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Biomedical subjects

S Moll

Publications and source records attributed to S Moll.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The U.S. Thrombosis and Hemostasis Centers pilot sites program.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite important advances in understanding the etiology of VTE, delivery of care to patients with thrombosis and thrombophilia is frequently incomplete and highly variable. A comprehensive model of health care has been used successfully to treat and prevent complications for people with hemophilia and other chronic disorders. The effectiveness of an integrated healthcare model for patients with all coagulation disorders has yet to be evaluated. The Division of Hereditary Blood Disorders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with eight Thrombosis and Hemostasis Centers (pilot sites) to provide health-related services and conduct research directed toward the reduction or prevention of complications of thrombosis and thrombophilia. The initial objectives of the collaboration are to (1) determine the efficacy of integrated multidisciplinary care and prevention services for people with hemostatic disorders, (2) assess unmet needs for service delivery and identify outreach strategies to improve access to care, (3) develop effective messages aimed at disease management and prevention, and (4) foster the development of training programs to enhance provider skills for the delivery of patient care. To address these objectives, the investigators and CDC have developed and implemented a web-based patient registry to follow prospectively service allocation and patient outcomes. Funding for the program began in October 2001. All eight funded centers are affiliated with U.S. medical schools. Principal investigators at the centers are hematologists (five adult, two pediatric) or cardiologists. Faculty in obstetrics-gynecology, surgery, and multiple other specialties are integral to the model of care at the centers. Other critical components at the centers are clinical laboratory services, training programs, research networks, and education and outreach programs. From August 2003 to March 2006, over 2,600 patients were enrolled in the registry, accounting for a total of more than 5,000 visits to the centers. Immediate goals of the data collection at the centers are to characterize patients receiving care at centers and document the state of health services provided. Long-term goals are to evaluate prospectively clinical outcomes for patients receiving multidisciplinary care and prevention services at centers. The network of data collection across centers will facilitate future collaborative clinical and epidemiologic investigations and enhance collective expertise in hemostasis and coagulation disorders.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Hormonal factors and risk of recurrent venous thrombosis: the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism trial.

BACKGROUND: In some but not all studies, men with venous thrombosis had a higher risk of recurrence than women. Information on women with initial hormone-related thrombosis is scant. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the incidence of recurrent thrombosis by gender, and among women using exogenous hormones or pregnant/postpartum at the time of index thrombosis. PATIENTS/METHODS: A total of 508 men and women with one or more previous venous thrombosis episodes were observed while participating in a randomized trial of low-intensity warfarin or placebo for 2.1 years. Index thrombosis events during treatment with postmenopausal hormones, oral contraceptives, or during pregnancy, or the puerperium were considered to be hormone-related events. RESULTS: Among 268 men the 3-year probability of recurrent thrombosis was 18.4% (95% confidence intervals; CI 12.3-24.4). Among 109 women without hormone-related thrombosis, the rate was 15.0% (95% CI 6.3-23.8). Among 129 women with hormone-related thrombosis, the rate was 5.0% (95% CI 1.1-8.9). Adjusting for other risk factors and treatment assignment, women had a 39% lower thrombosis recurrence risk than men: hazard ratio (HR) 0.61 (95% CI 0.34-1.08). Women with hormone-related thrombosis had a 58% lower risk than men: HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.19-0.97); and a 46% lower recurrence risk than other women; HR 0.54 (95% CI 0.19-1.54). Women without hormone-related index events had a recurrence rate similar to men; HR 0.83 (95% CI 0.42-1.66). CONCLUSIONS: In this trial population, women had a lower risk of recurrent venous thrombosis than men. This difference was explained by a low risk of recurrence among women with hormone-related index thrombosis.

Aged↗

[Microscopic polyangiitis: an unusual case report].

A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because persistence of fever and inflammatory syndrome after antibiotic treatment for pneumonia. In the past, no special feature. Physical examination revealed only--at first--a pneumonia. Two weeks after, associated with the cough, she developed an acute renal failure. The laboratory revealed an inflammatory syndrome associated with proteinuria, hematuria and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. The CT of thorax shows aspecific infiltrations. The renal biopsy, in the context of the patient, diagnosed an microscopic polyangiitis. All the symptom resolved with the initiation of corticoid and cyclophosphamide treatment.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

[Clinical and genetics aspects of Alport syndrome].

