[Crohn disease with unusual cutaneous expression]

Perianal fistula is a frequent complication of Crohn's disease. The diagnosis of the later may be difficult if cutaneous disease is dominant, and sometimes an important clinical challenge. The authors report a case of a 34 year old male complaining of painful perianal nodules for the three last years. Cutaneous histopathological examination was inespecific and colonoscopy normal. Pelvic CT scan and fistulography showed an intercommunicated fistular system invading both isquiorectal fossae, without intestinal communication. Repetition of colonoscopy showed normal mucosa, but in two of the biopsy samples noncaseous granulomas were found at the submucosa. The authors explain their main difficulties to reach the diagnosis of Crohn's disease and discuss the investigation and the evolution of the patient.

Splenic imaging with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide ferumoxtran-10 (AMI-7227): preliminary observations

PURPOSE

Ferumoxtran-10 (ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide; Combidex, AMI-7227) is a long-circulating MR contrast agent with reticuloendothelial uptake known to enhance tissue T1 and T2 relaxation rates. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ferumoxtran-10-enhanced MRI in evaluating focal splenic lesions.

METHOD

Eighteen patients underwent MR evaluation of the spleen. Two of these patients with exophytic normal splenic tissue (splenules) and 13 of these patients with 24 focal splenic lesions (7 cysts, 2 hemangiomas, 7 metastases, 1 infarct, 7 lymphoma) were assessed by T1-weighted gradient echo and T2-weighted fast SE MRI following intravenous administration of ferumoxtran-10 (1.1 mg of Fe/kg). Qualitative analysis involving improved lesion detection and/or characterization, additional information from postcontrast images affecting staging, and patient management was performed. Quantitative measurements of lesion-to-spleen contrast-to-noise ratio were also performed.

RESULTS

Additional information was provided by ferumoxtran-10-enhanced images in 15 of 18 patients. In 8 of 15 (53%) patients, improved lesion detection (i.e., number of lesions) was obtained on contrast-enhanced images. Improved lesion visualization (i.e., conspicuity) was noted in 11 of 15 (73%) of patients. In 10 of 15 (67%) patients, postcontrast imaging provided additional information leading to lesion characterization. Staging of disease and patient management were affected in 5 of 15 (33%) and 6 of 15 (40%) patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Ferumoxtran-10 is a promising contrast agent for the evaluation of focal splenic lesions.

Effect of ET(A) receptor antagonist on pulmonary hypertension and vascular reactivity in rats with congestive heart failure

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the effects of chronic therapy with the selective ET(A)receptor antagonist LU 135252 (LU) on pulmonary vascular reactivity in congestive heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After myocardial infarction (MI) or sham operation, rats were gavaged with LU or saline for 4 weeks. Studies were performed in isolated lungs and to differentiate acute from chronic effects, some experiments were performed with LU in the perfusate. The MI+saline group developed moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH). This was improved by LU therapy despite no change in left ventricular function and a larger scar area. Vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was reduced after MI and modestly improved by LU therapy. Vasodilation to acetylcholine (Ach) was similar among the four groups, but accentuated after acute LU administration in the sham+saline and MI+saline groups. A23187 produced higher vasoconstriction (18+/-4%) in the MI+LU compared to the MI+saline (10+/-3%, P<0.05) and the two control groups (3+/-1% and 4+/-3%, with and without LU, P<0.01): this was reversed to vasodilation following the acute addition of LU.

CONCLUSION

ET(A)receptor blockade after MI reduces PH and RVH. LU therapy mildly improves dilation to SNP and favorably modulates pulmonary endothelium-dependent responses. These results support future studies to better define the mechanisms of improvement in pulmonary vascular reactivity after ET receptor antagonist therapy.

Systemic sclerosis with renal crisis and pulmonary hypertension: a report of eleven cases

OBJECTIVE

To describe a series of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with the unusual combination of scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) and pulmonary hypertension (PHT) without interstitial lung disease.

