ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Multiple Sclerosis , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Cells, Cultured , Flow Cytometry , Gene Expression Regulation , HumansABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Body Weight/physiology , Obesity/therapy , Overweight/therapy , School Health Services , Weight Reduction Programs/methods , Adolescent , Body Mass Index , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Mexican Americans , Parents , Schools , United StatesABSTRACT
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
Subject(s)
Echinococcosis/epidemiology , Pediatrics , Radiology , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
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