Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
Published: June 2012
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Background: Traditional cardiovascular risk factors do not explain the high incidence of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease. A prothrombotic state could accelerate the process of vascular disease in these patients.
Methods: In this study, four platelet activation markers (NAP-2, P-selectin, GP1b and RANTES) and two endothelial cell activation markers (von Willebrand factor and its propeptide) were measured in 671 haemodialysis patients and 275 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD). All were long-term dialysis patients. The risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was assessed in relation to these markers after a mean follow-up time of 2.5 years.
Results: The von Willebrand factor showed a positive correlation with total mortality in the haemodialysis patients. In an unadjusted model, the hazard rate (HR) of total mortality was 2.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.7-3.4] in the upper quartile of von Willebrand factor compared with the lowest quartile. It remained statistically significant (HR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.6) after adjustment for traditional risk factors. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between von Willebrand factor levels and total mortality in PD patients. Finally, no relationship between platelet activation markers and total mortality was found in either the haemodialysis or the PD patients.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that chronic endothelial cell activation, but not platelet activation, is related to all-cause mortality in end-stage renal disease patients on long-term dialysis.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy of the skin. The cell of origin of MCC is thus far unknown and proposed cells of origin include Merkel cells, pro-/pre- or pre-B cells, epithelial stem cells, and dermal stem cells. In this study, we aimed to shed further light on the possibility that a subset of MCC tumors arise from epithelial stem cells of the skin by examining the expression of hair follicle and epidermal stem cell markers in MCC and normal human skin.
The Folkhaelsan Department of Medical Genetics, The Folkhaelsan Institute of Genetics and the Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Trichothiodystrophy is a rare genetic disorder characterized by abnormal hair development and affects multiple body systems; this study focuses on two Finnish families with this condition.
- The researchers identified a new mutation in the MPLKIP gene through whole-exome sequencing, confirming the diagnosis of non-photosensitive trichothiodystrophy type 4 (TTD4) in three patients.
- This report enhances understanding of TTD4 by detailing the patients' unique physical traits and comparing their clinical features with previously documented cases.
1 Transplantation Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2 Department of surgery, Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 3 Transplantation and Liver Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 4 Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Increased expression of PDGF and VEGF is linked to chronic rejection in kidney transplants, which can lead to allograft loss.
Sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was tested in a rat model and shown to significantly reduce neointimal formation, smooth muscle cell activity, and chronic rejection signs while improving kidney function.
The findings suggest that targeting both PDGF and VEGF with sunitinib may offer a promising new approach for preventing chronic rejection in kidney transplant patients.
