White blood cells and blood pressure: a Mendelian randomization study

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. While BP is regulated by the function of kidney, vasculature and sympathetic nervous system, recent experimental data suggest that immune cells may play a role in hypertension. Methods: We studied the relationship between major white blood cell types and blood pressure in the UK Biobank population and employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using the ∼750,000 UK-Biobank/International Consortium of Blood Pressure-Genome-Wide Association Studies to examine which leukocyte populations may be causally linked to BP. Results: A positive association between quintiles of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil counts and increased systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) was observed (e.g. adjusted SBP mean±SE for 1st vs 5th quintile respectively: 140.13±0.08 vs. 141.62±0.07 mmHg for lymphocyte, 139.51±0.08 vs. 141.84±0.07 mmHg for monocyte, and 137.96±0.08 vs. 142.71±0.07 mmHg for neutrophil counts, all p<10-50). Using 121 SNPs in MR implemented through the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach, we identified a potential causal relationship of lymphocyte count with SBP and DBP (causal estimates: 0.69 (95%CI: 0.19-1.20) and 0.56 (95%CI: 0.23-0.90) of mmHg per 1 SD genetically elevated lymphocyte count, respectively), which was directionally concordant to the observational findings. These IVW estimates were consistent with other, robust MR methods. Interestingly, the exclusion of rs3184504 SNP in the SH2B3 locus attenuated the magnitude of the signal in some of the MR analyses. MR in the reverse direction found evidence of positive effects of BP indices on counts of monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, but not lymphocytes or basophils. Subsequent MR testing of lymphocyte count in the context of genetic correlation with renal function or resting and post-exercise heart rate demonstrated a positive association of lymphocyte count with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio. Conclusions: Observational and genetic analyses demonstrate a concordant, positive and potentially causal relationship of lymphocyte count with SBP and DBP

Angiostatin generating capacity and anti-tumour effects of D-penicillamine and plasminogen activators

BACKGROUND: Upregulation of endogenous angiostatin levels may constitute a novel anti-angiogenic, and therefore anti-tumor therapy. In vitro, angiostatin generation is a two-step process, starting with the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by plasminogen activators (PAs). Next, plasmin excises angiostatin from other plasmin molecules, a process requiring a donor of a free sulfhydryl group. In previous studies, it has been demonstrated that administration of PA in combination with the free sulfhydryl donor (FSD) agents captopril or N-acetyl cysteine, resulted in angiostatin generation, and anti-angiogenic and anti-tumour activity in murine models. METHODS: In this study we have investigated the angiostatin generating capacities of several FSDs. D-penicillamine proved to be most efficient in supporting the conversion of plasminogen to angiostatin in vitro. Next, from the optimal concentrations of tPA and D-penicillamine in vitro, equivalent dosages were administered to healthy Balb/c mice to explore upregulation of circulating angiostatin levels. Finally, anti-tumor effects of treatment with tPA and D-penicillamine were determined in a human melanoma xenograft model. RESULTS: Surprisingly, we found that despite the superior angiostatin generating capacity of D-penicillamine in vitro, both in vivo angiostatin generation and anti-tumour effects of tPA/D-penicillamine treatment were impaired compared to our previous studies with tPA and captopril. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that selecting the most appropriate free sulfhydryl donor for anti-angiogenic therapy in a (pre)clinical setting should be performed by in vivo rather than by in vitro studies. We conclude that D-penicillamine is not suitable for this type of therapy

"Alkoholismus ist keine Krankheit, Alkoholismus ist eine Verzweiflung". Ergebnisse aus den Schreibwerkstätten in der VinziRast

Die österreichische Kinder- und Jugendbuchautorin Renate Welsh-Rabady schreibt im vorliegenden Beitrag über ihre Erfahrungen in Schreibwerkstätten, die sie seit einigen Jahren mit alkoholkranken Menschen in der Wiener VinziRast-CortiHaus durchführt. Sie schildert ihre methodische Vorgehensweise sowie Ergebnisse aus den Schreibwerkstätten. Zahlreiche anschauliche und berührende Beispiele zeigen, wie in den durchaus oft spannungsgeladenen Schreibwerkstätten Wertschätztung gegenüber den Autorinnen und Autoren vermittelt wird und das Schreiben Mittel des Ausdrucks und der Auseinandersetzung mit sich selbst ist. (DIPF/Orig.)In this article, the Austrian children’s and young adult author Renate Welsh-Rabady writes about her experiences in the writing workshops for alcoholics that she has conducted for several years at VinziRast-CortiHaus in Vienna. She describes her methodological approach and the results of the writing workshops. Numerous vivid and moving examples show how an appreciation of the authors is conveyed in the often very charged writing workshops and how writing is a way of expressing and of examining oneself. (DIPF/Orig.

Looking back at doctoral education in South Africa

This article provides a quantitative picture of doctoral education in South Africa up to 2010, from the time the first doctorate was awarded in 1899. It identifies the different institutional profiles and emphases of doctoral graduation in South African universities at various periods of time in the context of economic, political and social change. In addition, it analyses the progress that has taken place in attaining the national goal of equity, redress and increased research production to allow South Africa to become a player in the knowledge economy. The article is based on a comprehensive database of all the doctoral degrees awarded by South African universities for over a century. This database was compiled by triangulating various data sources.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cshe202017-04-30hb201