Serum MFAP4 , a novel potential biomarker for liver cirrhosis screening, correlates with transient elastography in NAFLD patients

Background and Aim

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in different countries. Liver fibrosis is considered as the most appropriate predictor of NAFLD-associated outcome. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is a glycoprotein located in the extracellular matrix. Circulatory MFAP4 has been suggested as a noninvasive biomarker for the assessment of hepatitis C virus and alcoholic liver disease associated liver fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between serum MFAP4 and liver fibrosis severity in NAFLD patients.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted in which NAFLD patients (n = 25) and healthy participants (n = 12) were recruited. Liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was assessed by transient elastography (TE) and biochemical parameters were collected. Serum MFAP4 was measured by sandwich ELISA based on two monoclonal anti-MFAP4 antibodies and calibrated with a standard of recombinant MFAP4.

Results

Serum MFAP4 levels increased with fibrosis severity and were highly upregulated in patients with cirrhosis (F4 fibrosis stage). In addition, serum MFAP4 levels positively correlated with TE measurement and showed significant association with the severely advanced fibrotic stage in NAFLD patients, in multiple linear regression analysis following adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index.

Conclusion

This study suggests the use of MFAP4 as a potential diagnostic noninvasive biomarker for cirrhosis screening in NAFLD patients.

[Eosinophilic pleural effusion related to taking valproic acid]

Eosinophilic pleural effusions have multiple aetiologies. We report on the case of a 40-year-old man who experienced an eosinophilic pleural effusion with blood hypereosinophilia that occurred nine weeks after a treatment with valproic acid was introduced. Usual aetiologies of eosinophilic pleural effusion were excluded. Once valproic acid was discontinued, both pleural effusion and blood eosinophilia decreased rapidly. The persistence of a residual pleural effusion required the introduction of oral corticosteroids, which resulted in the effusion disappearing completely and rapidly. Valproic acid is a rare cause of eosinophilic pleural effusion. The effusion usually regresses when treatment is discontinued but short-term oral corticotherapy may be necessary in order to heal the patient.

[Indications and contraindications to lung transplant: patient selection]

Lung transplant (LT) is a valid treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease such as cystic fibrosis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (85% of indications) and for selected candidates. The "good recipient" was introduced early to a specialised center, has had complete pre-LT assessment and complete information. At the end of this assessment, the absolute contraindications were eliminated (cardiovascular pathologies, recent neoplasia, active viral diseases, severe psychiatric disorders), advanced age risks were discussed, co-morbidities to treat were listed and an individualised therapeutic pre-LT program has been decided (based on exercise and muscle rehabilitation, nutritional support, anti-infectious treatments, active management of co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, gastro-esophageal reflux…) with a psychological follow-up if necessary. Timely inscription on waiting list must be decided, early enough to avoid extreme handicap or risk pre-LT death, but not too early to have a survival benefit linked to LT. Death without LT prognosis criteria are still studied, and even if they do not fully define the risk of death of an individualised patient, they are taken into account by the recommendations of the societies; since 2006, LT indications are based on severity criteria of the selected patient, defined for each recipient diagnosis. LT aims to improve survival and quality of life of the patient, and this is especially true when the patient is referred, prepared and monitored early enough by the transplant team; the aim is to limit the risk of death before LT (before listing and on waiting list) and early post-LT morbimortality.

Altered connections on the road to psychopathy

Psychopathy is strongly associated with serious criminal behaviour (for example, rape and murder) and recidivism. However, the biological basis of psychopathy remains poorly understood. Earlier studies suggested that dysfunction of the amygdala and/or orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may underpin psychopathy. Nobody, however, has ever studied the white matter connections (such as the uncinate fasciculus (UF)) linking these structures in psychopaths. Therefore, we used in vivo diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) tractography to analyse the microstructural integrity of the UF in psychopaths (defined by a Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) score of > or = 25) with convictions that included attempted murder, manslaughter, multiple rape with strangulation and false imprisonment. We report significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) (P<0.003), an indirect measure of microstructural integrity, in the UF of psychopaths compared with age- and IQ-matched controls. We also found, within psychopaths, a correlation between measures of antisocial behaviour and anatomical differences in the UF. To confirm that these findings were specific to the limbic amygdala-OFC network, we also studied two 'non-limbic' control tracts connecting the posterior visual and auditory areas to the amygdala and the OFC, and found no significant between-group differences. Lastly, to determine that our findings in UF could not be totally explained by non-specific confounds, we carried out a post hoc comparison with a psychiatric control group with a past history of drug abuse and institutionalization. Our findings remained significant. Taken together, these results suggest that abnormalities in a specific amygdala-OFC limbic network underpin the neurobiological basis of psychopathy.

[The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in adults: lessons from a family story]

INTRODUCTION

Cystic fibrosis is usually diagnosed during the first years of life. Diagnosis may be achieved in adults with milder forms of the disease at any age.

CASE REPORTS

We report the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in three adults within the same family. A 39 yr old man, was diagnosed with congenital absence of the vas deferens; the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was achieved based on a positive chloride sweat test and the identification of two mutations in the CFTR gene. His mother experienced repeated bronchial infections that began when she was 12 years old. The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was considered at the age of 74 yr after her son was diagnosed with this disease. Sweat test showed normal chloride concentrations and cystic fibrosis was suspected based on elevated basal transepithelial nasal potential difference. Genetic testing for the 33 most frequent mutations in the CFTR gene showed only one mutation. A second rare mutation was identified by complete sequencing of the CFTR gene, confirming the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. A third case of pauci-symptomatic cystic fibrosis was diagnosed in a brother of the index case.

CONCLUSION

These observations illustrate the challenge of diagnosing milder forms of cystic fibrosis in adult subjects. The recognition of this diagnosis may lead to improvement in patient's care and to genetic counselling.

Malnutrition in adults with cystic fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and clinical features of malnutrition and its relationship with the CFTR genotype in a cystic fibrosis (CF) adult population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Department of Pulmonology, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France.

SUBJECTS

163 CF adults seen between 1997 and 1999.

RESULTS

Mean age was 28.8 y. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 19.1 kg/m2. Malnutrition (BMI<18.5 kg/m2) was seen in 81 patients (49.7%). Its severity was associated with diagnosis of CF before the age of 18 y (P<0.01), FEV1 values below 30% (P<0.01), the yearly decline of FEV1 (P<0.01), pancreatic insufficiency (P<0.01) and gastro-oesophageal reflux (P<0.01). Malnutrition was observed in 58.7% of patients with a severe CFTR genotype but in 28.6% of patients with a mild genotype (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition remains frequent in adults with CF except in patients presenting with a mild CFTR genotype (leading to a mild phenotype and to later diagnosis).