Targeting Common Inflammatory Mediators in Experimental Severe Asthma and Acute Lung Injury.

Neutrophils, known to be mobilized and activated in high amounts through Il-17 stimulation, are a key factor for clinical manifestation and imbalance of redox systems favoring a dominant oxidative state in both severe asthma and acute lung injury (f). The aim of this study was to evaluate in mice, the effect of Secukinumab (SECU) in a model of ovalbumin-induced asthma exacerbated with LPS administration to induce ALI, compared to dexamethasone (DEXA), already known for its benefit in both asthma and ALI. Results on cytokine levels for specific Th1, Th2 and Th17 revealed an interplay of immune responses. For Th1 effector cytokines in BALF, DEXA treatment increased TNF-α levels, but TNF-α was not modified by SECU; DEXA and SECU significantly decreased IFN-γ and IL-6 levels. For typical Th2 cytokines, DEXA significantly increased Il-4, Il-5 and Il-13 levels, while SECU significantly inhibited Il-5 levels. Both SECU and DEXA significantly decreased Il-17 levels. Cytokine level changes in lung tissue homogenate were partly similar to BALF cytokines. Conclusion: in addition to DEXA, SECU possesses the ability to modulate inflammatory cytokine release and to decrease Th17 responses in ALI overlapped on exacerbated asthma in mice.

Non-Invasive Prediction Scores for Hepatitis B Virus- and Hepatitis D Virus-Infected Patients-A Cohort from the North-Eastern Part of Romania.

Approximately 62-72 million people are infected worldwide with HDV. Patients with chronic hepatitis D (CHD) have a higher risk of developing cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and an increased mortality rate compared to those with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The stage of liver fibrosis or the risk of developing HCC can also be estimated by non-invasive scores, which are cost effective, easier to apply, and reproducible. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of four non-invasive scores (FIB-4, APRI, AST/ALT ratio, and aMAP) in assessing severe fibrosis/cirrhosis and the presence of HCC in patients with HBV/HDV superinfection, as compared with HBV mono-infection. Our 8-year retrospective analysis revealed that HDV-infected patients had a 2-3 times higher risk of developing cirrhosis and HCC than HBV-mono-infected subjects. High AST and ALT baseline levels qualified as independent predictors for cirrhosis development in both groups. The following fibrosis scores, FIB-4, APRI score, and AAR, were significantly increased when cirrhosis was present at baseline and showed a good prediction for developing cirrhosis in the CHD group. The aMAP score, a risk predictor for HCC, showed significantly higher values in patients with HCC in both groups. Nonetheless, non-invasive scores should always be considered for monitoring patients with CHB and CHD, but only when associated with other diagnosis methods.