Serum level of neopterin is not a marker of disease activity in treated rheumatoid arthritis patients

Neopterin has been measured in many autoimmune diseases and was reported as a marker of cellular immunity activation in rheumatoid asthritis (RA). The aim of this work was to assess serum neopterin as a marker of disease activity in treated RA patients. We measured serum level of neopterin in 120 treated RA patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, and disease activity score was calculated in all patients by DAS28-CRP score. Significantly higher levels of neopterin were observed in RA patients (11.46 ± 3.56 nmol/L) compared to healthy controls (4.74 ± 1.98 nmol/L), P < 0.0001. Significantly higher neopterin levels were observed among male RA patients [median (IQR), 13.44 (12.65–16.21)] than female RA patients [median (IQR), 11.86 (7.91–13.44)], P <0.0001. No significant correlations between neopterin and age, age of disease onset, disease duration, or any of the disease activity parameters were found. Moreover, no significant difference regarding neopterin levels in different disease activity phases was identified. Our results indicated that neopterin is a marker of RA but not a marker of disease activity in treated RA patients.     

一种预防IgA过敏输血反应的新方法

1968年,一些研究者首次报道IgA过敏输血反应,发生率为1／20,000-47,000。输注完全没有IgA的血液和／或洗涤血细胞除去血液的IgA分子,能够预防IgA过敏反应,但有的患者不得不输注含有不同浓度IgA的血浆制品。尽管一些静脉用免疫球蛋白(IVIgG)已经被成功地用于易感染病人的治疗,但 IgA过敏的风险总是不能被完全排除。事实上,所有市售的 IVIgG制剂都对IgA的含量做了补充说明,并规定有抗-IgA 或有过敏史的病人禁用。本文作者报道一种安全有效的预防 IgA过敏输血反应的方法。     

Breast-cancer subtype,age, and lymph node status as predictors of local recurrence following breast-conserving therapy

Purpose/Objectives

Advances in breast-conserving therapy (BCT) have yielded local control rates comparable or superior to those of mastectomy. In this study, we sought to identify contemporary risk factors associated with local recurrence (LR) following BCT.

Methods

We analyzed a multi-institutional cohort of 2233 consecutive breast-cancer patients who underwent BCT between 1998 and 2007. Patients were stratified by age, biologic subtype (as approximated by receptor status and tumor grade), and nodal status. Patients who received HER2/neu-directed therapy were excluded due to variations in practice over the study period. The association of clinicopathologic features with LR was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

With a median follow-up of 106 months, 69 LRs (3 %) were observed. On univariate analysis, LR was associated with non-luminal-A subtype (hazard ratio [HR] for luminal-B = 3.01, HER2 = 6.29, triple-negative [TNBC] = 4.72; p < 0.001 each), younger age (HR of oldest vs. youngest quartile = 0.43; p = 0.005), regional nodal involvement (HR for 4–9 involved nodes = 3.04; >9 nodes = 5.82; p < 0.01 for each), positive margins (HR 2.43; p = 0.005), and high grade (HR 5.37; p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that non-luminal-A subtypes (HR for luminal-B = 2.64, HER2 = 5.42, TNBC = 4.32; p < 0.001 for each), younger age (HR for age >50 = 0.56; p = 0.01), and nodal disease (HR 1.06 per involved node; p < 0.004) were associated with LR. The 8-year risk of LR was 2.8 % for node-negative patients and 5.2 % for node-positive patients.

Conclusion

BCT yields favorable outcomes for the large majority of patients, although increased LR was observed among those with non-luminal-A subtypes, younger age, and increasing lymph node involvement. Risk factors for LR after BCT appear to be converging with those after mastectomy in the current era.

     

Mobilization of CD133+CD34− cells in healthy individuals following whole‐body acupuncture for spinal cord injuries

Acupuncture can alleviate symptoms of spinal cord injuries (SCI). The underlying mechanism, however, is unknown. We hypothesized that stem cells could be mobilized by acupuncture. Therefore, we enrolled 14 healthy study participants using acupuncture points for the treatment of SCI. The frequency of CD133 and CD34 cells in peripheral blood and the serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and interleukin‐6 were determined before and after acupuncture (<1 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr). CD133⁺34^? cells were doubled 48 hr after acupuncture, with concomitant decreases in BDNF and MMP‐9 levels. Interleukin‐6 remained below detectable levels, eliminating a stress‐induced cell release. Individuals acupunctured on control counterpoints showed no changes in CD133⁺ cells. Our results indicate that acupuncture for SCI can mobilize human CD133⁺34^? cells. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Maternal effect and familial aggregation in a type 2 diabetic Moroccan population

The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of familial aggregation of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Morocco and to investigate transmission patterns of the disease and their relationships with patients' clinical profiles. Family history of diabetes and clinical data were collected from 232 unrelated type 2 diabetic Moroccan patients. Diabetes status was recorded for first degree (parents, siblings) and second degree relatives (aunts and uncles from both maternal and paternal sides). Among studied subjects, 50% reported at least one relative with diabetes and 24% had at least one parent with diabetes. Familial aggregation of type 2 diabetes was prominent and more important among first degree relatives than second degree relatives (P < 0.01). Moreover, diabetes was more frequent among mothers than fathers of probands (P = 0.02), but this maternal effect was not observed in second degree relatives. There are no significant differences in clinical and metabolic profiles between patients according to the transmission pattern of the disease. In conclusion, these results suggest familial aggregation and excess maternal transmission of type 2 diabetes in the Moroccan studied population.