A 16-month-long experience of COVID-19 in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: An SFGM-TC multicentre cohort study.

This 16-month-long multicentre retrospective study of 225 allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) recipients with COVID-19 examines risk factors for severity and mortality, describing the successive waves of infections (from March to June 2020 and from August 2020 to June 2021). We confirm the negative role of low respiratory tract disease and immunosuppressive treatment. We highlight significantly lower percentages of severe forms and COVID-19-related mortality during the second wave. Monthly comparative evolution of cases in alloHSCT recipients and in the French population shows a higher number of cases in alloHSCT recipients during the first wave and a decrease from February 2021.

Adapted dietary inflammatory index and differentiated thyroid carcinoma risk in two French population-based case-control studies.

PURPOSE: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer and its etiology is still not well understood. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between an adapted dietary inflammatory index and differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) risk in two population-based case-control studies (CATHY and YOUNG-THYR) conducted in France. METHODS: These studies included a total of 1321 DTC cases and 1502 controls, for which an adapted dietary inflammatory index (ADII) was computed based on food frequency questionnaires in each study separately. The association between ADII and thyroid cancer risk was assessed using logistic regression models controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Higher ADII scores, corresponding to a higher pro-inflammatory potential of the diet, were associated with higher DTC risk (odds ratio (OR) for 1 standard deviation (SD) increase: 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.18, P: 0.03). Associations were stronger in analyses restricted to women (OR for 1-SD increase: 1.14, 95% CI 1.04, 1.25, P: 0.005), as well as in women with lower education level, current smoking, or high body mass index. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with an increased risk of DTC, especially when combined with other inflammatory conditions such as tobacco smoking or overweight. Our findings will help better understand the role of diet-induced inflammation in DTC etiology.

Multiethnic genome-wide association study of differentiated thyroid cancer in the EPITHYR consortium.

Incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) varies considerably between ethnic groups, with particularly high incidence rates in Pacific Islanders. DTC is one of the cancers with the highest familial risk suggesting a major role of genetic risk factors, but only few susceptibility loci were identified so far. In order to assess the contribution of known DTC susceptibility loci and to identify new ones, we conducted a multiethnic genome-wide association study (GWAS) in individuals of European ancestry and of Oceanian ancestry from Pacific Islands. Our study included 1554 cases/1973 controls of European ancestry and 301 cases/348 controls of Oceanian ancestry from seven population-based case-control studies participating to the EPITHYR consortium. All participants were genotyped using the OncoArray-500K Beadchip (Illumina). We confirmed the association with the known DTC susceptibility loci at 2q35, 8p12, 9q22.33 and 14q13.3 in the European ancestry population and suggested two novel signals at 1p31.3 and 16q23.2, which were associated with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in previous GWAS. We additionally replicated an association with 5p15.33 reported previously in Chinese and European populations. Except at 1p31.3, all associations were in the same direction in the population of Oceanian ancestry. We also observed that the frequencies of risk alleles at 2q35, 5p15.33 and 16q23.2 were significantly higher in Oceanians than in Europeans. However, additional GWAS and epidemiological studies in Oceanian populations are needed to fully understand the highest incidence observed in these populations.

Anthropometric Risk Factors for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Young Men and Women From Eastern France: A Case-Control Study.

The incidence of thyroid cancer has risen over the past decade, along with a rise in obesity. We studied the role of anthropometric risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancer at the time of diagnosis and at age 20 years in a case-control study conducted in eastern France between 2005 and 2010. The study included 761 adults diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer before 35 years of age between 2002 and 2006. They were matched with 825 controls from the general population. Odds ratios were calculated using conditional logistic regression models and were reported for all participants, those with papillary cancer only, and women only. The risk of thyroid cancer was higher for participants with a high body surface area (BSA), great height, or excess weight and for women with a high body fat percentage. Conversely, no significant association was found between body mass index and the risk of thyroid cancer. In the present study, we provide further evidence of the role of BSA and excess weight in the risk of thyroid cancer. These epidemiologic observations should be confirmed by further exploration of the biological mechanisms responsible for the associations of obesity and BSA with thyroid cancer.

