because they are the most studied and commonly used agents, as well as T-cell modulators and interleukin inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barre syndrome is an immune-mediated polyneuropathy that is routinely initially treated with either intravenous immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis. To the best of our knowledge, no association between plasmapheresis treatment and acute onset of facial neuropathy has been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old Caucasian man with no significant prior medical history developed ascending motor weakness and laboratory findings consistent with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Plasmapheresis was initiated. Acute facial palsy developed during the plasma exchange that subsequently resolved and then acutely recurred during the subsequent plasma exchange. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, no prior cases of acute facial palsy developing during plasmapheresis treatment are known. Although facial nerve involvement is common in typical Guillain-Barre syndrome, the temporal association with treatment, near-complete resolution and later recurrence support the association. The possible mechanism of plasmapheresis-induced worsening of peripheral nerve function in Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown.

Two-dimensional DNA lattices are grown under conditions that also are suitable for the magnesium-free growth of three-dimensional calcium carbonate crystals. These lattices are used to template morphology changes in calcium carbonate. The effects of DNA lattices, sub-assemblies, duplexes, single strands, dinucleotides, and mononucleotides on calcium carbonate morphology are studied. A "rotated" morphology of calcite is found to predominate when a critical concentration of any polynucleotide is reached in the templating solution.