PTPN22 R620W polymorphism in the ANCA-associated vasculitides.

OBJECTIVES: PTPN22 is involved in T-cell activation and its R620W single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been shown to predispose to different autoimmune diseases. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of the PTPN22 R620W SNP in conferring susceptibility to the ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAVs), and to explore potential associations between the PTPN22 genotype and the disease manifestations. METHODS: PTPN22 R620W SNP was genotyped in a cohort of 344 AAV patients [143 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA), 102 with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and 99 with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS)] and in 945 healthy controls. RESULTS: The frequency of the minor allele (620W) was significantly higher in GPA patients than in controls [P = 0.005, χ(2 )= 7.858, odds ratio (OR) = 1.91], while no statistically significant association was found with MPA or CSS. Among GPA patients, the 620W allele was particularly enriched in ANCA-positive patients as compared with controls (P = 0.00012, χ(2 )= 14.73, OR = 2.31); a particularly marked association was also found with ENT involvement (P = 0.0071, χ(2 )= 7.258, OR = 1.98), lung involvement (P = 0.0060, χ(2 )= 7.541, OR = 2.07) and skin manifestations of all kinds (P = 0.000047, χ(2 )= 16.567, OR = 3.73). CONCLUSION: The PTPN22 620W allele confers susceptibility to the development of GPA (but not of MPA or CSS), and particularly of its ANCA-positive subset.

Prognostic Factors and Long-Term Outcome with ANCA-Associated Kidney Vasculitis in Childhood.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: ANCA-associated vasculitis is extremely rare in children. We report the clinicopathologic features, long-term outcomes, and prognostic factors of a large pediatric cohort of patients with ANCA-associated kidney vasculitis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This retrospective study included 85 consecutive patients with kidney biopsy specimen-proven ANCA-associated vasculitis from tertiary referral centers in Italy and Canada. Kidney biopsy specimens were categorized as focal, crescentic, sclerotic, or mixed, according to the Berden classification. The prognostic significance of baseline clinical, laboratory, and histologic findings was analyzed with respect to kidney failure or CKD stage 3-5/kidney failure. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients had microscopic polyangiitis (62%), and 32 had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (38%). Rapidly progressive GN was the most frequent presentation (39%); a third of the patients also had nephrotic-range proteinuria. Kidney biopsy specimens were classified as focal in 21% of the patients, crescentic in 51%, sclerotic in 15%, and mixed in 13%. Remission-induction therapies included cyclophosphamide in 78% of patients. A total of 25 patients (29%) reached kidney failure. The median (interquartile range) time to kidney failure or last follow-up was 35 (6-89) months in the whole cohort, and 73 (24-109) months among the patients who did not reach this outcome. Patients whose biopsy specimens showed sclerotic histology had significantly shorter kidney survival (hazard ratio, 11.80; 95% confidence interval, 2.49 to 55.99) and survival free of CKD stage 3-5 (hazard ratio, 8.88; 95% confidence interval, 2.43 to 32.48), as compared with those with focal/mixed histology. Baseline eGFR, low serum albumin, hypertension, central nervous system complications, and sclerotic histology, which reflected severe kidney involvement, were associated with both kidney failure and CKD stage 3-5/kidney failure at unadjusted analysis; no independent prognostic factors emerged at multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ANCA-associated kidney vasculitis often have aggressive presentation; a third of such children progress to kidney failure and this usually occurs early during follow-up. A severe clinical presentation is associated with the development of CKD or kidney failure.

Psychophysiological response to the use of nuclear, biological and chemical equipment with military tasks.

The current military training requires the development and optimization of different strategies to improve performance in extreme conditions as well as the possible risk of suffering attacks with chemical and/ or radioactive substances. It turns out mandatory to research the psychophysiological response of soldiers and sanitary personnel when wearing the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) equipment. A longitudinal prospective experimental quantitative study has been developed, using a pre-treatment and post-treatment design. A total of 20 soldiers (33.3 ±â€¯5.4 years), belonging to the Spanish Armed Forces have been analyzed, divided into two groups, when carrying out different training activities designed to that effect. The following variables were analyzed right before and after accomplishing the different tasks: heart rate, heart variability, thermoregulation, blood glucose, explosive strength, perceived effort and motion performance in a munitioning task. The results showed a significant increase (p < 05) in heart rate, blood glucose, perceived effort and the time required when developing the triage tasks and when putting a tourniquet on other person in the group wearing NBC equipment compared to the other group, as well as a longer time required in a munitioning task. These results highlight the importance of training and preparing the sanitary and military personnel in the use of NBC equipment.

