Air Pollution and Lymphocyte Phenotype Proportions in Cord Blood

Effects of air pollution on morbidity and mortality may be mediated by alterations in immune competence. In this study we examined short-term associations of air pollution exposures with lymphocyte immunophenotypes in cord blood among 1,397 deliveries in two districts of the Czech Republic. We measured fine particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter (PM(2.5)) and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 24-hr samples collected by versatile air pollution samplers. Cord blood samples were analyzed using a FACSort flow cytometer to determine phenotypes of CD3(+) T-lymphocytes and their subsets CD4(+) and CD8(+), CD19(+) B-lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. The mothers were interviewed regarding sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and medical records were abstracted for obstetric, labor and delivery characteristics. During the period 1994 to 1998, the mean daily ambient concentration of PM(2.5) was 24.8 μg/m(3) and that of PAHs was 63.5 ng/m(3). In multiple linear regression models adjusted for temperature, season, and other covariates, average PAH or PM(2.5) levels during the 14 days before birth were associated with decreases in T-lymphocyte phenotype fractions (i.e., CD3(+) CD4(+), and CD8(+)), and a clear increase in the B-lymphocyte (CD19(+)) fraction. For a 100-ng/m(3) increase in PAHs, which represented approximately two standard deviations, the percentage decrease was −3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), −5.6 to −1.0%] for CD3(+), −3.1% (95% CI, −4.9 to −1.3%) for CD4(+), and −1.0% (95% CI, −1.8 to −0.2%) for CD8(+) cells. The corresponding increase in the CD19(+) cell proportion was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.0%). Associations were similar but slightly weaker for PM(2.5). Ambient air pollution may influence the relative distribution of lymphocyte immunophenotypes of the fetus

Safety and efficacy of BAY 94–9027, an extended-half-life factor VIII, during minor surgical procedures in patients with severe haemophilia A

n/

Cognitive and psychological profiles in treatment compliance: a study in an elderly population with hemophilia

Elderly patients with hemophilia have to face new challenges linked to concomitant pathologies and concurrent use of different treatments. In order to promote optimal care in the elderly hemophilia population, this study is aimed to analyze treatment compliance in relation to the presence of comorbidities and the role of potential determinants that can affect compliance (positively or negatively), including health-related quality of life, cognitive decline, and sociodemographic parameters (eg, living situation, partnership, presence of caregivers). This will be an observational study of elderly patients with hemophilia (aged >60 years). Patients will be interviewed during their routine medical visits. The data interview will pertaining to several dimension of treatment management. This study will detect more vulnerable patients with special care needs and will highlight psychological factors that should be considered for future psychosocial interventions

CENP-A binding domains and recombination patterns in horse spermatocytes

Centromeres exert an inhibitory effect on meiotic recombination, but the possible contribution of satellite DNA to this "centromere effect" is under debate. In the horse, satellite DNA is present at all centromeres with the exception of the one from chromosome 11. This organization of centromeres allowed us to investigate the role of satellite DNA on recombination suppression in horse spermatocytes at the stage of pachytene. To this aim we analysed the distribution of the MLH1 protein, marker of recombination foci, relative to CENP-A, marker of centromeric function. We demonstrated that the satellite-less centromere of chromosome 11 causes crossover suppression, similarly to satellite-based centromeres. These results suggest that the centromere effect does not depend on satellite DNA. During this analysis, we observed a peculiar phenomenon: while, as expected, the centromere of the majority of meiotic bivalent chromosomes was labelled with a single immunofluorescence centromeric signal, double-spotted or extended signals were also detected. Their number varied from 0 to 7 in different cells. This observation can be explained by positional variation of the centromeric domain on the two homologs and/or misalignment of pericentromeric satellite DNA arrays during homolog pairing confirming the great plasticity of equine centromeres

The history and evolution of the clinical effectiveness of haemophilia type a treatment: a systematic review.

First evidence of cases of haemophilia dates from ancient Egypt, but it was when Queen Victoria from England in the 19th century transmitted this illness to her descendants, when it became known as the "royal disease". Last decades of the 20th century account for major discoveries that improved the life expectancy and quality of life of these patients. The history and evolution of haemophilia healthcare counts ups and downs. The introduction of prophylactic schemes during the 1970s have proved to be more effective that the classic on-demand replacement of clotting factors, nevertheless many patients managed with frequent plasma transfusions or derived products became infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C virus during the 1980s and 1990s. Recombinant factor VIII inception has decreased the risk of blood borne infections and restored back longer life expectancies. Main concerns for haemophilia healthcare are shifting from the pure clinical aspects to the economic considerations of long-term replacement therapy. Nowadays researchers' attention has been placed on the future costs and cost-effectiveness of costly long-term treatment. Equity considerations are relevant as well, and alternative options for less affluent countries are under the scope of further research. The aim of this review was to assess the evidence of different treatment options for haemophilia type A over the past four decades, focusing on the most important technological advances that have influenced the natural course of this "royal disease"

