Prenatal forms of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are rare but can be recurrent in some families, suggesting a common genetic modifying background. Few patients have been ...reported carrying, in addition to the familial mutation, variation(s) in polycystic kidney disease 1 (PKD1) or HNF1 homeobox B (HNF1B), inherited from the unaffected parent, or biallelic polycystic kidney and hepatic disease 1 (PKHD1) mutations. To assess the frequency of additional variations in PKD1, PKD2, HNF1B, and PKHD1 associated with the familial PKD mutation in early ADPKD, these four genes were screened in 42 patients with early ADPKD in 41 families. Two patients were associated with de novo PKD1 mutations. Forty patients occurred in 39 families with known ADPKD and were associated with PKD1 mutation in 36 families and with PKD2 mutation in two families (no mutation identified in one family). Additional PKD variation(s) (inherited from the unaffected parent when tested) were identified in 15 of 42 patients (37.2%), whereas these variations were observed in 25 of 174 (14.4%, P=0.001) patients with adult ADPKD. No HNF1B variations or PKHD1 biallelic mutations were identified. These results suggest that, at least in some patients, the severity of the cystic disease is inversely correlated with the level of polycystin 1 function.
Background
Chemerin is an extracellular protein with chemotactic activities and its expression is increased in various diseases such as metabolic syndrome and inflammatory conditions. Its role in ...lung pathology has not yet been extensively studied but both known pro- and anti-inflammatory properties have been observed. The aim of our study was to evaluate the involvement of the chemerin/ChemR23 system in the physiopathology of COVID-19 with a particular focus on its prognostic value.
Methods
Blood samples from confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected at day 1, 5 and 14 from admission to Erasme Hospital (Brussels – Belgium). Chemerin concentrations and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed in the plasma. Blood cells subtypes and their expression of ChemR23 were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of chemerin and ChemR23 was evaluated on lung tissue from autopsied COVID-19 patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Results
21 healthy controls (HC) and 88 COVID-19 patients, including 40 in intensive care unit (ICU) were included. Plasma chemerin concentration were significantly higher in ICU patients than in HC at all time-points analyzed (p<0.0001). Moreover, they were higher in deceased patients compared to survivors (p<0.05). Logistic univariate regression and multivariate analysis demonstrated that chemerin level at day 14 of admission was an independent risk factor for death. Accordingly, chemerin levels correlated with inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor α. Finally, IHC analysis revealed a strong expression of ChemR23 on smooth muscle cells and chemerin on myofibroblasts in advanced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Discussion
Increased plasma chemerin levels are a marker of severity and may predict death of COVID-19 patients. However, multicentric studies are needed, before chemerin can be considered as a biomarker of severity and death used in daily clinical practice. Further studies are also necessary to identify the precise mechanisms of the chemerin/ChemR23 system in ARDS secondary to viral pneumonia.
INTRODUCTION:This study investigates the influence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection on immune activation biomarkers, both in HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects.
METHODS:Forty-eight ...treatment-naive HIV-infected patients and 74 HIV-uninfected subjects were recruited and divided into groups according to their M. tuberculosis infection statuslatent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), active tuberculosis (TB), and no evidence of M. tuberculosis infection. The expression of cellular markers CD38 and HLA-DR on circulating CD8 T lymphocytes and the plasmatic levels of soluble markers interleukin-6, sCD14, and D-Dimer were measured and compared between groups. The HIV-infected patients with no evidence of M. tuberculosis or with LTBI who initiated antiretroviral treatment were tested again for these biomarkers once viral suppression was reached.
RESULTS:In both HIV-infected and -uninfected groups, patients with TB had higher levels of immune activation markers than subjects with LTBI and with no evidence of M. tuberculosis. Among the HIV-uninfected subjects, no significant difference in biomarker level was found between those presenting LTBI and those with no evidence of M. tuberculosis. The effect of LTBI on activation biomarkers in the HIV-infected groups was inconclusive because of the small number of individuals in the HIV+/LTBI group. sCD14 and D-Dimer levels were significantly higher in the TB-only group than in the HIV-only group.
DISCUSSION:Although TB is associated with an increase in biomarkers of immune activation, the effect of LTBI is less evident. Further investigation is warranted, and according to our results, soluble markers may offer greater sensitivity for the evaluation of M. tuberculosis–associated immune activation than cellular markers.
Introduction: This study investigates the influence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection on immune activation biomarkers, both in HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects. Methods: Forty-eight ...treatment-naive HIV-infected patients and 74 HIV-uninfected subjects were recruited and divided into groups according to their M. tuberculosis infection status: latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), active tuberculosis (TB), and no evidence of M. tuberculosis infection. The expression of cellular markers CD38 and HLA-DR on circulating CD8+ T lymphocytes and the plasmatic levels of soluble markers interleukin-6, sCD14, and D-Dimer were measured and compared between groups. The HIV-infected patients with no evidence of M. tuberculosis or with LTBI who initiated antiretroviral treatment were tested again for these biomarkers once viral suppression was reached. Results: In both HIV-infected and -uninfected groups, patients with TB had higher levels of immune activation markers than subjects with LTBI and with no evidence of M. tuberculosis.Among the HIV-uninfected subjects, no significant difference in biomarker level was found between those presenting LTBI and those with no evidence of M. tuberculosis. The effect of LTBI on activation biomarkers in the HIV-infected groups was inconclusive because of the small number of individuals in the HIV+/LTBI group. sCD14 and D-Dimer levels were significantly higher in the TB-only group than in the HIV-only group. Discussion: Although TB is associated with an increase in biomarkers of immune activation, the effect of LTBI is less evident. Further investigation is warranted, and according to our results, soluble markers may offer greater sensitivity for the evaluation of M. tuberculosis-associated immune activation than cellular markers.
