Association between Serum Antibodies to Oral Microorganisms and Hyperglycemia in Adults

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the relationship between serum antibody titers against 19 selected oral microorganisms and measures of hyperglycemia in a large, nationally representative data set. The study population consisted of 7,848 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) who were at least 40 yrs old, with complete serum IgG antibody data against 19 oral microorganisms. The 19 antibody titers were grouped into 4 categories via cluster analysis--orange-red, yellow-orange, orange-blue, and red-green--named to reflect predominant antibody titers against microorganisms in Socransky's classification scheme for oral microbes. Linear regression models weighted for complex survey design were used in which fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and HbA1c were outcomes and antibody cluster scores were exposures, adjusting for potential confounders. Higher orange-red cluster scores were associated with increased hyperglycemia, while higher orange-blue cluster scores were related with decreased hyperglycemia. A 1-unit-higher orange-red cluster score was associated with 0.46 mg/dL higher fasting blood glucose (p = .0038), and a 1-unit-higher orange-blue cluster score was associated with 0.34% lower HbA1c (p = .0257). Groups of antibody titers against periodontal microorganisms were associated with hyperglycemia independent of known risk factors.

Influence of T cell depletion method on circulating gammadelta T cell reconstitution and potential role in the graft-versus-leukemia effect

BACKGROUND

Our laboratory previously reported that leukemia patients who developed > or = 10% gammadelta+ T cells during the first six months after receiving an anti-TCRalphabeta T-cell-depleted (TCD) graft from a partially mismatched related donor (PMRD) had a disease-free survival (DFS) advantage. These gammadelta+ T cells were V81+CD3+CD4-CD8-CD69+HLADR+ and are cytotoxic to K562 cells.

METHODS

In order to determine whether the anti-alphabeta TCD regimen was associated with these findings, we compared the reconstitution of gammadelta+ T cells from patients who received TCD PMRD grafts using the anti-TCRc4 MAb TIOB9-1A31 (previously reported) with similar patients who received grafts using the anti-CD3 MAb OKT3.

RESULTS

Increased cytotoxic Vdelta1+ T cells were seen in 10 of 43 T10B9 TCD patients compared to 7 of 100 in the OKT3 TCD group (23% versus 7%, p = 0.010). T10B9 patients with increased gammadelta+ T cells also exhibited a higher range of increased gammadelta+ T cells and the length of time the gammadelta+ T cells remained high was longer when compared to OKT3 patients. Patients with increased gammadelta+ T cells whose grafts were T-cell depleted with T10B9 showed a significant decrease in relapse (p = 0.038). Similar rates and reduction in relapse were seen in OKT3 TCD patients, although significance was not reached due to the small number of patients with increased gammadelta+ T cells. Estimated 3 year disease-free survival was significantly improved in T10B9 patients with increased gammadelta+ T cells (0.79 versus 0.31, p = 0.009), a trend also seen in OKT3 patients (p = 0.091).

DISCUSSION

These observations indicate that Vdelta1+CD4-CD8-cytotoxic T cells are associated with lower relapse rates and improved survival, and thus may have a role in a graft-versus-leukemia effect.

Quality of life and lymphedema following breast cancer

The aim of the study was to compare Quality of Life (QOL) of breast cancer patients with and without secondary lymphedema (SLE) using a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample. Research packets were mailed to 2088 breast cancer patients (BrCaPt). The QOL component of the study used the Quality of Life Instrument --Breast Cancer Patient Version for data collection. The sample (n = 537) was 12.9% African-American/Hispanic/Other (AA) and 87.1% European-American (EA). One hundred and twenty-two women (22.7%) reported SLE. Overall and subscale means were computed and ANOVA was determined for seven variables: age, marital status, educational level, race, type of surgery, time since diagnosis, and SLE. Women without SLE had a higher overall mean QOL score compared to women with SLE (p= 0.02). Women with a greater than high school education had a higher mean QOL score compared to women with high school or less education (p=0.05). SLE patients had poorer QOL in the physical (p<0.001), and social (p=0.004) subscales. Older women had a higher overall QOL compared to younger women (p<0.001). These results provide insight into the impact of SLE on women's QOL and pinpoint that physical and social well being are negatively influenced by SLE.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated B cell lymphoproliferative disorder following mismatched related T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is closely associated with the progressive and often fatal lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) in post bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and immunocompromised hosts. The incidence increases significantly when alternative donors or manipulation of marrow graft are used. A total of 318 consecutive BMT from partially mismatched related family donors (PMRD) were performed between February 1993 and June 1998. Known risk factors for the development of EBV-LPD were analyzed which included HLA mismatches, T cell depletion, antithymocyte globulin (ATG), and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Eighteen patients (5.7%) developed EBV-LPD at a median of 137 days post BMT (range 48-617). The estimated probability of developing EBV-LPD was 0.13 (95% CI 0.07-0.19) at 5 years. The incidence of grade II to IV GVHD was 19.2%, which translated into an increased trend of EBV-LPD. No correlation with other risk factors was observed. Treatment consisted of supportive antiviral agents, tapering of immunosuppressive regimens, donor leukocyte infusions and radiation. Three patients are alive and disease-free at a median follow-up of 69 months (range 36-71). We observed a lower than expected incidence of EBV-LPD despite existing multiple high-risk factors. We believe prevention and early control of GVHD may contribute to this finding.

