Smoking, fibrinogen and cancer mortality

Associations of race, smoking history and fibrinogen levels with cancer mortality were investigated prospectively using the ARIC study. Our cohort consisted of 14,320 participants aged 45-64 at baseline. In an adjusted Cox regression, black current heavy smokers (> or = 15 cigarettes per day) demonstrated higher risk of respiratory/intrathoracic organ cancer mortality than nonblack current heavy smokers. Black former heavy smokers were also found to be at an increased risk of respiratory/intrathoracic organ cancer mortality when compared to nonblack former heavy smokers. Elevated fibrinogen levels were associated with an increased risk of respiratory/intrathoracic organ cancer mortality. Compared to fibrinogen < 259 mg/dl, fibrinogen 294-335 mg/dl had an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.68 (95% CI: 1.80-7.55), and fibrinogen > or = 336 mg/dl had an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.78 (95% CI: 1.84-7.75). Fibrinogen was also a predictor of other types of cancer mortality among black participants, but not among nonblack participants. For 10 race/smoking history categories, fibrinogen levels ranged from a mean of 287 mg/dl for nonblack former light smokers to a mean of 338 mg/dl for black current heavy smokers. Smokers had higher fibrinogen levels than nonsmokers, and black smokers had higher fibrinogen levels than nonblack smokers. Smoking carries high risks of cancer mortality for African Americans. A factor that needs to be considered in the overall assessment of risk is fibrinogen level, which has been linked to angiogenesis and metastases of tumors.     

Helper function of cytolytic lymphocytes: switching roles in the immune response

T helper (Th) cells and cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) play defined roles in the cellular immune response. This distinction wavered when Th lymphocytes were shown to kill antigen-presenting cells displaying the relevant antigen. Here we demonstrate that also the opposite can be true: CTL can exert helper functions. We noticed that certain CMV-specific CTL lines grew after antigen activation also without exogenous IL-2. These lines produced their own IL-2, which supported the expansion of other CTL and Th cell lines. High levels of helper cytokines like IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 were detected in the culture supernatants. Thus, we set up a helper assay to study the functional interactions between T cells (or their supernatants) and B cells. Conditioned media from helper CTL lines induced secretion of antigen-specific antibodies by B cells pulsed with antigen as first signal. We conclude that it is possible to isolate CTL lines that exhibit helper functions for T cells and B cells. If this possibility is proven also in vivo, we should revise some of our views on the pathogenesis of diseases in which CD8 cells are key players, such as in viral infections, graft rejection and GVHD.     

Can the e-OAKHQOL be an alternative to measure health-related quality of life in knee osteoarthritis?

Quality of Life Research - To assess the validity of the e-OAKHQOL questionnaire and analyze whether the answers were affected by the form of administration (electronic vs. paper). Two samples of...     

Scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the arthritis in MRL/lpr mice

Summary The articular surfaces of disarticulated knee joints from MRL/lpr and MRL/n mice, aged 4–33 weeks were examined by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy did not reliably predict SEM findings. Most of the abnormalities detected by SEM were related to surface disruption of articular cartilage. However, areas of articular cartilage covered by tightly adherent non-confluent monolayers of stallate-shaped cells with intertwinning cytoplasmic processes were observed. In these areas the integrity of the underlying cartilage matrix was disrupted, with exposure of collagen fibers. These findings suggested that outgrowth of proliferating synovial cells in the joints of arthritic MRL/lpr mice may lead to cartilage destruction.     

C3 nephritic factor associated with C3 glomerulopathy in children

Background

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is characterized by predominant C3 deposits in glomeruli and dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement. Half of C3G patients have a C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF). C3G incorporated entities with a range of features on microscopy including dense deposit diseases (DDD) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). The aim of this work was to study children cases of C3G associated with C3NeF.

Methods

We reviewed 18 cases of C3G with a childhood onset associated with C3NeF without identified mutations in CFH, CFI, and MCP genes.

Results

Clinical histories started with recurrent hematuria for seven patients, nephrotic syndrome for four, acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis for three and acute renal failure for four. Twelve patients had a low C3 at first investigation. Kidney biopsy showed ten C3GN and eight DDD. Twenty-three percent of the patients tested presented elevated sC5b9. Seven patients relapsed 3 to 6 years after the onset. At the end of follow-up, two patients were under dialysis, 11 had a persistent proteinuria, five had none; four patients did not follow any treatment. Steroids were first used in 80 % of cases.

Conclusions

C3NeF associated C3G has a heterogeneous presentation and outcome. Anti-proteinuric agents may control the disease during follow-up, even after nephrotic syndrome at the onset. The efficiency of immunosuppressive therapy remains questionable.     

Emergence of Difficult-to-Treat Tinea Corporis Caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes Complex Isolates,Paris, France

We describe 7 cases of extensive tinea corporis since 2018 in a hospital in Paris, France, after failure to cure with terbinafine. Molecular analysis indicated Trichophyton mentagrophytes internal transcribed spacer type VIII (T. indotineae). This strain, which has mutations in the squalene epoxidase gene, is spreading on the Indian subcontinent.