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Zyla J, Papiez A, Zhao J, Qu R, Li X, Kluger Y, Polanska J, Hatzis C, Pusztai L, Marczyk M. Evaluation of zero counts to better understand the discrepancies between bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq platforms. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4663-4674. [PMID: 37841335 PMCID: PMC10568495 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in sample preparation and sequencing technology have made it possible to profile the transcriptomes of individual cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq). Compared to bulk RNA-Seq data, single-cell data often contain a higher percentage of zero reads, mainly due to lower sequencing depth per cell, which affects mostly measurements of low-expression genes. However, discrepancies between platforms are observed regardless of expression level. Using four paired datasets with multiple samples each, we investigated technical and biological factors that can contribute to this expression shift. Using two separate machine learning models we found that, in addition to expression level, RNA integrity, gene or UTR3 length, and the number of transcripts potentially also influence the occurrence of zeros. These findings could enable the development of novel analytical methods for cross-platform expression shift correction. We also identified genes and biological pathways in our diverse datasets that consistently showed differences when assessed at the single cell versus bulk level to assist in interpreting analysis across transcriptomic platforms. At the gene level, 25 genes (0.12%) were found in all datasets as discordant, but at the pathway level, 7 pathways (2.02%) showed shared enrichment in discordant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Zyla
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
| | - Anna Papiez
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
| | - Jun Zhao
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Rihao Qu
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Xiaotong Li
- Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Yuval Kluger
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Applied Mathematics Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joanna Polanska
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
| | - Christos Hatzis
- Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lajos Pusztai
- Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Michal Marczyk
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice 44-100, Poland
- Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Almuhayawi MS, Gattan HS, Alruhaili MH, Alharbi MT, Nagshabandi MK, Tarabulsi MK, Almuhayawi SM, Al Jaouni SK, Selim S, Alanazi A, Alruwaili Y, Faried OA, Amin I, Elnosary ME. Molecular Profile and the Effectiveness of Antimicrobials Drugs Against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the Diagnostic Approaches of Otitis Infection. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:4397-4408. [PMID: 37431447 PMCID: PMC10329836 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s418685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Otitis externa and otitis media are two types of ear infections that affect people of all ages, although they are more common in newborns and young children. Antibiotic usage, healthcare, and advanced age all play a role in the development of this illness. Methods Fifty-eight patients with various kinds of infections of the ears were voluntary patients attending the outpatient clinics of the Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Sakaka, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia, examined to evaluate the role of bacteria and the likely significance of plasmids in their antibiotic resistance as ear infectious agents. Results Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most prevalent bacteria found in ear infections. The greatest number of major bacterial isolates were S. aureus (54%), followed by P. aeruginosa (13%), whereas a smaller number of isolates (3%) were from Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus vulgaris, respectively. Mixed growth was noted in 3.4% of instances. The isolation rate for Gram-positive organisms was 72%, while the rate for Gram-negative species was 28%. All the isolates had DNA greater than 14 kilobases. Hind III analysis of the plasmid DNA extracted from the resistant strains of ear infection demonstrated that antibiotic-resistance plasmids were extensively dispersed. Exotoxin A PCR amplification indicated 396 pb PCR-positive DNA for all identified samples, with the exception of three strains for which no band was observed. Patients in the epidemiological study ranged in number, but all were linked together for the purposes of the study because of their shared epidemiological characteristics. Conclusion Vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline, rifampin, and daptomycin are all antibiotics that have been shown to be effective against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Microbiological pattern evaluation and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the microorganisms providing empirical antibiotics are becoming increasingly crucial to minimize issues and the development of antibiotic-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S Almuhayawi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hattan S Gattan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed H Alruhaili
