An increased homocysteine level appears to be a strong and independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures in older men and women.

Polymorphisms in folate pathway genes may influence the susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). DNA was isolated from 245 pediatric ALL patients (cases) and from 500 blood bank donors (controls). Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677C>T, 1298A>C), methionine synthase (MTR 2756A>G), methionine synthase reductase (MTRR 66A>G), methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD1 1958G>A), nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT IVS ؊151C>T), serine hydroxymethyl transferase (SHMT1 1420C>T), thymidylate synthase (TS 2R3R), and the reduced folate carrier (RFC1 80G>A) were detected. In ALL patients, an increased occurrence was observed of the RFC1 80AA variant (odds ratio [OR] ‫؍‬ 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] ‫؍‬ 1.3-3.2; P ‫؍‬ .002) and the RFC1 80A allele (OR ‫؍‬ 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1; P ‫؍‬ .02). Likewise, the NNMT IVS ؊151TT genotype showed a 2.2-fold increased ALL risk (OR ‫؍‬ 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6; P ‫؍‬ .04). A 1.4-fold reduction in ALL risk was observed for (heterozygous or homozygous) carriers of the TS 2R allele and the MTHFR 677T allele (OR ‫؍‬ 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0; P < .05). Furthermore, interactions between NNMT and MTHFR 677C>T and RFC1 were observed. NNMT IVS ؊151CC/MTHFR 677CT ؉ TT patients exhibited a 2-fold reduction in ALL risk whereas RFC1 80AA/NNMT IVS ؊151CT ؉ TT subjects had a 4.2-fold increase in ALL risk (P ‫؍‬ .001). For the first time, we associate the RFC1 80G>A and NNMT IVS ؊151C>T variants to an increased ALL susceptibility.(Blood.

The BF mode on the Sysmex XE-5000 offers rapid and accurate RBC and WBC (differential) counts in clinically relevant concentration ranges in CSF and other fluids. In addition, the exclusion of high fluorescent cells, such as mesothelial cells and macrophages from WBC counting may reduce the number of manual analyses in pleural fluids and ascites.

In this first longitudinal study, we showed that an increase in erythrocyte-MTX-PG concentration was associated with a decreased DAS28 over 9 months in two cohorts, and is therefore a potential tool for therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX in RA.

The BF module on the XN-1000 is a suitable tool for fast and accurate quantification of WBC (differential) and RBC counts in CSF and other BFs in a diagnostic setting.

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Objective. Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is a high degree of interindividual variability in the degree of response to methotrexate (MTX) treatment. This study was undertaken to explore polymorphisms in genes contributing to antiinflammatory adenosine release as novel predictors of MTX treatment outcome.Methods. In 205 patients with newly diagnosed RA, 5 polymorphisms in 5 genes coding for enzymes related to the release of adenosine were analyzed. All patients received standardized MTX treatment (up to 25 mg per week orally), combined with folic acid. MTX efficacy was evaluated by the Disease Activity Score (DAS) and compared among genotypes. The association between MTX-related adverse events and genotype was also assessed. The following polymorphisms were determined: AMPD1 34C>T, ATIC 347C>G, ITPA 94C>A, MTR 2756A>G, and MTRR 66A>G. When significant differences were found by chi-square analysis, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results Conclusion. Polymorphisms in the AMPD1, ATIC, and ITPA genes are associated with good clinical response to MTX treatment. These findings indicate that genotyping may help in the identification of patients who will benefit most from MTX treatment and may assist clinicians in making treatment decisions regarding patients with recent-onset RA.