Changes in expression of proteasome in rats at different stages of atherosclerosis / 대한해부학회지

It has been suggested that proteasome system has a role in initiation, progression, and complication stages of atherosclerosis. Although there is still controversy, there has been no research that compares the expression of proteasome in tissue and serum at each of these stages. This study aimed to investigated the expression of proteasome at different stages of atherosclerosis using rat model. We measured the expression of aortic proteasome by immunohistochemical analyses and were then analyzed using ImageJ software for percentage of area and integrated density. We used Photoshop version 3.0 to analyze aortic proteasome expression as a comparison. We measured serum proteasome expression by enzyme linked immunosorbents assays. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare mean value of percentage of area and serum proteasome. Analysis of variance test was used to compare mean value of integrated density. Correlation test between vascular proteasome expression and serum proteasome expression was made using Spearman test. A P-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Compared with normal, percentage of area was higher in initiation, progression, and complication. Compared with normal, integrated density was higher in initiation and further higher in progression and complication. Data from Image J is similar with data from Photoshop. Serum proteasome expression was higher in initiation compared with normal, and further higher in progression and complication. It was concluded that there were different vascular proteasome expression and serum proteasome expression at the stages of atherosclerosis. These results may be used in research into new marker and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.

Infertilidad e infección por Chlamydia trachomatis en mujeres sexualmente activas del estado Carabobo, Venezuela / Infertility and infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in sexually active women from Carabobo state, Venezuela

Introducción: Chlamydia trachomatis es una bacteria intracelular obligada cuyo único hospedador es el hombre, capaz de producir la afección llamada clamidiosis, infección que puede ser aguda o crónica, que causa con gran frecuencia en mujeres infertilidad. La situación, puede ser grave para Venezuela donde la información epidemiológica es escasa y limitada a un pequeño número de estudios y a datos oficiales incompletos. Esta investigación pretendió determinar en mujeres sexualmente activas con infertilidad infección por C. trachomatis como posible causa. Materiales y métodos: fue un estudio descriptivo en 198 mujeres de distintas comunidades del estado Carabobo, Venezuela con infertilidad primaria o secundaria. Se recogieron datos de identificación y de antecedentes obstétricos y a través del método inmunoenzimático indirecto se determinaron anticuerpos IgM e IgG anti C. trachomatis. Resultados: la edad promedio fue de 34,3±5,9 años, 38,4% resultaron con infección, de estas 72,3% estaban en el período fértil de su vida reproductiva y eran positivas para ambas Ig. De estas 43,7% lograron embarazo, pero 35,4% terminaron en aborto y 5,2 en embarazo ectópico. Discusión: existe alta prevalencia y asociación entre infección por C. trachomatis e infertilidad en mujeres del estado Carabobo, Venezuela, como consecuencia directa del carácter mayoritariamente asintomático de la infección clamidial y de su evolución hacia la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica condición determinante de infertilidad femenina primaria, de abortos y embarazos ectópicos, tratables en estas mujeres pues la mayoría estaba en la fase activa de la infección y en pleno período fértil.

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium whose only host is human, capable of producing the condition called chlamydiosis, infection can be acute or chronic, very often causes infertility in women. The situation may be serious for Venezuela where epidemiological information is scarce and limited to a small number of studies and official data incomplete. Materials and Method: this research sought to determine in sexually active women with infertility caused by C. trachomatis as a possible cause. It was a descriptive study of 198 women from different communities in the state of Carabobo, Venezuela with primary or secondary infertility. Identification data were collected and obstetric history and through indirect immunosorbent assay were determined IgM and IgGanti C. trachomatis. Results: the average age was 34.3 ± 5.9 years, 38.4% were infected, of these 72.3% were in the fertile period of their reproductive lives and were positive for both Ig. Of these 43.7% achieved pregnancy but 35.4% ended in abortion and 5.2 in ectopic pregnancy. Discussion: there is high prevalence and association between infection for C. trachomatis and infertility in women of the Carabobo, Venezuela state, as direct consequence of the majority asymptomatic character of the chlamidial infection and of your evolution towards the inflammatory pelvic illness determining condition of feminine primary infertility, of abortions and ectopic pregnancies, friendly in these women because the full age were in the active phase of the infection and in the middle of fertile period.

Expression characteristics of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A antibodies and immunoadsorption effect in sensitized recipients of kidney transplantation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Sensitized recipients have a high risk of immunological graft loss due to hyperacute rejection and/or accelerated acute rejection. The presence of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) antibodies has also been described associated with an increased rate of kidney-allograft rejection. The aim of this study was to describe the expression of MICA antibodies in sensitized recipients of renal transplantation and evaluate its influence on the kidney transplantation recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 29 sensitized recipients were included in this study. All patients received the MICA antibodies detection before and after protein A immunoadsorption. Panel reactive antibody (PRA), HLA-matches, acute rejection and postoperative one to four-week serum creatinine level were also collected and analyzed, respectively. No prisoners were used in this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight patients (27.6%) in all 29 sensitized recipients expressed the MICA antibodies but did not show higher acute rejection rate than the non-expressed patients (3/8, 37.5% vs. 8/21, 38.1%; P = 1.000). Recipients with PRA > 40% showed higher expression levels of MICA antibodies than the recipients with PRA < 40% (7/16, 43.8% vs. 1/13, 8.3%; P = 0.044). HLA mismatch did not have any effect on the expression of MICA antibodies (P = 1.000). MICA antibodies positive group had higher serum creatinine level than the control in postoperative one week ((135.4 ± 21.4) µmol/L vs. (108.6 ± 31.6) µmol/L, P = 0.036), but no significant difference in postoperative four weeks ((89.0 ± 17.1) µmol/L vs. (77.1 ± 15.9) µmol/L, P = 0.089). MICA antibodies decreased significantly after protein A immunoadsorption.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MICA antibodies increase in the sensitized recipients, which have significant effects on the function of allograft in early postoperative period. Protein A immunoadsorption can decrease MICA antibodies effectively in sensitized recipients.</p>

