Spatial epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Piedmont and Aosta Valley, Italy: a population-based cluster analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The analysis of the spatial distribution of cases could give important cues on putative environmental causes of a disease. Our aim was to perform a spatial analysis of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cohort from the Piedmont and Aosta Valley ALS register (PARALS) over a 20-year period.

METHODS

The address at the moment of diagnosis was considered for each ALS case. Municipalities' and census divisions' resident populations during the 1995-2014 period were obtained. A cluster analysis was performed adopting both Moran's index and the Kulldorff spatial scan statistic.

RESULTS

A total of 2702 ALS patients were identified. An address was retrieved for 2671 (99%) patients. Moran's index was -0.01 (P value 0.83), thus revealing no clusters. SaTScan identified no statistically significant clusters. When census divisions were considered, Moran's index was 0.13 (P value 0.45); SaTScan revealed one statistically significant small cluster in the province of Alessandria. Here, 0.0099 cases were expected and three cases were observed (relative risk 304.60; 95% confidence interval 109.83-845.88, P value 0.03).

DISCUSSION

Our study showed a substantial homogeneous distribution of ALS cases in Piedmont and Aosta Valley. The population-based setting and the adoption of proper statistical analyses strengthen the validity of our results. Such a finding further suggests the involvement of multiple environmental and genetic factors in ALS pathogenesis.

The role of pre-morbid diabetes on developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The literature on the association between diabetes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consists of a limited number of studies. This cohort study was developed in order to assess the role of diabetes on the risk of developing ALS.

METHODS

The study population was represented by all residents in Turin (Italy) at the beginning of 1996 who participated in the 1991 census, over 14 years of age (n = 727 977) and followed up for ALS occurrence from 1998 to 2014. Presence of diabetes at baseline or during follow-up was ascertained through two Piedmont regional sources: the Diabetes Registry and the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Drug Prescription Archive. The risk of ALS was estimated using the Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta ALS Registry (PARALS). The association of diabetes, treated as a time-dependent variable, with ALS onset was estimated through Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for age, gender, education and marital status.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 397 subjects developed ALS, 24 of whom were already diabetic before ALS onset. Diabetes was associated with a significantly decreased risk of ALS [hazard ratio, 0.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.45)] without differences in risk by gender, age class or ALS phenotype.

CONCLUSION

The results support the protective role of diabetes toward ALS.

Lung niches for the generation and maintenance of tissue-resident memory T cells

The extent to which tissue-specific viral infections generate memory T cells specifically adapted to and maintained within the target infection site is unknown. Here, we show that respiratory virus-specific memory T cells in mice and humans are generated and maintained in compartmentalized niches in lungs, distinct from populations in lymphoid tissue or circulation. Using a polyclonal mouse model of influenza infection combined with an in vivo antibody labeling approach and confocal imaging, we identify a spatially distinct niche in the lung where influenza-specific T-cell responses are expanded and maintained long term as tissue-resident memory (T(RM)) CD4 and CD8 T cells. Lung T(RM) are further distinguished from circulating memory subsets in lung and spleen based on CD69 expression and persistence independent of lymphoid stores. In humans, influenza-specific T cells are enriched within the lung T(RM) subset, whereas memory CD8 T cells specific for the systemic virus cytomegalovirus are distributed in both lung and spleen, suggesting that the site of infection affects T(RM) generation. Our findings reveal a precise spatial organization to virus-specific T-cell memory, determined by the site of the initial infection, with important implications for the development of targeted strategies to boost immunity at appropriate tissue sites.

Pilot study exploring lung allograft surfactant protein A (SP-A) expression in association with lung transplant outcome

Primary graft failure and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) limit lung transplant long-term outcomes. Various lung diseases have been correlated with surfactant protein (SP) expression and polymorphisms. We sought to investigate the role of SP expression in lung allografts prior to implantation, in relation to posttransplant outcomes. The expression of SP-(A, B, C, D) mRNA was assayed in 42 allografts. Posttransplant assessments include pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and biopsies to determine allograft rejection. BALF was assayed for SP-A, SP-D in addition to cytokines IL-8, IL-12 and IL-2. The diagnosis of CLAD was evaluated 6 months after transplantation. Lung allografts with low SP-A mRNA expression prior to implantation reduced survival (Log-rank p < 0.0001). No association was noted for the other SPs. Allografts with low SP-A mRNA had greater IL-2 (p = 0.03) and IL-12 (p < 0.0001) in the BALF and a greater incidence of rejection episodes (p = 0.003). Levels of SP-A mRNA expression were associated with the SP-A2 polymorphisms (p = 0.015). Specifically, genotype 1A1A(0) was associated with lower SP-A mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Lung allografts with low levels of SP-A mRNA expression are associated with reduced survival. Lung allograft SP-A mRNA expression appears to be associated with SP-A gene polymorphisms.

