Role of genetic susceptibility in nicotine addiction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Although cigarette smoking is the major risk factor, only 10-20% of smokers develop COPD. The extent of cigarette smoking (pack-years and smoking duration) accounts for only 15% of the variation in lung function, indicating that differences in susceptibility to COPD must exist. We provide an overview of the complexity of nicotine addiction and COPD, with special attention to the involvement of genetic factors. The following aspects are discussed in the present article: (1) epidemiology in Mexico and (2) a review of the published literature on genetic association studies using the National Center for Biotechnology Information database of the United States as a search tool. COPD is unique among complex genetic diseases where an environmental risk factor is known and the level of exposure can be documented with some precision. The high morbidity and mortality associated with COPD and its chronic and progressive nature has prompted the use of molecular genetic studies to identify susceptibility factors for the disease. Biomedical research has a remarkable set of tools to aid in the discovery of genes and polymorphisms. We present a review of the most relevant genetic associations in nicotine addiction and COPD.

Arteritis de células gigantes: compromiso extenso de la aorta y grandes ramas demostrado por tomografía por emisión de positrones. Caso clínico / Extensive arterial involvement in giant cell arteritis: report of one case

Large vessel vasculitis and particularly Temporal Arteritis are systemic diseases that may affect the aorta and its major branches, mainly involving extra cranial branches of the carotid artery. We report a 72-year-old man presenting with weight loss, fever and malaise. Positron emission computed tomography (PET CT) showed an extensive inflammation of the aorta and its major branches. Temporal artery biopsy confirmed the presence of vasculitis with granulomas. Treatment with a high dose of steroids had an excellent clinical response. This case underscores the utility of PET CT in the assessment of this disease.

Transfusión de granulocitos en pacientes neutropénicos febriles / Granulocyte transfusion in febrile neutropenic patients

Desde 1996 a la fecha hemos transfundido con granulocitos a 20 pacientes con 21 episodios de neutropenia febril con criterios de extrema gravedad. 14 episodios correspondieron a sepsis con germen conocido y 7 neutropenia febril sin germen aislado. Los pacientes recibieron un promedio de 3.7 aféresis, con 2.17(potencia 10) granulocitos por cada una. Los donantes fueron seleccionados entre familiares directos con estudios rutinarios para la donaci¢n de sangre, los que fueron condicionados con factor estimulante de colonias granulocíticas previa al procedimiento aferético. 15 pacientes sobrevivieron al episodio neutropénico con resolución de cuadro infeccioso. Las reacciones adversas transfucionales en los receptores fueron leves y no hubo complicaciones clínicas en los donantes. Las transfusiones de granulocitos parecen ser efectivas en pacientes con neutropenia febril sin respuesta a antibióticos