Effects of a germ-free environment on gut immune regulation and diabetes progression in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice

Aims/hypothesis  

Microbial factors influence the development of diabetes in NOD mice. Studies in germ-free animals have revealed important roles of microbiota in the regulation of Th17 and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)⁺ T regulatory (Treg) activation in the intestine. However, the effects of intestinal microbiota in immune regulation and diabetes development in NOD mice are still poorly understood.     

Leucine7 to proline7 polymorphism in the preproneuropeptide Y is associated with the progression of carotid atherosclerosis, blood pressure and serum lipids in Finnish men.

A rather common leucine7-to-proline7 (Leu7Pro) polymorphism in the preproneuropeptide Y (prepro-NPY) gene signal peptide may be important in blood pressure regulation, cholesterol metabolism and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in humans. We examined the associations of the Leu7Pro polymorphism with carotid atherosclerotic progression, blood pressure and serum lipids in a population-based sample of 966 men aged 42-60 years in Finland. The Pro7 substitution (carrier frequency 12.2%) was associated with accelerated four-year increase in the mean (P=0.01) and maximal (P=0.007) common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and with slightly increased systolic (P=0.03) and diastolic (P=0.02) blood pressures, adjusted for other major risk factors. Men with Pro7 substitution had 30.6% (95% CI 6.9-54.0%) greater increase in the mean IMT and 20.0% (95% CI 5.3-34.4%) greater increase in the maximal IMT than men with Leu7/Leu7 genotype. The Pro7 substitution was also related to increased serum total cholesterol (P=0.01) and LDL cholesterol (P=0.02) in obese (body mass index (BMI)>30 kg/m(2)) men. This study provides important evidence suggesting that the Pro7 substitution in the prepro-NPY is an important risk factor for accelerated atherosclerotic progression, increased blood pressure and increased serum cholesterol in humans.     

Recurrent wheezing after respiratory syncytial virus or non-respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in infancy: a 3-year follow-up

Background:  Recent studies have suggested that rhinovirus-associated early wheezing is a greater risk factor for development of recurrent wheezing in children than is early wheezing associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We determined the development of recurrent wheezing in young children within 3 years after hospitalization for RSV or non-RSV bronchiolitis.
Methods:  We identified retrospectively all children <2 years of age who were admitted to Turku University Hospital because of bronchiolitis in the months of August–December during 1988–2001. The primary outcome was recurrent wheezing that required long-term asthma medication. Data on asthma medications of the individual children were derived from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.
Results:  Within the first year after hospitalization, 36 of 217 (16.6%) children with non-RSV bronchiolitis developed recurrent wheezing, compared with five of 199 (2.5%) children with RSV bronchiolitis [relative risk (RR) 6.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6–16.5]. The rates of recurrent wheezing were significantly increased in the non-RSV group also within 2 years (RR 2.9; 95% CI 1.7–5.1) and 3 years (RR 3.4; 95% CI 2.0–5.7) after hospitalization. The increased risk of recurrent wheezing in children with non-RSV-associated bronchiolitis was observed both in boys and girls at all time points of the 3-year follow-up, and it was not explained by the age difference between the RSV and non-RSV groups or any confounding seasonal factors.
Conclusion:  Children hospitalized with bronchiolitis caused by other viruses than RSV develop recurrent wheezing at substantially higher rates during a 3-year follow-up period than do children with RSV-induced bronchiolitis.