Gasoline emissions contain high levels of pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), which are associated with several health outcomes. Moreover, due to the depletion of fossil fuels, biofuels ...represent an attractive alternative, particularly second-generation biofuels (B2G) derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Unfortunately, compared to the abundant literature on diesel and gasoline emissions, relatively few studies are devoted to alternative fuels and their health effects. This study aimed to compare the adverse effects of gasoline and B2G emissions on human bronchial epithelial cells. We characterized the emissions generated by propane combustion (CAST1), gasoline Surrogate, and B2G consisting of Surrogate blended with anisole (10%) (S+10A) or ethanol (10%) (S+10E). To study the cellular effects, BEAS-2B cells were cultured at air-liquid interface for seven days and exposed to different emissions. Cell viability, oxidative stress, inflammation, and xenobiotic metabolism were measured. mRNA expression analysis was significantly modified by the Surrogate S+10A and S+10E emissions, especially
and
. Inflammation markers,
and
, were mainly downregulated doubtless due to the PAHs content on PM. Overall, these results demonstrated that ultrafine particles generated from biofuels Surrogates had a toxic effect at least similar to that observed with a gasoline substitute (Surrogate), involving probably different toxicity pathways.
Context:
Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare, aggressive tumors, of which some express receptors for estradiol, progesterone, and/or human chorionic gonadotoropin. Because this disease is ...encountered frequently in young women, pregnancy is a relevant issue.
Objective:
to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on outcome of patients previously treated for ACC.
Design/Setting:
retrospective observational multicenter study of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors.
Patients:
Seventeen ACC patients (21 pregnancies), becoming pregnant at least 3 months after the initial treatment, were compared with 247 nonpregnant ACC patients less than 47 years old. A control group of 34 patients matched for age, sex, and tumor stage was used for survival analysis.
Main Outcome Measure(s):
Overall survival, tumors characteristics at diagnosis, pregnancy outcome.
Results:
All 17 patients with pregnancies had localized ACC. The median time between surgery and conception was 4 years (0.3–12 y). Two pregnancies were terminated at 8 weeks. Sixteen women gave birth to 19 live infants. With exception of 1 (presumably unrelated) cardiac malformation, no severe fetal or maternal complication was observed. After a median follow-up time of 8.36 years and 5.26 years after the first conception, 1 of the 17 patients had died and 5 had experienced a recurrence, among whom 3 occurred before conception. Overall survival was not significantly different between the “pregnancy group” and the matched controls.
Conclusion:
Pregnancy in patients previously treated for ACC seems to not be associated with worse clinical outcome, although a “healthy mother effect” cannot be excluded.
Introduction:
This study investigates the influence of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
infection on immune activation biomarkers, both in HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects.
Methods:
Forty-eight ...treatment-naive HIV-infected patients and 74 HIV-uninfected subjects were recruited and divided into groups according to their
M. tuberculosis
infection status: latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), active tuberculosis (TB), and no evidence of
M. tuberculosis
infection. The expression of cellular markers CD38 and HLA-DR on circulating CD8
+
T lymphocytes and the plasmatic levels of soluble markers interleukin-6, sCD14, and D-Dimer were measured and compared between groups. The HIV-infected patients with no evidence of
M. tuberculosis
or with LTBI who initiated antiretroviral treatment were tested again for these biomarkers once viral suppression was reached.
Results:
In both HIV-infected and -uninfected groups, patients with TB had higher levels of immune activation markers than subjects with LTBI and with no evidence of
M. tuberculosis.
Among the HIV-uninfected subjects, no significant difference in biomarker level was found between those presenting LTBI and those with no evidence of
M. tuberculosis
. The effect of LTBI on activation biomarkers in the HIV-infected groups was inconclusive because of the small number of individuals in the HIV+/LTBI group. sCD14 and D-Dimer levels were significantly higher in the TB-only group than in the HIV-only group.
Discussion:
Although TB is associated with an increase in biomarkers of immune activation, the effect of LTBI is less evident. Further investigation is warranted, and according to our results, soluble markers may offer greater sensitivity for the evaluation of
M. tuberculosis
–associated immune activation than cellular markers.
Cette recherche propose une analyse de la gestion de l'information produit au sein de l'entreprise pour en assurer une qualité suffisante dans les processus inter-organisationnels, et ainsi ...participer au développement de la Green Supply Chain par la conciliation d'effets économiques et environnementaux. Par une étude de cas longitudinale au sein d'une multinationale entre 2007 et 2011, l'article met en exergue les transformations associées à la gestion des informations produit qui participent à l'amélioration de la qualité de ces informations. Les résultats montrent que la synchronisation d'informations produit de qualité contribue au développement d'une supply chain davantage durable. De plus, l'analyse de la transformation de la gestion interne de l'information produit fait ressortir un certain nombre de bonnes pratiques liées à l'amélioration de la qualité des informations. Cet article a fait l'objet d'une présentation lors du 17 colloque AIM, Bordeaux, 2012.
PDF
