Treatment with FoxP3+ Antigen-Experienced T Regulatory Cells Arrests Progressive Retinal Damage in a Spontaneous Model of Uveitis

FUNDING: This work was funded by Fight for Sight, The Eye Charity (CSO project grant award: 3031-3032), and The Development Trust of the University of Aberdeen (Saving Sight in Grampian) (Grant codes: RG-12663 and RG-14251). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: We thank the Iain Fraser Flow Cytometry core facility, and the Microscopy and Histology core facility of the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Adalimumab in Active and Inactive, Non-Infectious Uveitis:Global Results from the VISUAL I and VISUAL II Trials

Purpose: Report global adalimumab safety and efficacy outcomes in patients with non-infectious uveitis. Methods: Adults with non-infectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis were randomized 1:1 to receive placebo or adalimumab in the VISUAL I (active uveitis) or VISUAL II (inactive uveitis) trials. Integrated global and Japan substudy results are reported. The primary endpoint was time to treatment failure (TF). Results: In the integrated studies, TF risk was significantly reduced (hazard ratio [95% CI]) with adalimumab versus placebo (VISUAL I: HR = 0.56 [0.40-0.76], p < 0.001; VISUAL II: HR = 0.52 [0.37-0.74], p < 0.001). In Japan substudies, no consistent trends were observed between groups (VISUAL I: HR = 1.20 [0.41-3.54]; VISUAL II: HR = 0.45 [0.20-1.03]). Adverse event rates were similar between treatment groups in both studies (854 to 1063 events/100 participant-years). Conclusions: Adalimumab lowered time to TF versus placebo in the integrated population; no consistent trends were observed in Japan substudies. Safety results were consistent between studies

Blood pressure and hypertension in people living at high altitude in Nepal

This study aimed to describe blood pressure (BP) and hypertension (HT) in samples of high altitude populations of Nepal and to explore associations of systolic BP, diastolic BP and HT with altitude. This was a cross-sectional survey among 521 people living at four different altitude levels, all above 2800 m, in the Mustang and Humla districts of Nepal. Data on BP was available for all 521 participants. Systolic and diastolic BP levels were highest at the altitude of 3620 m (the highest area surveyed) but did not consistently increase with altitude. Using the cut-point of ≥140/90 mmHg (systolic/diastolic), the prevalence of HT (or on anti-hypertensive medication) was 46.1%, 40.9%, and 54.5% respectively at 2800 m, 3270 m and 3620 m of Mustang district, and 29.1% at 2890 m of Humla district. In a multivariate model adjusting for potential confounders there was moderate evidence of a relationship between systolic BP and altitude; mean systolic BP increased by 14.1 mmHg (95% CI 2.6 to 25.5), P=0.02 for every 1000 m elevation. Although diastolic BP and the probability for HT (or on anti-hypertensive medication) also tended to increase with increasing altitude levels, there was no evidence of a relationship. In the present study three out of four communities living at higher altitude levels showed a greater prevalence of HT among those aged 30 years or older compared with the overall national data. These findings indicate a probable high risk of raised BP in high altitude populations in Nepal