OBJECTIVES To study the clinical aspects and frequency of scorpion stings in Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS Clinical aspects and frequency of scorpion sting cases reporting to 2 referral hospitals in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia were analyzed during May 2006 to April 2008. Data on demographic status, date and time of sting, sting site, scorpion color, clinical manifestations, and...

The aim of this study was to assess the response to a honeybee venom by analyzing serum levels of 34 free amino acids. Another goal of this study was to apply complex analytic-bioinformatic-clinical strategy based on up-to-date achievements of mass spectrometry in metabolomic profiling. The amino acid profiles were determined using hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometer coup...

Cytotoxic therapies prime adaptive immune responses to cancer by stimulating the release of tumor-associated antigens. However, the tumor microenvironment into which these antigens are released is typically immunosuppressed, blunting the ability to initiate immune responses. Recently, activation of the DNA sensor molecule STING by cyclic dinucleotides was shown to stimulate infection-related in...

BACKGROUND Anaphylactic sting reactions in patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy are prevented by venom immunotherapy (VIT) in most patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate re-sting reactions in the field during VIT or during an observation period of up to 13 years after cessation of treatment. Furthermore we sought to identify patients at higher risk of developing a sys...

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections of healthy individuals are mostly unnoticed and result in viral latency. However, HCMV can also cause devastating disease, e.g., upon reactivation in immunocompromised patients. Yet, little is known about human immune cell sensing of DNA-encoded HCMV. Recent studies indicated that during viral infection the cyclic GMP/AMP synthase (cGAS) senses cytosolic ...

Sting-ray injuries have recently had high profile media coverage following a rare fatality. However, minor injuries to the hands and feet are common. We present a case of a sting-ray injury to the hand. This was washed out under local anaesthetic at the local emergency department and was a delayed presentation to a specialist hand surgeon, 1 month post injury with severe pain. Ultrasound scan s...

In the early stages of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the viral proteins elicit specific immune responses that can participate to regression of ano-genital lesions. HPV E6 protein for instance can reduce type I interferon (IFN) including IFN-κ that is involved in immune evasion and HPV persistence. To evaluate the role of E2 protein in innate immunity in HPV16-associated cervical lesions...

UNLABELLED STING (stimulator of interferon [IFN] genes) initiates type I IFN responses in mammalian cells through the detection of microbial nucleic acids. The membrane-bound obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis induces a STING-dependent type I IFN response in infected cells, yet the IFN-inducing ligand remains unknown. In this report, we provide evidence that Chlamydia synthe...

Various ocular and systemic reactions have been associated with insect sting. However, insect stings have been rarely reported to cause exotropia and diplopia. We encountered exotropia in a 6-year-old child with rhabdomyolysis of the left lower extremities caused by an insect sting. Exotropia and diplopia developed within 1 day after the sting and improved completely 1 week after the onset of s...

We report a case in which a 21-week pregnant woman was stung by a Euscorpius flavicaudis (De Geer, 1778) scorpion. Symptoms and signs experienced by the patient were the same as those documented in the literature and with no ill-effects for the pregnancy. Envenoming was local and of low degree of intensity. It is important to emphasize that the patient was stung in her home, which differs from ...