The link of biocompatibility to cytokine production

The link of biocompatibility to cytokine production. Recent studies suggest that chronic inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Cytokines released from jeopardized tissues stimulate the liver to synthesize acute phase proteins, including C-reactive protein (CRP). Baseline levels of CRP in apparently healthy persons or in persons with unstable angina constitute an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. More recently, it has been suggested that CRP is useful not only as a marker of the acute phase response, but is also involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. CRP may, in fact, directly interact with the atherosclerotic vessels or ischemic myocardium by activation of the complement system, thereby promoting inflammation and thrombosis. Several studies in uremic patients have implicated CRP as a marker of malnutrition, resistance to erythropoietin, and chronic stimulation in hemodialysis. An increased cytokine production secondary to blood interaction with bioincompatible dialysis components has been reported by several studies; interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and mainly IL-6 are the three proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of hemodialysis-related disease. We have provided evidence for the occurrence of high CRP and IL-6 levels in chronic dialytic patients exposed to contaminate dialysate and suggest that backfiltration may induce a chronic, slowly developing inflammatory state that may be abrogated by avoiding backfiltration of contaminate dialysate. Therefore, CRP is implicated as a marker linking bioincompatibility associated with backfiltration and increased cytokine production with a clinical state of chronic inflammation

Interleukin-6 is a stronger predictor of total and cardiovascular mortality than C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients

Background. Despite the well known association between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cardiovascular mortality, no study has so far verified whether IL-6 adds prognostic information to that provided by C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods. A cohort of 218 haemodialysis patients from four different dialytic centres was followed-up retrospectively. Plasma IL-6 and CRP concentrations were determined. Full information on co-morbidities was available in 162 patients. Results. With respect to the lowest quartile (13.9 pg/ml for IL-6, and >12.8 mg/l for CRP) was 5.20 (95% confidence interval 2.06-13.011) for IL-6 and 3.16 (1.41-7.12) for CRP. When both variables were included, the estimates were 4.10 (1.30-12.96) for IL-6 and 1.29 (0.47-3.57) for CRP. As to continuous variables, the relationship between both variables and mortality tended to level off for the highest values, but became fairly linear after log transformation of the variables. For one unit SD of the log (variable), the RR was 2.09 (1.52-2.88) for IL-6 and 1.66 (1.23-2.24 for CRP. When they were included in the same model, the estimates were 1.90 (1.18-2.82) for IL-6 and 1.16 (0.81-1.66) for CRP. Conclusions. IL-6 has a stronger predictive value than CRP for cardiovascular mortality and provides independent prognostic information, while conveying most of that provided by CRP. © ERA-EDTA 2004; all rights reserved

From Pottery to Context. Archaeology and virtual modelling

The volume includes a series of papers focused on methodologies of digital archaeology. The starting section is about the research project funded by the University of Bologna, entitled Dal reperto al paesaggio: analisi archeologica e modellazione virtuale delle necropoli picene di Numana (AN). This project focused on a sector of the picenian necropolis of ancient Numana (Davanzali area) and aimed at experiment techniques for the acquisition of digital models of archaeological finds from funerary contexts and reconstructing the same contexts by modelling. This approach stimulated the need for confrontation with the experiences of other research teams, which could provide useful comparisons. Other papers collected in the volume ranging from the problems of digital modelling of objects to the broader contextual issues, such as Greek and Italiote pottery, architectural terracottas and etruscan necropolis, The authors have the opportunity to reflect on the relation between traditional and innovative approaches, on theoretical issues and methodologies, as well as on results and future developments of their research