ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Peripheral helper T (Tph) cells have an important role in the induction of humoral immune responses and autoantibody production. Accordingly, it is feasible that this lymphocyte subset has a relevant role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). In this study we aim to analyze the levels and function of Tph cells in blood samples from patients with AITD. METHODS: We performed an observational study with cases and controls. Blood samples were obtained from nineteen patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), twenty-four with Graves' disease (GD), and fifteen healthy controls. In addition, the levels of follicular T helper (Tfh) cells and Tph cells, the release of interleukin-21 (IL-21) by these lymphocytes and the number of plasmablasts were analyzed by multi-parametric flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS: Increased percentages of Tfh and Tph lymphocytes were detected in patients with HT and GD. Furthermore, an enhanced synthesis of the cytokine IL-21 by these cells was observed. Accordingly, we detected significant higher percentages of plasmablasts in patients with GD, and these values tended to be also higher in HT patients. Moreover, significant positive associations were observed between the levels of Tfh or Tph and the number of plasmablast or anti-TSHR Ab titers in patients with AITD. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that Tph lymphocytes may have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of AITD.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has been associated with several factors. The aim of the present study was to correlate tumor-related factors and pathological findings with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a prospectively maintained database, we reviewed 89 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from 2010 to 2014. The impact of histopathologic or tumor-related data, including a lymph node ratio greater than 15% (LNR15), on survival was analyzed. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of DFS and OS showed that vascular resection, pT, pN, LNR15, microvascular, lymphatic, and perineural invasion, and R1 resection influenced survival. Only LNR15, perineural invasion and R1 resection were independent predictors for both DFS (HR 6.39, p = 0.011; HR 8.53, p = 0.003; HR 9.68, p = 0.002, respectively) and OS (HR 4.21, p = 0.039; HR 5.41, p = 0.020; HR 4.41, p = 0.036, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that LNR15, perineural invasion and R1 resection are independently associated with DFS and OS.