METHODS

The medical records of 2,459 SSc patients in the University of Pittsburgh Scleroderma Databank first evaluated between 1972 and 1999 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Eleven patients (0.45%) had both SRC and PHT. All had been evaluated since 1979, when angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy for SRC became available. Seven had SSc with limited cutaneous involvement, and 4 had SSc with diffuse cutaneous involvement. SRC occurred first in all patients except 1, in whom the onsets of SRC and PHT were simultaneous. SRC preceded PHT by a mean of 4.3 years. Four patients had anti-Th/To antibody, 5 had anti-RNA polymerase III antibody, 2 had anti-U3 RNP antibody, and none had anticentromere or antitopoisomerase I antibody. Ten of the 11 patients died, 8 from PHT. Ten patients were being treated with ACE inhibitor drugs when PHT developed.

CONCLUSION

In SSc, SRC and PHT are not mutually exclusive complications. SSc patients surviving SRC who have serum antibodies to Th/To, RNA polymerase III, or U3 RNP are at increased risk to develop PHT. ACE inhibitor therapy did not prevent the development of PHT.

Association of a CA repeat polymorphism upstream of the Fas ligand gene with multiple sclerosis

We have analyzed a CA repeat polymorphism localized 46-kb upstream of the Fas ligand gene in Spanish and American populations that include 139 healthy controls and a cohort of 177 unrelated relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The MS patients consisted of two groups, one with a family history of MS and one without. The frequency of the 13 CA repeats (allele B) was lower (p=0.01) in MS patients than in controls, 0.45 and 0.55 respectively. The odds ratio (BB vs. AB/AA) for MS patients vs. healthy controls was 0.51 (95% CI 0.3-0.9; p=0.01). The odds ratio (BB vs. AB/AA) for MS patients extracted from multiply affected families vs. healthy controls was 0.22 (95% CI 0.07-0.62; p=0.002). The HLA DRB1*1501-DQB1*0602 haplotype is associated with B allele with a relative frequency higher than A allele (0.52 and 0.48 in patients vs. 0.68 and 0.32 in controls). The results suggest that chromosomes with B allele have a genetic background that reduces susceptibility to MS, particularly in the familial forms.

Germline mutations in the CCM1 gene, encoding Krit1, cause cerebral cavernous malformations

Mutations in the Kritl gene have been recently discovered as the cause of hereditary cerebral cavernous angioma. We sought the possibility that de novo, noninherited mutations of Kritl also cause cavernous angioma. A patient with two cerebral malformations carries a heterozygous deletion of two base pairs (741delTC) in exon VI of the Kritl gene. The deletion initiates a frameshift mutation that, 23 amino acids downstream, encodes a TAA stop triplet replacing a CAT triplet of histidine at exon VII (H271X). Magnetic resonance images of the parents were normal, neither parent carries the 741delTC mutation, and both bear the wild-type sequence of exon VI. These findings document a de novo germline mutation in Kritl gene that causes cerebral cavernous malformations.

Backwash ileitis is strongly associated with colorectal carcinoma in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Commonly accepted risk factors for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in ulcerative colitis are duration and extent of disease. By identifying still unknown risk factors, surveillance strategies may be improved further. We investigated whether backwash ileitis is also a factor associated with CRC in ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Five hundred ninety consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis who received restorative proctocolectomy were classified into 3 groups: (1) pancolitis with backwash ileitis, (2) pancolitis without backwash ileitis, and (3) left-sided colitis. The association with CRC was analyzed in these 3 groups of patients. As further risk factors, we investigated disease duration, dysplasia, primary sclerosing cholangitis, age at diagnosis of disease, disease activity, and gender. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis.

