Expansion of different subpopulations of CD26 ?/low T cells in allergic and non-allergic asthmatics

CD26 displays variable levels between effector (TH17 >> TH1 > TH2 > Treg) and naive/memory (memory > naive) CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Besides, IL-6/IL(-)6R is associated with TH17-differentiation and asthma severity. Allergic/atopic asthma (AA) is dominated by TH2 responses, while TH17 immunity might either modulate the TH2-dependent inflammation in AA or be an important mechanism boosting non-allergic asthma (NAA). Therefore, in this work we have compared the expression of CD26 and CD126 (IL-6Ralpha) in lymphocytes from different groups of donors: allergic (AA) and non-allergic (NAA) asthma, rhinitis, and healthy subjects. For this purpose, flow cytometry, haematological/biochemical, and in vitro proliferation assays were performed. Our results show a strong CD26-CD126 correlation and an over-representation of CD26(-) subsets with a highly-differentiated effector phenotype in AA (CD4(+)CD26(-/low) T cells) and NAA (CD4(-)CD26(-) gammadelta-T cells). In addition, we found that circulating levels of CD26 (sCD26) were reduced in both AA and NAA, while loss of CD126 expression on different leukocytes correlated with higher disease severity. Finally, selective inhibition of CD26-mRNA translation led to enhanced T cell proliferation in vitro. These findings support that CD26 down-modulation could play a role in facilitating the expansion of highly-differentiated effector T cell subsets in asthma

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the clinical presentation and survival of pulmonary embolism without identifiable risk factor

Background: The nature of pulmonary embolism (PE) without identifiable risk factor (IRF) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and PE without IRF (unprovoked) and assess their role as markers of disease severity and prognosis. Methods: A case-control study was performed of patients with PE admitted to our hospital [2010-2019]. Subjects with PE without IRF were included in the cohort of cases, whereas patients with PE with IRF were allocated to the control group. Variables of interest included age, active smoking, obesity, and diagnosis of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus. Results: A total of 1,166 patients were included in the study, of whom 64.2% had PE without IRF. The risk for PE without IRF increased with age [odds ratio (OR): 2.68; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.95-3.68], arterial hypertension (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.27-2.07), and dyslipidemia (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.24-2.15). The risk for PE without IRF was higher as the number of CVRF increased, being 3.99 (95% CI: 2.02-7.90) for subjects with >/=3 CVRF. The percentage of high-risk unprovoked PE increased significantly as the number of CVRF rose [0.6% for no CVRF; 23.8% for a CRF, P/=3, P<0.001 (OR: 14.1; 95% CI: 4.06-49.4)]. No significant differences were observed in 1-month survival between cases and controls, whereas differences in 24-month survival reached significance. Conclusions: A relationship was observed between CVRF and PE without IRF, as the risk for unprovoked PE increased with the number of CVRF. In addition, the number of CVRF was associated with PE without IRF severity, but not with prognosis

Anti-tumour necrosis factor discontinuation in inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission: study protocol of a prospective, multicentre, randomized clinical trial

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who achieve remission with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs may have treatment withdrawn due to safety concerns and cost considerations, but there is a lack of prospective, controlled data investigating this strategy. The primary study aim is to compare the rates of clinical remission at 1?year in patients who discontinue anti-TNF treatment versus those who continue treatment. Methods: This is an ongoing, prospective, double-blind, multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled study in patients with Crohn?s disease or ulcerative colitis who have achieved clinical remission for ?6?months with an anti-TNF treatment and an immunosuppressant. Patients are being randomized 1:1 to discontinue anti-TNF therapy or continue therapy. Randomization stratifies patients by the type of inflammatory bowel disease and drug (infliximab versus adalimumab) at study inclusion. The primary endpoint of the study is sustained clinical remission at 1?year. Other endpoints include endoscopic and radiological activity, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, work productivity), safety and predictive factors for relapse. The required sample size is 194 patients. In addition to the main analysis (discontinuation versus continuation), subanalyses will include stratification by type of inflammatory bowel disease, phenotype and previous treatment. Biological samples will be obtained to identify factors predictive of relapse after treatment withdrawal. Results: Enrolment began in 2016, and the study is expected to end in 2020. Conclusions: This study will contribute prospective, controlled data on outcomes and predictors of relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease after withdrawal of anti-TNF agents following achievement of clinical remission. Clinical trial reference number: EudraCT 2015-001410-1

Desarrollo larval y requerimientos cal\uf3ricos de Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) durante primavera y verano en Torre\uf3n, Coahuila

Diptera is one of the major groups of insects that contribute to organic matter decomposition, including several species of Calliphoridae and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) has been recorded as the principal species that colonizes carrion in the Comarca Lagunera of Coahuila. An experiment was conducted during spring and summer of 2010 in order to study the larval development as well as to know the complete life cycle of C. rufifacies. It was divided in two stages at Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro-Unidad Laguna facilities. In the first stage 4 chicken carcasses were used, whereas in the second, 4 pig heads were used as necrotraps. Pregnant females of C. rufifacies were collected, whichwere reared to obtained eggs and study the biological cycle until adult emergence. Five larvae specimens were measured every four hours, recording its length and diameter and instar changes. Temperature in the breeding room was recorded to calculate degree days accumulated (DDA) for this species. During spring C. rufifacies accumulated 192.57 DD while in the summer it accumulated 190.69 DD, these amounts were necessary to complete the cycle from the egg to adult emergence. During spring and summer C. rufifacies pupated in 96 hours after egg hatching. The results of this study contribute to knowledge of C. rufifacies biology as well as increasing the sarcosaprophagous fauna database of the Comarca Lagunera, especially in Torreon, Coahuila. Los dípteros conforman uno de los principales grupos de insectos descomponedores de materia orgánica, destacando varias especies de la familia Calliphoridae y Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart)ha sido consignada como la principal especie califórida colonizadora de carroña en la Comarca Lagunera de Coahuila. Durante primavera y verano del año 2010 se estableció un experimento para estudiar el desarrollo larval así como conocer el ciclo de vida de C. rufifacies. Éste estuvo dividido en dos etapas en las instalaciones de la Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro-Unidad Laguna. Enla primera etapa se usaron cuatro carcasas de pollo, mientras que en la segunda fueron usadas cuatro cabezas de cerdo como necrotrampas. Se colectaron hembras grávidas de C. rufifacies, las cuales fueron criadas y alimentadas para obtener huevos y estudiar el ciclo de desarrollo hasta adulto. Se midieron cinco larvas cada cuatro horas, tanto en longitud como en diámetro, además de registrar el cambio de estadío en cada medición. Se registró la temperatura del cuarto de cría diariamente y se calcularon lasUnidades Calor Acumuladas (UCA) necesarias para completar el ciclo de C. rufifacies. En primavera C. rufifacies necesitó 192. 57 UC y en verano 190.69 UC para pasar de huevo hasta la emergencia deladulto. En ambas etapas la larva de esta especie pupó a las 96 horas después de la eclosión (HDDE). Con los resultados de este trabajo se contribuye al conocimiento de la biología de C. rufifacies así como también se incrementa la base de datos sobre fauna sarosaprófaga de la Comarca Lagunera y en especial de Torreón, Coahuila.