Confounded association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of biliary tract cancer: Result from three cohorts

Recent epidemiological studies suggested that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with an increased risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC), however, confounders were not adequately controlled. Our study aimed to evaluate PPI use and subsequent risk of BTC and its subtypes in three well-established cohorts. We conducted a pooled analysis of the subjects free of cancers in UK Biobank (n = 463 643), Nurses' Health Study (NHS, n = 80 235) and NHS II (n = 95 869). Propensity score weighted Cox models were used to estimate marginal HRs of PPIs use on BTC risk, accounting for potential confounders. We documented 284 BTC cases in UK Biobank (median follow-up: 7.6 years), and 91 cases in NHS and NHS II cohorts (median follow-up: 15.8 years). In UK biobank, PPI users had a 96% higher risk of BTC compared to nonusers in crude model (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.44-2.66), but the effect was attenuated to null after adjusting for potential confounders (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.60-1.49). PPI use was not associated with risk of BTC in the pooled analysis of three cohorts (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.60-1.43). We also observed no associations between PPI use with risk of intrahepatic (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.49-2.04), extrahepatic bile duct (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52-2.27) and gallbladder cancers (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.26-1.66) in UK Biobank. In summary, regular use of PPIs was not associated with the risk of BTC and its subtypes.     

Gastric Cancer and Paraneoplastic Pemphigus

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a relatively rare but significant acquired autoimmune mucocutaneous disorder that is characterised by diffuse erythema, painful blistering and sores of the skin and mucus membranes. The underlying pathogenesis is believed to be triggered by altered immune system in response to underlying neoplasm. The manifestations can predate, occur at the same time or after the diagnosis of cancer. Associations with gastric cancer have only been reported twice. A 78-year-old lady presented with a month’s history of extensive skin lesions that started off as bullous lesions and biopsy revealed bullous pemphigus. Endoscopy for anemia revealed gastric cancer. This case reinforced the need to consider underlying malignancy in elderly patient with new onset dermatological presentation.     

Review of clinical characteristics,immune responses and regulatory mechanisms of hepatitis E-associated liver failure

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute liver failure (LF) and one of the most common factors causing acute injury in acute-on-chronic LF (ACLF). When HEV-related LF occurs, a series of changes take place in both the intrahepatic environment and extrahepatic microenvironment. The changed types and distribution of immune cells (infiltrating macrophages and increased lymphocytes) in liver tissue, as well the increased proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the blood, indicate that the occurrence and progression of HEV-related LF are closely related to immune imbalance. The clinical features and immune reaction in the body during HEV-related acute LF (ALF) and ACLF are complicated. This review highlights recent progress in elucidating the clinical manifestations of HEV-associated ALF and ACLF and discusses the corresponding systemic immune changes and possible regulatory mechanisms.     

Loss of function,missense, and intronic variants in NOTCH1 confer different risks for left ventricular outflow tract obstructive heart defects in two European cohorts

Loss of function variants in NOTCH1 cause left ventricular outflow tract obstructive defects (LVOTO). However, the risk conferred by rare and noncoding variants in NOTCH1 for LVOTO remains largely uncharacterized. In a cohort of 49 families affected by hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe form of LVOTO, we discovered predicted loss of function NOTCH1 variants in 6% of individuals. Rare or low-frequency missense variants were found in 16% of families. To make a quantitative estimate of the genetic risk posed by variants in NOTCH1 for LVOTO, we studied associations of 400 coding and noncoding variants in NOTCH1 in 1,085 cases and 332,788 controls from the UK Biobank. Two rare intronic variants in strong linkage disequilibrium displayed significant association with risk for LVOTO amongst European-ancestry individuals. This result was replicated in an independent analysis of 210 cases and 68,762 controls of non-European and mixed ancestry. In conclusion, carrying rare predicted loss of function variants in NOTCH1 confer significant risk for LVOTO. In addition, the two intronic variants seem to be associated with an increased risk for these defects. Our approach demonstrates the utility of population-based data sets in quantifying the specific risk of individual variants for disease-related phenotypes.     

Peripheral Vascular Complication from Coronary Angiography: a Case Report of Cholesterol Embolization

A 65-year-old man developed acute limb ischemia, severe abdominal wall and lower limb livedo reticularis following a coronary angiogram. The differential diagnoses of acute limb ischemia and multiple cholesterol emboli syndrome (MCES) are discussed. This work was performed at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05, 76^th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.     

反义细胞外信号调节激酶对移植物血管的保护作用

目的探讨反义细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK1／2）基因治疗对移植物血管的保护作用及可能的保护机制。方法建立BN至Lewis大鼠的腹主动脉移植模型。反义ERK1／2治疗组移植前取供者动脉血管段给予经脂质体包装的反义ERK1／2基因转染；腹主动脉移植术后1个月内受者每日从尾静脉或阴茎背静脉注入经脂质体包装的反义ERK1／2寡核苷酸100μl。对照组移植未经任何处理的血管段，移植后也无特殊处理。移植术后60d取移植段主动脉进行组织病理学观察内膜和胶原纤维变化；免疫组织化学法观察移植段血管ERK1／2基因的表达和CD4^＋、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞的浸润情况；ELISA法检测血清中细胞间粘附分子（ICAM-1）的变化。结果移植术后60d，对照组的移植动脉呈慢性移植物血管病表现，血管内膜显著增厚，移植血管中ERK1／2基因高表达，CD4^＋、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞大量浸润；反义ERK1／2基因治疗组移植动脉呈血管内膜炎改变，ERK1／2基因表达不明显，内膜有少量CD4^＋、CD8^＋T淋巴细胞；对照组ICAM-1表达显著高于反义ERK1／2治疗组（P〈0．05）。结论反义ERK1／2基因治疗对移植物血管具有保护作用，可以减缓慢性移植物血管病的发生，这种保护机制可能和减少ICAM-1的表达以及减少移植血管T淋巴细胞的浸润有关。