Effect of SLE on IL-12 level as compared with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases

IL-12 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by different antigen presenting cells. It has been shown to exert a critical role in inducing Th1 phenotype, thus initiating cell-mediated immune responses, but the significance of IL- 12 in rheumatic diseases is not clear. To determine IL-12 serum levels in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and to analyze the relationship of this cytokine with main clinical and laboratory parameters. We analyzed, by ELISA, serum IL-12 levels in 109 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [SLE], 42 with Sjogren Syndrome [SS], 27 with Systemic Sclerosis [Scl], 79 with Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA], 40 with Psoriatic Arthritis [PA] and 20 healthy controls. We also examined main clinical and laboratory parameters, including autoantibody profile and clinical indices of disease activity. IL-12 serum levels were significantly higher in SLE and SS patients in respect to controls. IL-12 serum levels were significantly higher in SLE patients as compared to those suffering from RA, PsA and Scl. When we evaluated disease activity in SLE patients, we found significantly higher IL-12 serum levels in subjects without renal involvement, while no correlation was found in the other rheumatic autoimmune diseases. These findings suggest that IL-12, modulating cell and humoral immune responses, are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as SLE and SS

Evaluation of pressure ulcer development in patients with spinal cord injury: a retospective study

Pressure ulcers [PU] is a major public health problem by its impact on different areas, such as the quality of patients' life and consumption of resources for the health system, even able to reach legal consequences in many situations which sometimes can be avoidable problem. It is common for their appearance in spinal cord injuries, which, by their special features, the most frequently affected than other neurological disease. Spinal cord injury rehabilitation is very complex, due to multiple complications that usually present, such as PU which in turn extend the period of their rehabilitation integral. This stud]' reviewed clinical records of 194 patients with spinal cord injury, registered the kind of spinal cord injury, and the level of neurological condition according to the scale of American Spinal injury Association [ASIA], a region topography, time of evolution, presence of pressure ulcers, as well as socio-demographic variables. A relative frequency of 57.73% of studied patients having a history with a pressure ulcer was identified. The correlation between the type of lesion, the level of neurological damage and the presence of pressure ulcers, was statistically significant. Pressure ulcers are the most common chronic complication that occurs in patients with spinal cord injury, being observed for up to 57% of these patients