RESULTS

CRC was diagnosed in 11.2% of all patients. CRC was found in 29.0% of 107 patients in group 1, compared with 9.0% of 369 patients in group 2, and in 1.8% of 114 patients in group 3 (P < 0.001). Cancer patients in group 1 showed significantly more multiple tumor growth (45.2%) than patients in group 2 (24.2%) and group 3 (0%) (P = 0.041). Estimating the relative risk for CRC in the multivariate analysis, patients in group 1 showed a significantly higher odds ratio than patients in groups 2 and 3 (odds ratio: 19.36 vs. 9.58 vs. 1; P < 0.001). High-grade dysplasia, low-grade dysplasia, disease duration of more than 10 years, and disease duration of less than 10 years in patients older than 45 years were further factors with significantly increased risk (odds ratios: 21.69, 6.36, 3.63, 4.37), but primary sclerosing cholangitis was not (P = 0.080). However, primary sclerosing cholangitis was strongly associated with backwash ileitis.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong association of backwash ileitis with CRC in patients with ulcerative colitis who undergo proctocolectomy. The predictive value of backwash ileitis for CRC and premalignant dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis should be investigated in future studies based on colonoscopic surveillance.

The effects of allopurinol in hepatic ischemia and reperfusion: experimental study in rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Some studies have shown that postischemic hepatic dysfunction is mainly due to oxygen free radicals that are generated by xanthine oxidase. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of allopurinol, an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, on oxidative stress, liver injury and histologic alterations induced by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups. Group 1: sham operation; group 2: 50 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion, and group 3: pretreatment with allopurinol and 50 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion. The effect of allopurinol was evaluated by plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, histopathologic studies, and lipid peroxidation measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method and chemiluminescence initiated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide technique.

RESULTS

Ischemia followed by reperfusion promoted an increase in lipid peroxidation of the hepatic cells when compared to the sham-operated group (p<0.05). This increase was attenuated in the group treated with allopurinol (p< 0.05). Allopurinol also showed a protective effect on hepatocellular necrosis (p<0.05), and the plasma levels of liver enzymes returned earlier to the normal range in rats pretreated with allopurinol in comparison to those that did not receive the drug (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Allopurinol exerted a protective effect on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion in rats. The administration of this drug prior to liver operations should be considered to be submitted to trials in humans.

The ep -->e'p eta reaction at and above the S11(1535) baryon resonance

New cross sections for the reaction e p-->e p eta are reported for total center of mass energy W = 1.5--1.86 GeV and invariant momentum transfer Q2 = 0.25--1.5 (GeV/c)(2). This large kinematic range allows extraction of important new information about response functions, photocouplings, and eta N coupling strengths of baryon resonances. Newly observed structure at W approximately 1.65 GeV is shown to come from interference between S and P waves and can be interpreted with known resonances. Improved values are derived for the photon coupling amplitude for the S11(1535) resonance.

Effectiveness of a nonselective ET(A/B) and a selective ET(A) antagonist in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Both nonselective ET(A/B) receptor and selective ET(A) receptor antagonists can reduce pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in various animal models. Depending on their net effects after blockade of endothelial and smooth muscle ET(B) receptors, nonselective ET(A/B) antagonists could be more or less effective than selective ET(A) antagonists.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two weeks after injection of saline or 60 mg/kg monocrotaline (MCT), rats received 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of a selective (LU135252) or nonselective (BSF420627) antagonist for 3 weeks. This resulted in 4 groups: control (n=15), MCT (n=60), MCT+ET(A) (n=39), and MCT+ET(A/B) (n=40). Five-week survival was 35% in the MCT group; this was increased to 56% in the MCT+ET(A) group (P:=0.10) and to 67% in the MCT+ET(A/B) group (P:=0.0015). Drug administration was stopped 48 hours before hemodynamic measurements to evaluate the chronic effects of therapy: PH in the MCT group (RV systolic pressure 87+/-1 mm Hg) was improved similarly in both MCT+ET(A) and MCT+ET(A/B) groups (72+/-3 and 70+/-3 mm Hg, respectively, P:<0.05). Severe RVH in the MCT group (RV/left ventricle+septum weight ratio 73+/-1%) was not affected by the selective antagonist (70+/-2%) but was reduced to 54+/-2% in the MCT+ET(A/B) group (P:<0.01). Pulmonary resistive properties, assessed from isolated lung pressure-flow relationships, were improved similarly in survivors from both treated groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the nonselective ET(A/B) antagonist BSF420627 and the selective ET(A) antagonist LU135252 are effective in this model of PH. Similar direct comparative studies in other models of PH and with various dosage regimens are warranted to define the optimal pharmacological approach of PH when ET receptor antagonists are used.

