Elevated serum TARC levels precede classic Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis by several years.

Tumor cells in classic Hodgkin lymphoma produce high quantities of the thymus- and activation-related chemokine (TARC). We measured TARC levels in prediagnostic serum samples and found strikingly increased values in the vast majority of patients, as early as 6 years before diagnosis.

Longitudinal Changes in Immune Activation Serum Biomarkers Prior to Diagnosis and Risk of B-cell NHL Subtypes.

Background: To examine the contribution of B-cell activation molecules to B-cell follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a prospective study was conducted using pre-diagnosis serial serum samples from the US Department of Defense Serum Repository.

Methods: Each case (n = 142 FL, n = 211 DLBCL) was matched to two controls on age, gender, race, military branch, and blood collection dates. Immune activation molecules (IL1β, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, CXCL13, IL8, TNFα, IFNγ, GM-CSF, VEGF, sCD30, IgE) were quantified using ELISA or multiplex immunometric (Luminex) assay.

Circulating immune markers and risks of non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: A pooled analysis.

Although prediagnostic circulating concentrations of the immune activation markers soluble CD27 (sCD27), sCD30 and chemokine ligand-13 (CXCL13) have been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk, studies have been limited by sample size in associations with NHL subtypes. We pooled data from eight nested case-control studies to investigate subtype-specific relationships for these analytes. Using polytomous regression, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relating study-specific analyte tertiles to selected subtypes vs controls (n = 3310): chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL; n = 623), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n = 621), follicular lymphoma (FL; n = 398), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL; n = 138), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL; n = 82) and T cell lymphoma (TCL; n = 92).

Blast traumatic brain injury and serum inflammatory cytokines: a repeated measures case-control study among U.S. military service members.

Background: There is a paucity of human data on exposure to blast traumatic brain injury (bTBI) and the corresponding systemic cytokine immune response at later time points (i.e., months, years) post-injury.

Elevated Serum Levels of sCD30 and IL6 and Detectable IL10 Precede Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Diagnosis.

We investigated whether an immune system environment characterized by elevated serum levels of B-cell activation molecules was associated with the subsequent development of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We measured serum levels of B-cell-stimulatory cytokines, IL6 and IL10, soluble CD30 (sCD30), and total IgE prior to cHL diagnosis in 103 cases and 206 matched controls with archived specimens in the DoD Serum Repository. Prediagnosis serum sCD30 and IL6 levels had strong positive associations with risk of a cHL diagnosis 0 to 1 year prior to diagnosis [sCD30 OR = 5.

Preclinical serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of type 1 diabetes in a cohort of US military personnel.

To determine whether serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in young adults are associated with risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), we conducted a prospective, nested case-control study among US active-duty military personnel with serum in the US Department of Defense Serum Repository, identifying 310 T1D cases diagnosed between 1997 and 2009 with at least 2 serum samples collected before disease onset and 613 controls matched to cases on age, sex, race/ethnicity, branch of military service, and dates of serum collection. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Among non-Hispanic whites, those with average 25(OH)D levels of ≥ 100 nmol/L had a 44% lower risk of developing T1D than those with average 25(OH)D levels < 75 nmol/L (rate ratio = 0.

Atypical prediagnosis Epstein-Barr virus serology restricted to EBV-positive Hodgkin lymphoma.

An altered anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serologic profile preceding diagnosis is associated with an increased risk of Hodgkin lymphoma. It is unknown whether this atypical pattern predicts Hodgkin lymphoma risk further subdivided by determination of EBV in tumor cells. A nested case-control study of 128 incident Hodgkin lymphoma cases and 368 matched controls from active-duty military personnel with archived serum in the US Department of Defense Serum Repository was conducted to determine whether a panel of anti-EBV antibody titers differed in EBV(+) and EBV(-) Hodgkin lymphoma.

National estimates of seroincidence and seroprevalence for herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 among US military adults aged 18 to 29 years.

Background: While population-based seroprevalence studies of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are widespread, seroincidence studies are largely limited to select or high-risk populations. The US military offers a potential population to derive national seroincidence rate estimates for young adults (ages 18-29).

Methods: We used banked, longitudinal serum specimens collected in a cohort of 1094 military personnel aged 18 to 30 years who served between 1989 and 2005 to estimate national HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroincidence and seroprevalence for the young, adult military population, weighted according to the US Census.

Risk factors for disability retirement among healthy adults joining the U.S. Army.

Objective: From 2001 to 2006, the Army deployed over 717,000 personnel to Iraq and Afghanistan, with over 15,000 troops wounded. Little is known about the impact of military and demographic factors, particularly deployment, occupation, and pre-existing medical status, on disability retirement.

Methods: A nested case-control study of first time, active duty personnel entering from 1997 to 2004.

Primary infection with the Epstein-Barr virus and risk of multiple sclerosis.

To determine whether multiple sclerosis (MS) risk increases following primary infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), we conducted a nested case-control study including 305 individuals who developed MS and 610 matched controls selected among the >8 million active-duty military personnel whose serum has been stored in the Department of Defense Serum Repository. Time of EBV infection was determined by measuring antibody titers in serial serum samples collected before MS onset among cases, and on matched dates among controls. Ten (3.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis.

Context: Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that high levels of vitamin D, a potent immunomodulator, may decrease the risk of multiple sclerosis. There are no prospective studies addressing this hypothesis.

Objective: To examine whether levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with risk of multiple sclerosis.

Self-reported hepatitis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: an analysis according to the time since hepatitis diagnosis.

Purpose: Using data from the Selected Cancers Study, the authors tested whether the association between hepatitis infection and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) varied according to the time since the diagnosis of hepatitis.

Methods: Cases were 1177 men ages 32-60 diagnosed with NHL between 1984 and 1988. Controls were men with no history of NHL who were frequency-matched to lymphoma cases by age and cancer registry (n = 1852).

Temporal relationship between elevation of epstein-barr virus antibody titers and initial onset of neurological symptoms in multiple sclerosis.

Context: Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the temporal relationship remains unclear.

Objective: To determine whether antibodies to EBV are elevated before the onset of MS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Nested case-control study conducted among more than 3 million US military personnel with blood samples collected between 1988 and 2000 and stored in the Department of Defense Serum Repository.

Multiple sclerosis and Epstein-Barr virus.

Context: Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), but the temporal relationship remains unclear.

Objective: To determine whether antibodies to EBV are elevated before the onset of MS.

Design, Setting, And Population: Nested case-control study conducted among more than 3 million US military personnel with blood samples collected between 1988 and 2000 and stored in the Department of Defense Serum Repository.