Glucose-induced loss of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane regulators of complement activation (CD59, CD55) by in vitro cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Aims/hypothesis. This study examines whether increased glucose concentrations are responsible for a decreased expression of membrane regulators of complement activation molecules. The effect of high glucose in determining an increase in membrane attack complex deposition on endothelial cells was also investigated. Methods. Endothelial cells were isolated from umbilical cord tissue, cultured in the presence of increased concentrations of glucose, and the expression of CD46, CD55, and CD59 was detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and by flow cytometry. Glucose-treated endothelial cells were also incubated with antiendothelial cell antibodies and fresh complement to assess the…

Leukocyte Rheology Before and After Chemotactic Activation in some Venous Diseases

Abstract Objective: to evaluate leukocyte rheology, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in subjects with post-phlebitic leg syndrome (PPS) and acute deep-venous leg thrombosis (DVT). Subjects: twenty-two subjects with leg PPS and 14 subjects with leg DVT. Methods: we evaluated the leukocyte filtration (unfractionated, mononuclear cells (MN) and PMN), the PMN membrane fluidity and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Subsequently, we evaluated the same PMN variables after in vitro chemotactic activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). Results: at baseline we observed a signific…

Profilo emoreologico nell'infarto miocardico giovanile: nuove acquisizioni

Deep Venous Thrombosis: Leukocyte Rheology at Baseline and after in vitro Activation

We evaluated leukocyte rheology, expressed as leukocyte filtration, polymorphonuclear (PMN) membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration in subjects with acute deep venous leg thrombosis (DVT). In 14 subjects with leg DVT we examined the leukocyte filtration [unfractionated, mononuclear cells (MN), PMNs], PMN membrane fluidity and PMN cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration. Subsequently, we evaluated the same PMN variables after in vitro chemotactic activation with 4-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. At baseline, we observed a significant difference in the filtration of unfractionated and MNs and in PMN cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentra…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrins in chronic renal failure

Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), in comparison with general population, show a higher cardiovascular mortality, not fully explained by the "traditional" risk factors. Among the new factors that have been hypothesized, leukocytes might play an important role. In a group of patients with mild CRF we determined, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) beta2-integrin pattern (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD18) by using indirect immunofluorescence with a flow cytometer. At baseline we observed an increase in the phenotypical expression of CD11b, CD11c and…

Diabetes mellitus: evaluation of erythrocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte rheology

Aim: To explore red blood cells (RBC) and leukocyte rheology, that may be relevant in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Methods and Results: Significant alterations have been observed in RBC behaviour using several filtration techniques, but the exploration of RBC deformability by laser diffractometry did not show any abnormality. We have also employed microrheological methods based on fluorescence spectroscopy: membrane microviscosity was evaluated in ghosts, while in intact RBC we explored the membrane polarity gradient using fluorescent fatty acids, the phospholipid and protein lateral mobility using respectively pyrene and pyrene-3-maleimide. Alterations emerged only using the l…

Iponatriemia ed esercizio fisico

L’iponatriemia associata ad esercizio fisico (EAH) è una evenienza degli sport di resistenza che può esitare in gravi manifestazioni cliniche quali l’edema cerebrale o l’insufficienza respiratoria. L’EAH è una iponatriemia diluizionale, variante della secrezione inappropriata di ADH (SIADH), caratterizzata da una concentrazione plasmatica di sodio inferiore a 135 mEq/l. Il sesso femminile e la durata delle competizioni si associano a più elevato rischio di iponatremia. L’incidenza di iponatriemia, infatti, aumenta con la durata dell’attività in special modo dopo 4-8 ore dall’inizio della gara. Le donne sembrano presentare un rischio maggiore rispetto agli uomini. I meccanismi fisiopatologic…

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte cytosolic Ca2+ content in non-dialyzed subjects with chronic renal failure

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in young adults with acute myocardial infarction. Evaluation at the initial stage and after 12 months

Our aim was to examine two aspects of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) rheology (membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content), at baseline and after in vitro activation, in a group of young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the initial stage and after 12 months. We enrolled 21 AMI subjects aged < or = 45 years (mean age 41.1 +/- 3.5 years) and evaluated PMN membrane fluidity, labelling intact PMN cells with the fluorescent probe 1,4-(trimethylamino)-phenyl-4-phenylhexatriene and the PMN cytosolic Ca2+ content marking PMN cells with the fluorescent probe Fura 2-AM, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-l…

