Accumulation of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Psoriatic Skin and Changes of Plasma Lipid Levels in Psoriatic Patients

Background. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an accelerated turnover of epidermal cells and an incomplete differentiation in epidermis with lesion. However, the exact etiology of psoriasis is unknown. Abnormalities in essential fatty acid metabolism, free radical generation, lipid peroxidation, and release of lymphokines have been proposed. Objective. Our purpose was to evaluate the plasma lipids and oxidized low-density lipoprotein accumulation in psoriatic skin lesion in order to ascertain the possible participation of oxidative stress and oxidative modification of lipids in pathogenesis of psoriasis. Methods. The study group included 84 patients with psoriasis, and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Blood lipid profile was determined. Psoriatic and nonlesional skin samples of psoriatic patients were evaluated for the presence of oxidized low-density lipoprotein by using an immune-fluorescent staining method. Results. The mean levels of lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol) in patients with psoriasis were found to be significantly higher than those of healthy subjects. Psoriatic skins were shown positive oxidized low-density lipoprotein staining. There was no staining in nonlesional skin samples of the same individuals. Conclusion. Lipid peroxidation mediated by free radicals is believed to be one of the important causes of cell membrane destruction and cell damage. This study shows for the first time the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein in psoriatic skin lesion. We believe that accumulation of ox-LDL in psoriatic skin may have an important role in the immune-inflammatory events that result in progressive skin damage

Further Increase in the Expression of Activation Markers on Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Ectasia Compared to Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Alone

Background. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse dilation of the coronary arteries. There are scarce data about the role of dendritic cells in CAE development. In this study we investigated the activation markers on the surface of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDCs) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with or without CAE. Method. The study consisted of 6 patients who had obstructive CAD with CAE, 6 CAD patients without CAE and 6 subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries. mDCs were cultivated from peripheral blood monocytes. Surface activation markers were detected by flow cytometry. Results. CAD patients with CAE were detected to have significantly higher mean fluorescence intensities of CD11b, CD11c, CD54 , CD83, CD86 and MHC Class II molecules on mDCs in comparison to CAD patients without CAE and normal controls (P < .001 for all). A significant positive correlation was found between the number of vessels with CAE and the levels of CD11c, CD86, and MHC Class II molecules. Conclusion. mDCs display an increased cell surface concentration of activation molecules in CAD patients with CAE compared to patients with CAD alone. DC activation may play an important role for CAE development in patients with CAD

Synthesis and characterization of polymeric linseed oil grafted methyl methacrylate or styrene

Syntheses of wholly natural polymeric linseed oil (PLO) containing peroxide groups have been reported. Peroxidation, epoxidation and/or perepoxidation reactions of linseed oil, either under air or under oxygen flow at room temperature, resulted in polymeric peroxides, PLO-air and PLO-ofl, containing 1.3 and 3.5 wt.% of peroxide, with molecular weights of 2100 and 3780 Da, respectively. PLO-air contained cross-linked film up to 46.1 wt.% after a reaction time of 60 d, associated with a waxy, soluble part (PLO-air-s) that was isolated with chloroform extraction. PLO-ofl was obtained as a waxy, viscous liquid without any cross-linked part at the end of 24 d under visible irradation and oxygen flow. Polymeric peroxides, PLO-air-s and PLO-ofl initiated the free radical polymerization of both methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styreine (S) to give PMMA-graft-PLO and PS-graft-PLO graft copolymers in high yields with M-w varying from 37 to 470 kDa. The polymers obtained were characterized by FT-IR. H-1 NMR, TGA, DSC and GPC techniques. Cross-linked polymers were also studied by means of swelling measurements. PMNA-graft-PLO graft copolymer film samples were also used in cell-culture studies. Fibroblast cells were well adhered and proliferated on the copolymer film surfaces, which is important in tissue engineering

Helicobacter pylori Eradication Lowers Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels

Introduction. Microbial pathogens, one of them is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), have frequently been implicated in the atherogenesis. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and plays a pivotal role in the regulation of vascular tone. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is the most potent endogenous NOS inhibitor. Elevated levels of ADMA have been reported in many circumstances associated with a high cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the eradication of H. pylori infection affects serum ADMA levels. Materials and Methods. Forty-two H. pylori-positive patients were enrolled in the study. Triple therapy for 14 days were given to all patients. Serum ADMA levels were measured at baseline and 2 months after therapy. Results. Eradication was achieved in 34 (81%) patients. The mean serum ADMA levels before and after therapy were 1, 77 ± 0, 30 and 1, 67 ± 0, 29 ng/mL in the group with H. pylori eradicated and 1, 63 ± 0, 28 and 1, 56 ± 0, 32 ng/mL in the noneradicated, respectively. We detected statistically significant decreased serum ADMA levels after therapy in H. pylori eradicated group. Conclusion. These findings have indicated that eradication of H. pylori infection may decrease the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events

The Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin-6 in Patients with Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia

Background/Aim. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is considered as a variant of atherosclerosis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are among the sensitive markers of systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of the cytokines; TNF-α and IL-6 in CAE patients. Methods. Plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in 36 patients with CAE (28 males, mean age: 58.2 ± 12 years), and results were compared with age and sex-matched controls (n = 32) without coronary artery ectasia. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in blood were assesed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in CAE group than controls (15.6 ± 11.2 pg/mL versus 7.8 ± 3.7 pg/mL, P < .001, and 17.2 ± 12.6 versus 7.6 ± 2.1 P < .0001, resp.). Conclusion. CAE patients showed increases in TNF-α and IL-6 levels compared to the controls. This study provides evidence for alterations in the proinflamatory cytokines which suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathophysiology of CAE. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the clinical significance of this increase in TNF-α and IL-6 levels

NKT and gamma delta T cells share their own molecules: A phenotypical dilemma

WOS: 00021587440012

PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF ANGIOPOIETIN-1, ANGIOPOIETIN-2, AND TIE-2 IN GASTRIC CANCER

7th Annual Asian Oncology Summit / 11th Annual Conference of the Organisation-for-Oncology-and-Translational-Research -- APR 10-12, 2015 -- Shanghai, PEOPLES R CHINAWOS: 000359357900007Org Oncol & Translat Re

Mediators of Gut Mucosal Immunity and Inflammation

[No abstract available