Semantic priming without association: a meta-analytic review

A meta-analysis of 26 studies indicated that automatic semantic priming can occur without association. Priming did not vary substantially with differences in variables that affect automatic versus strategic processing, such as time spent processing the prime and target, relationship proportion, and task (except that average effects were smaller in the naming task). Although category coordinates were investigated in the majority of studies, synonyms, antonyms, and script relations also demonstrated priming; functional relations showed greater priming, and essential and perceptual relations showed less. The average effect size for semantic priming was smaller than that for associative priming, suggesting that there is an "associative boost" from adding an associative relationship to a semantic one. The implications of these findings for the modularity thesis and for models of semantic priming are discussed.

Sequence analysis of two cosmids from Schizosaccharomyces pombe chromosome III

We report the complete sequence of two cosmids, SPCC895 (38457 bp insert, EMBL Accession No. AL035247) and SPCC1322 (42068 bp insert, EMBL Accession No. AL035259), localized on chromosome III of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome. Fourteen Coding DNA sequences (CDSs) were identified in SPCC895 and 17 in SPCC1322. Two known genes were found in each cosmid: map2 and gms1 on SPCC895, encoding the mating type P-factor precursor and an UDP-galactose transporter, respectively, and bub1 and ade6 in SPCC1322, encoding a protein kinase and a phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase, respectively. The fission yeast K RNA gene has been localized to SPCC895. Three ribosomal proteins have been predicted among these two cosmids. Nine CDSs similar to known proteins were found on SPCC895, and seven on SPCC1322. They include putative genes for an uridylate kinase, a proteasome catalytic component, an ion transporter, a checkpoint protein, a translation initiation protein, a SNARE complex protein, a protein involved in cytoskeletal organization, a spindle pole body-associating protein, pre-mRNA splicing factor RNA helicase, a 3'-5' exonuclease for RNA 3' ss-tail, an UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, a leukotriene A(4) hydrolase, a member of the RanBP7-importin beta-Cse1p superfamily, a Ca(++)-calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase and a prohibitin antiproliferative protein. One CDS is predicted to be an integral membrane protein. One CDS from SPCC895 is similar to a CDS of unknown function from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and three from SPCC1322 are similar to CDSs of unknown function from Candida albicans, S. cerevisiae and Sz. pombe, respectively. Finally, one CDS of SPCC895 and three of SPCC1322 correspond to orphan genes.

Reduction of severe gingival overgrowth in a kidney transplant patient by replacing cyclosporin A with tacrolimus

Side effects of certain drugs such as cyclosporin A (CsA) and phenytoin may induce gingival overgrowth which in some instances become unacceptable to the patient because esthetic, functional, and other effects. Use of these drugs is related to important medical situations, such as organ transplantation and control and withdrawal of the drugs is contraindicated. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant used to prevent graft rejection in organ transplant patients and has been shown to cause fewer oral side effects than CsA. This report deals with a case of probable synergism between the use of CsA and phenytoin which caused an intense gingival overgrowth in a kidney transplant patient. A treatment protocol including very thorough oral hygiene, scaling and root planing, clorhexidine digluconate rinses (0.12%), and substituting CsA with tacrolimus is described. Response to treatment after 6 months of tacrolimus use was excellent with almost complete reversion of the gingival enlargement. One-year follow-up demonstrated a stable gingival situation. The successful substitution of CsA with tacrolimus provides great expectations for the management of CsA-related gingival enlargement.

