Elevated Complement Factor H Levels in Asthmatic Sputa

Background

The alternative pathway of the complement system is known to play a role in the generation of asthmatic airway inflammation, but its regulatory complement protein, factor H has not been investigated in this disease.

Purpose

Our aim was to determine the local bronchial complement factor H (CFH) levels in asthma, and to investigate its relationship with complement activation, systemic CFH concentrations and clinical characteristics of patients.

Methods

Induced sputum and plasma were collected from 21 healthy and 26 asthmatic subjects, and complement factor H and SC5b-9 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Total protein concentrations were determined by biuret-reaction based microassay system from induced sputa.

Results

CFH was detectable in 81 % of healthy and 100 % of asthmatic subjects, while SC5b-9 exceeded the detection limit in 62 % of healthy subjects and 85 % of asthmatic patients. Sputum CFH concentrations and CFH/protein ratios were increased in samples from asthmatic patients, and correlated with loss of lung function, asthma control, severity and medication intensity, but not with plasma CFH concentrations. Sputum CFH/protein ratios were in positive correlation also with sputum eosinophilic cell counts in asthma. SC5b-9 concentrations were not higher in the asthmatic sputa, although they correlated with sputum CFH concentrations.

Conclusions

CFH level is elevated on asthmatic airway surface, and may be associated with uncontrolled inflammation in asthma.     

Cognitive and behavioral manifestations in SARS-CoV-2 infection: not specific or distinctive features?

Neurological Sciences - Patients with COVID-19 are increasingly reported to suffer from a wide range of neurological complications, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous system. Among...     

Pro-caspase-3 is constitutively expressed in luteinized granulosa cells from women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization

Apoptosis regulation in luteinized granulosa cells (LGC) during assisted reproduction procedures is still controversial. Caspase-3 is a major apoptosis mediator encoded by CASP3 and formed through cleavage of its precursor pro-caspase-3. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of pro-caspase-3 (mRNA and protein) and cleaved caspase-3 in human LGC. Thirty-five women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization were prospectively enrolled in the study. LGC were isolated from follicular fluid during oocyte pickup and evaluated by immunocytochemistry for pro-caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3, and by real-time PCR for CASP3 mRNA expression. We found a positive staining of pro-caspase-3 in 77 % of the LGC (95 % confidence interval [CI] 60%–84%), whereas cleaved caspase-3 was found in only 4% of the cells (95 % CI 3%–6%). The abundance of cells expressing pro-caspase-3 was independent from CASP3 mRNA levels (r = 0.24, p = 0.255) and did not correlate with the amount of cleaved caspase-3 (r = -0.24, p = 0.186). Multivariable logistic regression showed that pro-caspase-3 positivity was not influenced by clinical characteristics such as age, cause or length of infertility, antral follicle count or hormonal drugs used to induce ovulation. These findings suggest that pro-caspase-3 is constitutively expressed in LGC, allowing quick cleavage into active caspase-3 and apoptosis triggering whenever needed in the course of gonadotropin-induced follicular development.     

Maternal psychological growth following childbirth

Although maternal postpartum mental health has been extensively studied, rather little is known regarding the factors that may facilitate psychological growth following childbirth. The present study set forth to examine various pre-birth, birth, and post-birth correlates of overall psychological growth and growth domains in postpartum women, assessed within the first months following childbirth. A sample of 428 women completed self-report measures pertaining to psychological growth, mental health, maternal attachment, and childbirth characteristics. We found that the majority of women reported psychological growth following childbirth, with those experiencing stressors in childbirth reporting the highest levels of appreciation for life. In regression analyses, postpartum factors were significantly associated with overall growth and growth domains, taking into account other factors. The more the childbirth was perceived as central to the mothers’ identity and the better the maternal attachment was to the child, the higher levels of growth. Growth was also negatively related to endorsement of childbirth PTSD. Background factors, such as maternal age, education, and prior mental health, were associated with specific growth domains, although the association was small and there was no association with overall growth. Post-birth factors are important in ensuing psychological growth in the first months following birth. Attention to opportunities of growth following childbirth is warranted in clinical care, in particular following traumatic childbirth.

     

Deferment of objective assessment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism without increased risk of thrombosis: a practical approach based on the pretest clinical model, D-dimer testing, and the use of low-molecular-weight heparins

BACKGROUND: Treatment of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) is problematic if diagnostic imaging is not immediately available. Pretest clinical probability (PCP) and D-dimer assessment can be used to identify patients for whom empirical protective anticoagulation is indicated. To evaluate whether PCP and D-dimer assessment, together with the use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), allow objective appraisal of DVT and PE to be deferred for up to 72 hours, patients with suspected DVT and PE were prospectively examined. METHODS: Patients identified with a high PCP or a moderate PCP with positive D-dimer test results received a protective full-dose treatment of LMWH; the remaining patients were discharged without anticoagulant administration. However, all patients were scheduled to undergo objective tests for DVT or PE within 72 hours. Standard antithrombotic therapy was administered when deferred diagnostic tests confirmed venous thromboembolism. RESULTS: In total, 409 consecutive patients with suspected DVT and 124 with suspected PE were included in this study. A total of 23.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3%-27.3%) of patients had confirmed venous thromboembolism. At the short-term follow-up (72 hours), only a single thromboembolic event (0.2%; upper 95% CI, 0.6%) had occurred, whereas at the 3-month follow-up, 5 events (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.2%-2.1%) had occurred in patients in whom diagnosis of DVT or PE had previously been ruled out. None of the patients had major bleeding events. Ninety percent of patients were treated as outpatients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that this approach allows the safe deferral of diagnostic procedures for DVT and PE for up to 72 hours.     

Thermal and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Poly(L-lactic Acid) Biocomposites Containing β-Cyclodextrin/d-Limonene Inclusion Complex

Bio-based composites made of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and β-cyclodextrin/d-limonene inclusion complex (CD-Lim) were prepared by melt extrusion. Encapsulation of volatile d-limonene molecules within β-cyclodextrin cages was proven to be a successful strategy to prevent evaporation during high-temperature processing. However, small amounts of limonene were released upon processing, resulting in the plasticization of the polymeric matrix. Morphological analysis revealed good dispersion of the filler, which acted as a nucleating agent, favoring the growth of PLLA crystals. The composites′ lowered glass transition temperature upon the addition of CD-Lim was also proved by thermomechanical analysis (DMA). Moreover, DMA revealed constant stiffness of modified materials at room temperature, which is crucial in PLLA-based formulations.