Is primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with nonsmoking : a case-control study?
The odds of having primary sclerosing cholangitis was significantly decreased among current smokers. Concomitant ulcerative colitis does not fully explain the association between nonsmoking and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Smoking may exert its protective effect in a systemic, rather than colonic, manner.
These data show that (a) TP53 mutations are an independent predictor of short survival and chemorefractoriness, and (b) that CLL presenting with TP53 mutations without del17p13 fare as poorly as CLL carrying del17p13. Because CLL harboring TP53 mutations without del17p13 are currently not recognized by conventional diagnostic strategies, these results may be relevant for a comprehensive prognostic characterization of CLL.