Search results for "Peripheral"

Apoptosis-related Proteins in Skeletal Muscle Fibers of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

1997

There is evidence that apoptosis in spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) is not restricted to motor neurons but also affects muscle fibers. Studying the expression of several apoptosis-associated proteins we found constant expression of bax in muscle fibers, which promoted cell death. The expression of bax correlated with defective innervation of muscle fibers was also indicated by upregulation of N-CAM. While in early-onset SMA atrophic as well as normo- and hypertrophic muscle fibers displayed expression of bax, muscle fibers in late-onset SMA and peripheral neuropathies showed bax-expression only in atrophic fibers. Other investigated apoptosis-associated factors comprised interleukin-1 beta …

Budesonide increases TLR4 and TLR2 expression in Treg lymphocytes of allergic asthmatics

2015

Abstract Background Reduced innate immunity responses as well as reduced T regulatory activities characterise bronchial asthma. Objectives In this study the effect of budesonide on the expression of TLR4 and TLR2 in T regulatory lymphocyte sub-population was assessed. Methods TLR4 and TLR2 expression in total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), in CD4+/CD25+ and in CD4+/CD25− was evaluated, by flow cytometric analysis, in mild intermittent asthmatics (n = 14) and in controls (n = 11). The in vitro effects of budesonide in modulating: TLR4 and TLR2 expression in controls and in asthmatics; IL-10 expression and cytokine release (IL-6 and TNF-α selected by a multiplex assay) in asthmati…

Ankylosing spondylitis in monozygotic twins: studies on immunological parameters

1999

OBJECTIVE—To examine immunological parameters that might explain disease discordance in monozygotic twin pairs with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS—11 monozygotic twin pairs (nine with AS, two with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy) were investigated. The peripheral T cell receptor Vβ repertoire was investigated using FACS analysis and 14 different Vβ antibodies. In addition serum samples were tested for antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli. Peripheral blood lymphocyte reactivity against a number of bacteria was investigated by interferon γ ELISPOT assays. RESULTS—Twins suffering from AS showed cellula…

GAA trinucleotide repeat expansion in variant Friedreich's ataxia families.

1997

Phenotypic variants in Friedreich's ataxia include late onset, preservation of the lower limbs tendon reflexes, and slow progression. We describe clinical and electrophysiological features from three families with Friedreichlike phenotypes. Friedreich's ataxia diagnosis was confirmed by finding two allelic expansions of the GAA trinucleotide repeat at the X25 gene. In family 1 both patients had a late-onset phenotype with preservation of knee and ankle jerks, lack of cardiomyopathy, and preserved H reflex. One of them did not have electrophysiologic evidence of sensory axonal neuropathy. Patients from family 2 showed variability in the age of onset, and 2 out of 3 affected children had hype…

Prevalence of peripheral artery disease by abnormal ankle-brachial index in atrial fibrillation: implications for risk and therapy.

2013

Questionable Value of Adjuvant Arteriovenous Fistula in Pedal Bypass at High Risk for Early Failure

2007

Results of an adjuvant arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in pedal bypass surgery in the presence of poor status of the recipient artery, severely impaired intraoperative runoff, or revision for early failure and flow restitution were analyzed in a retrospective study. From January 1998 to December 2006, 24 adjuvant AVFs were constructed in autologous vein or composite pedal bypasses with low intraoperative bypass flow, poor status of the pedal artery, or during successful early bypass revision to prevent graft failure. All infrainguinal bypass operations were registered in a computerized database and prospectively followed. Pedal bypasses with adjunctive AVF were reviewed for fistula function, gr…

Plasma homocysteine levels are associated with ulceration of the foot in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

2010

Background To examine the association of biochemical markers of risk (plasma Hcy, microalbuminuria, lipoprotein (a)(Lp(a)) and diabetic dyslipidaemia) with the prevalence of diabetic foot ulceration in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Case/control study conducted in 198 type 2 diabetic patients. 89 patients have foot ulcers and 109 have no foot ulcers (control group), in order to establish ORs for diabetic foot ulceration. In all subjects plasma Hcy, Lp(a), total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, HbA1c and microalbuminuria were measured using standard procedures. Results Plasma Hcy, microalbuminuria, HbA…

Circulating mononuclear cells nuclear factor-kappa B activity, plasma xanthine oxidase, and low grade inflammatory markers in adult patients with fam…

2009

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (2): 89–94 Abstract Background  Few data are available on circulating mononuclear cells nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) activity and plasma xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). The goal of the study was to analyse circulating mononuclear cells NF-kB and plasma XO activities in FH patients. Materials and methods  Thirty FH index patients and 30 normoglycaemic normocholesterolaemic controls matched by age, gender, body mass index, abdominal circumference and homeostasis model assessment index were studied. Plasma XO and inflammatory markers were measured by standard methods. NF-kB was assayed in circulating mononuclear c…

Interleukin-22 and interleukin-22-producing NKp44+ natural killer cells in subclinical gut inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis

2012

Objective The intestinal inflammation observed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterized by an overexpression of interleukin-23 (IL-23). IL-23 is known to regulate IL-22 production through lamina propria NKp44+ natural killer (NK) cells, which are thought to be involved in protective mucosal mechanisms. This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of NKp44+ NK cells and the expression of IL-22 in the ileum of AS patients. Methods Tissue NKp44+ NK cells, NKp46+ NK cells, and IL-22–producing cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantitative gene expression analysis of IL-22, IL-23, IL-17, STAT-3, and mucin 1 (MUC-1) was performed by reverse transcriptase–polymeras…

Rituximab modulates IL-17 expression in the salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

2014

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of rituximab (RTX) in modulating the expression of the IL-17/IL-23 pathway in the salivary glands (SGs) of patients with primary SS (pSS). METHODS: Consecutive SG biopsies were obtained from 15 patients with pSS before and after 1 year of RTX therapy. The SG expression of IL-17, IL-23p19 and p-STAT3 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry at baseline and after RTX therapy. The role of mast cells in pSS patients in modulating the Th17 response and the immunologic effect of RTX on mast cells were also studied in in vitro experiments. RESULTS: IL-17 was overexpressed in the SGs of patients with pSS mainly by infiltrating T cells and mast …