ABSTRACT
A novel chemiluminescent method was developed to evaluate ROS generation by platelets. This method allows measuring activities of NADPH oxidase (NOX2) and enzymes synthesizing secondary ROS (superoxide dismutase, catalase, etc.) in resting and ADP-activated platelets (inductor of platelet aggregation and ROS generation) using a small number of cells. The method was tested in the examination of patients with coronary heart disease. It was found that platelets from patients with coronary heart disease were characterized by NOX2 activation, while cell metabolism is tuned for a long-term intensive production of superoxide anion radical. The enzymes synthesizing secondary ROS were also activated, but cell metabolism could not maintain their enhanced activity for a long time.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/metabolism , Catalase/metabolism , Coronary Disease/metabolism , NADPH Oxidase 2/metabolism , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Superoxides/metabolism , Acridines/chemistry , Adenosine Diphosphate/metabolism , Adenosine Diphosphate/pharmacology , Biological Assay , Blood Platelets/drug effects , Case-Control Studies , Coronary Disease/pathology , Gene Expression , Humans , Luminescent Measurements/methods , Luminol/chemistry , Oxidation-Reduction , Platelet Aggregation/drug effectsABSTRACT
AIM: To estimate the value of the dosing Valsalva-Weber test (VWT) in the diagnosis of autonomic disorders in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The dosing VWT using a specialized Task Force Monitor unit ("CNSystem", Austria) with synchronous noninvasive ECG and blood pressure (BP) monitoring was carried out in 30 patients (mean age 32 ± 14 years) with VVS and 12 healthy individuals (31 ± 7 years). The analysis of the test results encompassed the visual assessment of BP change curves and heart rate in different test phases and the calculation of pressure indices, Valsalva coefficient, arterial baroreflex sensitivity, and other parameters (a total of 26). RESULTS: The abnormally changed form of the mean BP curve, which was characterized by that BP by the end of Phase II test failed to achieve the baseline level, was recorded in 10 (33%) patients with VVS and in none of the healthy individuals (p = 0.04). An individual analysis of the gender- and age-adjusted Valsalva coefficient revealed its reduction in 9 (30%) patients while this indicator was within the normal range in all the healthy individuals (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: During the dosing VWT, the signs of sympathetic insufficiency (impaired adrenergic regulation of BP) are found in 33% of the patients with VVS and those of parasympathetic insufficiency (impaired vagus regulation of cardiochronotropic function) are in 30%.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases , Syncope, Vasovagal , Valsalva Maneuver , Adult , Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/complications , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Baroreflex/physiology , Blood Pressure/physiology , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Physical Examination/methods , Syncope, Vasovagal/etiology , Syncope, Vasovagal/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Molecular factors of pathogenesis of the eosinophilic blood reaction under pulmonary tuberculosis are analyzed in the article. It has been established that the key cytokine providing the development of hemic eosinophilia in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is IL-5. IL-5 plasma concentration turned out to be increased only in patients with eosinophilia. Increase of eotaxin was determined in patients with tuberculosis despite of the presense of eosinophilia. One-directional nature of the defined changes in eotaxin concentration might be explained by dual properties of this chemokine: on the one hand, eotaxin mediates long-term presence of eosinophils in blood; on the other hand, it initiates the process of adhesion of eosinophilic leucocytes to vascular endothelium with their further migration to the focus of granulomatous inflammation. The established increase in number of IL-5R-positive eosinophils presents one more mechanism which explains the basis of long-term presence of eosinophils in peripheral blood in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