Fibre-type distribution and subcellular localisation of alpha and beta enolase in mouse striated muscle

Enolase is a dimeric glycolytic enzyme exhibiting tissue specific isoforms. During ontogenesis, a transition occurs from the embryonic alphaalpha towards the specific alphabeta, and betabeta isoforms in striated muscle. Immunocytochemical analyses on transverse sections of adult mouse gastrocnemius muscle, allowed us to compare the expression of alpha and beta subunits to that of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. Levels of beta immunoreactivity followed the order IIB > IIX > IIA > I. This gradient parallels the ATPase activity associated to MHC isoforms, indicating that the expression of beta enolase in myofibres is finely regulated as a function of energetic requirements. By contrast, variations in alpha immunolabelling intensity appeared independent of fibre types. Longitudinal muscle sections exhibited a striated pattern of alpha immunoreactivity. Confocal microscopy analyses demonstrated that alpha was localised at the M band. Most beta immunoreactivity was diffuse all over the sarcoplasm. However, some beta immunoreactivity was striated and localized at both Z and M bands. Thus, betabeta enolase could participate to multi-enzyme complexes present at the I band, and involved with local ATP production. Our results support the notion that isozymes differ in their ability to interact with other macromolecules, thus segregating to different subcellular sites where they would respond to specific functional demands.

Protective effect of allopurinol in the renal ischemia--reperfusion in uninephrectomized rats

The effect of allopurinol (an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase) on oxidative stress, renal dysfunction, and histologic alterations was evaluated during the renal ischemia--reperfusion in uninephrectomized rats. Renal malondialdehyde and serum creatinine levels significantly increased after renal ischemia--reperfusion. However, the pretreatment with allopurinol demonstrated a protector effect in these parameters. Renal ischemia--reperfusion provoked a significant renal damage in the operated group. Tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were attenuated by allopurinol when given prior to the surgery. In our study, allopurinol had a strong tendency to exert a beneficial effect during renal ischemia--reperfusion in uninephrectomized rats.

[Headaches, otalgia and peripheral facial palsy as a form of presentation of neurosyphilis]

INTRODUCTION

Decrease in incidence of neurosyphilis over the last few decades implies that clinicians consider less frequently this diagnosis. On the other hand, some reports suggest an increase in atypical forms of this disease that represent an additional reason for missing this diagnosis.

CLINICAL CASE

We report on a 16 year-old immunocompetent black female from Guinea-Bissau presented with headaches, ear pain, hearing loss and peripheral facial paralysis. A cranial CT scan showed a hypodense area in the left cortico-subcortical zone and a contrast enhancement on the left pontocerebellar angle and internal auditory meatus. On the third day of admission a diagnosis of meningitis was made, with high titles of VDRL and TPHA in CSF and serum, leading to a diagnosis of neurosyphilis. The epidemiological aspects of this case suggest either a late congenital syphilis or an infection as a result of a blood transfusion administered seven years earlier in Guinea-Bissau.

CONCLUSION

This rare form of presentation of neurosyphilis emphasizes the importance of considering systematically this diagnosis, even in the context of atypical presentations.

Contrasting effects of HSP72 expression on apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and an angiogenic cell line, ECV304

The effect of overexpression of heat shock protein (HSP)72 on apoptosis induced by different stimuli in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the angiogenic cell line, ECV304, was studied. Transient overexpression of HSP72 was achieved using an adenoviral vector (Advhsp72) and apoptosis was induced by heat shock, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha with cycloheximide (CHX), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with TNF-alpha and verocytotoxin (VT). Apoptosis induced by heat shock was reduced by HSP72 expression. However, HSP72 expression in HUVECs increased apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha/CHX, LPS and VT measured by flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide (PI)-stained permeabilized cells. In contrast, apoptosis in ECV304 induced by the same stimuli was reduced by HSP72 expression. No difference was seen in cells transduced with a control adenoviral vector expressing beta-galactosidase. These data imply that induction of HSP72 in cells modulates responses to apoptotic stimuli, but that the nature of the response varies with the cell type. However, it is clear that in situations where apoptosis may be part of a pathological process, HSP72 induction, for example by reperfusion injury, may exacerbate the process.

