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1.
J Thromb Haemost ; 15(1): 57-65, 2017 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27714919

ABSTRACT

Essentials We evaluated antibody status, thromboembolism and survival after cardiac surgery. Positive antibody tests are common - over 50% are seropositive at 30 days. Seropositivity did not increase thromboembolism or impair survival after cardiac surgery. Results show heparin induced thrombocytopenia antibody screening after surgery is not warranted. SUMMARY: Background Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic response to heparin therapy with platelet-activating, anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies leading to thrombocytopenia associated with thromboembolism. Objective We tested the hypothesis that anti-PF4/heparin antibodies are associated with thromboembolism after cardiac surgery. Methods This multicenter, prospective cohort study collected laboratory and clinical data up to 30 days after surgery and longer-term clinical follow-up data. The primary outcome variable combined new arterial or venous thromboembolic complications (TECs) with all-cause death until 90 days after surgery. Laboratory analyses included platelet counts and anti-PF4/heparin antibody titers (GTI ELISA), with a confirmatory excess heparin step and serotonin release assay. Chi-square testing was used to test the relationship between our outcome and HIT antibody seropositivity. Results Initially, 1021 patients were enrolled between August 2006 and May 2009, and follow-up was completed in December 2014. Seropositivity defined by OD > 0.4 was common, being almost 20% preoperatively, > 30% by discharge, and > 60% by day 30. Death (1.7% within 30 days) or TECs (69 in total) were more likely if the partient was seronegative (OD < 0.4), but positivity defined by OD > 1.0 or including an excess heparin confirmatory step resulted in equal incidence of death or TECs, whether the patient was seronegative or seropositive. Incorporating the serotonin release assay for platelet-activating antibodies did not alter these findings. Conclusions Seropositivity for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies does not increase the risk of death or thromboembolism after cardiac surgery. Screening is not indicated, and seropositivity should only be interpreted in the context of clinical evidence for HIT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Duke IRB Protocol #00010736.


Subject(s)
Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Heparin/adverse effects , Platelet Factor 4/immunology , Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced , Thromboembolism/etiology , Aged , Antibodies/blood , Anticoagulants/adverse effects , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Count , Prospective Studies , Sample Size , Thromboembolism/blood , Thromboembolism/therapy , Treatment Outcome
2.
Genet Med ; 18(6): 570-6, 2016 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26426884

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) predisposes to recurrent fractures. Patients with the moderate to severe forms of OI present with antenatal fractures, and the mode of delivery that would be safest for the fetus is not known. METHODS: We conducted systematic analyses of the largest cohort of individuals with OI (n = 540) enrolled to date in the OI Linked Clinical Research Centers. Self-reported at-birth fracture rates were compared among individuals with OI types I, III, and IV. Multivariate analyses utilizing backward-elimination logistic regression model building were performed to assess the effect of multiple covariates, including method of delivery, on fracture-related outcomes. RESULTS: When accounting for other covariates, at-birth fracture rates did not differ based on whether delivery was by vaginal route or by cesarean delivery (CD). Increased birth weight conferred higher risk for fractures irrespective of the delivery method. In utero fracture, maternal history of OI, and breech presentation were strong predictors for choosing CD. CONCLUSION: Our study, the largest to analyze the effect of various factors on at-birth fracture rates in OI, shows that CD is not associated with decreased fracture rate. With the limitation that the fracture data were self-reported in this cohort, these results suggest that CD should be performed only for other maternal or fetal indications, not for the sole purpose of fracture prevention in OI.Genet Med 18 6, 570-576.


