Therapy-related classical Hodgkin lymphoma after a primary haematological malignancy: a report on 13 cases

The risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is increased in immunodeficiencies or during the treatment of some autoimmune diseases. The development of new therapeutic agents has highlighted the risk of unusual lymphoid proliferations, particularly classical HL (cHL). We report the clinicopathological findings of 13 cHL arising in patients treated for a primary haematological malignancy. Eight patients had received an immunomodulator, protein tyrosine-kinase inhibitor or monoclonal antibody, which may have contributed to the cHL development. Most patients had disseminated disease with poor prognostic factors at cHL diagnosis. Despite the initial presentation, good outcomes were achieved with standard cHL chemotherapy.     

European Society of Hypertension scientific newsletter: hypertension and aortic diseases

Hypertension, one of the major cardiovascular risk factors, promotes the formation of atheromatous lesions in the large arteries, including the aorta. It also favors aortic aneurysm and acute aortic syndrome such as aortic dissection or hematoma. In patients with aortic disease, beta-blockers and/or renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors should be preferentially used to decrease blood pressure and improve arterial wall properties.     

Circadian clock signals in the adrenal cortex

Circadian secretion of steroid hormones by the adrenal cortex is required to maintain whole body homeostasis and to adequately respond to or anticipate environmental changes. The richly vascularized zona glomerulosa (ZG) cells in the pericapsular region regulate osmotic balance of body fluid by secreting mineralocorticoids responding to circulating bioactive substances, and more medially located zona fasciculata (ZF) cells regulate energy supply and consumption by secreting glucocorticoids under neuronal and hormonal regulation. The circadian clock regulates both steroidogenic pathways: the clock within the ZG regulates mineralocorticoid production via controlling rate-limiting synthetic enzymes, and the ZF secretes glucocorticoid hormones into the systemic circulation under the control of central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. A functional biological clock at the systemic and cellular levels is therefore necessary for steroid synthesis and secretion.     

Asymmetry in corticomotor facilitation revealed in right-handers in the context of haptic discrimination

In this study we asked whether asymmetries related to handedness in right-handers (n=10) and left-handers (n=10) could influence hemispheric motor facilitation when the preferred or less-preferred hand is engaged in haptic sensing. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess corticomotor excitability when young participants performed a precision grip under two conditions, i.e., with or without a haptic sensing component. In the grip condition participants were required to grasp a 5-mm thick plate between thumb and index fingers, whereas in the haptic condition they performed the same action but were also required to make judgements about the plate's thickness, i.e., either thin (5 mm) or thick (10 mm). Analysis of task-related variations in motor evoked potentials (MEP) amplitude recorded in hand muscles revealed a significant task×hand/hemisphere interaction only in the group of right-handers when the left hand/right hemisphere was engaged in haptic sensing as opposed to simply gripping. Collectively, these results are congruent with other TMS reports describing a greater degree of hemispheric asymmetry in right-handers, who are typically more strongly lateralised than left-handers. Our results with regard to a rightward hemispheric asymmetry for MEP facilitation with haptic sensing are also congruent with the predominant role ascribed to the right sensorimotor cortex in the processing of proprioceptive information.     

Change in Proportional Protein Intake in a 10-Week Energy-Restricted Low- or High-Fat Diet,in Relation to Changes in Body Size and Metabolic Factors

ObjectiveTo investigate in a secondary analysis of a randomised trial the effects of a low-/high-fat diet and reported change from baseline in energy% from protein (prot%), in relation to changes in body size and metabolic factors.MethodsObese adults (n = 771) were randomised to a 600 kcal energy-deficient low-fat (20-25 fat%) or high-fat (40-45 fat%) diet over 10 weeks. Dietary intake data at baseline and during the intervention were available in 585 completers. We used linear regression to calculate the combined effects of randomised group and groups of prot% change (<−2 /−2 to 2/>2) on outcomes.ResultsThe low-fat group with >2 prot% increase lost 1.1 kg more weight (p = 0.03) and reduced cholesterol by 0.25 mmol/l more (p = 0.003) than the high-fat group with >2 prot% decrease. These differences were 2.5-fold and 1.8-fold greater than the differences between the low-fat and high-fat groups while not considering prot% change. The high-fat group reduced plasma triglycerides more than the low-fat group, but not compared to those in the low-fat group with >2 units prot% increase (p fat-protein interaction = 0.01).ConclusionsUnder energy restriction, participants on a low-fat diet who had increased the percentage energy intake from protein showed the greatest reduction in weight and cholesterol, and a triglyceride reduction equally large to that of participants on a high-fat diet.Key Words: Obesity, Dietary fats, Dietary proteins, Lipids, Blood glucose     

Medical treatment for sphincter of oddi dysfunction:Can it replace endoscopic sphincterotomy?

AIM:To report the results of a medical management of sphincter of oddi dysfunction(SOD) after an intermediate follow-up period.METHODS:A total of 59 patients with SOD(2 men and 57 women,mean age 51 years old) were included in this prospective study.After medical treatment for one year,the patients were clinically re-evaluated after an average period of 30 mo.RESULTS:The distribution of the patients according to the Milwaukee's classification was the following:11 patients were type 1,34 were type 2 and 14 were type 3.Fourteen patients underwent an endoscopic sphincterotomy(ES) after one year of medical treatment.The median intermediate follow-up period was 29.8 ± 3 mo(3-72 mo).The initial effectiveness of the medical treatment was complete,partial and poor among 50.8%,13.5% and 35%,respectively,of the patients.At the end of the follow-up period,37 patients(62.7%) showed more than 50% improvement.The rate of improvement in patients who required ES was not significantly different compared with the patients treated conservatively(64.2% vs 62.2%,respectively).CONCLUSION:Our study confirms that conservative medical treatment could be an alternative to endoscopic sphincterotomy because,after an intermediate follow-up period,the two treatments show the same success rates.     

Risk of mental disorders in children of parents with alcohol or heroin dependence: a controlled high-risk study

Aim: To assess the specific effect of alcohol dependence (AD) or heroin dependence (HD) in patients and their spouses on the risk of psychopathology in their 276 6.0- to 17.9- year-old children (mean 11.3 years). Methods: The sample included 101 offspring of patients with AD, 23 of patients with HD, and 152 of medical controls, as well as their 2 parents. Participants were assessed using semistructured diagnostic interviews and family history reports by psychologists blind to patient diagnoses. Results: Children of HD and AD patients had largely elevated rates of recurrent major depressive disorder. Children of HD patients were also at an increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders (SUD). There were interactions between SUD in the 2 parents to increase the risk of SUD in offspring. Conclusions: These results emphasize the need for prompt identification and treatment of these children and highlight the need to pay clinical attention not only to the patient, but also to the co-parent in order to optimize prevention in offspring.