Search results for "inflammation"
showing 10 items of 2662 documents
Measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide: Comparison of Three Different Analysers
2019
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a surrogate marker for airway inflammation, supporting the diagnostic pathway and treatment decisions for asthma patients. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Aim of this study was to compare the new analyser Vivatmo pro (Bosch, BV) with NIOX VERO (Circassia, CN) and CLD (Ecomedics, EC). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In 100 asthmatics (median 53 years [range 20–87], 62% female, 86% on inhaled corticosteroids [mean 1,300 μg beclomethasone dipropionate or equivalent], 35% treated with biologics) 2 FeNO measurements per device were performed. Additionally, the success rate…
Is Health-Related Quality of Life Associated with Upper and Lower Airway Inflammation in Asthmatics?
2013
Background.Allergic diseases impair health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). However, the relationship between airway inflammation and HR-QoL in patients with asthma and rhinitis has not been fully investigated. We explored whether the inflammation of upper and lower airways is associated with HR-QoL.Methods.Twenty-two mild allergic asthmatics with concomitant rhinitis (10 males, 38 ± 17 years) were recruited. The Rhinasthma was used to identify HR-QoL, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to assess asthma control. Subjects underwent lung function and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) test, collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and nasal wash.Results.The Rhinasthma Global Summary sc…
Increased expression of the homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 in clinical and experimental Rickettsia conorii infection
2013
Background: Based on their essential role in concerting immunological and inflammatory responses we hypothesized that the homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 may play a pathogenic role in rickettsiae infection. Methods: Serum levels of CCL19 and CCL21 in patients with R. africae and R. conorii infection were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays. Lungs from R. conorii infected mice were examined for CCL19, CCL21 and CCR7 expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that patients with R. africae infection (n = 15) and in particular those with R. conorii infection (n = 16) had elevated serum levels of CCL19 on admission, with a decline during follow-up. While a similar pattern was seen …
CD4-mediated regulatory T-cell activation inhibits the development of disease in a humanized mouse model of allergic airway disease
2012
Background Based on their potency to control allergic diseases, regulatory T (Treg) cells represent a promising target for novel strategies to interfere with allergic airway inflammation. We have previously demonstrated that stimulation of the CD4 molecule on human Treg cells activates their suppressive activity in vitro and in vivo . Objective We sought to determine the effect of CD4-mediated Treg-cell activation on pulmonary inflammation in a humanized mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. Methods PBMCs obtained from donors allergic to birch pollen or from healthy donors were injected into NOD-severe combined immunodeficiency γc −/− mice, followed by allergen airway challenges and …
Low testosterone levels are related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and altered subclinical atherosclerotic markers in type 2 diabetic…
2017
Abstract Introduction Low testosterone levels in men are associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk. However, the role of testosterone in mitochondrial function and leukocyte-endothelium interactions is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between testosterone levels, metabolic parameters, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, inflammation and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and methods The study was performed in 280 male type 2 diabetic patients and 50 control subjects. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters, testosterone levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, TNFα, adhesio…
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…
Repeated muscle biopsies through a single skin incision do not elicit muscle signaling, but IL-6 mRNA and STAT3 phosphorylation increase in injured m…
2011
To determine if muscle biopsies can be repeated using a single small (5–6 mm) skin incision without inducing immediate MAPK activation or inflammation in the noninjured areas, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38-MAPK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs), IκBα, IKKα, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was examined concurrent with IL-6 mRNA in six muscle biopsies obtained from the vastus lateralis of five men. Four biopsies were obtained through the same incision (5–6 mm) from the right leg (taken at 0, 30, 123, and 126 min) and another two each from new incisions performed in the left leg (at 31 and 120 min), while the subjects rested supine. The first three biopsie…
Brief Report: Inhibition of interleukin-6 function corrects Th17/Treg cell imbalance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
2012
OBJECTIVE: From an immunologic standpoint, the mechanisms by which treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized anti-interleukin-6 (anti-IL-6) receptor antibody, results in improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are still not fully understood. In vitro studies and studies in mouse models have demonstrated the critical role of IL-6 in Th17 cell differentiation. Th17 lymphocytes have been shown to be strongly involved in RA pathogenesis, and the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of IL-6 blockade on the balance between Th17 cells and Treg cells in patients with active RA. METHODS: Patients with active RA for whom TCZ had been prescribed by a rheumatologist were en…
Psychophysics, flare, and neurosecretory function in human pain models: capsaicin versus electrically evoked pain.
2007
Intradermal capsaicin injection (CAP) and electrical current stimulation (ES) are analyzed in respect to patterns and test-retest reliability of pain as well as sensory and neurosecretory changes. In 10 healthy subjects, 2 CAP (50 g) and 2 ES (5 to 30 mA) were applied to the volar forearm. The time period between 2 identical stimulations was about 4 months. Pain ratings, areas of mechanical hyperalgesia, and allodynia were assessed. The intensity of sensory changes was quantified by using quantitative sensory testing. Neurogenic flare was assessed by using laser Doppler imaging. Calcito- nin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release was quantified by dermal microdialysis in combination with an en…