Subject(s)
Cesarean Section/adverse effects , Fractures, Bone/physiopathology , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/physiopathology , Prenatal Diagnosis , Birth Weight/genetics , Female , Fractures, Bone/diagnosis , Fractures, Bone/etiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Logistic Models , Male , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/diagnosis , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/etiology , Pregnancy
3.
Clin Genet ; 87(2): 133-40, 2015 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24754836

ABSTRACT

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is the most common skeletal dysplasia that predisposes to recurrent fractures and bone deformities. In spite of significant advances in understanding the genetic basis of OI, there have been no large-scale natural history studies. To better understand the natural history and improve the care of patients, a network of Linked Clinical Research Centers (LCRC) was established. Subjects with OI were enrolled in a longitudinal study, and in this report, we present cross-sectional data on the largest cohort of OI subjects (n = 544). OI type III subjects had higher prevalence of dentinogenesis imperfecta, severe scoliosis, and long bone deformities as compared to those with OI types I and IV. Whereas the mean lumbar spine area bone mineral density (LS aBMD) was low across all OI subtypes, those with more severe forms had lower bone mass. Molecular testing may help predict the subtype in type I collagen-related OI. Analysis of such well-collected and unbiased data in OI can not only help answering questions that are relevant to patient care but also foster hypothesis-driven research, especially in the context of 'phenotypic expansion' driven by next-generation sequencing.


Subject(s)
Bone Density , Collagen Type I/genetics , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , North America , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/diagnosis , Osteogenesis Imperfecta/physiopathology
4.
Int J Obes (Lond) ; 38(12): 1491-6, 2014 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24694666

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Body size is postulated to modulate type 1 diabetes as either a trigger of islet autoimmunity or an accelerator to clinical onset after seroconversion. As overweight and obesity continue to rise among children, the aim of this study was to determine whether human leukocyte antigen DQ (HLA-DQ) genotypes may be related to body size among children genetically at risk for type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Repeated measures of weight and height were collected from 5969 children 2-4 years of age enrolled in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young prospective study. Overweight and obesity was determined by the International Obesity Task Force cutoff values that correspond to body mass index (BMI) of 25 and 30 kg m(-)(2) at age 18. RESULTS: The average BMI was comparable across specific HLA genotypes at every age point. The proportion of overweight was not different by HL A, but percent obesity varied by age with a decreasing trend among DQ2/8 carriers (P for trend=0.0315). A multivariable regression model suggested DQ2/2 was associated with higher obesity risk at age 4 (odds ratio, 2.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-4.80) after adjusting for the development of islet autoantibody and/or type 1 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The HLA-DQ2/2 genotype may predispose to obesity among 2-4-year-old children with genetic risk for type 1 diabetes.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/genetics , Autoimmunity/genetics , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , HLA-DQ Antigens/genetics , Pediatric Obesity/genetics , Age of Onset , Birth Weight , Body Height , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/epidemiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Female , Finland/epidemiology , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Germany/epidemiology , Humans , Islets of Langerhans , Male , Mass Screening , Mothers , Pediatric Obesity/epidemiology , Pediatric Obesity/immunology , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sweden/epidemiology , United States/epidemiology
5.
Dermatology ; 227(2): 186-8, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24060704

ABSTRACT

Nevus of Ota is a unilateral, asymptomatic cutaneous and mucosal hyperpigmentation of the face that is congenital or may appear during childhood. We present a case of symptomatic acquired nevus of Ota in an adult, associated with intense pruritus, not described in the literature so far. A 32-year-old woman presented with brownish mottled macules which appeared on her face progressively over 8 days, following the distribution of the first and second divisions of the left trigeminal nerve and partially covering the iris and sclera of the left eye. She reported an intense pruritus in this area. We performed a biopsy on the left forehead, which confirmed the diagnosis of nevus of Ota. Specific stains and immunohistochemistry revealed increased numbers of mast cells. Ophthalmological tests showed acute acquired melanocytosis of the left iris and sclera. The origin of the nevus is still unclear. Several hypotheses suggest a reactivation of melanocytes during their migration from the neural crest. The pruritus reported in our patient may be explained by the increased quantity of mast cells observed in the lesion and/or neuronal stimulation of the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the fifth cranial nerve.