Interrelazioni tra disfunzione endoteliale e stress ossidativo; valutazione della perossidazione lipidica in particolari quadri clinici

Il termine "disfunzione endoteliale" identifica una condizione patologica caratterizzata da ridotta vasodilatazione e da attività procoagulante e pro-infiammatoria, correlata ad una ridotta biodisponibilità di ossido nitrico (NO), ad un eccesso ossidativo e ad un'aumentata azione dell'endotelian 1 (ET-1).

Oxidant/antioxidant unbalance and endothelial dysfunction in advancing age

Evaluation of oxidative status in coronary heart disease at baseline and during exercise test

Oxidative stress has probably a role in coronary heart disease (CHD), but studies focused on the behaviour of oxidative status in patients with stable CHD have obtained controversial results. On the other hand, an increased release of leukocyte elastase is considered a marker of CHD. Exercise can induce oxidative stress and leukocyte activation, so the aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative status and plasma elastase level in a group of subjects with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), at baseline and during an exercise test. We enrolled 15 patients with previous acute myocardial infarction, all treated with statins and platelet antiaggregating agents. As parameters of oxidative statu…

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation in subjects with abdominal aortic aneurysm subdivided for age.

Acute myocardial infarction in young adults: Evaluation of the haemorheological pattern at the initial stage, after 3 and 12 months

Marked elevation of transaminases and pancreatic enzymes in severe malnourished male with eating disorder

We report a case of a 45 year old Caucasian malnourished male with an history of eating disorder who developed severe liver and pancreatic damage and multiorgan disfunction. At admission to our department, his body mass index (BMI) was 11.1. Biochemical evaluation showed elevated serum levels of transaminases (AST= 2291 U/L, ALT= 1792 U/L), amylase (3620 U/L), lipase (4102 U/L), CPK= 1370 U/L, LDH= 2082 U/L. No other cause of acute liver and pancreatic damage was evidenced. Haematological disorders (anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia) found on admission seem related to bone marrow hypoplasia and to gelatinous marrow transformation described in severe state of malnutrition. Although a mode…

Granulocyte cytosolic calcium in type 2 diabetes

Plasma markers of platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte activation in young adults with acute myocardial infarction

Our goal was to evaluate some plasma markers of platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation in a group of young adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the initial stage and after three months. We enrolled 49 AMI subjects aged<45 years and examined plasmatic levels of platelet factor 4 (PF4), β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), elastase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) using ELISA methods. PF4 and β-TG were increased, compared to control subjects, both at the initial stage and after 3 months. In control subjects and in AMI patients, at both times of observation, there was a significant and positive correlation between the two platelet parameters, while no correlation was present betwe…

Resting metabolic rate and postabsorptive substrate oxidation in morbidly obese subjects before and after massive weight loss

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and postabsorptive oxidation of carbohydrates (CHO), lipids (LIP) and proteins (PT) in morbidly obese subjects after long-term stable massive weight reduction. DESIGN: Longitudinal, intervention study of a bilio-pancreatic by-pass. SUBJECTS: Ten (Four men, six women) obese subjects (BMI: 53.7 ± 2.1 kg/m2, men, nine women) control subjects (BMI: 21.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: RMR and substrates oxidation (indirect calorimetry), body composition (bioelectrical impedance), plasma concentrations of glucose, FFA, insulin and thyroid hormones before (T0, prior to surgery), during (T1: 1-3 months, and T2: 9-16 months following…

Physical activity and cancer

Lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant status in juvenile myocardial infarction.

In a group of young subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (97 men and 8 women; mean age 39.6+/-5.5 years) we examined the thiobarbituric acid - reactive substances and the total antioxidant status at the initial stage and after 12 months. The same parameters were examined in a group of 55 control subjects. Our results show that, while in control subjects there was a negative correlation (p<0.001) between these two parameters, no correlation was found in juvenile myocardial infarction at the initial stage as well as after 12 months.