Search results for "pathogen"
showing 10 items of 1657 documents
The CD34 epitope is expressed in neoplastic and malformative lesions associated with chronic, focal epilepsies.
1999
The etiology and pathogenesis of complex focal lesions associated with chronic, intractable epilepsy are largely unknown. Some data indicate that malformative changes of the central nervous system may preceed the development of gangliogliomas and other epilepsy-associated neoplasms. In the present immunhistochemical study, we have examined epilepsy-associated lesions for CD34, a stem cell marker transiently expressed during early neurulation. Surprisingly, most tissue samples from patients with chronic epilepsy (n = 262) revealed neural cells immunoreactive for CD34. Prominent immunoreactivity was detected in gangliogliomas (74%), low-grade astrocytomas (62%) and oligodendrogliomas (59%). O…
Desmin-related myopathies
1997
Desmin-related myopathies are marked by accumulation of desmin, which is often familial and associated with cardiomyopathy. When multifocal this excess is characterized by inclusions such as cytoplasmic or spheroid bodies, when disseminated the excess is called granulofilamentous material. Excess of desmin might represent an abnormal type of protein metabolism.
Monocyte/macrophage differentiation in dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
2004
Recent advances have revealed significant differences in the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathies. To determine whether different patterns of macrophage differentiation are a useful tool to delineate the major groups of inflammatory myopathies, the muscle biopsies of 11 patients with dermatomyositis and 12 patients with polymyositis were studied using different macrophage markers. In polymyositis, the early-activation markers MRP14 and 27E10 stained the majority of macrophages, which were recognized by the pan-macrophage marker Ki-M1P and which were located primarily in the endomysium. In dermatomyositis, macrophages predominantly expressed the late-activation marker 25F9 and were found …
Sputum metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 ratio correlates with airflow obstruction in asthma and chronic bronchitis
1998
Asthma and chronic bronchitis are inflammatory diseases with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and collagen deposition. Collagen homeostasis is controlled by metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We evaluated MMP and TIMP balance in induced sputum of 10 control, 31 untreated asthmatic, and 16 chronic bronchitic subjects. We first performed zymographic analysis to identify the profile of MMPs. Zymography revealed a similar MMPs profile in all populations studied and that MMP-9 was the major enzyme released. We then measured, using enzyme immunoassay, the concentrations of MMP-9 and of its inhibitor TIMP-1 and evaluated whether airflow limitation m…
Increased Levels of Elastase and α1-Antitrypsin in Sputum of Asthmatic Patients
1998
Asthma and chronic bronchitis are inflammatory diseases associated with remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Elastin, a major component of the ECM in the airways, has been previously found to be disrupted in asthma and chronic bronchitis. This study was aimed at evaluating whether elastin disruption might be associated with an imbalance between elastase (active and total) and alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha1-PI), the main inhibitor of elastase. We measured elastase and alpha1-PI in induced sputum obtained from 16 control subjects, 10 healthy smokers, 19 asthmatic patients, and 10 chronic bronchitis patients. We also assessed the possible origin of elastase, evaluating its levels…
Homocysteine levels in patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Its association with microangiopathy severity
2013
The association between hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) remains a matter of debate. In 18 primary RP, 23 secondary RP and 41 controls, we investigated homocysteine (Hcy) levels along with biochemical and inflammatory parameters. The Hcy levels in both primary and secondary RP were elevated when compared with controls (p0.05 and p0.01, respectively). As age was higher in secondary RP as compared with controls (p0.01), both primary and secondary RP were age-matched with a corresponding control group, and with Hcy maintaining its statistical significance (p0.05). No differences in creatinine, B12 vitamin or folic acid were observed between groups (p0.05), or in the pr…
Myofibroblasts Are Evidence of Chronic Tissue Microtrauma at the Endometrial-Myometrial Junctional Zone in Uteri With Adenomyosis.
2017
Background Adenomyosis (AM) uteri exhibit hyperperistalsis. The latter causes a chronic tissue trauma at the endometrial-myometrial junctional zone (EMJZ). Upon tissue trauma, microdehiscences in the myometrium facilitate the translocation of basal endometrial fragments into the myometrium. There, a metaplasia (mediated by transforming growth factor β1 [TGFβ1] and connective tissue growth factor [CTGF]) occurs and AM lesions develop. The abundance of myofibroblasts in a tissue hallmarks metaplasia and points to a tissue microtrauma. Materials and methods To study if myofibroblasts-as an evidence of tissue microtrauma-are more abundant at EMJZ in AM-uteri, a case-control experimental study w…
Primary umbilical endometrioma: Analyzing the pathogenesis of endometriosis from an unusual localization
2015
Abstract Objective This report presents a rare case of symptomatic primary umbilical endometriosis and reviews the literature on the topic with the aim to clarify some questions on the origin of endometriosis. Case report A 33-year-old woman with cyclic umbilical bleeding was found to have umbilical endometriosis. She had no history of pelvic or abdominal surgery. There was no past history of endometriosis or endometriosis-associated symptoms. An omphalectomy was performed after explorative laparoscopy to carefully inspect the abdominopelvic cavity and assess any coexisting pelvic endometriotic lesions. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of umbilical endometriosis. Conclusion …
Evidence for increased androsterone metabolism in some normoandrogenic women with acne.
1993
Increased androgen production from the ovary, adrenal or locally in skin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acne. Recent data have provided evidence that androsterone (Ao) metabolism is exaggerated in acne and serum metabolites of Ao differentiate between acne and hirsutism in hyperandrogenic women. Here we have extended these studies to normoandrogenic women who have moderate to severe acne. We measured serum ovarian and adrenal androgens as well as the glucuronide and sulfate metabolites of Ao and 3 alpha-androstanediol which reflect, in part, peripheral androgen action. In a group of 15 well-selected normoandrogenic patients with acne, both serum Ao glucuronide (G) and Ao were el…
Evidence of jak2 val617phe positive essential thrombocythemia with splanchnic thrombosis during estroprogestinic treatment
2008
The discovery of the Janus kinase 2 Val617Phe mutation has brought new insights into the development of myeloproliferative disorders; however, the pathogenesis of essential thrombocythemia and its related thrombotic complications has not been completely understood. Although the Janus kinase 2 Val617Phe mutation confirms the initially suspected clonal character of the disease, factors influencing clonal transformation and expansion in the bone marrow have not been fully detected. Furthermore, patients affected by essential thrombocythemia who are carriers of the Janus kinase 2 Val617Phe mutation show a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism both before, and at the time of diagnosis, comp…