62 research outputs found
Helicobacter pylori associated antigastric autoantibodies: role in Sj\uf6gren's syndrome gastritis.
Background. Previous studies have shown that
Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s
syndrome is comparable with that of the general
population. However, the origin of the chronic gastropathy
associated with this syndrome and the role of
local autoimmunity \u2013 possibly triggered by bacterial
infection \u2013 in its pathogenesis remain unclear.
Materials and Methods. We initially determined the
prevalence of IgG anti H. pylori in dyspeptic subjects
with and without Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome. In subsets of
both groups we then determined anti CagA and
human tissue-tested anticanalicular/antifoveolar
autoantibodies. We also compared activity, atrophy
and Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT)
scores, as well as symptoms, before and after bacterial
eradication.
Results. Prevalence of H. pylori in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome
patients was similar to controls: 31/54 (57%)
vs. 93/150 (62%). Anti CagA prevalence was also similar in the two groups. Twenty weeks after
H. pylori eradication, histological activity decreased
in both groups, however, atrophy and MALT
decreased significantly only in controls. Sixteen
months after H. pylori eradication, 75% of Sj\uf6gren\u2019s
syndrome patients still complained of dyspepsia
compared with 13% of controls. Finally, antigastric
autoantibodies were present in 29% of tested
Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients vs. 28% of controls.
Conclusions. H. pylori infection was equally prevalent
among dyspeptic Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome patients
and dyspeptic controls. Likewise, there were no
differences regarding anti CagA prevalence or
antigastric autoantibodies among the two groups.
The persistence of symptoms as well as of the
lymphocytic infiltration and atrophy after H. pylori
eradication in Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome may underlie
the \u2018endogenous\u2019 and still unknown nature of the
gastropathy in this condition
Cardiovascular risk and mannose binding lectin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from southern Brazil
Background: Mannose binding lectin (MBL) appears to be involved in susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in the inflammatory process and in the genesis of atherosclerotic disease. Objective: To study the association of MBL serum levels and its genotypic variation with carotid arteries intimal thickness (IMT) in RA patients from Southern Brazil. Methods: MBL serum levels, MBL2 genotyping and IMT were investigated in 90 RA patients along with their demographic, clinical and laboratory profile. MBL levels and MBL2 genotyping were evaluated in 90 healthy controls. Results: A significant lower MBL serum concentration was observed in patients with RA in relation to controls (528 ng/mL vs 937.5 ng/mL, p = 0.05, respectively). The median IMT in RA patients was 0.59 mm (0.51 to 0.85 mm). There was no correlation between levels of MBL with disease activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, autoantibodies presence or IMT (p = NS). A weak and negative correlation was found between MBL and CRP levels (Rho = −0.24; p = 0.02;). The MBL2 variant at codon 54 (variant B) and HYPA haplotype were the most frequently observed in the RA sample (67.5% and 31.7%). MBL2 wild type (A/A) were associated with lower IMT when compared with heterozygotes (A/O; p = 0.04) and low producers (O/O; p = 0.05). In addition, high producers genotypes had lower levels of CRP when compared with medium (p = 0.04) or with low producers (p = 0.05). Conclusion: RA patients had lower MBL levels than controls. MBL were negatively associated with CRP serum levels; low MBL genotypes producers increased thickness of the IMT than high producers. Keywords: Mannose binding lectin, Rheumatoid arthritis, Atherosclerosi
Behavioral Management of Laryngeal Complaints Caused by Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Medically Refractory Epilepsy
Scientific note: the histerid beetle Omalodes foveola (Coleoptera: Histeridae) found as a Melittophile, co-inhabiting Africanized honeybee hives in Brazil
Effect of Quantum Size on the Luminescent Properties of Quantum Dots Based on Cadmium Halcogenides
Electrical conductivity and luminescence of 9-chloro-10,10′-bis-(dichloromethyleno)-(9′H)-10,10′-dihydro-9,9′-bianthryl (CDDB)
Relaxation of Inhomogeneous Spectral Band Width of Dye Molecules in Polar Solvents Studied by Time-Resolved Hole and Fluorescence Spectroscopy
- …