Phenotypic and functional abnormalities of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoreactive T and B cells, which are believed to be secondary to deficient dendritic cells (DCs). However, whether DC abnormalities occur during their development in the bone marrow (BM) or in the periphery is not known.Methods: Thirteen patients with SLE and 16 normal controls were recruited. We studied the morphology, phenotype, and functional abilities of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) generated by using two culture methods: FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3)-ligand (FL) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) plus interleukin-4 (IL-4), respectively.Results: BMDCs induced by FL exhibited both myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) features, whereas GM-CSF/IL-4 induced mDC generation. Substantial phenotypic and functional defects of BMDCs were found from patients with SLE at different stages of cell maturation. When compared with healthy controls, SLE immature BM FLDCs expressed higher levels of CCR7. Both immature and mature SLE BM FLDCs expressed higher levels of CD40 and CD86 and induced stronger T-cell proliferation. SLE BM mDCs expressed higher levels of CD40 and CD86 but lower levels of HLA-DR and a lower ability to stimulate T-cell proliferation when compared with control BM mDCs.Conclusions: Our data are in accordance with previous reports that suggest that DCs have a potential pathogenic role in SLE. Defects of these cells are evident during their development in BM. BM mDCs are deficient, whereas BM pDCs, which are part of BM FLDCs, are the likely culprit in inducing autoimmunity in SLE. © 2010 Nie et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.published_or_final_versio

Aplicação de metodologia para a definição de requisitos de Conhecimento Situacional Marítimo na Célula de Aconselhamento, Acompanhamento e Defesa.

O aumento de complexidade das atividades desenvolvidas no domínio marítimo vem trazer novos desafios aos estados, principalmente aos costeiros. Portugal não é exceção e vê-se obrigado a reagir às suas responsabilidades como estado de bandeira de um crescente número de navios mercantes no mundo. Assim, em Novembro de 2017, foi criado o Portuguese Navy Shipping Centre (PNSC) ou em português Célula de Aconselhamento, Acompanhamento e Defesa (AAD). Neste seguimento e alinhado com o projeto MARISA, a Marinha Portuguesa promoveu o desenvolvimento de um estudo para a definição de requisitos da Célula AAD, visando melhorar o Conhecimento Situacional Marítimo (CSM) a médio/curto prazo. Este estudo começa com uma revisão dos conceitos de Conhecimento Situacional (CS), para melhor perceber e analisar o conceito de CSM, adotado na Marinha Portuguesa. CSM é um conceito amplamente debatido no campo da vigilância marítima, contudo existem alguns autores com definições consolidadas de CS que não têm sido referenciadas. Neste trabalho serão tidos em conta 3 conceitos de CS e os modelos associados, relacionando-os com o modelo de CSM adotado pela Marinha Portuguesa, considerando as virtudes e defeitos de cada modelo. Depois desta análise comparativa, é proposta a metodologia de Endsley, Goal-Direted Task Analsys (GDTA) para a definição de requisitos da Célula AAD. Aplicando a metodologia referida, caracterizou-se a célula, efetuando-se cerca de 6 horas de observação e 11 entrevistas a operadores, decisores e providers, de forma a definir um conjunto de requisitos para a Célula. Os resultados são expostos e catalogados segundo o modelo de Endsley e o modelo de construção de CSM da Marinha Portuguesa. Uma análise dos resultados é então elaborada, de onde resultam um conjunto de conclusões, expostas no fim do trabalho assim como algumas sugestões importantes para trabalhos futuros.The increasing complexity of activities in the maritime domain raised new challenges to all coastal states. In the case of Portugal, it is also required to promptly react to the needs of Portuguese flag vessels around the world. Therefore in November of 2017 was created the Portuguese Navy Shipping Centre (PNSC). In line with this, and with the MARISA Project, the Portuguese Navy developed a study, focused on the requirements assessment do PNSC, in order to improve Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) in a medium/short term. The study started with a review of SA concept models, to better understand and analyse the MSA concept used by Portuguese Navy. Maritime Situational Awareness is a concept that has been widely discussed in the maritime surveillance field; on the other hand there are some authors with well-established definitions of Situational Awareness (SA) not often referenced. In this thesis, after address three SA concepts and associated models, they are later related with the current MSA model used by the Portuguese Navy, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each model. From this comparative analysis, the Goal directed Task Analysis (GDTA) methodology is proposed to determine requirements for the PNSC. After characterize the centre, de results are exposed, cataloguing the requirements according with the 3 level models of Endsley and the 3 fases model of MSA construction of the Portuguese Navy. An Analysis of the results is then made, taking some conclusions and living a path for future wor

