The era of whole genome study analysis has introduced a profound research in the genetics of autoimmune diseases. Some of the new genetic loci that have been associated with the development or the severity of autoimmu...The era of whole genome study analysis has introduced a profound research in the genetics of autoimmune diseases. Some of the new genetic loci that have been associated with the development or the severity of autoimmune diseases have been thoroughly studied, conferring a more detailed understanding of disease pathophysiology. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been described not only in coding regions of the human genome but also in non-coding areas (introns), the importance of which has not been yet clarified. Over the last years, such an SNP has been associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis, the most frequent autoimmune disease. This SNP is at the position 122730060 of chromosome 9 in the TRAF1/C5 region and consists of a substitution of the nucleotide base guanine (G)—which is considered the ancestral phenotype— by alanine (A). It has been indicated that G is the aggravating nucleotide, and that G/G is the disease predisposing phenotype, conferring >1.3× risk for RA. On this background, we performed a genome study on a Greek population of northern Greece (Macedonia) in order to identify the association of this SNP with RA in our group.展开更多
AIM: To present the characteristics and the course of a series of anti- hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBc) antibody positive patients, who experienced hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after immunosuppression. M...AIM: To present the characteristics and the course of a series of anti- hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBc) antibody positive patients, who experienced hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after immunosuppression. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated in our tertiary centers the medical records of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients who suffered from HBV reactivation after chemotherapy or immunosuppression during a 3-year period (2009-2011). Accordingly, the clinical, laboratory and virological characteristics of 10 anti-HBc (+) anti-HBs (-)/HBsAg (-) and 4 anti-HBc (+)/antiHBs (+)/HBsAg (-) patients, who developed HBV reactivation after the initiation of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment were analyzed. Quantitative determination of HBV DNA during reactivation was performed in all cases by a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction kit (COBAS Taqman HBV Test; cut-off of detection: 6 IU/mL). RESULTS: Twelve out of 14 patients were males; median age 74.5 years. In 71.4% of them the primary diagnosis was hematologic malignancy; 78.6% had received rituximab (R) as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. The median time from last chemotherapy schedule till HBV reactivation for 10 out of 11 patients who received R was 3 (range 2-17) mo. Three patients (21.4%) deteriorated, manifesting ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and 2 (14.3%) of them died due to liver failure. CONCLUSION: HBsAg-negative anti-HBc antibody positive patients can develop HBV reactivation even 2 years after stopping immunosuppression, whereas prompt antiviral treatment on diagnosis of reactivation can be lifesaving.展开更多
文摘The era of whole genome study analysis has introduced a profound research in the genetics of autoimmune diseases. Some of the new genetic loci that have been associated with the development or the severity of autoimmune diseases have been thoroughly studied, conferring a more detailed understanding of disease pathophysiology. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been described not only in coding regions of the human genome but also in non-coding areas (introns), the importance of which has not been yet clarified. Over the last years, such an SNP has been associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis, the most frequent autoimmune disease. This SNP is at the position 122730060 of chromosome 9 in the TRAF1/C5 region and consists of a substitution of the nucleotide base guanine (G)—which is considered the ancestral phenotype— by alanine (A). It has been indicated that G is the aggravating nucleotide, and that G/G is the disease predisposing phenotype, conferring >1.3× risk for RA. On this background, we performed a genome study on a Greek population of northern Greece (Macedonia) in order to identify the association of this SNP with RA in our group.
文摘AIM: To present the characteristics and the course of a series of anti- hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBc) antibody positive patients, who experienced hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after immunosuppression. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated in our tertiary centers the medical records of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients who suffered from HBV reactivation after chemotherapy or immunosuppression during a 3-year period (2009-2011). Accordingly, the clinical, laboratory and virological characteristics of 10 anti-HBc (+) anti-HBs (-)/HBsAg (-) and 4 anti-HBc (+)/antiHBs (+)/HBsAg (-) patients, who developed HBV reactivation after the initiation of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment were analyzed. Quantitative determination of HBV DNA during reactivation was performed in all cases by a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction kit (COBAS Taqman HBV Test; cut-off of detection: 6 IU/mL). RESULTS: Twelve out of 14 patients were males; median age 74.5 years. In 71.4% of them the primary diagnosis was hematologic malignancy; 78.6% had received rituximab (R) as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. The median time from last chemotherapy schedule till HBV reactivation for 10 out of 11 patients who received R was 3 (range 2-17) mo. Three patients (21.4%) deteriorated, manifesting ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and 2 (14.3%) of them died due to liver failure. CONCLUSION: HBsAg-negative anti-HBc antibody positive patients can develop HBV reactivation even 2 years after stopping immunosuppression, whereas prompt antiviral treatment on diagnosis of reactivation can be lifesaving.