Prevalence and clinical picture of gastroesophageal prolapse in gastroesophageal reflux disease

The prevalence of gastroesophageal (GE) mucosal prolapse in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was investigated as well as the clinical profile and treatment outcome of these patients. Of the patients who were referred to our service between 1980 and 2008, those patients who received a complete diagnostic work-up, and were successively treated and followed up at our center with interviews, radiology studies, endoscopy, and, when indicated, esophageal manometry and pH recording were selected. The prevalence of GE prolapse in GERD patients was 13.5% (70/516) (40 males and 30 females with a median age of 48, interquartile range 38-57). All patients had dysphagia and reflux symptoms, and 98% (69/70) had epigastric or retrosternal pain. Belching decreased the intensity or resolved the pain in 70% (49/70) of the cases, gross esophagitis was documented in 90% (63/70) of the cases, and hiatus hernias were observed in 62% (43/70) of the cases. GE prolapse in GERD patients was accompanied by more severe pain (P < 0.05) usually associated with belching, more severe esophagitis, and dysphagia (P < 0.05). A fundoplication was offered to 100% of the patients and was accepted by 56% (39/70) (median follow up 60 months, interquartile range 54-72), which included two Collis-Nissen techniques for true short esophagus. Patients who did not accept surgery were medically treated (median follow up 60 months, interquartile range 21-72). Persistent pain was reported in 98% (30/31) of medical cases, belching was reported in 45% (14/31), and GERD symptoms and esophagitis were reported in 81% (25/31). After surgery, pain was resolved in 98% (38/39) of the operative cases, and 79% (31/39) of them were free of GERD symptoms and esophagitis. GE prolapse has a relatively low prevalence in GERD patients. It is characterized by epigastric or retrosternal pain, and the need to belch to attenuate or resolve the pain. The pain is allegedly a result of the mechanical consequences of prolapse of the gastric mucosa into the esophagus.

Comparison between subjective and objective assessment of the long-term results after the Heller-Dor operation in patients affected by oesophageal achalasia

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays the subjective assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life after surgery for achalasia is often associated with the instrumental methods in order to evaluate long-term results of therapy.

AIMS

To assess the long-term objective and subjective results of the surgical treatment of achalasia and to study the correlation between clinical-instrumental methods and those based on the patient's self-assessment and on Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaires.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-four patients consecutively submitted to trans-abdominal Heller-Dor operation were periodically followed up with clinical examination, endoscopy, barium swallow and manometry. The Health-Related Quality of Life was assessed using the 36 item short form (SF-36) and the Psychological General Well-Being Index questionnaire. The statistical comparison between the results of the self-assessment questionnaires and the long-term clinical-instrumental result was calculated by means of linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Over the years, 123 patients underwent at least one complete clinical-instrumental check-up and filled the self-assessment questionnaires. Mean follow-up was 105 months (range 12-288) with a median of 82.5 months. The result of the surgery was considered satisfactory in 93.5% of the patients, while the reflux oesophagitis observed in 6.5% of the cases was the main cause of failure. Clinical scores for dysphagia and for gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms were significantly reduced after surgery. The results of the SF-36 and Psychological General Well-Being Index questionnaires were in our population very high and clinical correlation (p<0.05) emerged in physical function, in role physical, in mental health and in vitality domains of SF-36 questionnaire, and in self-control and general health scales of Psychological General Well-Being Index questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-Related Quality of Life questionnaires can be considered valid aids in evaluating surgical results, but the clinical-instrumental evaluation remains the cardinal point of every long-term assessment in order to diagnose complications, the disease-related conditions of the patient and to acquire reliable data on which scientific discussion can be based.

