| 1. |
- Abolhassani, Hassan, et al.
(author)
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Inherited IFNAR1 Deficiency in a Child with Both Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome
- 2022
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In: Journal of Clinical Immunology. - : Springer Nature. - 0271-9142 .- 1573-2592. ; 42:3, s. 471-483
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and autoantibodies to type I interferons (IFNs) underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia in at least 15% of the patients, while the causes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) remain elusive. Objectives To detect causal genetic variants in very rare cases with concomitant critical COVID-19 pneumonia and MIS-C. Methods Whole exome sequencing was performed, and the impact of candidate gene variants was investigated. Plasma levels of cytokines, specific antibodies against the virus, and autoantibodies against type I IFNs were also measured. Results We report a 3-year-old child who died on day 56 of SARS-CoV-2 infection with an unusual clinical presentation, combining both critical COVID-19 pneumonia and MIS-C. We identified a large, homozygous loss-of-function deletion in IFNAR1, underlying autosomal recessive IFNAR1 deficiency. Conclusions Our findings confirm that impaired type I IFN immunity can underlie critical COVID-19 pneumonia, while suggesting that it can also unexpectedly underlie concomitant MIS-C. Our report further raises the possibility that inherited or acquired dysregulation of type I IFN immunity might contribute to MIS-C in other patients.
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| 2. |
- Huang, Hongyun, et al.
(author)
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Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)
- 2018
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In: Cell Transplantation. - : SAGE Publications. - 0963-6897 .- 1555-3892. ; 27:2, s. 310-324
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cell therapy has been shown to be a key clinical therapeutic option for central nervous system diseases or damage. Standardization of clinical cell therapy procedures is an important task for professional associations devoted to cell therapy. The Chinese Branch of the International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) completed the first set of guidelines governing the clinical application of neurorestoration in 2011. The IANR and the Chinese Association of Neurorestoratology (CANR) collaborated to propose the current version "Clinical Cell Therapy Guidelines for Neurorestoration (IANR/CANR 2017)". The IANR council board members and CANR committee members approved this proposal on September 1, 2016, and recommend it to clinical practitioners of cellular therapy. These guidelines include items of cell type nomenclature, cell quality control, minimal suggested cell doses, patient-informed consent, indications for undergoing cell therapy, contraindications for undergoing cell therapy, documentation of procedure and therapy, safety evaluation, efficacy evaluation, policy of repeated treatments, do not charge patients for unproven therapies, basic principles of cell therapy, and publishing responsibility.
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| 3. |
- Abolhassani, Hassan, et al.
(author)
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Genetic and immunologic evaluation of children with inborn errors of immunity and severe or critical COVID-19
- 2022
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In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 150:5, s. 1059-1073
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Most severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected individuals are asymptomatic or only exhibit mild disease. In about 10% of cases, the infection leads to hypoxemic pneumonia, although it is much more rare in children. Objective: We evaluated 31 young patients aged 0.5 to 19 years who had preexisting inborn errors of immunity (IEI) but lacked a molecular diagnosis and were later diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications. Methods: Genetic evaluation by whole-exome sequencing was performed in all patients. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, autoantibodies against type I IFN (IFN-I), and inflammatory factors in plasma were measured. We also reviewed COVID-19 disease severity/outcome in reported IEI patients. Results: A potential genetic cause of the IEI was identified in 28 patients (90.3%), including mutations that may affect IFN signaling, T- and B-cell function, the inflammasome, and the complement system. From tested patients 65.5% had detectable virus-specific antibodies, and 6.8% had autoantibodies neutralizing IFN-I. Five patients (16.1%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Eleven patients (35.4%) died of COVID-19 complications. All together, at least 381 IEI children with COVID-19 have been reported in the literature to date. Although many patients with asymptomatic or mild disease may not have been reported, severe presentation of COVID-19 was observed in 23.6% of the published cases, and the mortality rate was 8.7%. Conclusions: Young patients with preexisting IEI may have higher mortality than children without IEI when infected with SARS-CoV-2. Elucidating the genetic basis of IEI patients with severe/critical COVID-19 may help to develop better strategies for prevention and treatment of severe COVID-19 disease and complications in pediatric patients.
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| 4. |
- Abolhassani, Hassan, et al.
