Transcriptome analysis of ankylosing spondylitis patients before and after TNF-α inhibitor therapy reveals the pathways affected.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors are highly effective in suppressing inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and operate by suppression of TFN-α and downstream immunological pathways. To determine the mechanisms of action of TNF-α inhibitors in AS patients, we used transcriptomic and bioinformatic approaches on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AS patients pre and post treatment. We found 656 differentially expressed genes, including the genome-wide significant AS-associated genes, IL6R, NOTCH1, IL10, CXCR2 and TNFRSF1A. A distinctive gene expression profile was found between male and female patients, mainly because of sex chromosome-linked genes and interleukin 17 receptor C, potentially accounting for the differences in clinical manifestation and treatment response between the genders. In addition to immune and inflammation regulatory pathways, like intestinal immune network for IgA production, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Ras signaling pathway, allograft rejection and hematopoietic cell lineage, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analyses revealed that infection-associated pathways (influenza A and toxoplasmosis) and metabolism-associated pathways were involved in response to TNF-α inhibitor treatment, providing insight into the mechanism of TNF-α inhibitors.

The genetic associations of acute anterior uveitis and their overlap with the genetics of ankylosing spondylitis.

Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) involves inflammation of the iris and ciliary body of the eye. It occurs both in isolation and as a complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It is strongly associated with HLA-B*27, but previous studies have suggested that further genetic factors may confer additional risk. We sought to investigate this using the Illumina Exomechip microarray, to compare 1504 cases with AS and AAU, 1805 with AS but no AAU and 21 133 healthy controls. We also used a heterogeneity test to test the differences in effect size between AS with AAU and AS without AAU. In the analysis comparing AS+AAU+ cases versus controls, HLA-B*27 and HLA-A*02:01 were significantly associated with the presence of AAU (P<10(-300) and P=6 × 10(-8), respectively). Secondary independent association with PSORS1C3 (P=4.7 × 10(-5)) and TAP2 (P=1.1 × 10(-5)) were observed in the major histocompatibility complex. There was a new suggestive association with a low-frequency variant at zinc-finger protein 154 in the AS without AAU versus control analysis (zinc-finger protein 154 (ZNF154), P=2.2 × 10(-6)). Heterogeneity testing showed that rs30187 in ERAP1 has a larger effect on AAU compared with that in AS alone. These findings also suggest that variants in ERAP1 have a differential impact on the risk of AAU when compared with AS, and hence the genetic risk for AAU differs from AS.

COL1A1 C-propeptide cleavage site mutation causes high bone mass, bone fragility and jaw lesions: a new cause of gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia?

Gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia (GDD) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by bone fragility, irregular bone mineral density (BMD) and fibro-osseous lesions in the skull and jaw. Mutations in Anoctamin-5 (ANO5) have been identified in some cases. We aimed to identify the causative mutation in a family with features of GDD but no mutation in ANO5, using whole exome capture and massive parallel sequencing (WES). WES of two affected individuals (a mother and son) and the mother's unaffected parents identified a mutation in the C-propeptide cleavage site of COL1A1. Similar mutations have been reported in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and paradoxically increased BMD. C-propeptide cleavage site mutations in COL1A1 may not only cause 'high bone mass OI', but also the clinical features of GDD, specifically irregular sclerotic BMD and fibro-osseous lesions in the skull and jaw. GDD patients negative for ANO5 mutations should be assessed for mutations in type I collagen C-propeptide cleavage sites.

Sedation of hyperthyroid cats with subcutaneous administration of a combination of alfaxalone and butorphanol.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sedative, respiratory and cardiovascular effects of subcutaneously administered alfaxalone and butorphanol in a group of hyperthyroid cats. DESIGN: A prospective, single-centre observational study. METHODS: Client-owned hyperthyroid cats (n=20) were examined and sedated with alfaxalone (3 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) administered subcutaneously. Sedation scores, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure were measured at 15-min intervals during the 45-min observation period and compared with pre-sedation values. At the end of 45 min, cats were assessed to be adequately sedated for oral administration of iodine-131 if there was minimal resistance and an intact gag reflex. RESULTS: The maximum median sedation score was reached 45 min after injection. The lowest mean heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure values occurred 30 min after injection. Significant decreases were noted in respiratory rates at all three time points (P<0.001). Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements were also significantly decreased at 15 and 30 min after injection (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Subcutaneously administered alfaxalone and butorphanol can be used for sedation in cats undergoing procedures of short duration. Blood pressure should be monitored because of transient decreases observed in some cats. Further studies are required to determine whether the sedative, respiratory and cardiovascular effects are similar in euthyroid cats.

Risedronate in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta type I: increased bone mineral density and decreased bone turnover, but high fracture rate persists.

UNLABELLED: Bisphosphonates can increase bone mineral density (BMD) in children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). In this study of adults with OI type I, risedronate increased BMD at lumbar spine (but not total hip) and decreased bone turnover. However, the fracture rate in these patients remained high. INTRODUCTION: Intravenous bisphosphonates given to children with OI can increase BMD and reduce fracture incidence. Oral and/or intravenous bisphosphonates may have similar effects in adults with OI. We completed an observational study of the effect of risedronate in adults with OI type I. METHODS: Thirty-two adults (mean age, 39 years) with OI type I were treated with risedronate (total dose, 35 mg weekly) for 24 months. Primary outcome measures were BMD changes at lumbar spine (LS) and total hip (TH). Secondary outcome measures were fracture incidence, bone pain, and change in bone turnover markers (serum procollagen type I aminopropeptide (P1NP) and bone ALP). A meta-analysis of published studies of oral bisphosphonates in adults and children with OI was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven participants (ten males and seventeen females) completed the study. BMD increased at LS by 3.9% (0.815 vs. 0.846 g/cm(2), p = 0.007; mean Z-score, -1.93 vs. -1.58, p = 0.002), with no significant change at TH. P1NP fell by 37% (p = 0.00041), with no significant change in bone ALP (p = 0.15). Bone pain did not change significantly (p = 0.6). Fracture incidence remained high, with 25 clinical fractures and 10 major fractures in fourteen participants (0.18 major fractures per person per year), with historical data of 0.12 fractures per person per year. The meta-analysis did not demonstrate a significant difference in fracture incidence in patients with OI treated with oral bisphosphonates. CONCLUSIONS: Risedronate in adults with OI type I results in modest but significant increases in BMD at LS, and decreased bone turnover. However, this may be insufficient to make a clinically significant difference to fracture incidence.

Suspected venous air embolism in a horse.

A horse which had had a caecal impaction for 10 days was treated by means of an ileocolostomy [corrected] but failed to respond satisfactorily. Before a second laparotomy was performed it was observed to have dislodged the extension set from a jugular catheter and air was heard being sucked into the vein. It became very agitated but was anaesthetised again and the impaction was removed through an incision in the apex of the colon [corrected] After recovering from the anaesthesia it developed severe signs of pruritus which subsided only after 12 hours. These signs were considered most likely to have resulted from a venous air embolism.