Microscopic haematuria of glomerular origin, without known aetiology, should raise the suspicion of Alport Syndrome IASI in children as well as in adults. The genetic mutations causing AS lie in the genes encoding for the alpha3, alpha4 and alpha5 chains of the collagen type IV, the main constituent of glomerular basement membranes (GBM). The various mutations and modes of transmission of the disease account for the heterogeneous clinical presentations. No specific treatment of AS is currently available. However, a better understanding of the GBM's ultrastructure, in particular of type IV collagen, will hopefully enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets.

Decision Trees↗

CRIT is expressed on podocytes in normal human kidney and upregulated in membranous nephropathy.

Complement C2 receptor inhibitor trispanning (CRIT) is a novel human complement regulatory cell surface receptor. It binds the human complement protein C2 and blocks the classical pathway of complement activation, thus protecting the cell against complement attack. CRIT expression in the kidney was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Normal kidney and renal biopsies of patients with different nephropathies were studied. In glomeruli, CRIT protein was expressed only in podocytes. CRIT was also detected in endothelial cells of arterioles and arteries, but not of veins and peritubular and glomerular capillaries. A homogeneous and marked upregulation of CRIT was observed in podocytes in membranous nephropathy (MN). In focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and minimal change disease, CRIT was downregulated in glomeruli with a loss of the staining in sclerotic lesions of FSGS. No specific changes were observed in the other nephropathies studied. However, podocytes showed in all pathologies a redistribution of CRIT in the cell bodies of 'activated' podocytes. The intensity of mRNA transcription correlated directly with the protein staining in the normal kidney and in MN. These data indicate that CRIT is expressed in the normal human kidney essentially by glomerular podocytes and arterial endothelial cells. The podocyte CRIT expression is upregulated in MN, which is in strong contrast with the known loss of podocyte complement receptor 1. CRIT might represent the last line of defense against complement aggression in MN, and the upregulation of CRIT in 'activated' podocytes might represent a similar self-defense mechanism.

Carrier Proteins↗

D-dimer, factor VIII coagulant activity, low-intensity warfarin and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma D-dimer and factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIIIc) may be associated with the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate D-dimer and FVIIIc as risk factors for recurrent VTE and assess the efficacy of extended low-intensity warfarin (target International Normalized Ratio 1.5-2.0) in preventing recurrence by biomarker level. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism trial, 508 idiopathic VTE patients treated for > or = 3 months with full-intensity warfarin, and who had stopped warfarin for 7 weeks on average, were randomized to low-intensity warfarin or placebo and followed for 2.1 years for recurrent VTE. Prerandomization blood samples were analysed for D-dimer and FVIIIc. RESULTS: One-third of participants had elevated baseline D-dimer (> or = 500 ng mL(-1)) and one-fourth, elevated FVIIIc (> or = 150 IU dL(-1)). Adjusting for other risk factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) for recurrent VTE with elevated D-dimer or FVIIIc were 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.4] and 1.5 (95% CI 0.8-2.8), respectively. The association of elevated D-dimer with recurrence was larger among patients with one prior VTE (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3-8.0) than in patients with more than one event (HR 1.4, 95% CI 0.7-2.2). For patients with one prior VTE on placebo, the annual recurrence incidence was 10.9% with elevated D-dimer and 2.9% with normal values. Low-intensity warfarin was equally effective in recurrence risk reduction in those with normal or elevated biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with idiopathic VTE, measurement of D-dimer, but not FVIIIc, might be useful for risk stratification. The efficacy of extended low-intensity warfarin therapy did not vary by biomarker level.

Adult↗

[IgA nephropathy: what you have need to know in 2005].

Although considered as a benign glomerulopathy, IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is now a well-known cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Fifty percent of people suffering from IgAN developp renal insufficiency and 20 to 30% may reach ESRD after 20 to 25 years of evolution. ACEI is indicated to obtain a thigh control of blood pressure and to reduce proteinuria. Corticosteroids alone or in association with immunosuppressants are indicated for agressive, proliferative form of the disease or when there is an unfavorable outcome despite symptomatic treatment.