(author)
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X-Linked TLR7 Deficiency Underlies Critical COVID-19 Pneumonia in a Male Patient with Ataxia-Telangiectasia
- 2022
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In: Journal of Clinical Immunology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0271-9142 .- 1573-2592. ; 42:1, s. 1-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic to critical conditions. Understanding the mechanism underlying life-threatening COVID-19 is instrumental for disease prevention and treatment in individuals with a high risk.Objectives We aimed to identify the genetic cause for critical COVID-19 pneumonia in a patient with a preexisting inborn error of immunity (IEI).Methods Serum levels of specific antibodies against the virus and autoantibodies against type I interferons (IFNs) were measured. Whole exome sequencing was performed, and the impacts of candidate gene variants were investigated. We also evaluated 247 ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients in the Iranian IEI registry.Results We report a 7-year-old Iranian boy with a preexisting hyper IgM syndrome who developed critical COVID-19 pneumonia. IgM only specific COVID-19 immune response was detected but no autoantibodies against type I IFN were observed. A homozygous deleterious mutation in the ATM gene was identified, which together with his antibody deficiency, radiosensitivity, and neurological signs, established a diagnosis of A-T. Among the 247 A-T patients evaluated, 36 had SARS-CoV-2 infection, but all had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic except the index patient. A hemizygous deleterious mutation in the TLR7 gene was subsequently identified in the patient.Conclusions We report a unique IEI patient with combined ATM and TLR7 deficiencies. The two genetic defects underlie A-T and critical COVID-19 in this patient, respectively.
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| 5. |
- Lin, Jiuluan, et al.
(author)
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Novel Method to Identify the Precentral Gyrus and Its Detailed Functional Distribution in Real Brain Surfaces Using Reconstructed 3D Brain Surface Imaging
- 2015
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In: JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND HEALTH INFORMATICS. - : American Scientific Publishers. - 2156-7018 .- 2156-7026. ; 5:2, s. 216-222
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To study the use of reconstructed 3D brain surface imaging (RBSI) to identify the precentral gyrus and its detailed functional distribution in epileptic patients. Method: A total of 12 refractory epilepsy cases that need intracranial electrode implantation were studied. In these patients, pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI) were conducted, and a cranial computed tomography (CT) scan was performed after electrode implantation. The RBSI was accomplished using Brain Voyager software based on MRI data, and then the 3D brain surface was integrated with the subdural electrode CT scan. The precentral gyrus was found in the reconstructed brain surface imaging according to their anatomical shape, and then were identified in the surgical field by comparing the exposed gyrus in the RBSI with the help of intraoperative photographs. Results: Total 12 cases of precentral gyrus was found and marked in the RBSI. There were 101 electrodes covering the precentral gyrus and 73 (72%) of them had motor response to electrical stimulation. In the contrast, (the area which is 1 cm ahead of the precentral gyrus), the motor response rate was 13% (17/130) (p < 0.05). During fMRI, 100% of the precentral gyrus and 58% (7/12) of post central gyrus was activated during hand movement. Whereas, no activation of the areas ahead of precentral gyrus was seen showing a significant difference between precentral gyrus and gyrus ahead. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that using RBSI technique, it is possible to identify the precentral gyrus with precision.
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| 6. |
- Morris, David L, et al.
(author)
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Genome-wide association meta-analysis in Chinese and European individuals identifies ten new loci associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
- 2016
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 48:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; OMIM 152700) is a genetically complex autoimmune disease. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified more than 50 loci as robustly associated with the disease in single ancestries, but genome-wide transancestral studies have not been conducted. We combined three GWAS data sets from Chinese (1,659 cases and 3,398 controls) and European (4,036 cases and 6,959 controls) populations. A meta-analysis of these studies showed that over half of the published SLE genetic associations are present in both populations. A replication study in Chinese (3,043 cases and 5,074 controls) and European (2,643 cases and 9,032 controls) subjects found ten previously unreported SLE loci. Our study provides further evidence that the majority of genetic risk polymorphisms for SLE are contained within the same regions across both populations. Furthermore, a comparison of risk allele frequencies and genetic risk scores suggested that the increased prevalence of SLE in non-Europeans (including Asians) has a genetic basis.
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| 7. |
- Ferro, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Alcohol intake and gastric cancer : Meta-analyses of published data versus individual participant data pooled analyses (StoP Project)
- 2018
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In: Cancer Epidemiology. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 1877-7821 .- 1877-783X. ; 54, s. 125-132
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Individual participant data pooled analyses allow access to non-published data and statistical reanalyses based on more homogeneous criteria than meta-analyses based on systematic reviews. We quantified the impact of publication-related biases and heterogeneity in data analysis and presentation in summary estimates of the association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer.Methods: We compared estimates obtained from conventional meta-analyses, using only data available in published reports from studies that take part in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, with individual participant data pooled analyses including the same studies.Results: A total of 22 studies from the StoP Project assessed the relation between alcohol intake and gastric cancer, 19 had specific data for levels of consumption and 18 according to cancer location; published reports addressing these associations were available from 18, 5 and 5 studies, respectively. The summary odds ratios [OR, (95%CI)] estimate obtained with published data for drinkers vs. non-drinkers was 10% higher than the one obtained with individual StoP data [18 vs. 22 studies: 1.21 (1.07-1.36) vs. 1.10 (0.99-1.23)] and more heterogeneous (1(2): 63.6% vs 54.4%). In general, published data yielded less precise summary estimates (standard errors up to 2.6 times higher). Funnel plot analysis suggested publication bias.Conclusion: Meta-analyses of the association between alcohol drinking and gastric cancer tended to overestimate the magnitude of the effects, possibly due to publication bias. Additionally, individual participant data pooled analyses yielded more precise estimates for different levels of exposure or cancer subtypes.