Limitations in the use of median frequency for lung sound analysis

The aim of this paper is to investigate methods of standardizing lung sound analysis, with a view to supplementing traditional spirometric air flow measurements to help in the diagnosis of asthma and to provide a measure of the effectiveness of treatment. Lung sounds were measured in nine patients with asthma and five control subjects, alongside air flow measurements of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). The patients were administered the bronchodilator, salbutamol, to assess how effective these measurement techniques were for quantifying its effect. The results agree with previous studies, that analysis of lung sounds is a potentially useful tool for indicating air flow changes. The results, however, also demonstrate that the emerging standard of 'F50' or 'median frequency' should be treated with great caution because of its high sensitivity to the measurement frequency range. F50 is very unlikely to provide a reliable single indicator of lung condition.

Role of ET(A) receptors in the regulation of vascular reactivity in rats with congestive heart failure

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET)-1 interact to regulate vascular tone. In congestive heart failure (CHF), the release and/or the activity of both factors is affected. We hypothesized that the increased ET-1 production associated with CHF may result in a reduced smooth muscle sensitivity to NO. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a chronic treatment with the ET(A)-receptor (ET receptor A) antagonist LU-135252 (LU) on cerebrovascular reactivity to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the rat infarct model of CHF. Rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation and were treated for 4 wk with placebo (n = 24) or LU (50 mg. kg(-1). day(-1), n = 29). CHF was associated with a decreased (P < 0.05) efficacy of SNP to induce relaxation of isolated middle cerebral arteries. Furthermore, neither NO synthase inhibition with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) nor endothelial denudation affected the efficacy of SNP. Thus the endothelium no longer influences smooth muscle sensitivity to SNP. LU treatment, however, normalized (P < 0.05) smooth muscle sensitivity to SNP. Sensitivity of ET-1-induced contraction was increased in CHF only in the presence of L-NNA, whereas contraction induced by ET(B) receptor (receptor B) stimulation was increased (P < 0.05) in endothelium-denuded vessels. LU treatment restored these changes in reactivity and revealed a significant endothelium-dependent ET(B)-mediated relaxation after NO synthase inhibition. In conclusion, CHF decreases and uncouples cerebrovascular smooth muscle sensitivity to SNP from endothelial regulation. The observation that chronic ET(A) blockade restored most of the changes associated with CHF suggests that activation of the ET-1 system importantly contributes to the alteration in vascular reactivity observed in experimental CHF.

Induction by interleukin 6 of G(s)-coupled prostaglandin E(2) receptors in rat hepatocytes mediating a prostaglandin E(2)-dependent inhibition of the hepatocyte's acute phase response

Prostanoids, that are released from nonparenchymal liver cells in response to proinflammatory stimuli, are involved in the regulation of hepatic functions during inflammation. They exert their effects on their target cells via heptahelical receptors in the plasma membrane. For the 5 prostanoids prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), prostaglandin F(2alpha), prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)), prostacyclin, and thromboxane A(2) there exist 8 receptors that are coupled to different heterotrimeric G proteins. These receptors are expressed differentially in the 4 principal liver cell types, i.e., hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and hepatic stellate cells. It was intriguing, that the messenger RNA (mRNA) of none of the G(s)-coupled prostanoid receptors (DP-R, EP2-R, EP4-R, and IP-R) that can attenuate the inflammatory reaction were present in hepatocytes. The current study shows that the expression of the G(s)-coupled prostanoid receptors EP2-R, EP4-R, and DP-R, but not the IP-R, was efficiently and rapidly up-regulated by treatment of hepatocytes in vitro or rats in vivo with the key acute phase cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6). In IL-6-treated hepatocytes PGE(2) in turn attenuated the IL-6-induced alpha(2)-macroglobulin formation via a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent signal chain. The data indicate that an IL-6-mediated induction of the previously not expressed EP2-R and EP4-R on hepatocytes might establish a prostanoid-mediated feedback inhibition loop for the attenuation of the acute phase response.

Serum endothelial adhesion molecules levels correlate with lesion burden in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta-1b

The levels of serum-soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1, and the Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MRI were studied in a group of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with interferon beta-1b and compared to a non-treated control group. The levels of serum-soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 increased, after three months treatment, as compared to baseline and the non-treated MS patients. A significant correlation was found in the treated group between serum-soluble endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 and the lesion area in the Gadolinium-enhancing (T2 weighted scan) MRI.