Glomerulonephritis, IGA↗

Phase I study of a novel recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, ART-123.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulants are often given for extended periods of time to patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism, such as after orthopedic surgery. Daily subcutaneous (sc) injections can be inconvenient to the patient. A long-acting anticoagulant requiring less frequent dosing could make treatment more acceptable. Thrombomodulin is a natural anticoagulant that activates protein C, which leads to inactivation of factor (F)Va and FVIIIa and decreased thrombin formation. Recombinant human thrombomodulin is a novel anticoagulant with a long half-life in animal models. METHODS AND RESULTS: This phase I study examined pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) after administration of doses between 0.02 and 0.06 mg kg(-1) body weight intravenously (iv), and between 0.02 and 0.45 mg kg(-1) sc in 55 healthy volunteers. The plasma half-life was 2-3 days after sc injection of various single doses. Plasma ART-123 levels estimated to be needed for prevention of thrombus formation in humans were maintained for at least 6 days after single sc injection of 0.30 and 0.45 mg kg(-1) ART-123. Antithrombotic activity with these doses was demonstrated by achieving prothrombinase inhibition of more than 80% for more than 6 days after administration. No major bleeding occurred. Pharmacodynamic modeling revealed that adequate antithrombotic ART-123 levels can be achieved for 6 days with one dose of 0.45 mg kg(-1) ART-123, and for 12 days with 2 doses of 0.30 mg kg(-1), given 5 days apart. CONCLUSIONS: Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) has a long half-life after sc injection and is well tolerated, making it a suitable agent to be tested in clinical thromboprophylaxis trials.

Adult↗

Knowledge and educational needs of individuals with the factor V Leiden mutation.

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing for factor (F)V Leiden is widely performed in an effort to prevent thrombosis-related morbidity. The implications of a positive test for patients' health perception and the extent of patients' understanding of results are not known. OBJECTIVES: This study examined patient experience of genetic testing for FV Leiden. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional, mailed survey of 110 patients who tested positive for the FV Leiden gene mutation at an academic medical center between 1995 and 2001. Patient knowledge about FV Leiden, satisfaction with available information, and psychosocial reactions to testing were assessed and the influence of demographic and clinical characteristics on outcome measured. RESULTS: The magnitude of thrombosis risk associated with FV Leiden was incorrectly estimated by 79% of participants. Many patients (64%) stated that they had not been given much information about FV Leiden and 68% still had many questions. Most patients (53%) felt that their healthcare providers do not understand FV Leiden. Patients who had been seen by a hematologist or in a specialized thrombosis clinic were more knowledgeable and had less information need. Most patients (88%) were glad to know genetic test results, despite negative psychosocial implications such as increased worry (43%). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of genetic status increases awareness of thrombosis risk among patients, but magnitude of risk is often overestimated. Affected individuals indicate that there is a lack of available information about FV Leiden and that additional educational resources are needed.

Adolescent↗

Cryoglobulin/albumin complexes in a patient with severe autoimmune syndrome.

We describe the case of a 30-year-old man with a severe autoimmune disease characterized by cryoglobulinaemia, pulmonary hypertension, Raynaud's phenomenon, lymphadenopathy, and glomerulonephritis. Despite initial remission following autologous stem cell transplantation, his disease relapsed and he died from pulmonary hypertension. At presentation the patient had hypergammaglobulinaemia and a number of autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor (1:10240). The most striking feature was the extremely high level of cryoglobulins. The cryoprecipitate consisted of polyclonal IgM, IgG and albumin. Interestingly, the albumin in the cryoprecipitate was exclusively present in SS-bonded oligomeric forms, and contained an abnormal acidic component as judged by 2D gel electrophoresis. Oxidized albumin was also present in serum, and represented a small but significant fraction. None of the many known albumin variants have so far been associated with a particular disease; thus our results may represent the first description of an altered albumin associated with severe disease.