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohanned Talal Alharbi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed K Nagshabandi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muyassar K Tarabulsi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad M Almuhayawi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Soad K Al Jaouni
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Yousef Abdulatif Jameel Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samy Selim
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Awadh Alanazi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasir Alruwaili
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka, 72341, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama Ahmed Faried
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62513, Egypt
| | - Islam Amin
- Central Laboratory, Ismailia General Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E Elnosary
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
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3
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Origa R. Hepatitis C and Thalassemia: A Story with (Almost) a Happy Ending. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050683. [PMID: 37242353 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Donor screening has nearly eliminated the risk of hepatitis C virus post-transfusion transmission in resource-rich settings. Moreover, the use of direct antiviral agents made it possible to treat the majority of patients with thalassemia and hepatitis C. However, this achievement, while extremely significant, does not erase the effects of the virus in terms of fibrogenesis and mutagenic risk, and adult patients with thalassemia are facing the long-term consequences of the chronic infection both on the liver and extrahepatically. As in the general population, it is in mainly patients with cirrhosis who are increasing in age, even though they are now HCV RNA-negative, who are at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, which continues to be statistically much more frequent in individuals with than without thalassemia. In certain resource-limited settings, the World Health Organization has estimated that up to 25 percent of blood donations do not undergo screening. It is therefore not surprising that hepatitis virus infection is still the most prevalent in patients with thalassemia worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Origa
- Ospedale Pediatrico Microcitemico, Via Jenner Sn, 09121 Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato Strada Provinciale 8, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
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4
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Mancuso A, Butera G, Rossi M, Maringhini A. Hepatocellular carcinoma in thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies. Cancer 2023; 129:1614-1615. [PMID: 36917137 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mancuso
- Medicina Interna 1, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Butera
- Medicina Interna 1, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Margherita Rossi
- Medicina Interna 1, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alberto Maringhini
- Medicina Interna 1, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione Civico-Di Cristina-Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
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Origa R, Gianesin B, Longo F, Di Maggio R, Cassinerio E, Gamberini MR, Pinto VM, Casale M, La Nasa G, Caocci G, Piroddi A, Piolatto A, Di Mauro A, Romano C, Gigante A, Barella S, Maggio A, Graziadei G, Perrotta S, Forni GL. Reply to "Hepatocellular carcinoma in thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies". Cancer 2023; 129:1616-1617. [PMID: 36917138 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Origa
- Università di Cagliari, Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Talassemia, Ospedale Microcitemico 'A. Cao', Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Filomena Longo
- Centro Microcitemie-Pediatria Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy
| | - Rosario Di Maggio
- Unità Operativa Complessa Ematologia per le Malattie Rare del Sangue e degli Organi Ematopoietici, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elena Cassinerio
- Attività Diurne Malattie Rare Internistiche-Medicina Generale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Gamberini
- Day Hospital della Talassemia e delle Emoglobinopatie, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Maria Pinto
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Centro della Microcitemia, delle Anemie Congenite e dei Disordini del Metabolismo del Ferro, Ente Ospedaliero Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maddalena Casale
- Dipartimento della Donna, del Bambino e di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Università della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgio La Nasa
- Università di Cagliari, Struttura Complessa Ematologia e Centro Trapianto di Midollo Osseo, Ospedale Businco, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Caocci
- Università di Cagliari, Struttura Complessa Ematologia e Centro Trapianto di Midollo Osseo, Ospedale Businco, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Piroddi