Common variants at the 9q22.33, 14q13.3 and ATM loci, and risk of differentiated thyroid cancer in the Cuban population.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in Cuba is low and the contribution of host genetic factors to DTC in this population has not been investigated so far. Our goal was to assess the role of known risk polymorphisms in DTC cases living in Havana. We genotyped five polymorphisms located at the DTC susceptibility loci on chromosome 14q13.3 near NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1), on chromosome 9q22.33 near Forkhead factor E1 (FOXE1) and within the DNA repair gene Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) in 203 cases and 212 age- and sex- matched controls. Potential interactions between these polymorphisms and other DTC risk factors such as body surface area, body mass index, size, ethnicity, and, for women, the parity were also examined. RESULTS: Significant association with DTC risk was found for rs944289 near NKX2-1 (OR per A allele = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.1), and three polymorphisms near or within FOXE1, namely rs965513 (OR per A allele = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.3), rs1867277 in the promoter region of the gene (OR per A allele = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9) and the poly-alanine tract expansion polymorphism rs71369530 (OR per Long Allele = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.5), only the 2 latter remaining significant when correcting for multiple tests. Overall, no association between DTC and the coding SNP D1853N (rs1801516) in ATM (OR per A Allele = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.7-1.7) was seen. Nevertheless women who had 2 or more pregnancies had a 3.5-fold increase in risk of DTC if they carried the A allele (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 3.2-9.8) as compared to 0.8 (OR 0.8, 95% CI: 0.4-1.6) in those who had fewer than 2. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed in the Cuban population the role of the loci previously associated with DTC susceptibility in European and Japanese populations through genome-wide association studies. Our results on ATM and the number of pregnancies raise interesting questions on the mechanisms by which oestrogens, or other hormones, alter the DNA damage response and DNA repair through the regulation of key effector proteins such as ATM. Due to the small size of our study and to multiple tests, all these results warrant further investigation.

Menstrual and reproductive factors in the risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in young women in France: a population-based case-control study.

The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased in eastern Europe since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Although the radioactive fallout was much less severe and the thyroid radiation dose was much lower in France, a case-control study was initiated in eastern France. The present study included 633 young women who were diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer before 35 years of age between 2002 and 2006 and matched with 677 controls. Face-to-face interviews were conducted from 2005 to 2010. Odds ratios were calculated using conditional logistic regressions and were reported in the total group and by histopathological type of cancer ("only papillary" and "excluding microcarcinomas"). The risk of thyroid cancer was higher in women who had a higher number of pregnancies, used a lactation suppressant, or had early menarche. Conversely, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive use, and late age at first pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of thyroid cancer. No association was observed between thyroid cancer and having irregular menstrual cycle, undergoing treatment for menstrual cycle regularity shortly after menarche, having a cessation of menstruation, use of another contraceptive, history of miscarriage or abortion for the first pregnancy, or having had gestational diabetes. This study confirms the role of hormonal and reproductive factors in thyroid cancer, and our results support the fact that exposure to estrogens increases thyroid cancer risk.

Multiomic profiling of new-onset kidney function decline: insights from the STANISLAS study cohort with a 20-year follow-up.

Background: Identifying the biomarkers associated with new-onset glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decrease in an initially healthy population could offer a better understanding of kidney function decline and help improving patient management. Methods: Here we described the proteomic and transcriptomic footprints associated with new-onset kidney function decline in an initially healthy and well-characterized population with a 20-year follow-up. This study was based on 1087 individuals from the familial longitudinal Suivi Temporaire Annuel Non-Invasif de la Santé des Lorrains Assurés Sociaux (STANISLAS) cohort who attended both visit 1 (from 1993 to 1995) and visit 4 (from 2011 to 2016). New-onset kidney function decline was approached both in quantitative (GFR slope for each individual) and qualitative (defined as a decrease in GFR of >15 ml/min/1.7 m2) ways. We analysed associations of 445 proteins measured both at visit 1 and visit 4 using Olink Proseek® panels and 119 765 genes expressions measured at visit 4 with GFR decline. Associations were assessed using multivariable models. The Bonferroni correction was applied. Results: We found several proteins (including PLC, placental growth factor (PGF), members of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily), genes (including CCL18, SESN3), and a newly discovered miRNA-mRNA pair (MIR1205-DNAJC6) to be independently associated with new-onset kidney function decline. Complex network analysis highlighted both extracellular matrix and cardiovascular remodelling (since visit 1) as well as inflammation (at visit 4) as key features of early GFR decrease. Conclusions: These findings lay the foundation to further assess whether the proteins and genes herein identified may represent potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets to prevent renal function impairment.