The effect of reflux and bile acid aspiration on the lung allograft and its surfactant and innate immunity molecules SP-A and SP-D

Gastro-esophageal reflux and related pulmonary bile acid aspiration were prospectively investigated as possible contributors to postlung transplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). We also studied the impact of aspiration on pulmonary surfactant collectin proteins SP-A and SP-D and on surfactant phospholipids--all important components of innate immunity in the lung. Proximal and distal esophageal 24-h pH testing and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) bile acid assays were performed prospectively at 3-month posttransplant in 50 patients. BALF was also assayed for SP-A, SP-D and phospholipids expressed as ratio to total lipids: phosphatidylcholine; dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; phosphatidylglycerol (PG); phosphatidylinositol; sphingomyelin (SM) and lysophosphatidylcholine. Actuarial freedom from BOS was assessed. Freedom from BOS was reduced in patients with abnormal (proximal and/or distal) esophageal pH findings or BALF bile acids (Log-rank Mantel-Cox p < 0.05). Abnormal pH findings were observed in 72% (8 of 11) of patients with bile acids detected within the BALF. BALF with high levels of bile acids also had significantly lower SP-A, SP-D, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; PG and higher SM levels (Mann-Whitney, p < 0.05). Duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux and consequent aspiration is a risk factor for the development of BOS postlung transplant. Bile acid aspiration is associated with impaired lung allograft innate immunity manifest by reduced surfactant collectins and altered phospholipids.

Life expectancy in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia

BACKGROUND

There are few data on life expectancy in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a disorder with life-threatening complications.

METHODS

Seventy HHT patients provided data on age and age at death of their HHT-affected parent, which was compared with that of the parent's non-affected partner.

RESULTS

At the time of the study, 40 HHT parents (57.1%) vs. 36 (51.4%) non-HHT parents had died (p = 0.404). Median age at death was lower in HHT vs. non-HHT parents (63.2 vs. 70.0 years, respectively). The mortality of HHT parents showed an early peak in the under 50s and a late peak at 60-79 years. HHT was the main risk factor influencing life expectancy after 30 years (p < 0.05). No differences in survival probability were found in HHT patients with respect to sex (p = 0.37), or ENG vs. ALK-1 genotype (p < 0.9).

DISCUSSION

Life expectancy appears to be significantly lower in HHT patients than in their partners. Prevention of HHT complications with screening programs could increase life expectancy.

Review article: indications for anti-reflux surgery in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a complex multifactorial disorder whose treatment is based on knowledge of its pathophysiology, natural history and evolution. Recently the relationship between the severest degrees of cardial incontinence and hiatus hernia has been emphasized, which causes the impairment of the mechanical properties of the gastro-oesophageal barrier and of oesophageal acid clearing. Among different types of hiatus hernia, those characterized by the permanent axial orad migration of the oesophago-gastric (EG) junction (nonreducible hiatus hernia) are correlated with severe GERD. Barium swallow may adequately differentiate hiatal insufficiency, concentric hiatus hernia and short oesophagus which are the steps of migration across or above the diaphragm. When associated with panmural oesophagitis and fibrosis of the oesophageal wall, these conditions may be the cause of recurrence of hiatus hernia and reflux after laparoscopic standard anti-reflux surgical procedures; in the presence of nonreducibility of the EG junction below the diaphragm without tension, dedicated surgical procedures are necessary. It is currently agreed that surgical therapy is indicated for patients affected by severe GERD who are not compliant with long-term medical therapy, require high dosages of drugs and are too young for lifetime medical treatment. While the existence of severe GERD correlated with an irreversible anatomical disorder represents an elective indication for surgery, warrants further investigation. Accurate identification of the functional and anatomical abnormalities underlying GERD is mandatory in order to decide whether medical or surgical therapy should be implemented, and to tailor the surgical technique, laparoscopic or open, to each patient.

Three-dimensional CT imaging and virtual endoscopy for the placement of self-expandable stents in oesophageal and tracheobronchial neoplastic stenoses

We examined the value of multislice computed tomography (CT) with three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the images as a pre-treatment examination in order to plan endoluminal stenting in 14 patients with large tumours involving the oesophagus and/or the tracheobronchial tree. The measurement of the stenosis obtained during 3D reconstruction of the CT images corresponded to that obtained by endoscopy and to the prosthesis chosen in all cases, with the exception of one patient undergoing double stenting due to inadequate gaseous distension of the oesophageal lumen. 3D CT may add information with respect to axial imaging, and be helpful to better plan and perform stenting of the oesophagus and airways without burdening the preoperative work-up.

