Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A 2

Objective. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is extensively expressed by advanced atherosclerotic lesions and may play a role in plaque instability. We selected a group of elderly subjects that underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or balloon angioplasty (BA) and separated them into two groups, diabetic and nondiabetic, to compare the level of Lp-PLA2 mass between them. Methods. 44 patients aged 79.6±5.6 years with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis underwent TAVI (n=35) or BA (n=9). 21 subjects had confirmed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lp-PLA2 mass was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (USCN Life Science, China) before and 3 days after the procedure. Results. Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly elevated in this population (1296±358 ng/mL before TAVI; 1413±268 ng/mL before BA) and further increased after TAVI (1604±437 ng/mL, P<0.01) or BA (1808±303 ng/mL, P<0.01). Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly increased on the diabetic group before these interventions. Conclusion. Lp-PLA2 may be a novel biomarker for the presence of rupture-prone atherosclerotic lesions in elderly patients. Levels of Lp-PLA2 in diabetic patients may accompany the higher amount of small dense LDL particles seen in these subjects

Markers of thrombogenesis are activated in unmedicated patients with acute psychosis: a matched case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antipsychotic treatment has been repeatedly found to be associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism in schizophrenia. The extent to which the propensity for venous thromboembolism is linked to antipsychotic medication alone or psychosis itself is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether markers of thrombogenesis are increased in psychotic patients who have not yet been treated with antipsychotic medication.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the plasma levels of markers indicating activation of coagulation (D-dimers and Factor VIII) and platelets (soluble P-selectin, sP-selectin) in an antipsychotic-naive group of fourteen men and eleven women with acute psychosis (age 29.1 ± 8.3 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 4.7), and twenty-five healthy volunteers were matched for age, gender and body mass index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>D-dimers (median 0.38 versus 0.19 mg/l, mean 1.12 ± 2.38 versus 0.28 ± 0.3 mg/l; P = 0.003) and sP-selectin (median 204.1 versus 112.4 ng/ml, mean 209.9 ± 124 versus 124.1 ± 32; P = 0.0005) plasma levels were significantly increased in the group of patients with acute psychosis as compared with healthy volunteers. We found a trend (median 148% versus 110%, mean 160 ± 72.5 versus 123 ± 62.5; P = 0.062) of increased plasma levels of factor VIII in psychotic patients as compared with healthy volunteers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that at least a part of venous thromboembolic events in patients with acute psychosis may be induced by pathogenic mechanisms related to psychosis rather than by antipsychotic treatment. Finding an exact cause for venous thromboembolism in psychotic patients is necessary for its effective treatment and prevention.</p

Anti-NMDA receptor antibodies in patients with&nbsp;a first episode of schizophrenia

Jir&iacute; Masopust,1,2 Ctirad Andr&yacute;s,3 Jan Bažant,1 Oldrich Vy&scaron;ata,4 Kamil Kuca,5 Martin Vali&scaron;4 1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralov&eacute;, Charles University in Prague, University Hospital Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Czech Republic; 2National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic; 3Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, and University Hospital Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Czech Republic; 4Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, and University Hospital Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Czech Republic; 5Biomedical Research Centrum, University Hospital Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Hradec Kr&aacute;lov&eacute;, Czech Republic Background: Encephalitis with antibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) is classified as an autoimmune disorder with psychotic symptoms, which are frequently dominant. However, it remains unclear how frequently NMDA-R antibodies lead to a condition that mimics psychosis and first-episode schizophrenia. In our work, we investigated the presence of antibodies against NMDA-R in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) in comparison with healthy volunteers.Methods: This study included 50 antipsychotic-na&iuml;ve patients with FEP (including 21 women) and 50 healthy volunteers (including 21 women). The mean age of the patients was 27.4 (&plusmn;7.4) years and that of the healthy controls was 27.0 (&plusmn;7.3) years. Antibodies against NMDA-R in the serum were detected by immunofluorescence.Results: None of the investigated patients with an FEP and none of the healthy controls showed positive antibodies against NMDA-Rs.Conclusion: According to results of studies, a small proportion of patients with an FEP possess antibodies against NMDA-R. However, the extent to which this finding contributes to the etiopathogenesis of the response to antipsychotic medication and whether immunomodulatory therapy is indicated in these cases remains uncertain. Keywords: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, NMDA-R, encephalitis, schizophreni

Egg allergy in atopic dermatitis patients-analysis of results of specific extract IgE and specific IgE to molecular components. Bird-egg syndrome

Aim To evaluate the occurrence of egg allergy in atopic dermatitis patients, to analyse the results of specific IgE. We show the occurrence of bird-egg syndrome and the relation between the sensitisation to some molecular components and egg allergy. Methods: Egg allergy was confirmed according to the results of the challenge test (history) together with positive results of specific IgE to molecular components of egg and/or extract specific IgE to egg. Results and conclusion: Altogether 100 atopic dermatitis patients were examined – 48 men, 52 women, the average age 40.9 years. Reaction to egg was confirmed in 23 patients (23%); egg allergy was confirmed in 18 patients (18%). In these patients we recorded the significantly higher sensitisation to molecular components Der f 2, Der p 2, Equ c 1 and Phl p 7. The bird – egg syndrome was confirmed in 3 patients (3%)

Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Mass Level Is Increased in Elderly Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is extensively expressed by advanced atherosclerotic lesions and may play a role in plaque instability. We selected a group of elderly subjects that underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or balloon angioplasty (BA) and separated them into two groups, diabetic and nondiabetic, to compare the level of Lp-PLA2 mass between them. Methods. 44 patients aged 79.6±5.6 years with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis underwent TAVI (n=35) or BA (n=9). 21 subjects had confirmed type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lp-PLA2 mass was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (USCN Life Science, China) before and 3 days after the procedure. Results. Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly elevated in this population (1296±358 ng/mL before TAVI; 1413±268 ng/mL before BA) and further increased after TAVI (1604±437 ng/mL, P<0.01) or BA (1808±303 ng/mL, P<0.01). Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly increased on the diabetic group before these interventions. Conclusion. Lp-PLA2 may be a novel biomarker for the presence of rupture-prone atherosclerotic lesions in elderly patients. Levels of Lp-PLA2 in diabetic patients may accompany the higher amount of small dense LDL particles seen in these subjects