High levels of interleukin-1 in patients with endemic pemphigus foliaceus

Endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) is an autoimmune disease characterized by blister formation with a loss of cohesion and infiltration of inflammatory cells. We observed that supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients produced significantly more interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) than those from stimulated healthy controls. Furthermore, a Th2 bias was observed in EPF patients when the IL-5/gamma interferon ratio was analyzed. These results indicate that cells from pemphigus patients react with a vigorous proinflammatory response.     

Renal hemangiopericytoma. Anatomo-pathologic and clinico-therapeutic considerations. A case report

The Authors report a case of renal hemangiopericytoma, whose interest is related to the extreme rarity (24 cases reported until today), its insidious growth, the late in diagnosis, its uncertain clinical-biological evolution, not always predictable. Considering chemotherapy and radiotherapy ineffectiveness, an adequate treatment for such a neoplasm requires the surgical therapy, which must be followed by a careful follow-up.     

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: associations with presenting features, serum interleukin 10 levels, and clinical outcome.

PURPOSE: EBV-latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) is often expressed in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), but its clinical significance is controversial. We correlated LMP-1 with presenting features, including serum interleukin 10 levels and clinical outcome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were eligible if they had biopsy-proven cHL, were untreated, HIV-1 negative, and had available archival tissue. LMP-1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: We identified 577 patients with cHL with a median age of 30 years, 55% of whom were male. LMP-1 was expressed in HRS cells of 124 patients (21%) and was detected in 78 of 461 (17%) patients with nodular sclerosis compared with 44 of 112 (39%) with mixed cellularity (P < 0.001 by Fisher's exact test). Patients with tumors with LMP-1-positive HRS cells had higher serum interleukin 10 levels (P = 0.009 by Mann-Whitney test). For the 303 patients treated with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine or equivalent regimens, the 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) for those with LMP-1-positive tumors was 74% compared with 81% for those with LMP-1-negative tumors (P = 0.23, by log-rank test). Overall survival (OS) at 5 years for patients with LMP-1-positive tumors was 90 versus 91% for patients with LMP-1-negative tumors (P = 0.8 by log-rank test). Expression of LMP-1 was not associated with different FFS and OS in patients treated with other regimens or with radiotherapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: LMP-1 was expressed by HRS cells in 21% of cHL and correlated with mixed cellularity type and higher serum interleukin 10 levels. The presence of LMP-1 was not associated with FFS or OS in uniformly treated patients.     

Soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in Hodgkin's disease: outcome and clinical implications.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic role of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in Hodgkin''s disease (HD) both in the achievement of complete remission (CR) and in predicting disease relapse. Between August 1988 and June 1993 sIL-2R serum levels were measured in 174 untreated patients; in 137 of them evaluation was repeated at the end of treatment and in 132 also during the follow-up. Baseline sIL-2R levels (mean+/-standard error) were significantly higher in patients than in 65 healthy control subjects (1842+/-129 U ml(-1) vs 420+/-10 U ml(-10, P< 0.0001). At the end of treatment 135 out of 137 evaluated patients achieved complete response (CR) and their mean sIL-2R serum levels were significantly lower than those at diagnosis (635+/-19 U ml(-1) vs 1795+/-122 U ml(-1), P=0.0001). After a median follow-up of 5 years, sIL-2R remained low in 114 patients in continuous CR, while they increased in 9 out of 12 patients (75%) who relapsed. However, a temporary increase was also observed in six patients (5%) still in CR. Treatment outcome in terms of freedom from progression was linearly related to sIL-2R levels. Our study confirms that patients with untreated HD have increased baseline levels of sIL-2R compared with healthy subjects and that their pretreatment values may be an indication of disease outcome similar to other conventional prognostic factors, such as number of involved sites, presence of B symptoms and extranodal extent.     

Effects of eggplant (Solanum melongena) on the atherogenesis and oxidative stress in LDL receptor knock out mice (LDLR(-/-)).

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) has been used as hypocholesterolemic agent in many countries. However, few controlled studies were addressed to this subject and atherogenesis. We have evaluated the effect of eggplant on cholesterol metabolism and atherogenesis in LDLR(-/-) mice. Animals were fed on chow (n=17) or atherogenic (n=21) diet during 12 weeks receiving water (control) or eggplant extract. Liver, serum and fecal lipids, together with serum lipoproteins were measured. Oxidative stress was evaluated through conjugate diene formation and ox-LDL antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. Atherosclerotic lesions were measured in different sites of aorta. Total cholesterol and atherogenic lipoproteins did not decrease after eggplant intake. Animals receiving eggplant and chow diet showed increased anti-ox-LDL antibodies and a decreased lag phase of conjugated diene formation, indicating a higher oxidative stress than controls. No differences were seen in lesion area of aortic valve. Eggplant extract had high histamine and other amine levels that could enhance LDL oxidation and its endocytosis. Eggplant did not decrease plasma cholesterol nor prevent the development of atherosclerosis in LDLR(-/-) mice. Surprisingly, eggplant increased oxidative stress, representing a risk factor for atherosclerosis. These results did not support the use of eggplant extract as hypocholesterolemic agent.     

Elevated Plasma S100B,Psychotic Symptoms,and Cognition in Schizophrenia

S100B is a calcium binding protein mainly produced by glial cells. Previous studies have shown elevated levels of S100B in patients with schizophrenia. We measured S100B levels in fasting plasma of 39 patients with schizophrenia and 19 adult healthy controls. We used linear regression to compare S100B between patients and controls. In patients only, we also investigated the relationship between S100B levels and psychotic symptoms (assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), and cognitive function (assessed by the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery), respectively by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Mean plasma S100B was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. There were no significant correlations between plasma S100B and psychotic symptoms or cognition.     

Dry eyes in patients with diabetes mellitus

Dry eyes may be caused by impairment in the tear production or excessive tear evaporation and are associated with photophobia, red eyes, vision impairment, local pain and pruritus. It has been described that patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may have a higher prevalence of dry eyes than normal population.This is a case control study of 120 patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and 120 paired controls aiming to compare their prevalence of dry eyes (by the Schirmer test) and its severity (measured by OSDI or Ocular Surface Disease Index) as well as their association with diseases’ clinical variables.We found that 38.3% of DM patients had dry eyes, a prevalence that was higher than controls (p = 0.02). At univariate analysis, they were found to be more common in older individuals (p = 0.001) with type 2 diabetes (p = 0.001) and in those using metformin (p = 0.001). A multivariate linear regression showed that metformin use was the only independent variable associated with dry eyes. When patients with dry eyes with and without DM were compared, no differences in the symptom’s intensity were found.