Methotrexate versus cyclophosphamide for remission maintenance in ANCA-associated vasculitis: A randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is based on remission-induction and remission-maintenance. Methotrexate is a widely used immunosuppressant but only a few studies explored its role for maintenance in AAV. This trial investigated the efficacy and safety of methotrexate as maintenance therapy for AAV. METHODS: In this single-centre, open-label, randomised trial we compared methotrexate and cyclophosphamide for maintenance in AAV. We enrolled patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), the latter with poor-prognosis factors and/or peripheral neuropathy. Remission was induced with cyclophosphamide. At remission, the patients were randomised to receive methotrexate or to continue with cyclophosphamide for 12 months; after treatment, they were followed for another 12 months. The primary end-point was relapse; secondary end-points included renal outcomes and treatment-related toxicity. RESULTS: Of the 94 enrolled patients, 23 were excluded during remission-induction or did not achieve remission; the remaining 71 were randomised to cyclophosphamide (n = 33) or methotrexate (n = 38). Relapse frequencies at months 12 and 24 after randomisation were not different between the two groups (p = 1.00 and 1.00). Relapse-free survival was also comparable (log-rank test p = 0.99). No differences in relapses were detected between the two treatments when GPA+MPA and EGPA were analysed separately. There were no differences in eGFR at months 12 and 24; proteinuria declined significantly (from diagnosis to month 24) only in the cyclophosphamide group (p = 0.0007). No significant differences in adverse event frequencies were observed. CONCLUSIONS: MTX may be effective and safe for remission-maintenance in AAV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00751517.

ANCA-associated vasculitis in childhood: recent advances.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides are rare systemic diseases that usually occur in adulthood. They comprise granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA, Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, Churg-Strauss syndrome). Their clinical presentation is often heterogeneous, with frequent involvement of the respiratory tract, the kidney, the skin and the joints. ANCA-associated vasculitis is rare in childhood but North-American and European cohort studies performed during the last decade have clarified their phenotype, patterns of renal involvement and their prognostic implications, and outcome. Herein, we review the main clinical and therapeutic aspects of childhood-onset ANCA-associated vasculitis, and provide preliminary data on demographic characteristics and organ manifestations of an Italian multicentre cohort.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: an overview.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a multisystemic disorder, belonging to the small vessel anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, defined as an eosinophil-rich and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation often involving the respiratory tract, and necrotizing vasculitis predominantly affecting small to medium-sized vessels, associated with asthma and eosinophilia. EGPA pathogenesis is not well known: HLA-DRB1*04 and *07, HLA-DRB4 and IL10.2 haplotype of the IL-10 promoter gene are the most studied genetic determinants. Among the acquired pathogenetic factors, the exposure to different allergens, infections, vaccinations, drugs, and silica exposure have been involved. Eosinophils are the most characteristic cells in EGPA and different studies have demonstrated their role as effector and immunoregulatory cells. EGPA is considered as a disease with a prevalent activation of the Th-2 cellular-mediated inflammatory response and also humoral immunity plays an important role. A link between B and T inflammatory responses may explain different disease features. EGPA typically develops into three sequential phases: the allergic phase, distinguished by the occurrence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis, the eosinophilic phase, in which the main pathological finding is the eosinophilic organ infiltrations (e.g., lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal system), and the vasculitic phase, characterized by purpura, peripheral neuropathy, and constitutional symptoms. ANCA (especially pANCA anti-myeloperoxidase) are present in 40-60% of the patients. An elevation of IgG4 is frequently found. Corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide are classically used for remission induction, while azathioprine and methotrexate are the therapeutic options for remission maintenance. B-cell depletion with rituximab has shown promising results for remission induction.

Adjuvant low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus interferon-α (IFN-α) in operable renal cell carcinoma (RCC): a phase III, randomized, multicentre trial of the Italian Oncology Group for Clinical Research (GOIRC).

