Association of the CCR5 gene with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) has been shown to be important in the recruitment of T-helper cells to the synovium, where they accumulate, drive the inflammatory process and the consequent synovitis and joint destruction. A 32 base-pair insertion/deletion variant (CCR5Δ32) within the gene leads to a frame shift and a nonfunctional receptor. CCR5Δ32 has been investigated for its association with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CCR5Δ32 is associated with JIA in an UK population. CCR5Δ32 was genotyped in JIA cases (n=1054) and healthy controls (n=3129) and genotype and allele frequencies were compared. A meta-analysis of our study combined with previously published studies was performed. CCR5Δ32 was significantly associated with protection from developing JIA, in this UK data set (P(trend)=0.006, odds ratio (OR) 0.79 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.66-0.94). The meta-analysis of all published case-control association studies confirmed the protective association with JIA (P=0.001 OR 0.82 95% CI: 0.73-0.93). CCR5Δ32 is a functional variant determining the number of receptors on the surface of T cells, and it is hypothesized that the level of CCR5 expression could influence the migration of proinflammatory T cells into the synovium and thus susceptibility to JIA

Infrainguinal vein graft stenosis: Cutting balloon angioplasty as the first-line treatment of choice

ObjectiveThe optimal treatment for hemodynamically significant infrainguinal vein bypass graft stenosis is not known. This study compares three options as first choice for the revision of failing infrainguinal vein grafts: cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA), standard percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA), and open surgical revision (OS).MethodsInfrainguinal vein bypass graft lesions treated in a single institution during a 12-year period were evaluated. Of these, 161 lesions in 124 infrainguinal bypasses (101 patients) were treated with OS (n = 42), PTA (n = 57), or CBA (n = 62). The initial indication for the bypass in these patients was limb salvage in 73% and claudication in 27%. The primary outcome of interest was the development of vein graft occlusion or significant stenosis (≥70%) as detected by surveillance duplex ultrasound scanning or arteriography some time after repair.ResultsThe stenosis-free patency rates at 48 months for OS, CBA, and PTA were 74%, 62%, and 34%, respectively. PTA was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure compared with both OS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.9; P < .0001) and CBA (HR, 3.1; P < .0001). There was no significant difference between OS and CBA (HR, 1.3 for CBA vs OS, P = .6). Pseudoaneurysms developed in two CBA patients. One ruptured and required interposition graft, and one was monitored.ConclusionCutting balloon angioplasty is a reasonable, initial treatment for infrainguinal vein graft stenosis in most patients. It is a safe, minimally invasive, outpatient procedure with patency rates that are comparable to OS and superior to PTA

Association of the AFF3 gene and IL2/IL21 gene region with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Recent genetic studies have led to identification of numerous loci that are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The strategy of using information from these studies has facilitated the identification of novel juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) susceptibility loci, specifically, PTPN22 and IL2RA. Several novel autoimmune susceptibility loci have recently been identified, and we hypothesise that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes may also be JIA susceptibility loci. Five SNPs within the genes AFF3, IL2/IL21, IL7R, CTLA4 and CD226, previously associated with multiple autoimmune diseases were genotyped, in a large data set of Caucasian JIA patients and controls, and tested for association with JIA. We identified two susceptibility loci for JIA, AFF3 and the IL2/IL21 region and additional weak evidence supporting an association with the CTLA4 and IL7R genes, which warrant further investigation. All results require validation in independent JIA data sets. Further characterisation of the specific causal variants will be required before functional studies can be performed

Ripple and kink dynamics

We propose a relevant modification of the Nishimori-Ouchi model [{\em Phys. Rev. Lett.} {\bf 71}, 197 (1993)] for granular landscape erosion. We explicitly introduce a new parameter: the angle of repose $\theta_r$, and a new process: avalanches. We show that the $\theta_r$ parameter leads to an asymmetry of the ripples, as observed in natural patterns. The temporal evolution of the maximum ripple height $h_{max}$ is limited and not linear, according to recent observations. The ripple symmetry and the kink dynamics are studied and discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure, RevTe

Association of the IL-10 gene family locus on chromosome 1 with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)