Subject(s)
Face , Nevus of Ota/diagnosis , Pruritus/etiology , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Nevus of Ota/complications , Pruritus/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/complications
6.
Diabetologia ; 56(8): 1705-1711, 2013 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23657799

ABSTRACT

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Viruses are candidate causative agents in the pathogenesis of autoimmune (type 1) diabetes. We hypothesised that children with a rapid onset of type 1 diabetes may have been exposed to such agents shortly before the initiation of islet autoimmunity, possibly at high dose, and thus study of these children could help identify viruses involved in the development of autoimmune diabetes. METHODS: We used next-generation sequencing to search for viruses in plasma samples and examined the history of infection and fever in children enrolled in The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study who progressed to type 1 diabetes within 6 months from the appearance of islet autoimmunity, and in matched islet-autoantibody-negative controls. RESULTS: Viruses were not detected more frequently in plasma from rapid-onset patients than in controls during the period surrounding seroconversion. In addition, infection histories were found to be similar between children with rapid-onset diabetes and control children, although episodes of fever were reported less frequently in children with rapid-onset diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These findings do not support the presence of viraemia around the time of seroconversion in young children with rapid-onset type 1 diabetes.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods , Viruses/genetics , Autoimmunity/genetics , Autoimmunity/immunology , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/virology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Islets of Langerhans/immunology , Islets of Langerhans/metabolism , Male , Virus Diseases/genetics
7.
Int J Probiotics Prebiotics ; 7(3-4): 135-144, 2012 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25045339

ABSTRACT

The feasibility to detect lactobacilli in mail-in infant stools collected monthly from 3-18 months old children was investigated. The aim was to determine total lactobacilli and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) content (ng/g feces) in 50 infants each from Colorado (648 samples), Finland (624 samples) and Sweden (685 samples) who participated in the TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young) study. Total lactobacilli content varied markedly between 5 and 16,800 ng/g feces in the three clinical sites within and between individuals especially in infants. L.plantarum also varied markedly intra- and inter-individually from <0.5 - 736 ng/g feces. A higher variability of total lactobacilli was found before 10 months of age than after in the three different clinical sites. Sweden had the lowest total lactobacilli content compared to Colorado and Finland while the L.plantarum content was higher in Sweden. Mail-in stool samples from infants should prove useful in analyzing probiotics in childhood.

8.
Neurology ; 77(20): 1812-8, 2011 Nov 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22013176

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The clinical features and genetics of Rett syndrome (RTT) have been well studied, but examination of quality of life (QOL) is limited. This study describes the impact of clinical severity on QOL among female children and adolescents with classic RTT. METHODS: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted on data collected from an NIH-sponsored RTT natural history study. More than 200 participants from 5 to 18 years of age with classic RTT finished their 2-year follow-up at the time of analysis. Regression models after adjustment for their MECP2 mutation type and age at enrollment were used to examine the association between clinical status and QOL. RESULTS: Severe clinical impairment was highly associated with poor physical QOL, but worse motor function and earlier age at onset of RTT stereotypies were associated with better psychosocial QOL; conversely, better motor function was associated with poorer psychosocial QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Standard psychosocial QOL assessment for children and adolescents with RTT differs significantly with regard to their motor function severity. As clinical trials in RTT emerge, the Child Health Questionnaire 50 may represent one of the important outcome measures.


Subject(s)
Quality of Life/psychology , Rett Syndrome/physiopathology , Rett Syndrome/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Neuropsychological Tests , Severity of Illness Index
9.
J Perinatol ; 31(12): 764-9, 2011 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21527903

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between high-risk human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes for type 1 diabetes and birth size in combination with prenatal ch aracteristics in different countries. STUDY DESIGN: Four high-risk HLA genotypes were enrolled in the Environmental determinants of Diabetes in the Young study newborn babies from the general population in Finland, Germany, Sweden and the United States. Stepwise regression analyses were used to adjust for country, parental physical characteristics and environmental factors during pregnancy. RESULT: Regression analyses did not reveal differences in birth size between the four type 1 diabetes high-risk HLA genotypes. Compared with DQ 4/8 in each country, (1) DQ 2/2 children were heavier in the United States (P=0.028) mostly explained however, by parental weight; (2) DQ 2/8 (P=0.023) and DQ 8/8 (P=0.046) children were longer in Sweden independent of parents height and as well as (3) in the United States for DQ 2/8 (P=0.023), but again dependent on parental height. CONCLUSION: Children born with type 1 diabetes high-risk HLA genotypes have comparable birth size. Longitudinal follow-up of these children should reveal whether birth size differences between countries contribute to the risk for islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes.


