Identification of an expanded population of activated CD4(+) CD25(+) T cells expressing CD45RO and IL-7R in kidney transplant recipients

Recent studies have shown that CD4+ CD25+ T cells belong to two functionally different T lymphocytes, i.e. regulatory T cells (Treg) or activated T cells (Tact), which can be distinguished based on the expression of CD45RO and IL-7R: Treg (FoxP3+) are CD45RO+ IL-7R- , whereas Tact (FoxP3- ) are CD45RO+ IL- 7R+. In order to determine if a CD4+ CD25+ CD45RO+ IL-7R+ activated T cell population might be identified in kidney transplant recipients, we studied 27 healthy subjects (HS) and 23 kidney recipients, of whom 17 had stable graft function under standard immunosuppression (IS), 5 had biopsy-proven chronic humoral rejection (CHR), and one was a stable "tolerant" patient who had discontinued IS for more than 2 years. Phenotypical analysis by flow cytometry and functional assays by MLR were performed. Overall, the Tact population was found to be significantly increased in 87% of the transplant recipients (mean: 18.8±10.1% of CD4+ CD25+ T cells) compared to HS (mean: 4.5±2.0%; P<0.0001). In the 5 patients with CHR, this Tact population was highly expanded (31.3±9.3%; P<0.0001), whereas it was comparable to HS in the "tolerant" recipient (4.7%). Intermediate levels (16.0±6.9%; P<0.0001) were found in the 17 stable recipients. In CHR, the proliferative capacity of the Tact population was found to be 5-fold higher when stimulated by irradiated donor PBMC as compared to a stimulation by irradiated 3rd party PBMC. After kidney transplantation, an expanded circulating CD4+ CD25+ T cell population characterized by the expression of CD45RO and IL-7R was found in most recipients, particularly in those with CHR. In a patient with long-term operational tolerance, this Tact population was similar to HS. Measuring circulating Tact may become a useful monitoring tool after transplantation.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is independently associed with albuminuria in the population-based CoLaus study

L'homocystéine est un molécule potentiellement atherogénique et est considéré comme facteur de risque indépendant pour les maladies cardiovasculaires. Pour les patients avec une maladie rénale chronique ou en général avec une fonction rénale diminuée le taux d'homocystéine dans le sérum est élevé. L'acide urique est associé avec un risque augmenté de développer une maladie rénale et prédit la mortalité pour les patients avec une maladie rénale chronique. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer l'association entre des taux sériques d'homocystéine élevés est la présence d'une fonction rénale diminuée, exprimé par une filtration glomérulaire diminuée ou une albuminurie dans une sélection de la population de Lausanne. Nous avons aussi investigué l'effet de l'acide urique sur cette relation. Pour évaluer si l'association entre l'homocystéine est l'albuminurie pourra être causal, nous avons en même temps investigué l'association entra l'albuminurie est le polymorphisme du gène de la methylènetetrafolate réductase (MTHFR) fortement corrélé avec les taux sériques de l'homocystéine. L'étude CoLaus est transversale et basée sur la population. Elle représente une sélection aléatoire, non stratifié de la population générale de la ville de Lausanne, Suisse, âgée 35-75 ans (n=56.694). 5913 personnes étaient incluses dans l'analyse. La prévalence de l'albuminurie augmente dans les catégories de taux sériques croissants d'homocystéine. L'acide urique est associé avec la concentration sérique de l'homocystéine. Hyperhomocystéinémie et des taux sérique d'acide urique augmentés sont associés avec l'albuminurie, indépendant de l'hypertonie et du diabète. Dans cette étude basée sur une large population, l'association entre des taux sérique elevés d'homocystéine et la prévalence augmentée de l'albuminurie est indépendante de la fonction glomérulaire, indiquant que cette association n'est pas simplement la conséquence de la fonction rénale réduite. Hyperhomocystéinémie est associé avec un risque doublé pour une albuminurie, ce qu'est similaire au risque associé à l'hypertonie ou au diabète type 2. Cette association est indépendante de l'acide urique. Ce résultat suggère que l'hyperhomocystéinémie est un marqueur indépendant des la dysfonction rénale. Individus avec le polymorphisme du MTHFR associé avec des concentrations sériques élevées d'homocystéine sont associé avec un risque augmenté pour une albuminurie. Tous ces résultats supportent l'hypothèse que l'homocystéine cause des dommages rénaux.

