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Introduction: Inflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Investigating the correlation between levels of serum inflammatory cytokines (SICs) and the severity of CSU is of great significance for understanding the disease mechanism and finding effective treatment strategies. Aim: In this context, this work was developed. Material and methods: This work involved a researchy group (Res group) of 114 patients with CSU and a control group (Ctrl group) of 100 healthy individuals. SICs including leukotriene B4 (LTB4), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), interleukin (IL) 4 (IL-4), IL-17, IL-31, and tumor necrosis factor-γ (TNF-γ), of patients in different groups were measured and compared. Furthermore, the correlations between each SIC and pruritus severity, duration of pruritus, urticaria activity, and quality of life (QOL) were compared among the patients in different groups. Results: The Res group exhibited higher levels of LTB4, LTC4, IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 but lower levels of TNF-γ. Great differences (p < 0.05) were found in IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 among the patients with different pruritus severity, and positive correlations were observed between IL-17 and IL-31 levels and urticaria activity in the patients (p < 0.05). Additionally, levels of IL-4 and IL-31 exhibited a positive association to QOL scores in the patients, with obvious differences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: IL-4, IL-17, and IL-31 showed the strongest correlation with the severity of CSU, which may be attributed to their involvement in immune, inflammatory, and pruritic reactions, exacerbating the disease condition.
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Objective: To investigate the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and the correlations with Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical symptoms. Methods: Serum levels of the cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, were measured in 273 PD patients and 91 healthy controls (HCs). The clinical manifestations of PD were assessed with nine different scales to evaluate the cognitive function, non-motor symptoms, motor symptoms, and disease severity. The differences in these inflammatory indicators were examined between PD patients and HCs, and the correlations of these inflammatory indicators with clinical variables were analyzed in PD patients. Results: Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in PD patients were higher than those in HCs, but serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) level was not significantly different from that in HCs. In PD patients, serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with age of onset, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Non-Motor Symptom Scale (NMSS), UPDRS part I, part II, and part III, but it was inversely correlated with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Serum TNF-α level was positively correlated with age of onset and H&Y stage in PD patients (p = .037), but negatively correlated with FAB scores in PD patients (p = .010). However, no associations were found between all the clinical variables and the serum IL-8 level. The forward binary logistic regression model revealed that serum IL-6 level was associated with MoCA (p = .023) and UPDRS I scores (p = .023), but no associations was found with the remaining factors. The ROC curve of TNF-α for the diagnosis of PD showed the area under the curve (AUC) was .719 (p < .05, 95% CI: .655-.784), and the critical value of TNF-α was 5.380 pg/ml, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 76.0% and a specificity of 59.3%. Conclusion: Our results suggest increased serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in PD, we further found that IL-6 level was associated with non-motor symptoms and cognitive dysfunction, and IL-6 may play a role in the pathophysiology of non-motor symptoms in PD. At the same time, we also propose that TNF-α has a good diagnostic value for PD despite its irrelevance to clinical symptoms.
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This study aimed to investigate sex differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and serum inflammatory cytokines, as well as their correlations in patients with acute-stage mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Forty-one patients with mTBI and 23 matched healthy controls underwent 3D-pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling imaging on 3T magnetic resonance imaging. The patients underwent cognitive evaluations and measurement of a panel of ten serum cytokines: interleukin (IL)-1I, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, interferon-gamma, nerve growth factor-beta (ß-NGF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between inflammation levels and CBF. We found that both male and female patients showed increased IL-1L and IL-6 levels. Female patients also demonstrated overexpression of IL-8 and low expression of IL-4. As for CBF levels, three brain regions [the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG_R), left putamen, and right precuneus] increased in male patients while three brain regions [the right superior temporal gyrus (STG_R), left middle occipital gyrus, and right postcentral (PoCG_R)] decreased in female patients. Furthermore, the STG_R in female controls was positively correlated with ß-NGF while the right PoCG_R in female patients was negatively correlated with IL-8. In addition, compared with male patients, female patients showed decreased CBF in the right pallidum, which was negatively correlated with IL-8. These findings revealed abnormal expression of serum inflammatory cytokines and CBF levels post-mTBI. Females may be more sensitive to inflammatory and CBF changes and thus more likely to get cognitive impairment. This may suggest the need to pay closer attention to the female mTBI group.