Partially mismatched related-donor bone marrow transplantation for pediatric patients with acute leukemia: younger donors and absence of peripheral blasts improve outcome

PURPOSE

To extend access to bone marrow transplantation (BMT), we used partially mismatched related donors (PMRD) for pediatric patients with acute leukemia. In this report we sought to determine pretransplantation factors that might predict outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 67 such patients, 43 had acute lymphocytic leukemia and 24 had acute myelogenous leukemia. At the time of transplantation, 41 patients were in relapse. Donors included 40 parents, 24 siblings, and three cousins. HLA disparity of two to three major antigens was detected in two thirds of the donor-recipient pairs. Conditioning therapy, including total-body irradiation and chemotherapy followed by graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis with partial T-cell depletion of the graft using T10B9 or OKT3, was combined with posttransplantation immunosuppression.

RESULTS

Estimated probability (EP) of engraftment was 0.96 and was not affected by donor-antigen mismatch (AgMM; P =.732). EP of grades 2 to 4 acute GvHD was 0.24 and was not affected by recipient AgMM (P =.796). EP of disease-free survival was 0.26 at 3 years but improved to 0.45 when donors were younger than 30 years (P<.001). EP of relapse at 3 years was 0.41 and reduced with younger donors' age. For patients who were in relapse at the time of transplantation, absence of blasts was associated with a lower relapse rate (0.46 v. 0.84; P =. 083), similar to that of patients in remission.

CONCLUSION

PMRD-BMT in pediatric leukemia resulted in high engraftment and low GvHD rates. To improve outcomes, younger donors should be sought, and clinicians should attempt to reduce peripheral blasts in patients who are in relapse.

Design and estimation in the limiting dilution assay when concentrations vary widely among samples

Limiting dilution assays (LDA) are used to estimate an unknown cell fraction of interest within a sample. This paper discusses a method for designing an LDA using the distribution of the cell fraction of interest, examining three different design approaches: geometric progression, equally spaced log, and equiprobability. Two common estimation methods, minimum chi-square and maximum likelihood, also are investigated. These designs and estimation methods, coupled with varying numbers of wells per dilution and dilutions per design, are compared quantitatively through computer simulation. Performance measures computed were mean relative bias and mean squared error.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of HER-2/neu, c-myc, and p53 in endometrial cancer

Our objective was to evaluate the association between HER-2/neu, c-myc, p53, and clinicopathologic variables in endometrial cancer using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) cytogenetic analysis. FISH analysis for HER-2/neu, c-myc, and p53 was performed on 47 endometrial cancer specimens. Amplification of HER-2/neu was seen in 4/47 (8.5%) cases and amplification of c-myc was seen in 7 of 47 (15%) cases; neither was associated with adverse clinicopathologic variables or survival. Deletion of p53 was seen in 31/47 (66%) cases and was associated with poor histologic grade (P = 0.008). There was no impact of genetic alterations on overall survival or disease-free interval. Grade 3 tumor was associated with poor overall survival (P = 0.032). This study found that p53 deletion is a common genetic alteration in endometrial cancer and is associated with poor-grade tumors.

A multivariate approach for assessing severity of acute graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplantation

Patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation are at high risk of developing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) which is a primary limiting factor for this procedure inasmuch as it is responsible for high morbidity rates and is associated with poor survival outcome. To provide improved treatment assessment and better interpretation of clinical outcomes, we need a precise and objective assessment of GVHD. Severity of GVHD is commonly assessed using an imprecise categorical grading system that incorporates skin, gut and liver grades, as well as subjective assessment of clinical performance. These organ grades are based on arbitrary cutpoints of skin rash, diarrhoea volume and bilirubin level. The International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry proposed an alternative grading system based on different combinations of organ involvement and provided estimates of relative risk of treatment failure. On the basis of that work, we developed an empirical mathematical model that quantifies GVHD severity, and that uses continuous, rather than categorical, daily measurements for each organ system. We use model-predicted values as an index of severity for any combination of values. The proposed index allows a more precise comparison of GVHD profiles across different treatment protocols and also permits more refined analyses to address relationships between GVHD and clinical outcomes.

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus in mental health patients

In contrast to the published data on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in parenteral drug abusers, there is a paucity of data on prison inmates and virtually none on psychiatric inpatients. Because our facility serves each of these patients groups, we designed an anonymous seroprevalance study. We tested 1,496 unduplicated sera using sequential enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests. The overall prevalence of Western blot positive serum was 0.53%. The prevalence rates for the different services of our hospital, Corrections, Detoxification Program, and general Department of Mental Health inpatients, were 4.62%, 0.99%, and 0.25% respectively. While these data demonstrate the increased prevalence of HIV infection among prison inmates, they fail to show a greater prevalence among South Carolina psychiatric inpatients than among general hospital patients.