ABSTRACT
The aim of the study is to investigate the incidence and clinical significance of Anti-CCP antibodies in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis [JIA] patients assessing its utility as a serological marker and its relationship with disease subtype and erosive form of the disease. This study comprised twenty-five [17 girls, 8 boys] patients with JIA attending the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department in Kasr El-Aini hospitals as well as New children Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Ten healthy volunteers served as controls. RF positivity was observed only in 9 children with JIA and 7 patients had persistent erosive lesions in their joints. Anti-CCP antibody levels were determined by ELISA and values above 5 relative units [RU] were regarded as positive. Anti-CCP antibodies were found in 10/25 [40%] patients including 8/9 RF positive polyarthritis [88.9% of this subset], 1/2 RF negative polyarthritis, 1/8 pauciarticular arthritis and 0/6 systemic arthritis [p value
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Citrulline , Antibodies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Rheumatoid Factor , Disease Progression , PrognosisABSTRACT
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] is a frequent and severe complication in cirrhotic patients with ascites that usually results in renal failure and death despite the efficacy of the current antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was determine serum and ascitic fluid of soluble-L selectin [s-L Selectin], intracellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in cirrhotic patients, and to search for a relationship between them and SBP. This study was performed on 30 cirrhotic patients with SBP. Their ages ranged [from 38-55 years] with mean of [32 +/- 5.5], 30 cirrhotic patients with non-infected ascites; their ages ranged [from 30-52 years] with mean of [35 +/- 6.5]. This group considered as cirrhotic control group and 20 healthy control subjects their ages ranged [from 28-55 years] with mean of [30 +/- 7.5]. Serum and ascitic fluid of adhesion molecules as well as VEGF levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients with SBP as well as cirrhotic patients with non-infected ascites as compared to healthy control group. There were significant increase in serum and ascitic fluid level of leukocyte, PMN and ICAM-1 in SBP as compared to cirrhotic with non-infected ascites. There was non-significant decrease in serum and AF level of VEGF in cirrhotic control group as compared to SBP group. The ascitic fluid PMN and s-L Selectin were higher in culture positive SBP patients particularly in those with gram positive isolates, where these are non-significant increase in serum and ascitic fluid level of VEGF in culture positive SBP than culture negative cases. Positive correlation was found between serum and ascitic fluid level of ICAM-1 in SBP and non-infected cirrhotic group. Also, positive correlation was found between VEGF levels in serum ascetic fluid levels in both cirrhotic groups [SBP and non-infected cirrhotic group]. These data suggest that: Significant elevated level of VEGF in both SBP and non infected cirrhotic patient may have pathophsiological consequences of local regulation of vascular tone and endothelial permeability, significant elevated level of adhesion molecules in both SBP and non-infected cirrhotic patients are due to inflammatory response and endothelial cell activation. Serum and ascetic fluid of ICAM-1 can be used as useful marker for diagnosis of SBP and for monitoring the treatment of cirrhotic patients
ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is a systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. The rheumatoid synovium is characterized by infiltration of T cells, macrophage, B cells, and proliferating fibroblasts which aggressively invade cartilage and bone, thus destroying joints' ability to function. In rheumatoid arthritis [RA] both an imbalance between excessive production of the proinflamatory and ant-inflammatory cytokines and skewing of the T cell to a T helper like response. Cytokines have been shown to play a modulatory role in the pathogenesis of RA. The imunoregulatory cytokine IL-10 increases autoantibody production by B cell stimulates its survival, proliferation and differentiation. Moreover IL-10 inhibits the generation of proinflamatory cytokines and proliferation of T helper lymphocyte. Interleukin 16 might play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation in RA. It has a proinflamatory properties by promoting recruitment of T cells into the rheumatoid synovium. Also IFN-gamma is of interest because of the role it plays in the initiation and perpetuation of T helper cell. Serum level of IL-10, IL-16, and IFN-gamma were determined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in relation to disease activity. All patients with RA [n=30] showed highly significant increase in ESR, CRP, IL-10, IL16, IFNgamma compared to control group [p<0.01]. Positive correlation were found between IL-10 and each IL-16 and IFN-gamma [p<0.001] [r=0.63, 0.55] respectively, and highly significant correlation between IL-16 and IFNgamma [p<0.001] [r=0.89]were determined. Results showed positive correlation between ESR and each IL-10, IL-16, IFNgamma [p<0.001] [r=0.67, 0.87, 0.75] respectively. And highly significant correlation between CRP and each IL10, IL-16, IFNgamma [p<0.001] [r=0.0.71, 0.83, 0.73] which indicate relation between increase level of cytokine with disease activity. These data suggest that there is increased production of IL-10, IL-16, and IFN-gamma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and that it is correlated with the disease activity. These cytokines are interesting for further research and novel therapeutic approach in this inflammatory disease