Education is associated with lower levels of abdominal obesity in women with a non-agricultural occupation: an interaction study using China's Four Provinces survey.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as their populations become exposed to obesogenic environments. The transition from an agrarian to an industrial and service-based economy results in important lifestyle changes. Yet different socioeconomic groups may experience and respond to these changes differently. Investigating the socioeconomic distribution of obesity in LMICs is key to understanding the causes of obesity but the field is limited by the scarcity of data and a uni-dimensional approach to socioeconomic status (SES). This study splits socioeconomic status into two dimensions to investigate how educated women may have lower levels of obesity in a context where labour market opportunities have shifted away from agriculture to other forms of employment. The Four Provinces Study in China 2008/09 is a household-based community survey of 4,314 people aged ≥60  years (2,465 women). It was used to investigate an interaction between education (none/any) and occupation (agricultural/non-agricultural) on high-risk central obesity defined as a waist circumference ≥80 cm. An interaction term between education and occupation was incorporated in a multivariate logistic regression model, and the estimates adjusted for age, parity, urban/rural residence and health behaviours (smoking, alcohol, meat and fruit & vegetable consumption). Complete case analyses were undertaken and results confirmed using multiple imputation to impute missing data. An interaction between occupation and education was present (P = 0.02). In the group with no education, the odds of central obesity in the sedentary occupation group were more than double those of the agricultural occupation group even after taking age group and parity into account (OR; 95%CI: 2.21; 1.52, 3.21), while in the group with any education there was no evidence of such a relationship (OR; 95%CI: 1.25; 0.92, 1.70). Health behaviours appeared to account for some of the association. These findings suggest that education may have a protective role in women against the higher odds of obesity associated with occupational shifts in middle-income countries, and that investment in women's education may present an important long term investment in obesity prevention. Further research could elucidate the mechanisms behind this association

Urban, semi-urban and rural difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Shaanxi province, northwestern China : a population-based survey

Background The ongoing rapid urbanization in China offers rural population opportunities not only for economic improvement but also for substantial health risks. Albeit some researches related to rural-urban difference of metabolic syndrome (MS), there lacks studies focusing on this point in undeveloped provinces in China. Methods The survey, as part of China National Diabetes and Metabolic disorders Study, was conducted in Shaanxi province from June 2007 to May 2008. A total of 3,297 adults aged 20 years or older were included, of which 1,467 individuals were from urban areas, 839 from semi-urban areas, and 890 from rural areas. The MS was defined according to the 2009 Joint Interim Statement. Results The age-standardized prevalence of MS was significant higher in rural residents than in urban counterparts (29.0% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.017), in particular among females (30.2% vs. 24.4%, P = 0.003). After adjusted for the listed risk factors, rural residents had a 27.6% increased risk of having MS than urban residents. With respect to MS components, the crude prevalence of raised fasting glucose and raised blood pressure was significantly greater in rural than in urban participants. However, no significant difference in the prevalence of MS was observed between semi-urban and urban participants. Conclusions Rural residents in Shaanxi province, northwest China, were at increased risk of MS, which could be partly explained by sociodemographic and lifestyle differences. In addition, the gap between urban and semi-urban areas seemed to be minimized in related to MS prevalence. Much more attention should be paid to and intervention strategies were needed to address the rural-urban disparities in China

Report on the Second Asia Autoimmunity Forum, Hong Kong, 3-5 March 2006

The Second Asia Autoimmunity Forum was jointly organized by the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology, the University of Hong Kong, and the Singapore National Arthritis Foundation, and was attended by over 200 delegates from around Asia. More than 20 invited international and regional experts in the field of autoimmune rheumatic diseases from China, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, and South Korea attended the meeting. A total of eight plenary lectures and four clinical symposia covered topics ranging from the role of dendritic cells and various genes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, the changes in disease manifestations during pregnancy in lupus, advances on genetic studies in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the role of dendritic cells and cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to the novel emerging targets for treatment of RA, systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). It was an excellent avenue promoting the co-ordination and exchange of knowledge in the area of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Asia. © 2006 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Report on the Second Asia Autoimmunity Forum 3-5 March 2006, Hong Kong

On March 3-5, 2006, The HK Society of Rheumatology, University of Hong Kong and Singapore National Arthritis Foundation organized the second Asia Autoimmunity Forum (AAF) in Hong Kong which was attended by over 200 delegates from around Asia. More than 20 invited international and regional experts in the field of autoimmune rheumatic diseases spoke on topics including the pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical aspects and novel therapeutic approaches of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. There were 8 plenary lectures and 4 symposia and the AAF provided an excellent avenue to promote the co-ordination and knowledge exchange in the area of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Asia. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Innate immunity and systemic lupus erythematosus

Innate immunity is the first-line host defence against pathogens and damaged host cells, and the major cellular components are phagocytes such as monocytes/macrophages, polymorphonuclear cells and dendritic cells. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the loss of tolerance to self-antigens, the source of which has been suggested to be apoptotic cells. In this article, we will review studies on apoptosis in SLE and discuss the contribution of innate immunity abnormalities in the development of this condition. © 2006 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Social mobility and adiposity in a recently transitioned population of Hong Kong: evidence from the FAMILY cohort

Session - Lifestyle, Central Adiposity, and Diabetes Risk: no. 262-SAbstract and oral presentatio