Resistin is elevated in cystic fibrosis sputum and correlates negatively with lung function

Background

Resistin is an immunometabolic mediator that is elevated in several inflammatory disorders. A ligand for Toll-like receptor 4, resistin modulates the recruitment and activation of myeloid cells, notably neutrophils. Neutrophils are major drivers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, in part due to the release of human neutrophil elastase- and myeloperoxidase-rich primary granules, leading to tissue damage. Here we assessed the relationship of resistin to CF lung disease.

IDENTIFICATION OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITY AT FOUR AND EIGHT MONTHS BY THE MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT OF INFANTS

The predictive validity of infant neuromotor evaluation by the Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI) was investigated in low-birthweight infants. Motor performance at four and eight months was examined in relation to neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months of age. Correlations were equally strong between total MAI risk scores at four and eight months and performance on the Bayley Scales. Muscle tone observations were more discriminating at four months, and automatic reactions and volitional movement were most predictive at eight months. The MAI was highly sensitive to neurodevelopmental abnormality at four and eight months and more sensitive than the Bayley Motor Scale; both assessment tools had lower specificity at eight months. The high false-positive rate is attributed to transient neuromotor abnormalities and immaturity of motor function in low-birthweight infants with normal outcome.     

Preliminary characterization of the procoagulant material in human ascites

Disseminated intravascular coagulation invariably accompanies placement of peritoneovenous (LeVeen) shunts, which suggests that ascitic fluid contains procoagulant material capable of activating blood coagulation. In this study, we identified thrombogenic activity in human ascites and the hemostatic pathway by which it acts. Peritoneal fluid was removed percutaneously from patients with ascites due to various causes. Four fractions were prepared by centrifugation: cells, a low-speed, cell-free fluid, a high-speed supernatant, and the precipitate from the high-speed centrifugation. Cellular fractions from all ascitic fluids shortened a one-stage clotting time of normal pooled plasma by 68% in comparison with saline solution and endotoxin controls. Similarly, the cell-free fluids also shortened the clotting time of normal pooled plasma by 41%. The cellular and cell-free fractions shortened the clotting time of factor VIII-deficient plasma but failed to demonstrate procoagulant activity in factor VII-deficient plasma. These fractions had no effect on platelet aggregation or the platelet release reaction. The high-speed precipitate was dissociated by ethylenediaminetetra-acetate (EDTA) into fluid phase and precipitate, both of which demonstrated procoagulant activity. Furthermore, high-speed precipitate contained protein, phospholipid, and sterol in proportions similar to those of plasma membranes and contained membrane-bound vesicles as identified by means of electron microscopy. This material could be rendered inactive by heating to 100 degrees C for 2 minutes or by incubation with phospholipase C for 15 minutes. Finally, the ability of the high-speed precipitate to shorten the clotting time was prevented by preincubation with a monoclonal antibody, which is known to inhibit the procoagulant activity of human tissue factor. We suggest that several entities contribute to the procoagulant properties of human ascites, with procoagulant material deriving at least in part from peritoneal cells. The sedimentable procoagulant factor appears to be associated with cellular membranes or membrane fragments and is thromboplastin-like in its chemical composition, immunoreactivity, and substrate specificity.     

Prognostic significance of oestrogen and progestogen receptor activities in breast cancer

The prognostic significance of the tumour activities of 2 steroid receptors, those for oestrogen (ER) and for progestogen (PgR), has been studied in 372 patients with breast cancer, in whom follow-up was available for 2-6 years (median 41 months). Of 252 patients with operable disease, 75.8 per cent had ER-positive tumours and 46.4 per cent had PgR-positive tumours, though a small additional fraction (6.3 per cent) had an equivocal PgR assay result. For the 236 patients with unequivocal receptor status, the relationships between disease-free interval or overall survival and receptor activity and other factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. The latter revealed that only tumour size, node status, menstrual status and ER status related significantly to both disease-free interval and survival, though adjuvant therapy also related to disease-free interval, and tumour grade related to survival. It is concluded that measurements of PgR activity do not add to the prognostic significance of ER status.