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs): A population-based study of incidence and survival in Girona province, 1994-2004

Els tumors neuroendocrins (TNEs) són un grup de neoplàsies poc freqüents i heterogènies i amb un ampli espectre d’agressivitat. Hi ha molt poca informació epidemiològica a nivell mundial, l’objectiu d’aquest estudi ha estat el de reportar-ne les dades a la província de Girona. Hem inclòs tots els codis de la ICD-O3 que codifiquen un TNE, període 1994-2002. Hem identificat 698 tumors. Es reporten les dades tant de la casuística com les taxes d’incidència i supervivència de cada TNE per separat. Els resultats són consistents amb les publicacions europees. El fet d’haver reportat la incidència i la supervivència dels TNEs a Girona contribueix a un millor coneixement d’aquestes neoplàsies.

Thermal Constant of an Experimental Population of Muscina stabulans (Fallén 1817) (Diptera:Muscidae) in the Laboratory

A study was conducted to investigate the thermal constant in an experimental population of Muscina stabulans (Fallén 1817). A natural population was obtained from a livestock and their F1 generations were maintained at four constant temperatures (16°C, 20°C, 26°C and 31°C). The thermal constant was calculated by the hyperbole method using the base temperature, tb = 4.4°C and the thermal constant K = 35.3 GD. Ricker's geometric regression, considering tb = 7.8°C and K = 28.9 GD was also calculated.

Integrate Study of a Bolivian Population Infected by Trypanosoma cruzi, the Agent of Chagas Disease

A cross section of a human population (501 individuals) selected at random, and living in a Bolivian community, highly endemic for Chagas disease, was investigated combining together clinical, parasitological and molecular approaches. Conventional serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated an active transmission of the infection, a high seroprevalence (43.3%) ranging from around 12% in < 5 years to 94.7% in > 45 years, and a high sensitivity (83.8%) and specificity of PCR. Abnormal ECG tracing was predominant in chagasic patients and was already present among individuals younger than 13 years. SAPA (shed acute phase antigen) recombinant protein and the synthetic peptide R-13 were used as antigens in ELISA tests. The reactivity of SAPA was strongly associated to Trypanosoma cruzi infection and independent of the age of the patients but was not suitable neither for universal serodiagnosis nor for discrimination of specific phases of Chagas infection. Anti-R-13 response was observed in 27.5% only in chagasic patients. Moreover, anti-R13 reactivity was associated with early infection and not to cardiac pathology. This result questioned previous studies, which considered the anti-R-13 response as a marker of chronic Chagas heart disease. The major clonets 20 and 39 (belonging to Trypanosoma cruzi I and T. cruzi II respectively) which circulate in equal proportions in vectors of the studied area, were identified in patients' blood by PCR. Clonet 39 was selected over clonet 20 in the circulation whatever the age of the patient. The only factor related to strain detected in patients' blood, was the anti-R-13 reactivity: 37% of the patients infected by clonet 39 (94 cases) had anti-R13 antibodies contrasting with only 6% of the patients without clonet 39 (16 cases).

Promoting Women's Health - A Population Investment For Ireland's Future

In line with its statutory brief, the Women's Health Council commissioned research to evaluate progress in achieving the objectives of the Department of Health and Children's 1997 Plan for Women's Health 1997-1999 the Plan) at national and regional level. This was used as the basis of a critique of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Plan to date and the development of proposals for:- building on the achievements to date- ensuring a dynamic role for the structures established as a result of the Plan, especially the regional Womenâ?Ts Health Advisory Committees (WHACs)- securing measurable health gain for women over the next 7-10 years.   Download document here

European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System report for Ireland 2001

EHLASS provides a harmonised approach throughout the EU to facilitate the analyses of intercountry differences in modes and distributions of home and leisure accidents. EHLASS contributes to the formulation of EU policies and initiatives on accidents and product safety. EHLASS is the only source of detailed information on home and leisure accidents in Ireland. Some general information is available through the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) system but this concentrates on medical diagnoses rather than on specific causes of accidents.This report is the eleventh national EHLASS report for Ireland. Download document here

Compliance with dietary recommendations in the population of Geneva, Switzerland: a ten-year trend study (1999-2009)

