Impact of affluence on the local spread of SARS-CoV2 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Socioeconomic factors such as elevated incidence of chronic disease, overcrowding, and increased occupational exposure result in higher risk of infectious disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has appeared to disproportionately affect communities affected by deprivation and discrimination, who also appear to be at greater risk of severe disease. Our aim was to investigate the evolution of the socioeconomic groups affected by COVID-19 over the course of the first wave of the pandemic by examining patients presenting to an acute NHS trust. STUDY DESIGN: and methods: A retrospective study using the postcodes of patients presenting to the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust who tested PCR-positive for COVID-19 were used to determine average house price and index of multiple deprivation. These were used as markers of affluence to examine the trend in the socioeconomic status of affected patients from February to May 2020. RESULTS: 384 cases were included. The postcodes of those individuals who were initially infected had higher average house prices and index of multiple deprivation, both of which followed downward trends as the outbreak progressed. CONCLUSION: Our data shows that the outbreak spread from higher to lower affluence groups through the course of the pandemic. We hypothesise that this was due to wealthier individuals initially transmitting the virus from abroad. Therefore, an earlier and more effective quarantine could have reduced spread to members of the community at greater risk of infection and harm. We suggest that hospitals systematically record the socioeconomic status of affected individuals in order to monitor trends, identify those who may be at risk of severe disease, and to push for more equitable public health policy.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in Its Niche: the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignancy for which treatment options remain suboptimal. It is clear that a greater understanding of the biology of the AML niche will enable new therapeutic strategies to be developed in order to improve treatment outcomes for patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of the bone marrow microenvironment in protecting leukaemia cells, and in particular leukaemic stem cells from chemotherapy-induced cell death. This includes mesenchymal stem cells supporting growth and preventing apoptosis, and altered action and secretion profiles of other niche components including adipocytes, endothelial cells and T cells. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the current understanding of the AML bone marrow microenvironment. Clinical trials of agents that mobilise leukaemic stem cells from the bone marrow are currently ongoing and show early promise. Future challenges will involve combining these novel therapies targeted at the AML niche with conventional chemotherapy treatment.

Identification of circulating microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for use in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell disorder that is characterised by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow, monoclonal paraprotein in the blood or urine and associated organ dysfunction. It accounts for approximately 1% of cancers and 13% of haematological cancers. Myeloma arises from an asymptomatic proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells termed monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). METHODS: MicroRNA expression profiling of serum samples was performed on three patient groups as well as normal controls. Validation of the nine microRNAs detected as promising biomarkers was carried out using TaqMan quantitative reverse transcription PCR. MicroRNA levels in serum were normalised using standard curves to determine the numbers of microRNAs per µl of serum. RESULTS: Three serum microRNAs, miR-720, miR-1308 and miR-1246, were found to have potential as diagnostic biomarkers in myeloma. Use of miR-720 and miR-1308 together provides a powerful diagnostic tool for distinguishing normal healthy controls, as well as patients with unrelated illnesses, from pre-cancerous myeloma and myeloma patients. In addition, the combination of miR-1246 and miR-1308 can distinguish MGUS from myeloma patients. CONCLUSION: We have developed a biomarker signature using microRNAs extracted from serum, which has potential as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for multiple myeloma.