Subject(s)
Birth Weight , Body Height , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , HLA-DQ Antigens/genetics , Parents , Body Weight , Female , Finland , Germany , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pregnancy , Risk Factors , Sweden , United States
10.
Diabetes Metab Res Rev ; 27(6): 584-9, 2011 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21488143

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Evaluate the reproducibility and relationship of various metabolic tests conducted as part of the Diabetes Prevention Trial-type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Coefficients of variation, intraclass correlation coefficients, and Pearson correlations between the same metabolic tests performed at different times as well as the different tests were determined. RESULTS: Fasting samples on the same day had a coefficient of variation of < 10 for C-peptide, 11 for insulin, and 2 for glucose. Testing on separate days approximately doubled the variance. Stimulated insulin values had less variance than fasting values and there was only a moderate correlation between fasting and stimulated values on each test. While highly correlated, C-peptide values from mixed meal tolerance tests are significantly lower than that obtained during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). Neither peak nor area under the curve C-peptide on the oral glucose tolerance test was different between those with abnormal and normal glucose tolerance. Those with abnormal as compared with normal glucose tolerance had lower 30-min C-peptide and a longer time to peak C-peptide. CONCLUSIONS: A large, multi-centre trial, with tests performed over a decade-long period, can provide robust data. C-peptide data from oral glucose tolerance tests and mixed meal tolerance tests differ; therefore, the same stimulation test should be used to evaluate changes in beta cell function over time. Worsening glucose tolerance is associated with lower C-peptide at 30 min and a delay in peak secretion on the oral glucose tolerance test. This Diabetes Prevention Trial-type 1 diabetes data can be used in planning parameters for future studies, including evaluation of new algorithms to determine risk of disease.


Subject(s)
C-Peptide/blood , Clinical Trials as Topic , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/etiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism , Autoantibodies/blood , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Fasting , Food , Glucose Tolerance Test , Humans , Insulin/immunology , Insulin/metabolism , Insulin Secretion , Islets of Langerhans/immunology , Prediabetic State/metabolism , Reproducibility of Results , Risk
11.
Diabetologia ; 54(3): 627-33, 2011 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21153533

ABSTRACT

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) study was designed to establish whether weaning to a highly hydrolysed formula in infancy subsequently reduces the risk of type 1 diabetes. METHODS: The study population comprises newborn infants who have first-degree relatives with type 1 diabetes and meet the increased risk HLA inclusion, but not exclusion criteria. The study is being performed in 15 countries in three continents. First-degree relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes were identified from diabetes clinics, diabetes registries, and from other endocrinology or obstetrics offices and websites. HLA typing was performed at birth from cord or heel stick blood, and the results sent to the study's Data Management Unit within 2 weeks for communication of eligibility to the clinical study centre. All mothers recruited were encouraged to breastfeed. The intervention lasted for 6 to 8 months, and weaning formulas based on hydrolysed casein and standard cow's milk were compared. RESULTS: TRIGR recruited 5,606 infants, of whom 2,160 were enrolled as eligible participants, 6% more than the target of 2,032. Of those enrolled, 80% were exposed to the study formula. The overall retention rate over the first 5 years is 87%, with protocol compliance at 94%. The randomisation code will be opened when the last recruited child turns 10 years of age, i.e. in 2017. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The TRIGR experience demonstrates the feasibility and successful implementation of an international dietary intervention study. TRIGR is the first ever primary prevention trial for type 1 diabetes and, if completed successfully, will provide a definite answer to the research question. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00179777 FUNDING: The study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH) (grant numbers HD040364, HD042444 and HD051997), Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International and the Commission of the European Communities (specific RTD programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources', contract number QLK1-2002-00372 'Diabetes Prevention'. Other funding came from the EFSD/JDRF/Novo Nordisk Focused Research Grant, Academy of Finland, Dutch Diabetes Research Foundation and Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation).


