Prognostic significance of peripheral blood flow cytometry parameters in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

Background: Immune functions and their relation to prognosis in breast cancer patients have become areas of great interest in recent years. Correlations between survival outcomes and peripheral blood flow cytometry parameters are therefore of interest. Here we focused on patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: A total of 29 patients with pathological confirmed breast carcinoma and flow cytometry data were assessed for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Results: The median age of the patients was 54 years (range, 29-83). Multivariate analysis revealed that OS was significantly associated with absolute cytotoxic T cell count (95%CI, coef 2.26, p=0.035), tumor size (95%CI, coef -14.5, p 0.004), chemotherapy (95%CI, coef 12.9, p 0.0001), MFI of CD4 (95%CI, coef -5.1, P 0.04), MFI of HLA DR (95%CI, coef -5.9, p 0.008) and tumor grade (95%CI, coef -13, P 0.049) with R-Sq(adj)=67%. Similar findings were obtained for PFS. Conclusions: OS and PFS were significantly associated with tumor grade, tumor size, chemotherapy, MFI of CD4, HLA DR and absolute cytotoxic T cell count. The study revealed that MFI of basic CD markers and absolute cytotoxic T cell number may be a prognostic factors in women with non-metastatic BC

Early administration of ultraviolet treatment is effective in pegylated interferon alpha-induced severe acute exacerbation of psoriasis: A case report and short review of the literature

[No abstract available

Oxidized LDL in inflammation: From bench to bedside

[No abstract available

The PUVA-turban as an alternative treatment of alopecia associated with chronic graft versus host disease [2]

[No abstract available

Disabling pansclerotic morphoea: A case report

[No abstract available

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. Copyright © 2010 Theodora Boutsikou et al

Plasma concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 in gastric cancer

Background/Aim: Ang-1 and Ang-2 have both been identified as ligands for Tie-2, a receptor expressed on endothelial cells (EC). They play critical roles in angiogenesis, in concert with VEGF. Ang-1-binding to Tie-2 maintains and stabilizes mature vessels by promoting interactions between EC and the surrounding extra-cellular matrix. However, Ang-2 shows context-dependent, proangiogenic and antiangiogenic activities. Despite the rapidly accumulating histopathological data reporting differences in the expression of members of the Ang family on the surface of various normal and tumour cells, data for these growth factors in plasma from cancer patients, including gastric cancer, remain scarce. The aims of the present study were to measure the plasma concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 in gastric cancer patients, and to assess the correlation between the concentrations of these factors and the stage of the tumor. Patients and Methods: The study cohort consisted of 50 patients (33 male, 17 female) with gastric cancer, ranging in age from 38 to 74 years (mean age 55.±12.4), and 50 sex- and age-matched, healthy controls. Determinations of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 were performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: Concentrations of Ang-2 andTie-2 were significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer than controls, while concentrations of Ang-1 were not statistically different between the groups. Concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 were not statistically significantly different in gastric cancer patients with different stages of disease. Conclusion: Ang-2 and Tie-2 plasma concentrations might be useful, additional tumor markers in gastric cancer

Dyspeptic complaints after 20 weeks of gestation are not related to Helicobacter pylori seropositivity

Background: This study was to test whether an association exists between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks of gestation in pregnant women. Material/Methods: Pregnant women (n=103) with gestational ages between 20-41 weeks and healthy non-pregnant women (controls, n=79) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Anti-H. pylori IgG serum antibody was tested to establish seropositivity. The dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score in the pregnant group and classified as asymptomatic (score 0), mildly symptomatic (score 1-5), and severely symptomatic (score ?6). The severity of dyspeptic symptoms was compared in pregnant women with H. pylori seropositivity, and pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared for H. pylori seropositivity and prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms. The results were analyzed using Student's t, Mann-Whitney-U, and chi-square tests. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was not different among pregnant and non-pregnant women. The median dyspeptic scores were 5 and 4, respectively, for H. pylori seropositive and negative pregnant women. Dyspeptic scores of H. pylori seropositive pregnant women were not different from those of uninfected pregnant women. H. pylori seropositivity did not differ among asymptomatic and mildly and severely symptomatic pregnant women. The non-pregnant women were more often asymptomatic than pregnant women. Conclusions: Our findings do not support any association between H. pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms in late pregnancy. It seems unreasonable to screen women in late pregnancy for H. pylori seropositivity, even if they suffer from severe dyspeptic symptoms. © Med Sci Monit, 2005

Myocardial functional and textural findings of the right and left ventricles and their association with cellular adhesion molecules in Behçet's disease

Aim: This study was designed to assess whether ultrasonic reflectivity, evaluated by integrated backscatter analysis was associated with the severity of inflammation and diastolic dysfunction of the left (LV) and right ventricles (RV) in Behçet's disease (BD). Methods: The study consisted of 20 patients with BD and 18 healthy controls. The expression of CD11b and CD63 on the surface of granulocytes and monocytes were measured by flow cytometry. RV and LV diastolic functions were assessed by tricuspid and mitral annular tissue Doppler recordings, respectively. Backscatter cyclic variation (CV) and maximal intensity (IB) were measured in RV lateral wall, interventricular septum, and posterior LV wall from parasternal long-axis view, apex from apical four-chamber view, anterior, inferior, and lateral LV walls from parasternal short axis view. Results: The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD11b on granulocytes and CD63 on monocytes in BD patients was higher than those of controls. Patients with BD had smaller mitral and tricuspid annular early diastolic wave velocities and early/late diastolic wave velocity ratios (E/A) than controls. MFI of CD11b and CD63 was inversely correlated with tricuspid and mitral annular E/A in BD patients. CV of RV and global CV of LV were found to be diminished in BD patients than controls. CV of RV and global CV of LV showed a direct correlation with tricuspid and mitral annular E/A ratio, respectively. Conclusion: There is an association between the levels of cellular adhesion molecules, deterioration of diastolic function, and altered myocardial ultrasonic reflectivity in BD. © 2007, the Authors

Nocturnal enuresis and allergy

Objective. To investigate whether an interaction exists between nocturnal enuresis and allergy. Material and methods. Thirty-seven (20 boys, 17 girls) children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis were recruited. We studied an allergy panel that included total IgE, 10 examples of inhalant-specific IgE, 10 examples of food-specific IgE, eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and Phadiotop. The same panel was studied in a control group of 18 children without monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. Results. We did not determine statistically significant differences between the enuretic group and the control group in terms of levels of total IgE, the 10 examples of inhalant-specific IgE and Phadiotop. However, two (soybean and hazelnut) of the 10 food-specific IgE and ECP levels did differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions. This first specific IgE study showed that there may be a relationship between nocturnal enuresis and soybean and hazelnut food allergens. Our findings may explain some cases of nocturnal enuresis. However, further studies are necessary to explain the underlying mechanisms and management of this disorder. © 2005 Taylor & Francis