There is currently no standard therapy to reduce the recurrence rate after surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of adjuvant treatment with low doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2)+interferon-α (IFN-α) in operable RCC. The patients were randomized 1:1 to receive a 4-week cycle of low-dose IL-2+IFN-α or observation after primary surgery for RCC. Treatment cycles were repeated every 4 months for the first 2 years and every 6 months for the subsequent 3 years. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS); safety; and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints. ClinicalTrials.gov registration number was NCT00502034. 303/310 randomized patients (156 in the immunotherapy arm and 154 in the observation group) were evaluable at the intention-to-treat analyses. The 2 arms were well balanced. At a median follow-up of 52 months (range, 12-151 mo), RFS, and OS were similar, with an estimated hazard ratio (HR) of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54-1.31; P=0.44] and of 1.07 (95% CI, 0.64-1.79; P=0.79), respectively in the 2 groups. Unplanned, subgroup analysis showed a positive effect of the treatment for patients with age 60 years and younger, pN0, tumor grades 1-2, and pT3a stage. Among patients with the combined presence of ≥ 2 of these factors, immunotherapy had a positive effect on RFS (HR=0.44; 95% CI, 0.24-0.82; P ≤ 0.01), whereas patients with <2 factors in the treatment arm exhibited a significant poorer OS (HR=2.27; 95% CI, 1.03-5.03 P=0.037). Toxicity of immunotherapy was mild and limited to World Health Organization grade 1-2 in most cases. Adjuvant immunotherapy with IL-2+IFN-α showed no RFS or OS improvement in RCC patients who underwent radical surgery. The results of subset analysis here presented are only hypothesis generating.

Long-term control of refractory hemorrhagic radiation proctitis with ozone therapy.

CONTEXT: Persistent or severe hemorrhagic radiation proctitis (HRP) has limited therapeutic options. OBJECTIVES: To describe our experience with ozone therapy (O3T) in the management of refractory HRP. METHODS: Patients (n=17; median age 69 years [range 42-80 years]) previously irradiated for prostate or uterine cancer and suffering persistent or severe HRP without response to conventional treatment were enrolled to receive an O3/O2 gas mixture via rectal insufflations and topical application of ozonized oil. Most of the patients (83%) had Grade 3 or Grade 4 toxicity. Median follow-up post-O3T was 40 months (range 3-56 months). RESULTS: Endoscopic treatments required were: 43 (median 1; range 0-10) pre-O3T; 17 (median 0; range 0-8; P=0.063) during O3T; and five (median 0; range 0-2; P=0.008) during follow-up. Hemoglobin levels were 10.35g/dL (7-14g/dL) pre-O3T and 13g/dL (9-15g/dL) (P=0.001) post-O3T. Median toxicity grades were 3 (range 2-4) pre-O3T, 1 (range 0-2; P<0.001) at the end of O3T, and 0 (range 0-1; P<0.001) at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Persistent advanced HRP was significantly improved with O3T. The addition of O3T can be useful as a complementary treatment in the long-term management of HRP and, as such, merits further evaluation.

Cinética de infección de la línea celular de macrófagos J774.2 con Histoplasma capsulatum: estudio por microscopía electronica / Infection kinetics of the macrophage J774.2 Cell-line with Histoplasma caprulatum

Se estudió la cinética de fagocitosis de levaduras de Histoplasma capsulatum en una línea celular de macrófagos (J774.2), sincronizando el inóculo y la ingestión (internalización) de levaduras a 4-C por 1h, a fin de permitir un mejor contacto de los macrófagos y las levaduras durante la fase de adherencia. La fagocitosis se llevó a cabo a 37-C con diferentes períodos de incubación 0,5,15,30,60min, 3 y 24 h, para determinar el tiempo de internalización de las células levaduriformes a los macrófagos. El seguimineto de la internalización fue realizado por microscopía electrónica de transmisión y de barrido. Se utilizó Mycobacterium tuberculosis como microorganismo de referencia. La fagocitosis de Histoplasma fue retardada en comparación con la del bacilo tuberculoso y los macrófagos (J774.2) internalizaron levaduras en un tiempo aproximado de 15-30 minutos. Mientras H. capsulatum sólo fue observado en el interior del macrófago a partir de los 15 min de fagocitosis, M. tuberculosis fue encontrado desde los 0-5 minutos. Además, a los 60 min aún se observaron levauras adheridas, siendo que los macrófagos infectados con M. tuberculosis presentaron daño y muerte celular. Estos resultados apoyan las diferencias en la internalización de ambos microorganismos