Decreased expression of the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) gene in peripheral blood in patients with mild or moderate clostridioides difficile infection

Cytokines are mediators of inflammation induced in the course of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a cytokine playing an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the HMGB1 gene expression in the course of CDI. We have performed a prospective case-control study- including 55 adult patients, among them 27 with CDI, who were hospitalized from October 2018 to February 2020 and 28 healthy volunteers. We assessed: a complete blood count with differential leukocyte count, blood creatinine, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Then, the expression of the HMGB1 gene was evaluated using quantitative Real-Time PCR. Patients with CDI were found to have a significant increase in white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil count, and CRP levels, they also exhibited decreased levels of albumin compared with controls. The HMGB1 gene expression was significantly lower among patients with CDI compared with the control group and significantly, inversely correlated with CRP level in blood. In conclusion, we have observed a decreased expression of the HMGB1 gene in peripheral blood of patients with mild or moderate CDI, which hypothetically could reflect their diminished capability to fight the pathogen

The Association Between Chronic Hepatitis B, Chronic Hepatitis C, Sustained Liver Damage, and Features of Increased Cardiovascular Ris

It is thought that chronic liver disease affects a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection, Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) infection, and liver damage on cardiovascular risk and selected vascular parameters contributing to CVD risk. This case-control study included a group of 114 patients composed of 34 patients with HBV, 35 patients with HCV, and 45 patients as the control group. Cardiovascular risk was assessed by analyzing classic risk factors, and the SCORE system. The following arterial properties were analyzed using applanation tonometry with SphygmoCor Vx technology: central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central pulse pressure, augmentation pressure, augmentation index, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Asymmetric dimethyloarginine (ADMA) blood levels were analyzed using ELISA as a marker of vascular function. In a univariable analysis we found no significant differences between the hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and control groups in terms of PWV (respectively: median 7.2 [Q25-Q75 6.4-8.5], 7.3 [6.9-8.7], 7.8 [6.5-8.9]), cSBP (115 [109-126], 118 [107-123], 116 [107-129]), ADMA (0.52 [0.47-0.60], 0.53 [0.45-0.62], 0.58 [0.51-0.63]), SCORE (0 [0-1], 0 [0-2], 0 [0-2]). No significant differences in cardiovascular variables were observed between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. A multivariable analysis confirmed the above findings. (PWV, p=0.29; cSBP, p=0.26; ADMA, p=0.19). We concluded that chronic hepatitis B or C was not independently associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile nor with an unfavorable pattern of vascular parameters contributing to CVD risk in our study population, even in the case of liver cirrhosis. The same was true for blood ADMA levels

The Role of Complement Activating Collectins and Associated Serine Proteases in Patients With Hematological Malignancies, Receiving High-Dose Chemotherapy, and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations (Auto-HSCT)

We conducted a prospective study of 312 patients (194 with multiple myeloma, 118 with lymphomas) receiving high-dose conditioning chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). Polymorphisms of MBL2 and MASP2 genes were investigated and serial measurements of serum concentrations of mannose-binding lectin (MBL), CL-LK collectin and MASP-2 as well as activities of MBL-MASP-1 and MBL-MASP-2 complex were made. Serum samples were taken before conditioning chemotherapy, before HSCT and once weekly after (totally 4-5 samples); in minority of subjects also 1 and/or 3 months post transplantation. The results were compared with data from 267 healthy controls and analyzed in relation to clinical data to explore possible associations with cancer and with chemotherapy-induced medical complications. We found a higher frequency of MBL deficiency-associated genotypes (LXA/O or O/O) among multiple myeloma patients compared with controls. It was however not associated with hospital infections or post-HSCT recovery of leukocytes, but seemed to be associated with the most severe infections during follow-up. Paradoxically, high MBL serum levels were a risk factor for prolonged fever and some infections. The first possible association of MBL2 gene 3′-untranslated region polymorphism with cancer (lymphoma) in Caucasians was noted. Heterozygosity for MASP2 gene +359 A>G mutation was relatively frequent in lymphoma patients who experienced bacteremia during hospital stay. The median concentration of CL-LK was higher in myeloma patients compared with healthy subjects. Chemotherapy induced marked increases in serum MBL and MASP-2 concentrations, prolonged for several weeks and relatively slighter decline in CL-LK level within 1 week. Conflicting findings on the influence of MBL on infections following chemotherapy of myeloma and lymphoma have been reported. Here we found no evidence for an association between MBL deficiency and infection during the short period of neutropenia following conditioning treatment before HSCT. However, we noted a possible protective effect of MBL during follow-up, and suspected that to be fully effective when able to act in combination with phagocytic cells after their recovery