Surgical therapy for adenocarcinoma of the cardia: modalities of recurrence and extension of resection

In order to define the optimal extent of resection for cancer of the cardia, we considered 116 patients operated upon with five different surgical techniques. The procedures were: transabdominal total gastrectomy associated with distal esophagectomy in 38 patients; transabdominal total gastrectomy and left thoracotomic esophageal resection at the inferior pulmonary vein level in 26 patients; transabdominal total gastrectomy and right thoracotomic esophageal resection at the azygos vein level in 27 patients; transabdominal total gastrectomy and transhiatal lower third esophagectomy in 18 patients; transhiatal total esophagectomy and upper third gastrectomy with cervical esophago-gastroplasty in seven patients. Grading, staging, neoplastic lymphangitis, satellite intramural metastases, infiltration of the resection margin, site of recurrence, and survival were analyzed. N+ was the single independent prognostic factor for survival. A poorly differentiated grading was related to T (P = 0.0009), N (P = 0.001), satellite growth (P = 0.05), and infiltration of the resection margin (P = 0.0001). Recurrence was local in 26% and distant in 74% of patients. The modalities of recurrence were not related to the aggressiveness parameters and the surgical technique. Infiltration of the esophageal resection margin was related to the type of operation (P = 0.005) and survival (P = 0.02), but it was not related to the site of recurrence. Transabdominal total gastrectomy and the right thoracotomic esophageal resection procedure achieved free margins and control of the lymph nodal metastatic spread. Transabdominal total gastrectomy and right thoracotomic esophageal resection at the azygos vein level provides a radical oncologic resection, particularly in poorly differentiated tumors. However, surgery alone cannot cure the majority of adenocarcinomas of the cardia.

Life-threatening giant mediastinal goiter: a surgical challenge

Mediastinal goiter is a well known benign disease, usually resectable through a cervical approach with minimal morbidity and mortality. Only occasionally a median sternotomy or a lateral thoracotomy may be required. The present case is worthy of presentation because of the exceptional dimension of the disease and the surgical challenge that it presented. In a 72-year-old woman a large intrathoracic goiter of the right thorax caused a severe dyspnoea due to an important contralateral mediastinal shift with compression of the lung, superior vena cava system and trachea. At surgical exploration, through a cervico-sternotomic approach, the mediastinal structures dislocation and the strong adherences between the anomalous neovascularized capsula of the mass and the surrounding structures, complicated the surgical dissection. An accidental lesion of the innominate artery required its reimplantation on the ascending aorta. An immense mass, was finally removed and pathological examination revealed a rare case of neovascularized, pseudosarcomatoid capsula among a benign hyperplastic proliferation. In spite of its benign nature, a giant goiter caused a life-threatening compression of the respiratory tract and lung parenchyma in this patient. The dimension of the lesions, the mediastinal anatomy alterations and the severe intraoperative haemorrhage represented major technical difficulties during surgical resection.

Efficient naked plasmid cotransfection of lung grafts by extended lung/plasmid exposure time

BACKGROUND

Multiple gene cotransfection may be an effective strategy to modulate concurrent pathologic events after lung transplantation. We investigated in vivo naked plasmid lung cotransfection during cold preservation and the role of lung parenchyma/naked plasmid exposure time.

METHODS

F344 rats underwent left main bronchus instillation of pCF1-CAT (chloramphenicol acetyl transferase) (130 microg) +/- pCF1-beta-Gal (beta-galactosidase) (130 microg) in saline. Part Ia: 4 degrees C preservation versus cotransfection. Lung isografts (4 groups, n = 8) were stored after transfection for 1 (2 groups: one received only pCF1-CAT), 6, and 18 hours. Recipient sacrifice was after 48 hours. Part Ib: 4 degrees C preservation versus transgene expression. Rats were sacrificed 48 hours after transfection in a nontransplant setting (2 groups, n = 8; one received only pCF1-CAT). In a third group (n = 8) lungs were harvested 24 hours after transfection, stored for 18 hours, and recipients were sacrificed after 24 hours. The CAT and beta-Gal enzymatic-linked immunosorbent assays were performed. Part II: Lung/plasmid exposure time. In three groups (n = 6) after pCF1-CAT transfection the left main bronchus was not clamped, clamped for 10 minutes, or clamped for 1 hour. Sacrifice was after 48 hours.

