Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The CTLA-4 molecule plays an important role in immune regulation by downregulating activation of T cells. Polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene have been shown to be associated to a number of autoimmune diseases including blood disorders. In this study, the intragenic polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 gene at position -318*C/T, +49*A/G, and the dinucleotide (AT)(n) repeat polymorphism in exon 3 were analyzed in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Genotype and haplotype analysis showed that the exon 1+49*AA genotype was over-represented among patients with NHL (P = 0.002), whereas no difference was observed for the -318*C/T promoter and the (AT)(n) polymorphisms (P > 0.05). The data obtained indicate that the CTLA-4+49A/G polymorphism may have a role in genetic susceptibility to NHL.     

Justificación y diseño de DiPPI: un ensayo controlado aleatorizado para evaluar la seguridad y la efectividad de la hemodiálisis progresiva en pacientes incidentes

Introduction

Progressive haemodialysis (HD) is a starting regime for renal replacement therapy (RRT) adapted to each patient's necessities. It is mainly conditioned by the residual renal function (RRF). The frequency of sessions with which patients start HD (one or two sessions per week), is lower than that for conventional HD (three times per week). Such frequency is increased (from one to two sessions, and from two to three sessions) as the RRF declines.

Effects of birth weight on spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity in adult life

Background and aimSeveral epidemiological studies have suggested a link between low birth weight and coronary heart disease; this may be partly due to the association between low birth weight and conventional risk factors. Among the factors involved in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis, baroreflexes play a crucial role. The objective of the present study was to investigate if baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in adulthood is associated with birth weight.Methods and resultsTwo hundred and eleven adults from Turin, Italy, aged 22–24 years, were examined in a cross sectional survey. Birth weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, family history of hypertension, anthropometric and environmental parameters and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity were evaluated. In this study we observed a significant increase in baroreflex sensitivity across the tertiles of birth weight, even after correction for gender, blood pressure and heart rate; in a regression model, birth weight was positively and independently associated with BRS; moreover, BRS showed a significant negative correlation with adult pulse rate.ConclusionThis finding may be helpful in understanding the association between low birth weight and cardiovascular disease outcome in later life, since baroreflex failure is associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.     

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae with perimedullary venous drainage. Anatomical, clinical and therapeutic considerations

We report five cases of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) with perimedullary venous drainage. All the patients presented with rapidly progressive myelopathy and three had autonomic disorders. The DAVF were on the tentorium cerebelli (two cases), sigmoid (one), superior petrosal (one), and cavernous sinus (one). Slow venous drainage was directed through dilated perimedullary cervical veins. The transverse sinus was occluded in two cases. MRI, performed in four cases, demonstrated high signal on T2-weighted spin-echo sequences in the medulla oblongata and upper cervical spinal cord consistent with oedema, which signal resolved after complete cure of the DAVF in three cases. Embolisation was performed in all cases. It was followed by clinical deterioration in two cases and in the dramatic improvement in the other three, with complete clinical cure in two. Extensive venous thrombosis may explain the deterioration observed in one case. Received: 22 April 1998 Accepted: 15 September 1998     

Multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus and MS prognosis: an observational study

MS-associated retrovirus (MSRV) in the CSF may have gliotoxic properties and could be associated with a more disabling MS. The authors tested this hypothesis in 15 untreated patients with MS: 6 MSRV- and 9 MSRV+ at the time of CSF withdrawal. After a 3-year mean follow-up, MSRV- patients showed a stable MS course, whereas MSRV+ patients had a progressive course (p = 0.01).