75 research outputs found

    Pleural Transport Physiology: Insights from Biological Marker Measurements in Transudates

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    Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the pleural mesothelial barrier and of the biological markers that facilitate or eliminate the passage of molecules through the pleura. Methods and Material: Pleural fluid samples from sixty-five patients with heart failure were analyzed. The biological markers studied were lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), -3 (MMP-3), -7(MMP-7), -8 (MMP-8) and -9 (MMP-9). Based on the pleural fluid/serum ratio, these molecules were divided into three groups: a) the LDH-like group with a pleural fluid/serum ratio between 0,4 and 0,8 (LDH, CEA, CuZnSOD, ADA, CRP, MMP-8), b) molecules with a pleural fluid/serum ratio less than 0,4 (MMP-7 and MMP-9) and c) molecules with a pleural fluid/serum ratio equal or above 1 (TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-2 and MMP-3). Results: No correlation between the molecular radius and the pleural fluid to serum ratio of the above biological markers was found. Conclusions: The molecular size is not a major determinant for the passage of molecules through the mesothelial barrier. Several other factors may influence the transport of the above molecules to pleural cavity, such as their charge and shape. © Eleni et al

    Hyaluronic acid levels are increased in complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions

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    Background and Aim. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a component of extracellular matrix and may play a role in the pleural inflammation which is implicated in parapneumonic effusions.The aim of the current study was to investigate HA levels in serum and pleura in patients with parapneumonic effusions. Methods. We prospectively studied pleural and serum levels of HA in 58 patients with pleural effusions due to infection (complicated and uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions), malignant effusions and transudative effusions due to congestive heart failure. In addition to HA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were determined in pleural fluid and serum by ELISA. Results. The median±SD HA levels (pg/ml) in pleural fluid of patients with complicated effusions (39.058±11.208) were significantly increased (p<0.005), compared to those with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions (11.230±1.969), malignant effusions (10.837±4.803) or congestive heart failure (5.392±3.133). There was no correlation between pleural fluid and serum HA values. Pleural fluid TNF-α levels (146±127 pg/mL) and IL-1β levels (133.4±156 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions compared to patients with other types of effusion (p<0.05). No significant association between HA and TNF-α or IL-1β was found. Conclusions. HA may play a significant role in the inflammatory process which characterises exudative infectious pleuritis. Further investigation might reveal whether HA is a useful marker in the management of parapneumonic effusions

    Children with autism spectrum disorders, who improved with a luteolin-containing dietary formulation, show reduced serum levels of TNF and IL-6

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    Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been associated with brain inflammation as indicated by microglia activation, as well as brain expression and increased plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Here we report that serum levels of IL-6 and TNF were elevated (61.95±94.76 pg ml-1 313.8 ±444.3 pg ml-1, respectively) in the same cohort of patients with elevated serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and neurotensin (NT), while IL-9, IL-31 and IL-33 were not different from controls. The elevated CRH and NT levels did not change after treatment with a luteolin-containing dietary formulation. However, the mean serum IL-6 and TNF levels decreased significantly (P=0.036 and P=0.015, respectively) at the end of the treatment period (26 weeks) as compared with levels at the beginning; these decreases were strongly associated with children whose behavior improved the most after luteolin formulation treatment. Our results indicate that there are distinct subgroups of children within the ASDs that may be identifiable through serum levels of IL-6 and TNF and that these cytokines may constitute distinct prognostic markers for at least the beneficial effect of luteolin formulation

    Pleural effusion levels of dj-1 are increased in elderly lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions

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    Objectives: DJ-1 is a multifunctional protein implicated in redox dependent cell fate decisions. The aim of ourstudy was to determine the pleural fluid (PF) levels of DJ-1 in malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) secondary tolung cancer. Additionally, we opted to assess potential correlations of DJ-1 PF levels with the PF levels ofsuperoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and 8-isoprostane that are known antioxidant enzymes and have beenpreviously reported in MPEs. Methods: Forty lung cancer patients with cytological proof of MPE were enrolled in this study. The PF levels ofDJ-1, SOD1, and 8-isoprostane were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: The median PF levels of DJ-1 were 826 ng/mL (interquartile range, IQR: 482–1010 ng/mL). DJ-1 PFlevels significantly correlated with PF Cu/Zn-SOD1 and PF 8-isoprostane levels (Spearman’s rho, r;r = −0476, P = 0002 and r = −0264, P = 0033, respectively), PF lactate dehydrogenase (r = −0497,P = 0001) and total PF cell counts (r = −0325, P = 0041). Finally, in patients aged over 65 the PF DJ-1levels were significantly higher than patients aged less than 65 (875 ng/mL vs. 607 ng/mL, respectively,P = 0037).Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first report to determine DJ-1’s levels in MPEs due to lung cancer.The negative correlations between DJ-1, SOD1, and 8-isorpostane warrant further investigation regarding thealtered redox regulation associated with MPEs. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015

    Pleural fluid protein is inversely correlated with age in uncomplicated parapneumonic pleural effusions

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    Objectives: Assess whether age influences standard biochemical parameters used in the differential diagnosis of transudative and exudative pleural effusions. Design and methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from the database of our clinic from 225 patients with pleural effusions categorized based on their final diagnosis in 5 groups: transudates 41 (18%), uncomplicated parapneumonic 26 (12%), complicated parapneumonic 20 (9%), tuberculosis 35 (15%) and lung cancer 103 (46%). We tested whether age correlated with pleural fluid protein or lactate dehydrogenase. Results: There was a statistically significant inverse correlation only between the age and the pleural fluid protein content in patients with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions with correlation coefficient r= -0.6 [(95% CI= -0.8 to -0.28); p = 0.001]. Linear regression analysis showed that this association is given by the equation: age = 101.998-10.03 protein. In the same group of patients age was not correlated with serum protein content. Conclusions: Our study shows that age maybe a confounding factor in the differential diagnosis of transudative and exudative pleural effusions. Clinicians should be aware of this finding especially when dealing with elders. (c) 2012 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

    8-Isoprostane levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis

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    Objective and design: Sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are both associated with deregulated inflammatory mechanisms partially triggered by aggravated oxidative stress. 8-Isoprostane has been proposed as a reliable marker of oxidative stress, linked to several pulmonary diseases. We aimed to explore differences in 8-isoprostane levels in IPF and sarcoidosis patients, and controls. Methods: We included 16 IPF and 55 sarcoidosis patients, as well as 17 controls in the study. 8-Isoprostane levels were measured in serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Results: Serum 8-isoprostane levels were increased in all patient groups vs controls (p < 0.001). The systemic 8-isoprostane concentrations were higher in sarcoidosis patients as compared to IPF subjects and controls (p = 0.017 and p < 0.001, respectively). IPF patients exhibited increased serum 8-isoprostane levels when compared to controls (p < 0.001). Sarcoidosis patients presented significantly increased 8-isoprostane BAL levels when compared to IPF patients (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Our data indicate that the level of oxidative stress, as reflected by 8-isoprostane concentrations, is enhanced in patients with sarcoidosis, and to a lesser extent, in IPF patients when compared to controls, suggesting a potential implication of redox imbalance in both diseases. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

    Clinical Significance of Circulating Osteopontin Levels in Patients With Lung Cancer and Correlation With VEGF and MMP-9

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    Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in carcinogenesis. Serum levels of OPN, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured by ELISA in 90 lung cancer patients. OPN levels were elevated in patients compared to controls (p <.0001). Smokers, patients with worse performance status, and weight loss exhibited higher OPN levels (p =.0012,.00036, and.0003, respectively). Increased OPN levels were associated with worse survival (p =.0018). Finally, OPN levels were positively correlated with both VEGF (p =.0008) and MMP-9 (p <.0001). OPN might serve as a prognostic biomarker, and the positive correlation between OPN and both VEGF and MMP-9 could implicate new insights in tumor angiogenesis. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
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