The cytokine IL-10 and its family members have been implicated in autoimmune diseases and we have previously reported that genetic variants in IL-10 were associated with a rare group of diseases called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this study was to fine map genetic variants within the IL-10 cytokine family cluster on chromosome 1 using linkage disequilibrium (LD)-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) approach with imputation and conditional analysis to test for disease associations

Granular spirals on erodible sand bed submitted to a circular fluid motion

An experimental study of a granular surface submitted to a circular fluid motion is presented. The appearance of an instability along the sand-water interface is observed beyond a critical radius $r_c$. This creates ripples with a spiral shape on the granular surface. A phase diagram of such patterns is constructed and discussed as a function of the rotation speed $\omega$ of the flow and as a function of the height of water $h$ above the surface. The study of $r_c$ as a function of $h$, $\omega$ and $r$ parameters is reported. Thereafter, $r_c$ is shown to depend on the rotation speed according to a power law. The ripple wavelength is found to decrease when the rotation speed increases and is proportional to the radial distance $r$. The azimuthal angle \az of the spiral arms is studied. It is found that \az scales with $h\omega r$. This lead to the conclusion that \az depends on the fluid momentum. Comparison with experiments performed with fluids allows us to state that the spiral patterns are not the signature of an instability of the boundary layer.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, using RevTeX4, submitted for publication (2002

Effect of ethnicity on access and device complications during endovascular aneurysm repair

AbstractIntroductionThere are no published reports on the association between ethnicity and outcome after aortoiliac stent grafting to treat aneurismal disease. Because Hawaii is a state with an ethnically diverse population, we conducted a retrospective study to examine this potential association. We hypothesized that individuals of Asian ancestry may have higher complication rates after endovascular repair compared with non-Asians.MethodsAll endovascular devices placed to treat aneurysm disease from 1996 to 2003 were evaluated in two institutions. The association between ethnicity and access-related and device-related complications, both periprocedural and delayed, was examined with logistic regression analysis.ResultsNinety-two aortoiliac endografts were placed during the study period, including 87 in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms with or without iliac aneurysm disease, and five patients with isolated iliac artery aneurysms. Forty-four percent of patients were categorized as Asian, 39% as white, 16% as Pacific Islander, and 1% as African American. Access-related and device-related complications (ADRCs) occurred in 11 of 92 (12%) of these patients. The following parameters were significantly associated with ADRCs: Asian ethnicity (P =.015), age greater than 80 years (P = .02), and external iliac diameter smaller than 7.5 mm (P =.01). Asian patients were more likely to have experienced ADRCs than were non-Asian patients (odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-35.8; P = .015). Asians also had smaller external iliac artery diameters (P = .0003) and more tortuous iliac arteries (P = .03) compared with non-Asians. After adjusting for iliac artery diameter and tortuosity, the association between Asian ethnicity and ARDCs became nonsignificant (P = .074), which suggests that the association between race and complications may be at least in part due to small and tortuous iliac arteries. There was no association between age, gender, or ethnicity and postoperative detection of endoleak.ConclusionOur data indicate that individuals of Asian ancestry are far more likely to experience adverse access-related and device-related complications after aortoiliac stent grafting than are non-Asians. We found that this association is at least partly attributable to the smaller and more tortuous iliac arteries in persons of Asian ancestry

Association of the AFF3 gene and IL2/IL21 gene region with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Recent genetic studies have led to identification of numerous loci that are associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The strategy of using information from these studies has facilitated the identification of novel juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) susceptibility loci, specifically, PTPN22 and IL2RA. Several novel autoimmune susceptibility loci have recently been identified, and we hypothesise that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within these genes may also be JIA susceptibility loci. Five SNPs within the genes AFF3, IL2/IL21, IL7R, CTLA4 and CD226, previously associated with multiple autoimmune diseases were genotyped, in a large data set of Caucasian JIA patients and controls, and tested for association with JIA. We identified two susceptibility loci for JIA, AFF3 and the IL2/IL21 region and additional weak evidence supporting an association with the CTLA4 and IL7R genes, which warrant further investigation. All results require validation in independent JIA data sets. Further characterisation of the specific causal variants will be required before functional studies can be performed