Lymphocyte subsets are influenced by positivity levels in healthy subjects before and after mild acute stress.

In the current study, the possible association of positivity (POS), recently defined as general disposition to view life under positive outlook, with immune markers and post-stress modifications, was analyzed. Circulating lymphocyte subsets and serum cytokine levels were evaluated before and after a standard mild acute stress test, in 41 healthy students, previously selected by a questionnaire for their level of POS (high [POS-H] and low [POS-L]). The CD3 and CD4 cell frequency was higher in the POS-H students before and after acute stress.

Risk of malignancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis under immunosuppressive therapy: a single-center experience.

Systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are associated with an increased risk of malignancy, in particular of lymphoproliferative disorders. Chronic inflammation, due to the disease itself, generates a microenvironment able to promote cancer development, but it is still controversial whether immunosuppressive therapy may contribute to carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of malignancy in 399 patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, all treated with either tumor necrosis factor α-inhibitors plus disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or DMARDs alone.