The anti-aging protein alpha-Klotho in systemic sclerosis patients: does a relationship to telangiectasia exist?

OBJECTIVE: The anti-aging protein alpha-Klotho has been reported to have an emerging role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). More studies are needed to approach this issue. This study aimed to assess the serum levels of α­Klotho in SSc patients compared to healthy controls, and to correlate them with the disease parameters. METHODS: Forty-two SSc patients were included in this study. History taking, clinical examination, and related investigations were performed. The modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) was used to assess skin tightness in SSc patients. Twenty-seven age- and sex-matched healthy participants served as controls. Serum α­Klotho was assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: SSc patients comprised 39 females and 3 males; mean age was 42.2 ± 12.1 years and mean disease duration 8.5 ± 6.3 years. Serum α­Klotho levels were decreased in scleroderma patients in comparison to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Scleroderma patients who had higher frequencies of telangiectasias and digital ischemic lesions had higher serum α­Klotho levels (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). By simple regression, only telangiectasias were significantly associated with higher α­Klotho levels (p = 0.01). No other significant relationships were found between serum α­Klotho and SSc disease parameters. CONCLUSION: Scleroderma patients had significantly lower serum α­Klotho levels than healthy controls. Higher α­Klotho levels were significantly associated with telangiectasias. An imbalance in serum α­Klotho levels may be involved in systemic sclerosis. Further longitudinal studies in a larger population of systemic sclerosis patients may provide a clearer clue for its role.

New influenza A/H1N1 ("swine flu"): information needs of airport passengers and staff.

BACKGROUND: Airports are the entrances of infectious diseases. Particularly at the beginning of an outbreak, information and communication play an important role to enable the early detection of signs or symptoms and to encourage passengers to adopt appropriate preventive behaviour to limit the spread of the disease. OBJECTIVES: To determine the adequacy of the information provided to airport passengers and staff in meeting their information needs in relation to their concerns. METHODS: At the start of the influenza A/H1N1 epidemic (29-30 April 2009), qualitative semi-structured interviews (N = 101) were conducted at Frankfurt International Airport with passengers who were either returning from or going to Mexico and with airport staff who had close contact with these passengers. Interviews focused on knowledge about swine flu, information needs and fear or concern about the outbreak. RESULTS: The results showed that a desire for more information was associated with higher concern - the least concerned participants did not want any additional information, while the most concerned participants reported a range of information needs. Airport staff in contact with passengers travelling from the epicentre of the outbreak showed the highest levels of fear or concern, coupled with a desire to be adequately briefed by their employer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that information strategies should address not only the exposed or potentially exposed but also groups that feel at risk. Identifying what information these different passenger and staff groups wish to receive will be an important task in any future infectious disease outbreak.