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/prevention & control , Infant Formula/administration & dosage , Research Design , Animals , Breast Feeding , Caseins/chemistry , Humans , Infant Formula/chemistry , Infant, Newborn , Milk
12.
Ann Rheum Dis ; 68(1): 103-6, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18664546

ABSTRACT

AIM: Currently, several different instruments are used to measure disease activity and extent in clinical trials of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, leading to division among investigative groups and difficulty comparing study results. An exercise comparing six different vasculitis instruments was performed. METHODS: A total of 10 experienced vasculitis investigators from 5 countries scored 20 cases in the literature of Wegener granulomatosis or microscopic polyangiitis using 6 disease assessment tools: the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), The BVAS for Wegener granulomatosis (BVAS/WG), BVAS 2003, a Physician Global Assessment (PGA), the Disease Extent Index (DEI) and the Five Factor Score (FFS). Five cases were rescored by all raters. RESULTS: Reliability of the measures was extremely high (intraclass correlations for the six measures all = 0.98). Within each instrument, there were no significant differences or outliers among the scores from the 10 investigators. Test/retest reliability was high for each measure: range = 0.77 to 0.95. The scores of the five acute activity measures correlated extremely well with one another. CONCLUSIONS: Currently available tools for measuring disease extent and activity in ANCA-associated vasculitis are highly correlated and reliable. These results provide investigators with confidence to compare different clinical trial data and helps form common ground as international research groups develop new, improved and universally accepted vasculitis disease assessment instruments.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic/immunology , Autoantibodies/blood , Vasculitis/immunology , Acute Disease , Europe , Humans , Linear Models , Observer Variation , Random Allocation , Sensitivity and Specificity , Severity of Illness Index , United States
13.
Contemp Clin Trials ; 30(1): 55-62, 2009 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18804556

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Strategies for study recruitment are useful in clinical research network settings. We describe a registry of individuals who have self-identified with one of a multiplicity of rare diseases, and who express a willingness to be contacted regarding possible enrollment in clinical research studies. We evaluate this registry and supporting tools in terms of registry enrollment and impact on participation rates in advertised clinical research studies. METHODS: A web-based automated system generates periodic and customized communications to notify registrants of relevant studies in the NIH Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN). The majority of these communications are sent by email. We compare the characteristics of those enrolled in the registry to the characteristics of participants enrolled in sampled RDCRN studies in order to estimate the impact of the registry on study participation in the network. RESULTS: The registry currently contains over 4000 registrants, representing 40 rare diseases. Estimates of study participation range from 6-27% for all enrollees. Study participation rates for some disease areas are over 40% when considering only contact registry enrollees who live within 100 mi of a clinical research study site. CONCLUSIONS: Automated notifications can facilitate consistent, customized, and timely communication of relevant protocol information to potential research subjects. Our registry and supporting communication tools demonstrate a significant positive impact on study participation rates in our network. The use of the internet and automated notifications make the system scalable to support many protocols and registrants.


Subject(s)
Clinical Trials as Topic/methods , Electronic Mail , Patient Selection , Rare Diseases , Registries , Humans , Informed Consent , Internet , Research Design , Research Subjects
14.
Nuklearmedizin ; 46(6): 244-51, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18084679

ABSTRACT

AIM: The clinical relevance of sentinel lymph node (SLN) analysis was evaluated prospectively and compared with other known risk factors of relapse in early stage melanoma. METHODS: Surgery was guided by lymphoscintigraphy, blue dye and gamma probe detection. SLN were analysed by haematoxylin eosin (HE) histochemistry and multimarker immunohistochemistry (IHC). Disease free survival (DFS) was evaluated with Kaplan-Meier plots according to different parameters and Cox analyses of variance. RESULTS: From 210 patients a total of 381 SLN were excised. Lymphoscintigraphy identified all excised SLN with only 2 false positive lymphatic lakes. Fifty patients (24%) had tumour positive SLN. With a mean follow-up of 31.3 months, 29 tumour recurrences were observed, 19 (38%) in 50 SLN positive and 10 (6%) in 160 SLN negative patients. Strong predictive factors for early relapse (p < 0.0005) were SLN positivity and a high Breslow index. CONCLUSION: SLN tumour positivity is an independent factor of high risk for early relapse with a higher power of discrimination than the Breslow index.


