Phenotypic markers and BCL-1 gene rearrangements in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study

The markers, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD21, CD23, CD25, CD38, and FMC7 were correlated with morphologic and other laboratory and clinical characteristics of 127 patients with untreated CD5+ chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Only CD38 and CD21 were significantly associated with atypical CLL morphology. The integrin associated markers CD11b and CD11c were associated with lower leukocyte count (white blood cell count [WBC]) and lower Rai stage. By contrast, the activation antigen CD23 was associated with a higher WBC, higher Rai stage, younger age group, and the presence of lymphadenopathy. Therefore, we conclude that CD23 positivity may reflect a more aggressive form of CLL, and CD11b and CD11c positivity a less aggressive form. The BCL-1 gene rearrangement was present in 5 of 84 (6%) CLL cases examined and was associated with atypical morphology and surface expression of CD11b. Patients with a BCL-1 gene rearrangement may represent a CLL subset or possibly a different B-cell disease.     

Chlamydial infection in women along the US-Mexico border

Few studies have reported on sexually transmitted infections at the US-Mexico border, so the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in this population remains uncertain. This binational project investigated the prevalence of, and risk factors for, C. trachomatis among women along the Arizona, US-Sonora, Mexico border. Women who self-referred for routine gynaecological care were invited to complete an interviewer-administered questionnaire and to undergo a Pap smear, C. trachomatis test, and HPV test. In 2270 women, C. trachomatis prevalence overall was 8.2% as measured by hybrid capture and 2.6% by enzyme immunoassay. Infection was associated with young age, a history of new sexual partner(s) in the previous three months, HPV infection, and proximity of clinic to the international border. Antibiotic use in the previous 30 days was associated with decreased odds of infection. Women in Arizona-Sonora border communities are at increased risk for C. trachomatis infection compared to women attending clinics in non-border locations.     

Comparison of the effects of acetazolamide and aminophylline on apnea incidence and on ventilatory response to CO2, in preterm infants

Acetazolamide (ACTZ) reduces sleep apnea in adults exposed to high altitude and augments the ventilatory response to CO₂. In order to determine the effect of ACTZ on the ventilatory response to CO₂ and the incidence of apnea in preterm infants, 7 infants (BW, 1070 ± 191 g; postnatal age, 9 ± 7 days) were randomized to receive ACTZ (5 mg/kg/dose 06h for 36 hr) and 7 infants (BW, 1092 ± 292 g; post-natal age, 5 ± 2 days) received aminophylline (AMINO; 8 mg/kg bolus then 2.5 mg/kg Q12h for 36 hr). Minute ventilation (V_E), end-tidal CO₂, (P), ventilatory response to CO₂ number of apneic episodes (≥15 sec duration), and arterial blood gases were measured before and 24–36 hr after starting therapy. In the AMINO group there was a significant decrease in apnea frequency from 6 ± 1 to 2 ± 2 episodes over an 8 hr epoch (P < 0.05), while no significant change was observed in the ACTZ group. The end-tidal CO₂, decreased significantly from 44 ± 7 to 38 ± 6 mmHg in the AMINO group and from 47 ± 5 to 36 ± 5 mmHg in the ACTZ (P < 0.05), which lead to a shift to the left of the CO₂,-response curve in both groups. The slope of the CO₂, response curve did not change Significantly in the AMINO group and decreased in the ACTZ group. There was a significant decrease of pH from 7.43 to 7.26 in the ACTZ group, whereas in the AMINO group pH increased from 7.38 to 7.44. No significant changes in V_E, tidal volume, respiratory rate, lung compliance, or resistance were observed with treatment in any of the two groups. These findings demonstrate that both AMINO and ACTZ decreased end-tidal CO₂ and caused a shift of the CO₂ response curve to the left. Despite these similar effects, ACTZ did not have an effect on apnea incidence. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 17:291–295. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

miRNAs in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Sinefungin as treatment for American Leishmania in sensitive BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice

Using inbred BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice as animal models for American cutaneous leishmaniasis, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of sinefungin on foot-pad infection produced by 5 different Leishmania isolates. When treatment was initiated a few days, or even 2 weeks, after infection, an obvious leishmanicidal effect was detected on mice infected with Leishmania mexicana or L. braziliensis isolates, which lasted at least 50 weeks for all isolates studied. The optimal dose schedule was 4 mg/kg body weight/day, injected ip for 10 consecutive days; lower doses produced only a short leishmanistatic effect. The optimal dose found was 50-fold lower than the LD50. In vitro studies using Leishmania-infected murine peritoneal macrophages showed sinefungin as a powerful inhibitory drug, mean ED50 for the several Leishmania isolates studied being 50 ng/ml. No correlation was found between in vitro sensitivity of culture promastigotes and in vivo sensitivity to sinefungin of an American Leishmania isolate.     

Gut microbiota composition explains more variance in the host cardiometabolic risk than genetic ancestry

ABSTRACT

Cardiometabolic affections greatly contribute to the global burden of disease. The susceptibility to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes, conditions that add to the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), was associated with the ancestral genetic composition and gut microbiota. Studies explicitly testing associations between genetic ancestry and gut microbes are growing. We here examined whether the host genetic ancestry was associated with gut microbiota composition, and distinguished the effects of genetic ancestry and non-genetic factors on human cardiometabolic health. We performed a cross-sectional study with 441 community-dwelling Colombian mestizos from five cities spanning the Andes, Pacific, and Caribbean coasts. We characterized the host genetic ancestry by genotyping 40 ancestry informative markers; characterized gut microbiota through 16S rRNA gene sequencing; assessed diet intake, physical activity, cigarette, and medicament consumption; and measured cardiometabolic outcomes that allowed calculating a CMS risk scale. On average, each individual of our cohort was 67 ± 6% European, 21 ± 5% Native American and 12 ± 5% African. Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models showed that individuals with higher Native American and African ancestries had increased fasting insulin, body mass index and CMS risk, as assessed by the CMS risk scale. Furthermore, we identified 21 OTUs associated to the host genetic ancestry and 20 to cardiometabolic health. While we highlight novel associations between genetic ancestry and gut microbiota, we found that the effect of intestinal microbes was more likely to explain the variance in CMS risk scale than the contributions of European, Native American and African genetic backgrounds.     

Evaluation of social functioning in patients at a health center

The Social Functioning Scale (SFS) is described, together with its rationale and development. The instrument consists of 35 items, and was administered to a sample of 320 adult patients of a health center. Social functioning is assessed in a semistructured, 30 minute interview. The patient reports the level of satisfaction related to his/her role performance in five major areas: occupational, social relationships, economic, marital and familiar. Reliability and validity have been established for the SFS. The reliability coefficients for all areas were over 0.80 (p = 0.01). A varimax factor analysis was applied and five factors emerged for the construct validity. This accounted for 52 percent of the total variance. The use of the SFS is recommended since its validity and reliability have been demonstrated. The instrument could be useful for Mexico, and also for other Spanish speaking countries.