HLA II class alleles in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients with and without temporomandibular joint arthritis

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Davidsone et al. Copyright: Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis is seen very often (38-87 %) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). With contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we can detect more cases of TMJ arthritis than ever before. Previous studies show that HLA II class alleles may have protective or risk importance in JIA subtypes. Our objective is to identify HLA II class alleles of risk and protection in JIA patients with TMJ arthritis. Methods: During the period from 2010 to 2015 MRI for TMJ was performed in 85 JIA patients who were genotyped for HLA- DRB1; DQB1 and DQA1 using RT-PCR with sequence-specific primers. As a control group, data of 100 individuals were taken from the genetic bank of RSU Joint Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Immunogenetics. Associations of DRB1; DQB1; DQA1 alleles in patients were examined individually using the χ 2 test. P-value (<0.05) and odds ratio were calculated using EPI INFO 6.0 software. Results: Out of 85 JIA patients with mean age of 13.7 ± 3.0 years (range 6.9-17.9 years), 59 (69 %) were girls and 26 (31 %) were boys. The mean duration of the disease was 3.07 ± 2.35 years (range 0.2-11.0 year). JIA subtypes were as follows: seronegative polyarthritis 51 (60 %), seropositive polyarthritis 6(7 %), oligoarthritis extended 7(8 %), oligoarthritis persistent 2 (2 %) arthritis with enthesitis 14 (17 %), undifferentiated 3 (4 %) and 2 (2 %) systemic arthritis. Two groups where separated after TMJ MRI exam: first with at least two signs of active inflammation and/or any structural damage (n = 62); second with no pathologic signs or with slight contrast enhancement (n = 23). We discovered that there are risk alleles that are found in all JIA patient's groups (MRI positive and negative groups) versus controls such as DRB1*07:01, DQB1*03:03; DQB1*05:01. Also some protective alleles as DRB1*18:01, DQB1*06:02-8 were found in overall JIA group. Alleles DRB1*12:01, DQB1*03:01; DQA1*05:01 were found to be protective for TMJ arthrits. Conclusion: In our study there were no convincing risk alleles, but there are alleles that probably are protective for TMJ arthritis like DRB1*12:01, DQB1*03:01; DQA1*05:01.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Bringing Food Systems Home:

Examining committee: Robert Parker, chair; Michael HibbardDo you know where your food is grown? The local foods movement began in response to what advocates saw as the negative impacts of our global-scale, industrial food system, including the disconnection of consumers from the source of their food. In recent years, interest in locally-sourced food has spread across the United States and many strategies have emerged to help communities bring their food systems back home. Among these strategies is the regional food hub, which actively coordinates the aggregation and distribution of source-identified food products from local and regional producers. In 2012, several organizations and local governments in Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley expressed interest in developing a regional food hub to serve the tri-county region. Using research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and information collected from existing food hubs, regional food and agriculture trends, and surveys of regional food producers and purchasers, this study seeks to determine whether a food hub is an appropriate strategy to strengthen the regional food system. The Mid-Willamette Valley is unique in the strength of its existing food system and the potential for the region to realistically meet its own food needs. However, several specific barriers need to be overcome to further develop the food system. Findings from this study reveal that the services commonly provided by regional food hubs have the potential to address many of these barriers and, therefore, a food hub is a viable strategy to take the region to the next level in developing its regional food system