Search results for "Chain reaction"
showing 10 items of 1862 documents
CD40 activation in human pancreatic islets and ductal cells.
2008
Aims/hypothesis: CD40 expression on non-haematopoietic cells is linked to inflammation. We previously reported that CD40 is expressed on isolated human and non-human primate islets and its activation results in secretion of IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein 1-beta (MIP-1β) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) through nuclear factor-κB and extracellularly regulated kinases 1/2 pathways. The objective of this study was to identify the pattern of gene expression, and to study viability and functionality affected by CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction in human islets. Furthermore, we have studied the CD40-mediated cytokine/chemokine profile in pancreatic ductal cells, as they are…
Does more favourable handling of the cerebrospinal fluid increase the diagnostic sensitivity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-specific PCR in Lyme …
2017
Tests for direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb) in Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) are needed. Detection of Bb DNA using PCR is promising, but clinical utility is hampered by low diagnostic sensitivity. We aimed to examine whether diagnostic sensitivity can be improved by the use of larger cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes and faster handling of samples.Patients who underwent CSF examination for LNB were included. We collected two millilitres of CSF for PCR analysis, extracted DNA from the pellets within 24 h and analysed the eluate by two real-time PCR protocols (16S rRNA and OspA). Patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for LNB were classified as LNB cases and the rest …
Diagnostic accuracy and potential clinical value of the LightCycler SeptiFast assay in the management of bloodstream infections occurring in neutrope…
2011
Summary Objectives The objectives of this study were to compare the performance of the LightCycler SeptiFast Test MGRADE and conventional blood culture in the etiological diagnosis of febrile episodes occurring in neutropenic and critically ill patients (in the intensive care unit; ICU), and to assess the potential clinical value of the SeptiFast test in patient management. Methods A total of 86 febrile episodes occurring in 33 neutropenic patients and 53 ICU patients were analyzed. Blood samples for blood culture and SeptiFast testing were obtained at the onset of fever, before the implementation of empirical antimicrobial therapy. Results The overall microorganism-to-isolate agreement bet…
Corynebacterium aquatimens sp. nov., a lipophilic Corynebacterium isolated from blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia
2012
An unknown lipophilic coryneform bacterium isolated from the blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia was characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of short chain mycolic acids consistent with the genus Corynebacterium. The DNA G+C content was 60.8 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolate represents a new subline within the genus Corynebacterium. The closely phylogenetic relative of the unknown bacterium was found to be C. tuscaniense (97.8% sequence similarity). Partial rpoB gene sequence revealed that strain IMMIB L-2475(T) exhibited 13.5% sequence divergence with C. tuscaniense. The unknown…
Upregulation of the netrin receptor (DCC) gene during activation of b lymphocytes and modulation by interleukins.
2001
The DCC (deleted in colon cancer) gene has a brain restricted high expression pattern. It encodes a transmembrane protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily identified as the netrin-1 receptor. It might be a member of the so called "brain-lymphoid" molecules, which control key cell surface events. To test this hypothesis we have assessed the DCC mRNA level in human normal and malignant myeloid and lymphoid cells. A high mRNA content has been observed only in mature B cells at the secreting or presecreting stage. Expression of DCC was also assessed in the anti-CD40 model of immunopoiesis. Activation of purified tonsillar B cells by anti-CD 40 antibody strongly increased the DCC mRNA level and…
CXCL10 and IL-6 induce chemotaxis in human trophoblast cell lines.
2008
The investigation of trophoblast chemoattractive molecules in humans is of high interest for the reproductive field. Current evidence in ruminants demonstrates that CXCL10, formerly the interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), is a potent chemotactic molecule implicated in the migration of trophoblast cells during early gestation. The aim of this work was to explore the existence of CXCL10/CXCR3 in the human model. Furthermore, chemotaxis assays were performed to demonstrate CXCL10 chemotactic activity in the human trophoblast cell lines JEG-3 and AC-1M88. Surprisingly, the conditioned media from epithelial endometrial cells (EEC) induced the highest trophoblast migration rate. Cytoki…
A 588-gene microarray analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of spondyloarthropathy patients
2002
OBJECTIVES: To identify genes which are more highly expressed in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), in comparison to normal subjects. METHODS: A 588-gene microarray was used as a screening tool to select a panel of such genes from PBMC of these subjects and of normal subjects. Results were then validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The following genes were more highly expressed in arthritis patients than in normal subjects: macrophage differentiation marker MNDA (myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen), MRP8 and MRP14 (migratory inhibitor…
Association between C1019T polymorphism of connexin37 and acute myocardial infarction: a study in patients from Sicily
2003
Abstract During atherogenesis, a critical role is played by intercellular communication via gap junctions, cell membrane channels linking the cytoplasmic compartments of adjacent cells. The component protein subunits of these channels, called connexin (Cx), belong to a multigene family. Cx37 is involved in growth, regeneration after injury and ageing of the endothelial cells, suggesting its role in atherosclerosis. The C1019 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Cx37 gene was associated with thickening of the carotid intima in Swedish men and was also associated with coronary artery disease in a Taiwanese population. On the other hand, in two more recent studies performed in male Japanese…
HLA-DRB1*1301 AND *1302 protect against chronic hepatitis B
1997
Abstract Background/Aims: The outcome of acute hepatitis B infection may be influenced by host factors like the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We have investigated MHC class I and class II antigens in patients with chronic hepatitis B compared to a healthy control population. To confirm the findings of this first study we performed a second study in a group of subjects who had spontaneously recovered from acute hepatitis B infection. Methods: Frequencies of MHC class I and class II antigens were analyzed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and in control subjects. MHC class I typing was done by standard microlymphocytotoxicity assays. DRB1 and DQA1 genotypes were d…
The autoantigen La/SS-B: Analysis of the expression of alternatively spliced La mRNA isoforms
1996
The gene for the nuclear autoantigen La/SS-B encodes two La mRNA isoforms. In order to study the function and expression of both La mRNA forms, an in situ hybridization procedure was developed allowing the selective identification of either exon 1 or exon 1'. For this purpose, digoxigenin-labeled exon-specific sense and anti-sense probes were prepared by in vitro transcription from plasmids that contained the respective exon sequence. Detection of the probes was carried out by using rhodamine-conjugated anti-digoxigenin antibody and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Both La mRNAs were found in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells but not in smooth muscle cells. In addition to the in situ te…