Protein A immunoadsorption therapy in the highly sensitized kidney transplant candidates / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Sensitization in transplant candidates increases risk of irreversible immunologic injury of graft in the early period postoperatively. Elimination of anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies using protein A immunoadsorption (IA) might benefit these patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Protein A IA was used in 21 patients with high panel reactive antibody (PRA). The patients had IA 1 - 6 times (median 5 times) with the interval period was 2 - 5 days (median 2.5 days).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total 67 IA procedures were carried out smoothly in all patients. IA treatment reduced PRA I (pre (31.4 ± 3.8)% vs. post (24.4 ± 3.4)%, P < 0.01) and II (pre (37.1 ± 4.3)% vs. post (34.1 ± 3.9)%, P < 0.01). However, PRA did not change in some patients after the treatment. The serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM and IgA) and complement C3, C4 level were decreased significantly. Hemoglobin and albumin levels were slightly decreased associated with IA procedures. Flu-like symptoms were observed in a few of cases during the procedure but generally mild and transient.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Protein A IA is capable to efficiently remove serum immunoglobulin and complement, reduce HLA class I and class II PRA in high sensitized transplant candidates, which is likely to benefit the kidney transplantation in these patients.</p>

Diferencias en la activación del factor de crecimiento transormante beta-1 (TGF-b1) por el ácido y el calor

El factor de crecimiento transformante beta-1 (TGF-alfa1) es una citoquina con diversas funciones en procesos inflamatorios y el sistema inmune. Un método comercial comúnmente usado para la determinación de TGF-alfa1 es el ensayo de inmunoadsorción enzimática (ELISA), que detecta directamente la forma activa, o la forma inactiva (latente), después de activarla por acidificación o por tratamiento con urea. Este método constituye la mejor opción debido a su simplicidad, especificidad y sensibilidad, sin embargo, existen algunas discrepancias en la literatura científica relacionadas con los factores que activan el TGF-alfa1 latente in vitro e in vivo. Por este motivo decidimos comparar los efectos del calor y de la acidificación en la activación del complejo inactivo. Los resultados muestran que aunque ambos tratamientos activan el TGF-alfa1 latente, la activación térmica es más eficiente que la acidificación. Estos resultados sugieren que los datos publicados reportando valores absolutos de TGF-alfa1, basados sólo en ELISA, se deben interpretar cautelosamente. Asimismo, para la detección de TGF-alfa1 por este método es recomendable usar como control positivo tanto la activación térmica, como la acidificación.

Toxocariosis humana: seroprevalencia en población de Lima mediante técnica de ELISA / Human toxocariosis: seroprevalence in Lima inhabitants by ELISA technique

OBJETIVO: Estimar la seroprevalencia de toxocariosis humana en población de la ciudad de Lima. Diseño: estudio transversal, la selección fue no aleatoria. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: En pobladores de la ciudad de Lima que pertenecían a comunidades urbano marginales, se realizó entrevista y examen clínico, y se obtuvo una muestra de suero para procesar la técnica de ELISA para detectar anticuerpos contra Toxocara. También, se solicitó muestras de heces para buscar parásitos intestinales que pudieran originar reacciones cruzadas en la serología. RESULTADOS: Se examinó 553 personas, siendo 23,3 por ciento de ellos reactivos. No hubo diferencias en cuanto a sexo ni entre el resultado de ELISA y la presencia de anemia, leucocitosis, eosinofilia y parásitos intestinales. Los mayores de 15 años tuvieron doble probabilidad de resultar reactivos que los menores de 15 años. Disminución de la agudeza visual fue el síntoma más frecuente en los sujetos reactivos. Los parásitos intestinales más frecuentes fueron Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba coli, Giardia lamblia. CONCLUSIONES: La toxocariosis humana es frecuente en la población de Lima. No se observa asociación estadística entre el hallazgo de anemia y alteraciones de la fórmula leucocitaria con el resultado de ELISA. Es necesario desarrollar programas de difusión para detectar precozmente la infección y así prevenirla.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-M.tuberculosis antigens for diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis

IgG antibodies to M.tuberculosis antigens were measured by ELISA directly in 51 pairs of sera and pericardial fluids taken from 51 patients with pericarditis at the time of diagnosis. Patients with pericarditis due to tuberculosis have significantly higher level of IgG antibodies in both sera and pericardial fluid than that of the patients with pericarditis due to the other causes and than that of normal, healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 84.2% and 88.5%, respectively. The positive and negative accordance of it was 80 and 90.3%

Little role of anti-gB antibodies in neutralizing activity of patient's sera with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gB is known to play important roles in cell surface attachment, virion penetration, spread of infection from cell to cell, and provocation of neutralizing antibody. This study was performed to determine the role of anti-HCMV gB antibody in overall neutralizing response in patients with HCMV infection and healthy control with past infection. HCMV gB was stably expressed in 293 cells. With the stable cell line expressing gB as a specific immunosorbent, anti-gB antibody was removed from the current and past HCMV-infected sera and the remaining neutralizing activity was measured by plaque assay. It was shown that 19-50% of the total virus-neutralizing activity of sera with past HCMV infections was derived from anti-gB antibody, but anti-gB antibody had little effect on the total serum virus-neutralizing activity in patients currently infected with HCMV. This result suggests that neutralizing antibody to HCMV gB may reflect disease status.