Subject(s)
Melanoma/pathology , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Melanoma/mortality , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Survival Analysis
15.
Diabetologia ; 48(1): 68-74, 2005 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15602651

ABSTRACT

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Immunological and genetic markers can be used to assess risk of developing type 1 diabetes prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Autoantibody-positive relatives of patients with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk for disease, while the presence of HLA DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 is thought to confer protection. Using the unique population identified by the Diabetes Prevention Trial--Type Diabetes (DPT-1), our aim was to determine if these individuals were protected from type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We described metabolic and immunological characteristics of islet cell cytoplasmic autoantibodies-positive relatives with DQB1*0602 identified as part of DPT-1. RESULTS: We found that 32% of DQB1*0602-positive relatives identified through the DPT-1 had abnormalities of glucose tolerance despite the fact that only 19% had multiple type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibodies and only 13% had abnormal insulin secretion, markers typically associated with the disease. In addition, these markers were not associated with abnormal glucose tolerance. In contrast, the DQB1*0602-positive relatives had elevated fasting insulin (117+/-10 pmol/l) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R) (4.90+/-0.5) values, which are more commonly associated with type 2 diabetes. The later marker of insulin resistance was associated with glucose tolerance status. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our data indicate that DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 relatives identified through DPT-1 have a high frequency of abnormal glucose tolerance and a disease phenotype with characteristics of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Thus, multiple pathways to abnormal glucose tolerance are present within families of these type 1 patients.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , Glucose Intolerance/genetics , Glucose Tolerance Test , HLA-DQ Antigens/genetics , Autoantibodies/blood , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/prevention & control , Glucose Intolerance/epidemiology , Glucose Intolerance/immunology , HLA-DQ Antigens/immunology , HLA-DQ alpha-Chains , HLA-DQ beta-Chains , Homeostasis , Humans , Insulin Resistance/genetics , Insulin Resistance/physiology
17.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab ; 86(10): 4957-62, 2001 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11600569

ABSTRACT

As part of a genetic study of type 1 diabetes in Mexican-Americans, 360 first-degree relatives of 108 type 1 diabetic probands were studied. Islet cell antibody (ICA), insulin autoantibody, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD(65)), and protein tyrosine phosphatase autoantibodies were measured and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles DRB1 and DQB1 genotyping was performed. ICA was positive in 37% of the probands and 5.8% of the relatives. A subgroup of 26 probands (12 ICA+, 14 ICA-) was tested for GAD(65) and was found positive. 4/14 ICA+ first-degree relatives were GAD(65) positive. Four relatives, positive for two antibodies, subsequently developed type 1 diabetes. Life-Table analysis of first-degree relatives with autoantibodies indicated an 80% disease-free survival at 3.5 yr. HLA-DRB1 was found to be associated with the presence of ICA in both probands and relatives, whereas HLA-DPB1 was associated with autoantibody in relatives of type 1 diabetic probands. These results suggest that autoimmunity occurs in type 1 diabetes families of Mexican descent in similar frequencies to that of non-Hispanic, Caucasian families. The presence of autoantibodies appears to be regulated in part by HLA class II genes, even in the absence of overt diabetes.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/analysis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Genes, MHC Class II , Mexican Americans , Adolescent , Adult , Alleles , Child , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/ethnology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , Female , Glutamate Decarboxylase/analysis , Humans , Insulin/immunology , Male , Middle Aged
18.
Pediatr Dermatol ; 18(4): 277-81, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11576398

ABSTRACT

One of the main problems in the management of congenital nevi is the potential risk for malignant transformation and the resulting need for follow-up examination. Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique that has been shown to be useful for the follow-up of benign melanocytic skin lesions as well as the early diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Therefore we thought to use the digital dermoscopy (DD) technique for the follow-up of congenital nevi. For documentation purposes we registered an overview, and the following standardized dermoscopic images of every lesion: representative architectural pattern, border of the lesion, and regions of "special interest." In all instances the examination with digital dermoscopy was well tolerated by the patients and the integration of the parents to the "live" examination on the computer screen was appreciated. The follow-up was easy to perform with these standardized documents. We showed the feasibility of follow-up of congenital nevi using digital dermoscopy. Furthermore, we identified three different patterns as well as some typical structures seen in congenital nevi by DD.


