Identification of regulatory T cell molecules associated with severity of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs) exhibit functional alterations in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß is a key regulator of Treg development and function. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether the expression of functionally relevant TGF-ß-regulated molecules is altered in Tregs from patients with MS. METHODS: Expression of nine Treg markers was analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry in CD4+ T cells and Treg subpopulations of 31 untreated MS patients and age- and sex-matched healthy donors (HDs). Correlations between Treg marker expression and clinical variables were sought. RESULTS: Expression of the transcription factor Helios, which defines thymic-derived Tregs, was decreased in this Treg subpopulation. The frequency of peripherally generated Tregs was increased in patients with MS, particularly in patients with progressive MS. Low frequencies of thymic-derived Tregs were associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion-burden and a high relapse rate. Four surface markers associated with TGF-ß signaling (ABCA1, BTLA, DNAM-1, and GARP) were differentially expressed on Tregs from patients with MS and HDs. Expression levels of CD73, CD103, ABCA1, and PAR2 showed strong correlations with disease severity. CONCLUSION: We have identified novel markers abnormally expressed on Tregs from patients with MS that could detect patients with severe disease.

Association among practice frequency on depression and stress among competitive US male wheelchair rugby athletes with tetraplegia.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether frequency of training is related to self-reported lower psychological distress, defined as depressive symptomology and perceived stress, among the US male wheelchair rugby athletes with tetraplegia. SETTING: United States. METHODS: Survey data were collected on a convenience sample at wheelchair rugby tournaments from January-April 2016. Participants self-reported depressive symptomology (CES-D-10), perceived stress scale (PSS), and frequency of rugby practice. Covariate-adjusted regression models were conducted among the full sample and a subsample of individuals who reported spinal cord injury (SCI) as the nature of their disability. RESULTS: Participants included 150 males with tetraplegia, and 87% identified the nature of their disability as SCI. Participants were primarily Caucasian with an average age of ~35 years. Participants scored low on measures of depressive symptomology (mean=5.63; s.d.=4.35) and perceived stress (mean=4.63; s.d.=2.73). Sixty-seven percent of the participants practiced two or more times per week. Results of the main analyses indicated that practicing wheelchair rugby two times or more (compared to once a week or less) was significantly associated with lower depressive symptomology and perceived stress among the full sample and subsample of individuals with SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Greater frequency of wheelchair rugby participation was associated with lower levels of psychological distress. Future research should examine the directional and mechanistic relationship between frequency of sports participation and psychological distress to inform the benefits of adaptive sport.

Impact of parental weight status on a school-based weight management programme designed for Mexican-American children.

BACKGROUND: While overweight and obese children are more likely to have overweight or obese parents, less is known about the effect of parental weight status on children's success in weight management programmes. OBJECTIVES: This study was a secondary data analysis of a randomized controlled trial and investigated the impact of having zero, one or two obese parents on children's success in a school-based weight management programme. METHODS: Sixty-one Mexican-American children participated in a 24-week school-based weight management intervention which took place in 2005-2006. Children's heights and weights were measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Parental weight status was assessed at baseline. Repeated measures anova and ancova were conducted to compare changes in children's weight within and between groups, respectively. RESULTS: Within-group comparisons revealed that the intervention led to significant decreases in standardized body mass index (zBMI) for children with zero (F = 23.16, P < .001) or one obese (F = 4.99, P < .05) parent. Between-group comparisons indicated that children with zero and one obese parents demonstrated greater decreases in zBMI compared to children with two obese parents at every time point. CONCLUSIONS: The school-based weight management programme appears to be most efficacious for children with one or no obese parents compared to children with two obese parents. These results demonstrate the need to consider parental weight status when engaging in childhood weight management efforts.

Flow cytometry analysis with a new FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibody-3E12 for HLA-B*57:01 rapid screening in prevention of abacavir hypersensitivity in HIV-1-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Rapid screening for the detection of HLA-B*57:01 in the prevention of abacavir hypersensitivity in HIV-1-infected patients is a hallmark for clinical services. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to analyze the utility of flow cytometry with a new FITC-conjugated B-17 monoclonal antibody (mAb3E12) for HLA-B*57:01 screening in a Spanish cohort of 577 HIV-1+ individuals. METHODS: Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from HIV-1+ individuals were analyzed by flow cytometry with the mAb 3E12 that recognizes both HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*58 alleles (members of the group specificity, HLA-B17). Patients' DNA samples had been previously typed for HLA-B*57:01 with PCR-SSO or PCR-SSP and additional DNA sequencing (EPI Study). The results obtained by flow cytometry were compared with the results obtained by the DNA-PCR techniques. RESULTS: By flow cytometry, 46 samples (7.97%) were positive for HLA-B17, 530 (91.86%) were negative, and 1 (0.17%) was undetermined. All samples found negative by flow cytometry were negative for HLA-B*57:01 by DNA-PCR. Of the HLA-B17 positive samples, 31 (67.4%) were positive for HLA-B*57:01, 2 (3.25%) were positive for HLA-B*57:03, 11 (26.1%) were positive for HLA-B*58, and 2 (3.25%) were negative for both HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*58 antigens. The undetermined sample was negative for HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*58 alleles by DNA-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that flow cytometry with mAb3E12 is a highly sensitive method (no false negatives) to implement prior to DNA-PCR analysis for rapid screening of HLA-B*57:01. Additional confirmation by molecular HLA typing method would be required in less than 10% of the cohort of HIV-1-infected individuals.

Catastro ecográfico y radiológico en hidatidosis / Ecograhpic and radiological screening for hydatic cyst

Dentro de un área de la Provincia de Neuquén, República Argentina, con gran índice de infestación hidatídica humana, según determinaciones catastrales previas, se efectuaron estudios ecográficos y radiológicos en 3563 personas durante el período 1989/1992. Se pudo determinar que el 8,23 por ciento de la población estudiada estaba parasitada. El 63 por ciento de los infestados eran sintomáticos y el 35 por ciento de los adultos y el 48 por ciento de los niños eran asintomáticos

Catastro ecográfico y radiológico en hidatidosis / Ecograhpic and radiological screening for hydatic cyst

Dentro de un área de la Provincia de Neuquén, República Argentina, con gran índice de infestación hidatídica humana, según determinaciones catastrales previas, se efectuaron estudios ecográficos y radiológicos en 3563 personas durante el período 1989/1992. Se pudo determinar que el 8,23 por ciento de la población estudiada estaba parasitada. El 63 por ciento de los infestados eran sintomáticos y el 35 por ciento de los adultos y el 48 por ciento de los niños eran asintomáticos