Oxidized to non-oxidized lipoprotein ratios are associated with arteriosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome in diabetic patients

Background and aimType 2 diabetic patients have a greater prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress and accelerated atherosclerosis, compared to non-diabetics. We examined the association between biomarkers of lipid peroxidation and the presence of atherosclerosis and the metabolic syndrome in diabetic patients.Methods and resultsWe studied oxidized LDL (OxLDL), OxLDL/LDL, OxLDL/HDL, lipoperoxides, autoantibodies against OxLDL (OxLDL-Ab), diene formation of LDL (lag phase), vitamin E, vitamin E/cholesterol and PON1 polymorphisms (−108C > T, 55T > A, and 192A > G) in 166 non-smoking type 2 diabetic patients, 119 fulfilling the criteria for the metabolic syndrome, 73 with atherosclerosis and 93 without atherosclerosis. Patients with macrovascular disease had higher values of OxLDL/LDL (11%; P = 0.016), OxLDL/HDL (18%; P = 0.024) and OxLDL-Ab (12%; P = 0.046). OxLDL/LDL and OxLDL/HDL were correlated with the number of components of the metabolic syndrome (P < 0.001). PON1 polymorphisms were not associated to LDL oxidation markers, only PON1 (−108TT) was weakly associated with higher OxLDL-Ab concentrations (22%; P = 0.040) in patients with atherosclerosis.ConclusionOxLDL/LDL, OxLDL/HDL and OxLDL-Ab are the most useful clinical parameters of lipoprotein oxidation for discriminating the presence of macrovascular disease in diabetic patients. The presence of the metabolic syndrome in these patients is also associated with an increase in the oxidized lipoprotein ratios.     

Donor leukocyte infusions for multiple myeloma

Donor leukocyte infusion (DLI) has well-documented activity in CML, but the role of DLI in other diseases is less well defined. To evaluate the strategy in multiple myeloma (MM) we evaluated 25 MM patients from 15 centers who were treated with DLI. Patients with persistent or recurrent disease after allogeneic BMT received DLI from the original marrow donor (23 matched related, one mismatched family, and one matched unrelated). Chemotherapy was given before DLI in three patients. Two of 22 patients responded completely to DLI alone and three patients responded to the combination of DLI and chemotherapy. Nine patients who had not had sufficient disease control after DLI were given additional DLIs; five of these patients had either complete (two) or partial (three) responses. Thirteen of 25 evaluable patients developed acute GVHD and 11 of 21 evaluable patients developed chronic GVHD; all responders developed GVHD. No patients developed post-DLI pancytopenia. Four patients had responses which lasted >1 year after DLI, three patients had responses which lasted <1 year, and three patients had ongoing responses but with follow-up <1 year. In conclusion, DLI has anti-myeloma activity but the strategy is limited by no response or short duration of response in a significant percentage of patients and by significant GVHD in the majority of the responders.     

Social Camouflaging in Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with increasing prevalence, and a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. Research has been suggesting that discrepancy in prevalence may be due to the fact that females camouflage their symptoms. In this study, we aimed to systematically review evidence on the camouflage effect in females with ASD. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed empirical research published from January 2009 to September 2019 on PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo and Scopus databases. Thirteen empirical articles were included in this review. Overall, evidence supports that camouflaging seems to be an adaptive mechanism for females with ASD, despite the negative implications of these behaviours in their daily life.

     

Percentage of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative and Ph-positive cells found after autologous transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia depends on percentage of diploid cells induced by conventional- dose chemotherapy before collection of autologous cells

We collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bone marrow cells soon after recovery from conventional-dose chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and transplanted these cells into advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients after treating these patients with 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m2 VP-16, and 1,020 cGy of total body irradiation (TBI). Of the 10 late chronic-phase patients and the eight accelerated-phase CML patients evaluable posttransplant, 90% and 87%, respectively, remain alive posttransplant, whereas none of the three blast crisis CML patients given this therapy remain alive posttransplant. We measured the percentage of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative cells in the autologous cells collected after conventional-dose chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression before autologous transplant and in the marrow of these same CML patients after autologous transplantation of these cells into recipients treated with the cyclophosphamide, VP-16, and TBI. A direct correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.91) was observed between the level of Ph+ cells in the transplanted cells and the percentage of Ph+ marrow cells after transplant in 21 patients so transplanted. The data show that the chance of generating cytogenetic remissions post-transplant depends on the percentage of diploid cells in the preparations of autologous cells used for transplant and the stage of disease of the patients at the time of collection of the autologous cells.     

A 6q14.1‐q15 microdeletion in a male patient with severe autistic disorder,lack of oral language,and dysmorphic features with concomitant presence of a maternally inherited Xp22.31 copy number gain

We report on a male patient with severe autistic disorder, lack of oral language, and dysmorphic features who carries a rare interstitial microdeletion of 4.96 Mb at chromosome 6q14.1‐q15. The patient also harbors a maternally inherited copy number gain of 1.69 Mb at chromosome Xp22.31, whose pathogenicity is under debate.     

Importance of day 21 BM chimerism in sustained neutrophil engraftment following double-unit cord blood transplantation

Delayed or failed engraftment remains a concern after cord blood transplantation (CBT) even when using double-unit grafts. Therefore, we analyzed the association between BM assessment performed approximately 21 days after transplantation, and the speed and success of sustained donor-derived neutrophil engraftment in 56 myeloablative double-unit CBT (DCBT) recipients. Overall, the cumulative incidence of sustained neutrophil engraftment was 95% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 89-100). Of the percentage of myeloid precursors, the BM cellularity and the total donor chimerism the total donor chimerism percentage had the most critical association with the speed and success of engraftment. DCBT recipients who were 100% donor achieved a 98% engraftment rate at a median of 22 days. This compared with 100% engraftment in patients who were 90-99% donor, but at a delayed median of 29 days and only 68% engraftment in patients <90% donor at a median of 37 days (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis was performed in the subgroup of patients who had not engrafted at the time the BM analysis was performed, the subgroup of most clinical concern. This confirmed donor chimerism was predictive of subsequent neutrophil recovery (P=0.004). These findings demonstrate the importance of the day 21 BM chimerism determinations after DCBT.