New insights in the pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction detectable by a contemporary troponin assay

Objectives: ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI, NSTEMI) are considered two distinct pathophysiologic entities. We evaluated cardiac troponin I (cTnI) release in STEMI and NSTEMI using a \u201ccontemporary\u201d (CV > 10 to 20% at the 99th percentile concentration) cTnI assay for patients undergoing early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Design andmethods: 856 patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome consecutively admitted to the Emergency Department of the Maggiore Hospital of Novara (225 STEMI and 135 NSTEMI) were selected according to: 1) early ( 644 h from admission) and successful PCI; and 2) cTnI measurements at ED presentation and within 24 h. The influence of the MI type on cTnI concentrations at baseline and after PCI as well as the velocity of cTnI [cTnI V = absolute increase (after log conversion of cTnI measurements) / delay between the two measurements] was studied by multiple regression analysis, adjusting for patient parameters. Results: A statistically significant interaction between MI type and time from symptoms was reported on cTnI concentrations (p b 0.0001): STEMI and NSTEMI differed for cTnI releases at admission and after revascularization. Higher cTnI V in STEMI was detectable in patients admitted within 6 h from symptoms. Baseline cTnI concentrations were lower in patients with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and increased with aging (p b 0.0001). In the elderly (>75 years), the cTnI V was significantly increased. Conclusion: STEMI and NSTEMI patients have different patterns and dynamics of cTnI release influenced by the interaction with time from symptoms, by aging and history of CAD

Neoplastic diseases in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in Italy : classification and tissue distribution of 856 cases (2000-2010)

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and tissue distribution of neoplasms in Italian ferrets, compared to the epidemiological data previously reported in USA and Japan. Methods: Signalment and diagnoses of pathological submissions received between 2000 and 2010 were searched; cases with the diagnosis of neoplasm were selected and original sections reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. Results: Nine-hundred and ten samples were retrieved, 690 of which included at least one tumour for a total of 856 tumours. Ferrets with multiple neoplasms were 134 (19.4%). Median age was 5years, and F/M ratio was 0.99. Endocrine neoplasms were the most common. Other frequent tumours were cutaneous mast cell tumours, sebaceous tumours, and lymphomas. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were consistently associated with sebaceous tumours. Twenty-four abdominal spindle cell tumours with an undefined origin were observed. Lymphomas and islet cell tumours had a lower incidence compared with previous extra-European studies. Discussion: Epidemiological information on ferret tumours derives from extra-European countries, mostly USA and Japan. In these countries similar distributions with minor discrepancies have been reported. Compared to previous reports, adrenal tumours were more frequent than pancreatic islet cell neoplasms, and a higher number of mesenchymal neoplasms arising from the adrenal capsule was noted. An unusual association between SCC and sebaceous gland neoplasms and a high number of intrabdominal spindle cell neoplasms with unclear primary origin were noted and grants further investigation. Conclusions: The tissue distribution of tumours recorded in this study paralleled previous findings in ferrets from USA and Japan. Some differences have been noted in the frequency of lymphoma, adrenal mesenchymal tumours and cutaneous tumours. Some tumours that are among the most common in other species seem to be uncommon in ferrets and are characterized by distinctive predilection sites

European retrospective study of real-life haemophilia treatment

IntroductionHaemophilia treatment varies significantly between individuals, countries and regions and details of bleed rates, factor consumption and injection frequency are often not available.AimTo provide an overview of the FVIII/FIX treatment practice and outcome for patients with haemophilia A (HA) or haemophilia B (HB) across Europe.MethodsNon‐interventional, 12‐month retrospective study where anonymized data were retrieved from haemophilia centres/registers in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Male patients (all ages) receiving coagulation factor treatment 24 months prior to the study, with basal FVIII/FIX levels ≤5 IU dL−1, without inhibitors, were included. Data were summarized descriptively.ResultsIn total, 1346 patients with HA and 312 with HB were included in the analysis; 75% and 57% had severe disease (FVIII/FIX < 1 IU dL−1) respectively. Prophylaxis was most common for severe haemophilia, especially for children, whereas on‐demand treatment was more common for moderate haemophilia in most countries. The mean (SD) prescribed prophylactic treatment ranged from 67.9 (30.4) to 108.4 (78.1) (HA) and 32.3 (10.2) to 97.7 (32.1) (HB) IU kg−1 per week, across countries. Most patients on prophylaxis were treated ≥3 times/week (HA) or two times/week (HB). The median annual bleeding rate (ABR) for patients on prophylaxis ranged from 1.0 to 4.0 for severe HA, and from 1.0 to 6.0 for severe HB, while those with moderate haemophilia generally had slightly higher ABRs. Median ABRs for on‐demand‐treated severe HA ranged from 4.5 to 18.0, and for HB, 1.5 to 14.0.ConclusionTreatment practice varied greatly between centres and countries and patients treated on‐demand and prophylactically both experienced bleeds, emphasizing the need for further optimization of care