Evidence for increased immune mobilization in First Episode Psychosis compared with the prodromal stage in males

The aim of the study was to gauge both the immune and neuroendocrine function in Ultra High Risk for psychosis (UHR) subjects and compare them with a cohort presenting with First Episode Psychosis (FEP). We recruited two groups, the first group consisted of 12 UHR males and the second of 25 males with FEP. We measured serum cortisol levels at 08:00, 12:00, 18:00 with their Area Under Curve with respect to the ground (AUCg) and the increase (AUCi) and we measured serum cytokines levels, Interleukin-1a, IL-1a, IL-2, IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8, IL-10,IL-12, IL-17a, Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (TNF-a), Interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) was also performed. The results suggest higher levels of both pro-inflammatory (TNF-a, IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in the FEP group compared with the UHR counterparts. Regarding the HPA axis function, the prodromal subjects showed a trend for higher AUCg and AUCi change/decrease cortisol levels. On the contrary, the DST results did not differ between the groups. No significant associations were demonstrated within each group among cytokines, cortisol and psychopathology. The findings favor a hypothesis of a relatively increased mobilization of both the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine networks, in FEP compared with that of UHR subjects

Pulmonary fibrosis presenting as an early manifestation of microscopic polyangiitis

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic small vessel vasculitis that is included in the pulmonary-renal syndromes. Although glomerulonephritis represents the major clinical feature of MPA indicative of renal involvement, diffuse alveolar haemorrhage is the classic manifestation of pulmonary involvement. However, pulmonary fibrosis is a less frequently reported pulmonary manifestation. Herein we describe a patient who was diagnosed with MPA presenting with radiographic evidence of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis as an early clinical manifestation accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever and weight loss. We also include a short literature review focusing on the association between pulmonary fibrosis and MPA

Acute hepatitis C: Current status and remaining challenges

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Bioimpedance: Innovative Approach in Nephrology and Autoimmune Diseases

The composition of the human body is considered a useful diagnostic tool in many medical specialties. The recognition of changes in nutrition and hydration of patients is useful in nephrology and in particular in chronic kidney disease where malnutrition and over hydration are conditions that affect the prognosis of these patients. Furthermore, the use of ‘traditional’ diagnostic tests based on clinical examination and biochemical tests often lead to inaccurate results [1,2].</p

Heat-Shock Protein 27 kinetics in end stage renal disease patients

Atherosclerosis is one of the most significant yet unresolved problems in patients on regular Hemodialysis (HD) with major impact on morbidity and mortality of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is growing evidence that atherosclerosis may-at least in part- result from autoimmune processes, in which the family of Heat-Shock Proteins (HSP) may be involved [1].</p

Comparative study of biocompatibility among different dialysis membranes using monocytes activation with flow cytometry measurement (CD 14+, CD 16+), burst activation and monocyte phagocytosis

Since the early observation of a transient leukopenia in the first minutes of haemodialysis (HD) by Kaplow et al in 1968, this issue has undergone extensive investigation. Ten years later, Graddock et al correlated this transient leukopenia with complement activation during HD. Since then, most studies have focused on the pathophysiology of granulocytes during HD. However, it has been recently suggested that the HD process influences monocytes as well. Peripheral blood monocytes are not a homogenous population and can be subdivided into discrete subpopulations by virtue of their surface antigen expression. A minor subset of circulating monocytes express the FcA receptor III (CD 16) together with low levels of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS ) receptor antigen (CD 14). These cells are described as the CD14+ CD16+ monocyte subpopulation. In normal health subjects CD14+ CD16+ subset accounts for about 7-10% of all circulating blood monocytes. However, during infectious or inflammatory diseases CD14+ CD16+ monocyte numbers are markedly expanded. Blood-membrane contact leads to an increased cellular activation and sequestration into the capillary bed of the lung. On the other hand, patients with chronic renal failure have increased susceptibility to various pathogens, especially to bacterial infection. This has been related to alterations in immune response and to disturbances of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes (MO), which include chemotaxis, adherence and phagocytic and bacterial activity, especially as the consequence of blood-membrane contact. During ingestion of microorganisms, PMN generate highly reactive oxygen species with increased oxygen consumption, the so-called ‘respiratory burst’. The influence of the sequestration on the number of mature monocytes was studied by analyzing the fate of monocytes and particularly of the CD14+CD16+ subpopulation during haemodialysis (HD) treatment. The present study was aimed at examining also the effects of blood-membrane contact on PMN and MO, with two dialysis membrane groups. In particular, we studied phagocytosis activation due to contact with the dialysis membrane during extracorporeal sessions. We also evaluated respiratory burst both in PMN and MO