Clinical utility of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides in the follow-up of patients with coeliac disease.

Background: Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only treatment for patients with coeliac disease (CD) and its compliance should be monitored to avoid cumulative damage.

Aims: To analyse gluten exposures of coeliac patients on GFD for at least 24 months using different monitoring tools and its impact on duodenal histology at 12-month follow-up and evaluate the interval of determination of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides (u-GIP) for the monitoring of GFD adherence.

Methods: Ninety-four patients with CD on a GFD for at least 24 months were prospectively included.

Protein and functional isoform levels and genetic variants of the BAFF and APRIL pathway components in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototype of an autoimmune disease. Belimumab, a monoclonal antibody targets BAFF, is the only biologic approved for SLE and active lupus nephritis. BAFF is a cytokine with a key-regulatory role in the B cell homeostasis, which acts by binding to three receptors: BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA.

Case Report: Novel SAVI-Causing Variants in Expand the Clinical Disease Spectrum and Suggest a Refined Model of STING Activation.

Gain-of-function mutations in cause the monogenic interferonopathy, SAVI, which presents with early-onset systemic inflammation, cold-induced vasculopathy and/or interstitial lung disease. We identified 5 patients (3 kindreds) with predominantly peripheral vascular disease who harbor 3 novel variants, p.H72N, p.

Corrigendum: Fecal Gluten Peptides Reveal Limitations of Serological Tests and Food Questionnaires for Monitoring Gluten-Free Diet in Celiac Disease Patients.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2016.

PTPN22 is not associated with Behçet's disease. Study spanning the complete gene region in the Spanish population and meta-analysis of the functional variant R620W.

Objectives: The functional variant R620W of the protein tyrosine phosphatase non receptor-22 (PTPN22) gene plays an important role in susceptibility to several immuno-mediated pathologies. Behçet's disease (BD) is a complex disease related to the immune system with a demonstrated genetic base. The HLA class I genes are the most important genetic factors in BD although other genes are also involved in the susceptibility to this disease.

Epistatic interaction of ERAP1 and HLA-B in Behçet disease: a replication study in the Spanish population.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multifactorial disorder associated with the HLA region. Recently, the ERAP1 gene has been proposed as a susceptibility locus with a recessive model and with epistatic interaction with HLA-B51. ERAP1 trims peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum to optimize their length for MHC-I binding.

HLA and non-HLA genes in Behçet's disease: a multicentric study in the Spanish population.

Introduction: According to genome wide association (GWA) studies as well as candidate gene approaches, Behçet's disease (BD) is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and HLA-B gene regions. The HLA-B51 has been consistently associated with the disease, but the role of other HLA class I molecules remains controversial. Recently, variants in non-HLA genes have also been associated with BD.

High prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in Brazilian cystic fibrosis patients.

A high rate of Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization was observed in Brazilian cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (13 out of 34; 38.2%) who underwent bronchoscopy between March 2006 and August 2009 at the Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were collected from these patients and studied by nested PCR amplification of the mitochondrial gene coding for the large subunit ribosomal RNA (mtLSUrDNA).

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization in patients treated with infliximab.

Background: Infliximab, a chimeric antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) monoclonal antibody, has become an established effective therapy for inflammatory rheumatic disease. However, TNF is a critical factor in host defence, and the suppression of its biological activity may be associated with the increased risk of opportunistic infections. The frequent use of infliximab in clinical practice has identified Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) as a serious complication.

Interleukin-28B genetic variants and hepatitis virus infection by different viral genotypes.

Unlabelled: Genetic host factors may modify the course of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Very recently, a genome-wide scan that reported association of the IL28B locus with response to treatment in HCV infection was published. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship of this locus with outcome of HCV infection in a cohort constituted by a total of 731 Spanish individuals.

Pneumocystis jirovecii transmission from immunocompetent carriers to infant.

We report a case of Pneumocystis jirovecii transmission from colonized grandparents to their infant granddaughter. Genotyping of P. jirovecii showed the same genotypes in samples from the infant and her grandparents.

Systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are colonized with Pneumocystis jiroveci.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high levels of airway and systemic inflammatory markers are associated with a faster decrease in lung function. Our study shows that patients colonized by Pneumocystis jiroveci have higher proinflammatory cytokine levels than do noncolonized patients. This suggests that Pneumocystis may play a role in disease progression.

HLA-C and KIR genes in hepatitis C virus infection.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key components of the innate antiviral immune response. NK cell function is regulated by the interaction of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules with NK inhibitory receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the HLA-C/KIR pair in hepatitis C virus clearance in our population.

Pneumocystis jirovecii in general population.

The possible presence of Pneumocystis among healthy adults was examined by detecting Pneumocystis jirovecii-specific DNA in prospectively obtained oropharyngeal wash samples from 50 persons without underlying lung disease or immunosuppression. Pneumocystis carriage, defined by detecting Pneumocystis DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction in 2 independent analyses plus successful mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA typing by direct sequencing, was found in 20% of cases. All carriers were asymptomatic, anti-HIV negative, and had normal total lymphocyte and CD4+ cell counts.

[Genotypic resistance to sulfamide drugs among patients with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia].

Background And Objective: The absence of culture methods to recognize the presence of resistance to sulfa or sulfone drugs in Pneumocystis jiroveci has led to develop molecular techniques based on the identification of mutations in the dihydropteroate synthase gene (DHPS). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of these mutations in our geographical area, since in Spain there is no information concerning this issue.

Patients And Method: The study included all Pneumocystis pneumonia cases identified in our hospital during two years.

HLA class I B44 is associated with sustained response to interferon + ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of host genetic factors on response to combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection.

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proved chronic hepatitis C infection were treated with interferon alone (n = 143) or combined therapy of interferon + ribavarin (n = 105; 46 treatment naïve, 59 relapsers). Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I was determined by microlymphocytotoxicity and class II by polymerase chain reaction-single specific oligonucleotide.