- Centro Trapianti Cellule Staminali, Ospedale Microcitemico 'A. Cao', Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Piolatto
- Centro Microcitemie-Pediatria Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Mauro
- Attività Diurne Malattie Rare Internistiche-Medicina Generale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Romano
- Unità Operativa Semplice Centro Microcitemia, Unità Operativa Complessa Ematologia e Trapianto di Cellule Staminali Emopoietiche, Ospedale 'A. Perrino', Brindisi, Italy
| | | | - Susanna Barella
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Talassemia, Ospedale Microcitemico 'A. Cao', Cagliari, Italy
| | - Aurelio Maggio
- Unità Operativa Complessa Ematologia per le Malattie Rare del Sangue e degli Organi Ematopoietici, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-V. Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanna Graziadei
- Attività Diurne Malattie Rare Internistiche-Medicina Generale, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Silverio Perrotta
- Dipartimento della Donna, del Bambino e di Chirurgia Generale e Specialistica, Università della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Forni
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Centro della Microcitemia, delle Anemie Congenite e dei Disordini del Metabolismo del Ferro, Ente Ospedaliero Ospedali Galliera, Genoa, Italy
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Khan W, Khan BM, Yasen S, Al-Dahiri A, Al-Jumeily D, Dajani K, Hussain A. COVID-19 Vaccination and Mental Stress within Diverse Sociodemographic Groups. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12932. [PMID: 36232231 PMCID: PMC9565099 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we surveyed 635 participants to determine: (a) major causes of mental stress during the pandemic and its future impacts, and (b) diversity in public perception of the COVID-19 vaccination and its acceptance (specifically for children). Statistical results and intelligent clustering outcomes indicate significant associations between sociodemographic diversity, mental stress causes, and vaccination perception. For instance, statistical results indicate significant dependence between gender (we will use term 'sex' in the rest of the manuscript) and mental stress due to COVID-19 infection (p = 1.7 × 10-5). Over 25% of males indicated work-related stress compared to 35% in females, however, females indicated that they were more stressed (17%) due to relationships compared to males (12%). Around 30% of Asian/Arabic participants do not feel that the vaccination is safe as compared to 8% of white British and 22% of white Europeans, indicating significant dependence (p = 1.8 × 10-8) with ethnicity. More specifically, vaccination acceptance for children is significantly dependent with ethnicity (p = 3.7 × 10-5) where only 47% participants show willingness towards children's vaccination. The primary dataset in this study along with experimental outcomes identifying sociodemographic information diversity with respect to public perception and acceptance of vaccination in children and potential stress factors might be useful for the public and policymakers to help them be better prepared for future epidemics, as well as working globally to combat mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasiq Khan
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Bilal M. Khan
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - Salwa Yasen
- The Hollies Family Surgery, 10 Elbow Lane, Formby, Liverpool L37 4AF, UK
| | | | - Dhiya Al-Jumeily
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Khalil Dajani
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - Abir Hussain
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
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On-Line Thermally Induced Evolved Gas Analysis: An Update-Part 1: EGA-MS. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27113518. [PMID: 35684458 PMCID: PMC9182359 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27113518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Advances in on-line thermally induced evolved gas analysis (OLTI-EGA) have been systematically reported by our group to update their applications in several different fields and to provide useful starting references. The importance of an accurate interpretation of the thermally-induced reaction mechanism which involves the formation of gaseous species is necessary to obtain the characterization of the evolved products. In this review, applications of Evolved Gas Analysis (EGA) performed by on-line coupling heating devices to mass spectrometry (EGA-MS), are reported. Reported references clearly demonstrate that the characterization of the nature of volatile products released by a substance subjected to a controlled temperature program allows us to prove a supposed reaction or composition, either under isothermal or under heating conditions. Selected 2019, 2020, and 2021 references are collected and briefly described in this review.