Introduction: There is little information regarding compliance with dietary recommendations in Switzerland. Objectives: To assess the trends in compliance with dietary recommendations in the Geneva population for period 1999 - 2009. Methods: Ten cross-sectional, population-based surveys (Bus Santé study). Dietary intake was assessed using a self-administered, validated semi quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Compliance with the Swiss Society for Nutrition recommendations for nutrient intake was assessed. In all 9320 participants aged 35 to 75 years (50% women) were included. Trends were assessed by logistic regression adjusting for age, smoking stats, education and nationality, using survey year as the independent variable. Results: After excluding participants with extreme intakes, the percentage of participants with a cholesterol consumption< 300 mg/day increased from 40.8% in 1999 to 43.6% in 2009 for men (multivariate-adjusted p for trend = 0.04) and from 57.8% to 61.4% in women (multivariate-adjusted p for trend = 0.06). Calcium intake > 1 g/day decreased from 53.3% to 46.0% in men and from 47.6% to 40.7% in women (multivariate-adjusted p for trend< 0.001). Adequate iron intake decreased from 68.3%to 65.3% in men and from 13.3% to 8.4% in women (multivariate-adjusted p for trend< 0.001). Conversely, no significant changes were observed for carbohydrates, protein, total fat (including saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids), fibre, vitamins D and A. Conclusion: Fewimprovements were noted in adherence to dietary recommendations in the Geneva population between 1999 and 2009. The low and decreasing prevalence of adequate calcium and iron intake are of concern.

Dietary habits of the Irish population: results from SLÃÅN Annual Report 2003

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Geometric morphometric differences between Panstrongylus geniculatus from field and laboratory

The finding of Panstrongylus geniculatus nymphs inside a house in northeastern Antioquia, Colombia, and the reports related to their increasing presence in homes suggest the need for surveillance methods for monitoring the invasion processes. We analyzed the morphological differences between a wild population and its laboratory descendants, using the techniques of geometric morphometry, with the idea that such differences might parallel those between sylvatic and synanthropic populations. The analyses over five generations showed differences in size but not in shape. Head size and wing size were both reduced from sylvatic to laboratory populations, but the decrease in head size occurred only up to the second generation while the decrease in wing size proceeded up to the fifth generation. In contrast, although a decrease in sexual size dimorphism has been proposed as a marker of colonization in human dwellings, we did not detect any significant loss of dimorphism between sexes of P. geniculatus over the five generations studied. We conclude that size changes may have a physiological origin in response to a change of ecotopes, but more than five generations may be required for the expression of permanent morphological markers of human dwellings colonization.

Population Ageing in Ireland Projections 2002-2021

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Health and Social Care Implications of Population Ageing In Ireland 1991-2011

This report has two main objectives. The first is to set out national and health board area population projections for Ireland in the period 1991-2011, with special reference to the elderly population. The second is to consider the implications of the predicted trends in the elderly population for health and social care services over the same period, taking account of official policy objectives and service norms for the health services. Download the Report here

European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System Report for Ireland 1998

The EHLASS survey was set up in April 1986 as a five-year demonstration project. The objective was to monitor home and leisure accidents in a harmonised manner, throughout the EU, to determine their causes, the circumstances of their occurrence, their consequences and, most importantly, to provide information on consumer products involved. Armed with accurate information, it was felt that consumer policy could be directed at the most serious problems andthe best use could be made of available resources.   Data collection systems were set up for the collection of EHLASS data in the casualty departments of selected hospitals in each of the member states. The information was subsequently gathered together by the European Commission in Brussels. Extensive analysis was undertaken on 778,838 accidents reported throughout the EU. Centralised analysis of EHLASS data proved problematic due to lack of  co-ordination in data quality. In 1989 it was decided that each member state should  produce its own annual EHLASS report in a harmonised format specified by the European Commission. This report is the ninth such report for Ireland. Download the Report here

European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System report for Ireland 1999

The EHLASS survey was set up in April 1986 as a five-year demonstration project.  The objective was to monitor home and leisure accidents in a harmonised manner, throughout the EU, to determine their causes, the circumstances of their occurrence, their consequences and, most importantly, to provide information on consumer products involved. Armed with accurate information, it was felt that consumer policy could be directed at the most serious problems and the best use could be made of available resources Download the Report here

European Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System report for Ireland 2000

The EHLASS survey was set up in April 1986 as a five-year demonstration project. The objective was to monitor home and leisure accidents in a harmonised manner, throughout the EU, to determine their causes, the circumstances of their occurrence, their consequences and, most importantly, to provide information on consumer products involved. Armed with accurate information, it was felt that consumer policy could be directed at the most serious problems andthe best use could be made of available resources Download the Report here