NGAL is a Novel Target in Hypertension by Modulating the NCC-Mediated Renal Na Balance.

BACKGROUND: The expression of NGAL/lcn2 (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) is directly modulated by mineralocorticoid receptor activation but its role in blood pressure control is unclear. METHODS: a potential relationship between NGAL plasma levels, systolic blood pressure and urinary Na excretion was assessed in the STANISLAS cohort. The specific role of NGAL/lcn2 in salt-sensitive hypertension was studied using lcn2-knockout mice (lcn2 KO) fed with low-Na diet (0Na). RESULTS: we show that NGAL plasma levels positively correlate with systolic blood pressure, whereas they negatively correlate with urinary Na excretion in subjects of the STANISLAS cohort. Prolonged feeding of lcn2 KO mice with a 0Na diet induced lower systolic blood pressure than that of the control group (wildtype), suggesting a role for NGAL/lcn2 in Na-balance homeostasis. Short-term or prolonged 0Na increased Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) phosphorylation in the cortex of wildtype mice, which was prevented in lcn2 KO mice. Recombinant mouse lcn2 injections in lcn2 KO mice induced NCC phosphorylation in the kidney cortex, associated with decreased urinary Na excretion. Ex vivo experiments using kidney slices from lcn2 KO mice showed increased NCC phosphorylation by recombinant murine lcn2. In addition, recombinant murine lcn2 induced activation of CamK2ß (calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II ß subunit) phosphorylation in lcn2 KO mice and in kidney slices, providing an underlying mechanism involved in lcn2-induced NCC phosphorylation. Indeed, the inhibition of CamK2ß prevented NCC phosphorylation induced by recombinant lcn2 in kidney slices. CONCLUSIONS: we highlight a novel role of NGAL/lcn2 as a modulator of the activity of the renal sodium transporter NCC affecting salt-sensitive blood pressure.

Layer myocardial strain is the most heritable echocardiographic trait.

AIMS: Myocardial deformation assessed by strain analysis represents a significant advancement in our assessment of cardiac mechanics. However, whether this variable is genetically heritable or whether all/most of its variability is related to environmental factors is currently unknown. We sought to determine the heritability of echocardiographically determined cardiac mechanics indices in a population setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1357 initially healthy subjects (women 51.6%; 48.2 ± 14.1 years) were included in this study from 20-year follow-up after the fourth visit of the longitudinal familial STANISLAS cohort (Lorraine, France). Data were acquired using state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound equipment, using acquisition and measurement protocols recommended by the EACVI (European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging)/ASE (American Society of Echocardiography)/Industry Task Force. Layer-specific global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (full-wall, subendocardial, and subepicardial) and conventional structural and functional cardiac parameters and their potential heritability were assessed using restricted maximum likelihood analysis, with genetic relatedness matrix calculated from genome-wide association data. Indices of longitudinal/circumferential myocardial function and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction had low heritability (ranging from 10% to 20%). Diastolic and standard LV function parameters had moderate heritability (ranging from 20% to 30%) except for end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes (30% and 45%, respectively). In contrast, global longitudinal subendocardial strain (GLSEndo)/global longitudinal subepicardial strain (GLSEpi) ratio had a high level of heritability (65%). Except for GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio, a large percentage of variance remained unexplained (>50%). CONCLUSIONS: In our population cohort, GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio had a high level of heritability, whereas other classical and mechanical LV function parameters did not. Given the increasing recognition of GLSEndo/GLSEpi ratio as an early/sensitive imaging biomarker of systolic dysfunction, our results suggest the possible existence of individual genetic predispositions to myocardial decline.