Adult↗

A new cause of renal thrombotic microangiopathy: yttrium 90-DOTATOC internal radiotherapy.

The chelator somatostatin analogue dota-D-phe(1)-tyr(3)-octreotide (DOTATOC), which is stably labeled with the beta-emitting radioisotope yttrium 90 ((90)Y), is used as internal radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors. We report 5 patients who developed chronic renal failure, caused in 3 patients by biopsy-proven thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Twenty-nine patients (14 men, 15 women) with normal renal function before therapy were treated with divided intravenous doses of (90)Y-DOTATOC approximately 6 weeks apart (mean normalized cumulative dose, 165.4 +/- 36.4 mCi/m(2)). Twenty-two of 29 patients were administered a normalized cumulative dose of 200 mCi/m(2) without side effects. Among the 7 patients (6 women, 1 man) administered a normalized cumulative dose greater than 200 mCi/m(2), 5 patients (4 women, 1 man) developed renal failure. Increasing serum creatinine levels were observed within 3 months after the last (90)Y-DOTATOC injection. The evolution was rapidly progressive in 3 patients, resulting in end-stage renal failure within 6 months. The remaining 2 patients developed chronic renal insufficiency (mean serum creatinine level, 300 micromol/L an average 16 months after the end of treatment). Renal biopsies performed in 3 patients showed typical signs of TMA involving glomeruli, arterioles, and small arteries. Patients treated with high-dose (90)Y-DOTATOC internal radiotherapy (cumulative dose > 200 mCi/m(2)) are at high risk to develop severe renal failure caused by TMA lesions. The histopathologic lesions are identical to those found after external radiotherapy, which suggests a causal relationship between (90)Y-DOTATOC and renal TMA.

Biopsy↗

No complement receptor 1 stumps on podocytes in human glomerulopathies.

BACKGROUND: Type one complement receptor (CR1) is the only physiological inhibitor of complement on podocytes. CR1 is lost in different glomerulopathies, in particular in lupus nephritis, in which it has been suggested that CR1 is removed by proteolysis from the cell membrane. METHODS: To define whether proteolytic cleavage of CR1 on podocytes is a general phenomenon, we analyzed the expression of CR1 in different glomerulopathies using a monoclonal antibody against epitopes present on the extracellular portion of the molecule and a polyclonal antibody directed at the intracellular tail of CR1. The two antibodies were applied on sequential serial histologic sections of renal biopsy. RESULTS: In normal glomeruli, the two antibodies provided similar results, that is, strong staining of podocytes, and both were shown to recognize specifically CR1. Decreased expression of the extracellular portion of CR1 was observed in lupus nephritis (8/8), focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS; 7/7), IgA nephritis (6/6), membranous glomerulonephritis (3/3), and minimal change disease (3/3). In each case, the decreased expression was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease of the expression of the intracellular tail of CR1 (Spearman's correlation coefficient rs = 0.951, P < 0.001). This observation was confirmed by analyzing focal glomerular lesions on sequential serial sections. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that there are no CR1 stumps on podocytes, even in lupus nephritis, and suggest that the CR1 loss on podocytes is not due to consumption but to decreased synthesis. A loss of CR1 synthesis might render podocytes highly sensitive to complement attack.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Down-regulated expression of TWEAK mRNA in acute and chronic inflammatory pathologies.

TWEAK is a newly identified member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) family of proteins which are involved in many immunoinflammatory mechanisms. The putative role of TWEAK in inflammation was analyzed in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a strong inducer of the immuno-inflammatory responses. TWEAK mRNA rapidly disappeared in all the tissues tested. Analysis of LPS-treated thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages revealed that the rapid loss of TWEAK mRNA was due to its active destabilization. In chronic pathologies like autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the NZB mouse strain or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the BXSB mouse strain, TWEAK mRNA was shown to be reduced concomitantly to the development of chronic autoimmune diseases. These results demonstrated that TWEAK mRNA, contrary to TNF mRNA, is stable, ubiquitously distributed in tissues, and is down-regulated after LPS treatment or in chronic inflammation, suggesting that TWEAK could be an important factor, along with TNF, in acute and chronic inflammations.

Acute Disease↗