Subject(s)
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Dermatology/instrumentation , Diagnostic Imaging/methods , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/instrumentation , Nevus, Pigmented/congenital , Nevus, Pigmented/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/congenital , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatology/methods , Diagnosis, Differential , Diagnostic Imaging/instrumentation , Endoscopy , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nevus, Pigmented/pathology , Pilot Projects , Sensitivity and Specificity , Skin Neoplasms/pathology
19.
J Oncol Manag ; 10(3): 11-7, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11548179

ABSTRACT

Oncology managers increasingly need more information about how much and why treatment costs vary across cancer patients. In response to this need, our Center is building an analytic capacity for investigating economic aspects of cancer treatment. Economic analysis is characterized by a simultaneous consideration of treatment costs and outcomes; it focuses on how treatment cost/outcome ratios vary across patient populations with similar diseases. In this paper, we present an overview of our work, with special emphasis on the measurement of outcomes and the inputs or costs of treatment, the variability of cost/outcome ratios, and the analysis of the factors that predict or explain this observed variation. We illustrate how the analysis is conducted, set out selected results relating to lung and breast cancer patients, and assess some of the advantages and disadvantages of the approach. Among other things, we conclude that economic analysis of cancer treatment costs is feasible and that it can provide useful data for managerial decision making.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/economics , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Cancer Care Facilities/economics , Lung Neoplasms/economics , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Medical Oncology/economics , Aged , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Databases, Factual , Female , Health Care Costs , Hospital Charges , Humans , Managed Care Programs , Middle Aged , Models, Econometric , Multivariate Analysis , Quality-Adjusted Life Years , Survival Analysis , United States
20.
Diabetes ; 50(8): 1735-40, 2001 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11473032

ABSTRACT

More than 71,000 relatives of type 1 diabetic patients have been screened for cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies (ICAs), GAD65 autoantibodies (GAAs), and ICA512 autoantibodies (ICA512AAs). Among those 71,148 relatives, 2,448 were cytoplasmic ICA+, and the remainder were ICA-. Of the ICA+ group, 1,229 (50.2%) were positive for GAAs and/or ICA512AAs. Among ICA- relatives, 1,897 (2.76%) were positive for GAAs and/or ICA512AAs. Given the large number of relatives positive for cytoplasmic ICA and negative for "biochemically" determined autoantibodies, and the converse, we analyzed the proportion of ICA+ relatives found eligible to participate in the intervention phase of Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 (DPT-1). To be eligible for the parenteral insulin DPT-1 trial, a relative had to have first-phase insulin secretion below the 1st percentile of cut-points (for parents) or below the 10th percentile (for siblings and offspring). To be eligible for the oral insulin trial, a relative had to have first-phase insulin secretion above cut-points (>1st percentile for parents, >10th percentile for siblings/offspring) and be positive for anti-insulin autoantibodies. For both trials, DQB1*0602 was an exclusion criteria, cytoplasmic ICA positivity had to be confirmed, and an oral glucose tolerance test had to result in nondiabetic levels. Of 572 relatives found to be eligible for trial entry, 442 (77.3%) were positive for GAAs and/or ICA512AAs, although overall only 50.2% of ICA+ relatives were positive for GAAs and/or ICA512AAs. The positive predictive value for trial eligibility for ICA+ relatives with GAAs or ICA512AAs who completed staging was 51.0%. In contrast, only 11.9% of ICA+ but GAA- and ICA512AA- relatives were found to be eligible by DPT criteria for trial entry. Positivity for biochemically determined autoantibodies among cytoplasmic antibody-positive relatives is associated with eligibility for the DPT-1 study.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/blood , Clinical Trials as Topic/methods , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/prevention & control , Glutamate Decarboxylase/immunology , Isoenzymes/immunology , Multicenter Studies as Topic/methods , Patient Selection , Adolescent , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Child , Child, Preschool , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics , Ethnicity , Family , Female , HLA-DQ Antigens/genetics , Humans , Infant , Insulin/blood , Insulin/metabolism , Insulin/therapeutic use , Insulin Antibodies/blood , Insulin Secretion , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of Results , United States
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