Search results for " Blood"
showing 10 items of 1796 documents
Apoptotic-like Leishmania exploit the host´s autophagy machinery to reduce T-cell-mediated parasite elimination
2015
Apoptosis is a well-defined cellular process in which a cell dies, characterized by cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation. In parasites like Leishmania, the process of apoptosis-like cell death has been described. Moreover upon infection, the apoptotic-like population is essential for disease development, in part by silencing host phagocytes. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of how apoptosis in unicellular organisms may support infectivity remains unclear. Therefore we investigated the fate of apoptotic-like Leishmania parasites in human host macrophages. Our data showed--in contrast to viable parasites--that apoptotic-like parasites enter an LC3(+), autophagy-like compartment. The compartm…
The Value of a Complete Blood Count (CBC) for Sepsis Diagnosis and Prognosis.
2021
Sepsis represents an important global health burden due to its high mortality and morbidity. The rapid detection of sepsis is crucial in order to prevent adverse outcomes and reduce mortality. However, the diagnosis of sepsis is still challenging and many efforts have been made to identify reliable biomarkers. Unfortunately, many investigated biomarkers have several limitations that do not support their introduction in clinical practice, such as moderate diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, long turn-around time, and high-costs. Complete blood count represents instead a precious test that provides a wealth of information on individual health status. It can guide clinicians to early-identify …
New imaging procedures in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
1996
Lymphocytic and other mononuclear cell infiltrations of the retrobulbar space are observed in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). The identification of somatostatin receptors on lymphocytes has provided a rationale for receptor-imaging with the radiolabeled somatostatin analog Octreotide in TAO. Furthermore, previous investigations have shown that quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows non-invasive detection of acute inflammatory changes in extraocular muscles. Therefore, in patients with TAO and controls, scans of the orbits were obtained at 4h and 24h after i.v. injection of the radionuclide and orbital MRI was performed. Compared to controls, patients with TAO showed a…
Dependence of T-lymphocyte activation on the extent of cellular damage
2010
Mechanically damaged cells release intracellular substances, resulting in the activation of CD4- and CD8-positive T-lymphocytes. The goal of this investigation was to quantify and compare fractions of activated CD4- and CD8-positive T-lymphocytes, based on the quantity of damaged cells in a given blood sample. Blood samples were mechanically stressed by vortexing intensely. Subsequently, different quantities of distressed blood samples were mixed with samples of fresh, whole blood. Afterwards, the extent of CD4- and CD8-positive T-cell activation was examined in the mixture by flow cytometry. Sine-like curves of T-cell activation were observed for both CD4- (T-helper mediated) and CD8- (cyt…
HEMATOLOGICAL VARIABILITY ANALYSIS AFTER ROAD MARATHON VS ULTRATRAIL. PREDICTIVE FACTORS
2020
The practice of long- and medium-distance races has exponentially increased the number of participants in recent years. They are carried out under extreme conditions that cause both biochemical and anthropometric changes in athletes and, in addition, have serious risks associated, such as dehydration, thermal disorders, or hypoglycemia. Knowledge regarding alterations at hematological level after this type of effort is limited. The objectives of this pre-post analytical descriptive observational study were: to describe and compare hematological values in amateur runners pre and post road marathon and ultratrail races, and to compare the hematological parameters between the groups in the two…
Antithrombotics and new interventions for venous thromboembolism: Exploring possibilities beyond factor IIa and factor Xa inhibition.
2021
Abstract Direct oral anti–activated factor X and antithrombin agents have largely replaced vitamin K antagonists as the standard of care in treatment of venous thromboembolism. However, gaps in efficacy and safety persist, notably in end‐stage renal disease, implantable heart valves or assist devices, extracorporeal support of the circulation, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Inhibition of coagulation factor XI (FXI) emerges as a promising new therapeutic target. Antisense oligonucleotides offer potential advantages as a prophylactic or therapeutic modality, with one dose‐finding trial in orthopedic surgery already published. In addition, monoclonal antibodies blocking activation and/or activ…
Synthesis and biological evaluation of sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity.
2019
The synthesis of inhibitors of SphK2 with novel structural scaffolds is reported. These compounds were designed from a molecular modeling study, in which the molecular interactions stabilizing the different complexes were taken into account. Particularly interesting is that 7‐bromo‐2‐(2‐phenylethyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,4‐epoxynaphtho[1,2‐b]azepine, which is a selective inhibitor of SphK2, does not exert any cytotoxic effects and has a potent anti‐inflammatory effect. It was found to inhibit mononuclear cell adhesion to the dysfunctional endothelium with minimal impact on neutrophil–endothelial cell interactions. The information obtained from our theoretical and experimental study can be us…
Interleukin-12 in Human Boutonneuse Fever Caused by Rickettsia conorii
2000
Interleukin (IL)-12 contributes to the resistance against a number of intracellular pathogens. We examined the potential biological role of IL-12 by studying peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), its production and its effect on cytokine synthesis in 20 Sicilian patients with boutonneuse fever (BF) caused by Rickettsia conorii. Data indicate that PBMC from acute BF patients were able to produce IL-12 in response to in vitro stimulation with rickettsial antigen (Ag): this production was higher than that detected in healed patients. Monocytes were the main source of IL-12 by PBMC from BF patients. IL-12 secretion by in vitro Ag-stimulated PBMC from BF patients was potentiated by recombin…
Changes of plasma endothelin and growth factor levels, and of left ventricular mass, after chronic AT1-receptor blockade in human hypertension.
1998
The stimulation of autocrine and paracrine factors such as basic fibroblast- (bFGF) and platelet-derived (PDGF) growth factors mediates many of the growth-promoting actions of angiotensin II. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic AT1-receptor blockade on plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and growth factors levels, and on left ventricular mass, in essential hypertension (EH). The study population consisted of 16 patients with mild-moderate EH, and 25 normotensive controls. In the EH patients under basal conditions, and after 3 and 6 months of chronic therapy with Losartan 50 mg/day, we measured serum levels of ET-1, bFGF and PDGF, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). At the same t…
Spectrum of mutations in the renin-angiotensin system genes in autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis
2012
Autosomal recessive renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD) is a severe disorder of renal tubular development characterized by early onset and persistent fetal anuria leading to oligohydramnios and the Potter sequence, associated with skull ossification defects. Early death occurs in most cases from anuria, pulmonary hypoplasia, and refractory arterial hypotension. The disease is linked to mutations in the genes encoding several components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS): AGT (angiotensinogen), REN (renin), ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme), and AGTR1 (angiotensin II receptor type 1). Here, we review the series of 54 distinct mutations identified in 48 unrelated families. Most of them are no…