RESULTS

Part Ia: Lung CAT protein was (in picograms per 100 microg of total protein): median, 42 (range, 25 to 95) after 1 hour (only CAT); 67 (19 to 296) after 1 hour, 32 (6 to 157) after 6 hours; and 9 (5 to 243) after 18 hours. Lung beta-Gal protein was (in picograms per 100 microg of total protein): median, 20 (range, 5 to 353) after 1 hour; 17 (6 to 157) after 6 hours; 4 (1 to 74) after 18 hours (1 hour versus 18 hours, p = 0.04 for both proteins). CAT and beta-Gal production were significantly correlated (p = 0.0001, r = 0.924). Part Ib: Lung CAT protein was (in picograms per 100 microg of total protein): median, 2 (range, 0.6 to 10) no transplant, only CAT; 7 (0.3 to 13) no transplant; 3 (0.9 to 14) transplant. Part II: Left lung CAT protein was (in picograms per 100 microg of total protein): median, 31 (range, 6 to 83) no clamp; 74 (25 to 430) 10 minutes of clamp; 111 (30 to 263) 1 hour of clamp. Right lung CAT protein was (in picograms per 100 microg of total protein): median, 0.06 (range, 0 to 0.9) no clamp; 1 (0 to 6) 10 minutes of clamp; 1 (0 to 18) 1 hour of clamp.

CONCLUSIONS

Efficient lung isograft endobronchial cotransfection results from using naked plasmid. Cold preservation affects transfection efficiency but not transgene expression. Lung parenchyma/naked plasmid exposure time determines transfection efficiency.

Iliac crest biopsy versus rib segment resection for the detection of bone marrow isolated tumor cells from lung and esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The presence of isolated tumor cells in the bone marrow affects the prognosis of both esophageal cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, preoperative assessment of isolated tumor cells may be useful to plan multimodality treatment. Rib segment resection at surgery provides adequate amounts of bone marrow for the detection of isolated tumor cells while bone marrow aspirate from the iliac crest does not. The iliac crest biopsy according to the Jamshidi technique procures a core of tissue apt for histology and not simply for cytology. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of iliac crest biopsy versus rib segment resection in the diagnosis of isolated tumor cells in order to obtain a useful preoperative approach.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-one consecutive patients (18 NSCLC, three esophageal cancer) were evaluated. None had chemotherapy prior to evaluation. Bone marrow was obtained preoperatively by iliac crest biopsy using the Jamshidi needle and at surgery by rib segment resection. Positive cytokeratin neoplastic cells were searched by immunohistochemistry on tissue sections from the iliac crest biopsies and by flow cytometry on cell suspensions from the rib segments.

RESULTS

Isolated tumor cells were detected in the rib segments of ten patients. In all cases the Jamshidi needle biopsy was not diagnostic.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that, if the diagnosis of bone marrow isolated tumor cells has clinical relevance, the preoperative assessment should be performed by rib segment resection or methods other than iliac crest aspirate or biopsy. Further investigation is needed to determine whether isolated tumor cells have a preferential spread to chest bones other than distant bone sites.

Recipient intramuscular gene transfer of active transforming growth factor-beta1 attenuates acute lung rejection

BACKGROUND

Gene transfer into the donor graft has been demonstrated to be feasible in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury and rejection in lung transplantation. This study was undertaken to determine whether intramuscular gene transfer into the recipient can also reduce subsequent lung graft rejection.

METHODS

Brown Norway rats served as donors and F344 rats as recipients. Recipient animals were injected with 10(10) plaque-forming units of adenovirus encoding active transforming growth factor beta1 (group I, n = 6), beta-galactosidase as adenoviral controls (group II, n = 6), or normal saline without adenovirus (group III, n = 6) into both gluteus muscles 2 days before transplantation. Gene expression was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Graft function was assessed on postoperative day 5.

RESULTS

Successful gene transfection and expression were confirmed by the presence of active transforming growth factor beta1 protein in muscle and plasma. Oxygenation was significantly improved in group I (group I vs II and III, 353.6 +/- 63.0 mm Hg vs 165.7 +/- 39.9 and 119.1 +/- 41.5 mm Hg; p = 0.02 and 0.004). The muscle transfected with the transforming growth factor beta1 showed granulation tissue with fibroblast accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramuscular adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of active transforming growth factor beta1 into the recipients attenuates acute lung rejection as manifested by significantly improved oxygenation in transplanted lung allografts. This intramuscular transfection approach as a cytokine therapy is feasible in transplantation and may be useful in reducing rejection as well as reperfusion injury.