Interleukin-12 is detectable in sera of patients with multiple sclerosis — association with chronic progressive disease course?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is widely accepted as a systemic T- cell-mediated autoimmune disease with a T-helper type-1 (TH-1) profile of cytokine production. We addressed the question whether interleukin-12 (IL-12), as a central mediator of TH-1-cell activities, is detectable in sera of MS patients, and if there is any association with disease activity. We analysed 171 sera of patients with MS and meningitis, and healthy controls. IL-12 p40 protein was detectable at low levels in MS patients (median 43 pg/ml) and controls (median 49 pg/ml). Analysing different disease courses and activities, a significant elevation in stable primary progressive MS cases compared with controls (median 66 pg/ml) was found. IL-12 p40 protein was not detectable in cerebrospinal fluid probes of 10 patients. We conclude that the function of IL-12 in MS depends on expression and degradation of the different proteins. These could act proinflammatory as well as limiting the disease process. Copyright Lippincott Williams & Wilkins     

Association between donor-recipient serum sodium differences and orthotopic liver transplant graft function.

Previous studies have shown that donor hypernatremia and possibly recipient hyponatremia negatively impact graft function after orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). The purpose of this retrospective investigation was to determine whether measured differences in serum sodium values between cadaveric donors and OLT recipients (DeltaNa(+)) influence immediate postoperative allograft function and short-term patient outcomes. Two hundred and fifty patients that underwent OLT from January 2001 to December 2005 were included in this study. The DeltaNa(+) for each donor recipient pair was correlated with standard postoperative liver function tests as well as recipient length of intensive care unit stay (LOICUS), length of hospital stay (LOHS) and recipient survival. The relationship between donor hypernatremia (serum sodium >or= 155 mEq/mL), recipient hyponatremia (serum sodium level 相似文献   

Sialadenosis in Patients with Advanced Liver Disease

Sialadenosis (sialosis) has been associated most often with alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis, but a number of nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, and bulimia have also been reported to result in sialadenosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sialadenosis in patients with advanced liver disease. Patients in the study group consisted of 300 candidates for liver transplantation. Types of liver disease in subjects with clinical evidence of sialadenosis were compared with diagnoses in cases who had no manifestations of sialadenosis. The data were analyzed for significant association. Sialadenosis was found in 28 of the 300 subjects (9.3%). Among these 28 cases, 11 (39.3%) had alcoholic cirrhosis. The remaining 17 (60.7%) had eight other types of liver disease. There was no significant association between sialadenosis and alcoholic cirrhosis (P = 0.389). These findings suggest that both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis may lead to the development of sialadenosis. Advanced liver disease is accompanied by multiple nutritional deficiencies which may be exacerbated by alcohol. Similar metabolic abnormalities may occur in patients with diabetes or bulimia. Malnutrition has been associated with autonomic neuropathy, the pathogenic mechanism that has been proposed for sialadenosis.     

The association between blood groups and maxillofacial deformities

Background:

Blood group is a genetic characteristic which is associated with some diseases and deformities. Multifactorial characteristics of facial development make it difficult to predict a genetic pattern in a specific maxillofacial deformity, but epidemiological evaluations can reveal relationships between such deformities and some genetic characteristics or accompanied diseases, and this will help to recognise and treat them. The aim of this study is evaluation of the relationship between blood groups and maxillofacial deformities.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, blood groups of 190 patients with maxillofacial deformities who had had orthognathic surgery in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, were compared with the general Iranian population.

Results:

Among 190 patients, 93 cases (49%) were men and 97 cases (51%) were women. Fifteen cases (8%) were < 20 years old, 130 cases (68%) were 20–30 years old, and the others (45 cases, 24%) were > 30 years old. The blood group distribution in our samples was as follows: blood group O = 76 cases (40%), blood group A = 58 cases (30%), blood group B = 41 cases (22%), and blood group AB = 15 cases (8%). Among these patients, 31 cases (16%) had maxillary deformities and 27 cases (14%) suffered from mandibular deformities while the other 132 cases (70%) had bimaxillary problems. The Chi-square test showed statistically significant differences between the blood group distribution of the patients of this study and the normal Iranian population (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

It was shown that among different blood groups; those with blood group B have a greater likelihood of association with maxillofacial deformities. On the other hand, the probability of the association of such deformities was the least with blood group A.