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Kandi V, Vinjamuri SR, Tanikella BP. Hepatitis C Viral Infection Among Beta-Thalassemia Patients: A Study From the Centre for Excellence in Thalassemia and Other Blood Disorders. Cureus 2021; 13:e16207. [PMID: 34367809 PMCID: PMC8340578 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded RNA virus, which is frequently transmitted through blood transfusions, contact with infected blood or blood products, and vertical transmission. Injectable drug abusers and transplant recipients are predisposed to HCV infection. It causes acute hepatitis, which may progress to chronic hepatitis, and in severe untreated cases, patients may develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since there is no vaccine available against HCV infection, prevention remains the mainstay, at least among the susceptible populations that include thalassemia patients. Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted at the center for excellence in thalassemia and other blood disorders attached to the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a tertiary care teaching hospital at Karimnagar, Telangana, India. Blood samples of 100 beta-thalassemia patients and age-matched non-thalassemic persons were screened for antibodies against HCV by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based rapid immunochromatographic method, and the chemiluminescence assay using the Abbott AxSYM (Abbott Laboratories, Abbot Park, IL, USA). During the same period, the prevalence of HCV was assessed among non-thalassemic patients attending in-patient and out-patient wards of PIMS hospital. Results Of the 100 cases of beta-thalassemia, 28 (28%) were HCV positive. All the age-matched non-thalassemic controls were negative for HCV antibodies. Among the positives, 20 (71%) were males, and eight (29%) were females. The prevalence of HCV among non-thalassemic patients attending the hospital during the same period was found to be 0.19%. Conclusions HCV infection among the beta-thalassemia patients was abnormally high as compared to the others. Thalassemia patients are potentially predisposed to HCV infection and other blood-borne viral infections. Thorough screening of blood before transfusion is warranted. HCV infection may further increase the morbidity and mortality of beta-thalassemia patients and other patients with blood disorders who acquire the infection due to frequent blood transfusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataramana Kandi
- Clinical Microbiology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, IND
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9
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Casale M, Forni GL, Cassinerio E, Pasquali D, Origa R, Serra M, Campisi S, Peluso A, Renni R, Cattoni A, De Michele E, Allò M, Poggi M, Ferrara F, Di Concilio R, Sportelli F, Quarta A, Putti MC, Notarangelo LD, Sau A, Ladogana S, Tartaglione I, Picariello S, Marcon A, Sturiale P, Roberti D, Lazzarino AI, Perrotta S. Risk factors for endocrine complications in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients on chelation therapy with deferasirox: a risk assessment study from a multicentre nation-wide cohort. Haematologica 2021; 107:467-477. [PMID: 33406815 PMCID: PMC8804575 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2020.272419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Transfusion-dependent patients typically develop iron-induced cardiomyopathy, liver disease, and endocrine complications. We aimed to estimate the incidence of endocrine disorders in transfusiondependent thalassemia (TDT) patients during long-term iron-chelation therapy with deferasirox (DFX). We developed a multi-center follow-up study of 426 TDT patients treated with once-daily DFX for a median duration of 8 years, up to 18.5 years. At baseline, 118, 121, and 187 patients had 0, 1, or ≥2 endocrine diseases respectively. 104 additional endocrine diseases were developed during the follow-up. The overall risk of developing a new endocrine complication within 5 years was 9.7% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 6.3–13.1). Multiple Cox regression analysis identified three key predictors: age showed a positive log-linear effect (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for 50% increase 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.3, P=0.005), the serum concentration of thyrotropin showed a positive linear effect (adjusted HR for 1 mIU/L increase 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.4, P<0.001) regardless the kind of disease incident, while the number of previous endocrine diseases showed a negative linear effect: the higher the number of diseases at baseline the lower the chance of developing further diseasess (adjusted HR for unit increase 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.7, P<0.001). Age and thyrotropin had similar effect sizes across the categories of baseline diseases. The administration of levothyroxine as a covariate did not change the estimates. Although in DFX-treated TDT patients the risk of developing an endocrine complication is generally lower than the previously reported risk, there is considerable risk variation and the burden of these complications remains high. We developed a simple risk score chart enabling clinicians to estimate their patients’ risk. Future research will look at increasing the amount of variation explained from our model and testing further clinical and laboratory predictors, including the assessment of direct endocrine magnetic resonance imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Casale
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luigi De Crecchio n. 4, 80138, Naples.