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| 8. |
- Ferro, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Fruits and vegetables intake and gastric cancer risk : A pooled analysis within the Stomach cancer Pooling Project.
- 2020
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In: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 147:11, s. 3090-3101
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A low intake of fruits and vegetables is a risk factor for gastric cancer, although there is uncertainty regarding the magnitude of the associations. In our study, the relationship between fruits and vegetables intake and gastric cancer was assessed, complementing a previous work on the association betweenconsumption of citrus fruits and gastric cancer. Data from 25 studies (8456 cases and 21 133 controls) with information on fruits and/or vegetables intake were used. A two-stage approach based on random-effects models was used to pool study-specific adjusted (sex, age and the main known risk factors for gastric cancer) odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Exposure-response relations, including linear and nonlinear associations, were modeled using one- and two-order fractional polynomials. Gastric cancer risk was lower for a higher intake of fruits (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64-0.90), noncitrus fruits (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.73-1.02), vegetables (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.56-0.84), and fruits and vegetables (OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49-0.75); results were consistent across sociodemographic and lifestyles categories, as well as study characteristics. Exposure-response analyses showed an increasingly protective effect of portions/day of fruits (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.57-0.73 for six portions), noncitrus fruits (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.61-0.83 for six portions) and vegetables (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.43-0.60 for 10 portions). A protective effect of all fruits, noncitrus fruits and vegetables was confirmed, supporting further dietary recommendations to decrease the burden of gastric cancer.
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| 9. |
- Ferro, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Tobacco smoking and gastric cancer: : meta-analyses of published data versus pooled analyses of individual participant data (StoP Project).
- 2018
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In: European Journal of Cancer Prevention. - 0959-8278 .- 1473-5709. ; 27:3, s. 197-204
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tobacco smoking is one of the main risk factors for gastric cancer, but the magnitude of the association estimated by conventional systematic reviews and meta-analyses might be inaccurate, due to heterogeneous reporting of data and publication bias. We aimed to quantify the combined impact of publication-related biases, and heterogeneity in data analysis or presentation, in the summary estimates obtained from conventional meta-analyses. We compared results from individual participant data pooled-analyses, including the studies in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project, with conventional meta-analyses carried out using only data available in previously published reports from the same studies. From the 23 studies in the StoP Project, 20 had published reports with information on smoking and gastric cancer, but only six had specific data for gastric cardia cancer and seven had data on the daily number of cigarettes smoked. Compared to the results obtained with the StoP database, conventional meta-analyses overvalued the relation between ever smoking (summary odds ratios ranging from 7% higher for all studies to 22% higher for the risk of gastric cardia cancer) and yielded less precise summary estimates (SE ≤2.4 times higher). Additionally, funnel plot asymmetry and corresponding hypotheses tests were suggestive of publication bias. Conventional meta-analyses and individual participant data pooled-analyses reached similar conclusions on the direction of the association between smoking and gastric cancer. However, published data tended to overestimate the magnitude of the effects, possibly due to publication biases and limited the analyses by different levels of exposure or cancer subtypes.
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| 10. |
- Goossens, Maria E., et al.
(author)
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International pooled study on diet and bladder cancer : the bladder cancer, epidemiology and nutritional determinants (BLEND) study: design and baseline characteristics
- 2016
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In: Archives of Public Health. - : BMC. - 0778-7367 .- 2049-3258. ; 74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: In 2012, more than 400,000 urinary bladder cancer cases occurred worldwide, making it the 7th most common type of cancer. Although many previous studies focused on the relationship between diet and bladder cancer, the evidence related to specific food items or nutrients that could be involved in the development of bladder cancer remains inconclusive. Dietary components can either be, or be activated into, potential carcinogens through metabolism, or act to prevent carcinogen damage. Methods/design: The BLadder cancer, Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants (BLEND) study was set up with the purpose of collecting individual patient data from observational studies on diet and bladder cancer. In total, data from 11,261 bladder cancer cases and 675,532 non-cases from 18 case-control and 6 cohort studies from all over the world were included with the aim to investigate the association between individual food items, nutrients and dietary patterns and risk of developing bladder cancer. Discussion: The substantial number of cases included in this study will enable us to provide evidence with large statistical power, for dietary recommendations on the prevention of bladder cancer.
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