| | - Gian Luca Forni
- Center of Microcitemia and Congenital Anemias, Galliera Hospital, Mura delle Cappuccine 14 16128, Genoa
| | - Elena Cassinerio
- Rare Diseases Center, General Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan
| | - Daniela Pasquali
- Endocrinology, Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples
| | - Raffaella Origa
- Thalassemia Centre, Pediatric Hospital A CAO, AOG Brotzu, Cagliari
| | - Marilena Serra
- Thalassemia Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital "V. Fazzi", Lecce
| | | | - Angelo Peluso
- Centre of Microcitemia, POC SS.Annunziata - ASL TA, Taranto
| | - Roberta Renni
- Thalassemia Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital F.Ferrari, Casarano
| | - Alessandro Cattoni
- Department of Pediatrics, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Fondazione Monza e Brianza per il Bambino e la sua Mamma, Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo, Monza
| | - Elisa De Michele
- Immunotransfusion Medicine Unit, AOU OO.RR. S. Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonella Quarta
- Center for Microcythemia, Iron Metabolism disorders, Gaucher disease-Hematology and Transplantation Unit, "A. Perrino" Hospital, Brindisi
| | | | | | - Antonella Sau
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital "Spirito Santo", Pescara
| | - Saverio Ladogana
- Pediatric Oncohematology Unit, "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo
| | - Immacolata Tartaglione
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luigi De Crecchio n. 4, 80138, Naples
| | - Stefania Picariello
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luigi De Crecchio n. 4, 80138, Naples
| | - Alessia Marcon
- Rare Diseases Center, General Medicine Unit, IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan
| | | | - Domenico Roberti
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luigi De Crecchio n. 4, 80138, Naples
| | - Antonio Ivan Lazzarino
- EPISTATA - Agency for Clinical Research and Medical Statistics, London E8 3SY, United Kingdom
| | - Silverio Perrotta
- Department of Women, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University " Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luigi De Crecchio n. 4, 80138, Naples
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Mancuso A. Evidence-based medicine and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Thalassemia. BMC Gastroenterol 2020; 20:409. [PMID: 33297979 PMCID: PMC7724702 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-020-01542-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma as a complication is linked to improved outcomes of thalassemia. Main body Published data suggest an incidence of HCC in thalassemia of about 2%. However, since thalassemia is endemic in many under-developed countries where patients have not probably been screened for HCC yet, the burden of the disease could be higher. Prevention of HCV infection through blood transfusion, HCV treatment and adequate iron chelation are all tools to prevent HCC in thalassemia. In presence of risk factors, HCC screening seems appropriate for thalassemia. Management of HCC should not be different from that indicated for non thalassemics. However, liver transplantation can be challenging and should be reserved to highly selected cases, due to coexistence of relevant comorbidities. Decisions in the management of HCC in thalassemia should follow a multidisciplinary effort. Moreover, due to the paucity of published data about the issue, future multicenter international studies will be helpful. Short conclusion In BMC Gastroenterology results of a commendable effort to guidelines for the management of HCC in thalassemia are reported by an Italian panel of experts. However, due to the paucity of published data about the topic, some conclusions rely on grey areas and are reason of debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mancuso
- Medicina Interna 1, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione Civico - Di Cristina - Benfratelli, Piazzale Leotta 4, 90100, Palermo, Italy.
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Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV-1 and Correlation with Molecular Markers among Multi-Transfused Thalassemia Patients in Western India. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2020; 12:e2020038. [PMID: 32670516 PMCID: PMC7340250 DOI: 10.4084/mjhid.2020.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multitransfused β-thalassemia major patients are always at high risk of having Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTIs). This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBsAg, Anti-HIV-1/2, and Anti-HCV among these patients and to correlate the same with NAT testing. Methods A total of 196 patients with β-thalassemia were included in the study. Patients were screened for the presence of viral markers by third-generation ELISA test as well as for viral DNA/RNA by NAT test. Results Among 196 multi-transfused Beta-thalassemia patients, the seroprevalence of anti-HCV was very high 100 (51.1%), however, anti-HIV1/2 was 6 (3.1%), and HBsAg were 3 (1.5%). Surprisingly similar patterns were observed in the prevalence of molecular markers, as HCV-RNA were 66 (33.7%) of the patients along with HIV-1 RNA were 8 (4.1%), and HBV-DNA were 5 (2.5%) patients. Overall eight (4.1%) patients were found to have coinfections, where two were positive for HBsAg/anti-HCV by ELISA along with 3 (1.5%) were positive for HBV-DNA/ HCV-RNA, 1 (0.5%) was positive for HIV-RNA/HBV-DNA, and 2 (1%) had coinfection of HIV-RNA/ HCV RNA by NAT testing Conclusion The prevalence of HCV infection among multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients is significantly higher than that of the HBV and HIV infections. This scenario should be controlled and monitored by doing regular follow-up testing schedules of such patients and also the administration of the booster dose of the HBV vaccine along with HCV treatment with antiviral DAAs.
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