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BACKGROUND: The effects of prostaglandin E (PGE) combined with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) on renal function and inflammatory responses in patients with septic acute kidney injury (SAKI) remain unclear. AIM: To investigate the effects of PGE combined with CRRT on urinary augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), urinary Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3), and serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with SAKI. METHODS: The clinical data of 114 patients with SAKI admitted to Yichang Second People's Hospital from May 2017 to January 2019 were collected. Fifty-three cases treated by CRRT alone were included in a control group, while the other 61 cases treated with PGE combined with CRRT were included in an experimental group. Their urinary ALR, urinary NHE3, serum inflammatory cytokines, renal function indices, and immune function indices were detected. Changes in disease recovery and the incidence of adverse reactions were observed. The 28-d survival curve was plotted. RESULTS: Before treatment, urinary ALR, urinary NHE3, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio in the control and experimental groups were approximately the same. After treatment, urinary ALR and NHE3 decreased, while BUN, SCr, CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio increased in all subjects. Urinary ALR, urinary NHE3, BUN, and SCr in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group, while CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-18, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The time for urine volume recovery and intensive care unit treatment in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P < 0.05), although there was no statistically significant difference in hospital stays between the two groups. The total incidence of adverse reactions did not differ statistically between the two groups. The 28-d survival rate in the experimental group (80.33%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (66.04%). CONCLUSION: PGE combined with CRRT is clinically effective for treating SAKI, and the combination therapy can significantly improve renal function and reduce inflammatory responses.
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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of recombinant C-terminal heparin-binding domain of fibronectin (FNCHBD) polypeptide on live-damage protection, inflammation, and mortality in acute liver failure (ALF) mice. 25 mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal controls, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (GalN), 5 mg/kg FNCHBD, 10 mg/kg FNCHBD and 20 mg/kg FNCHBD groups. Blood samples were obtained at 9 h after treatment for measurement of liver indexes and inflammatory cytokine levels, and livers were acquired for H&E and TUNEL staining assays. 90 mice (18 mice in each group) were randomly divided into five groups for mortality assessment after LPS/GalN administration at 48 h. Compared to LPS/GalN group, levels of blood liver indexes including AST, ALT and TBIL were decreased in FNCHBD polypeptide-treated groups. H&E staining disclosed FNCHBD polypeptide protected cell morphology and histomorphology, and necrosis rates in FNCHBD polypeptide-treated groups were lower compared to LPS/GalN group. TUNEL staining assay revealed cell apoptosis was inhibited in FNCHBD polypeptide-treated groups compared to LPS/GalN group. Serum inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were reduced in FNCHBD polypeptide-treated groups compared to LPS/GalN group. As to mortality rate, it was only decreased in 10 mg/kg FNCHBD and 20 mg/kg FNCHBD groups but not in 5 mg/kg FNCHBD compared to LPS/GaIN group. In addition, most effects of FNCHBD presented in a dose-dependent manner. FNCHBD polypeptide protects against liver damage, inhibits elevation of serum inflammatory cytokines, and decreases mortality in ALF.
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Objective To explore the changes in serum inflammatory cytokines,plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and hemorheology in patients with diabetic microangiopathy of different severity.Methods A total of 180 T2DM patients admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to July 2015 were selected and randomized into either the no diabetic retinopathy (NDR) group,background diabetic retinopathy (BDR) group or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group,each including 60 patients.We compared serum hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels,plasma Hcy level,and hemorheological indicators across the three groups.Results Serum hs-CRP,IL-6 and TNF-α levels,plasma Hcy level and hemorheological indicators were all significantly higher in BDR and PDR groups than in NDR group,with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Serum hs-CRP,IL-6 and TNF-αt levels,plasma Hcy level and hemorheological indicators were all significantly higher in PDR group than in BDR group,with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Serum hs-CRP,IL-6 and TNF-α levels,plasma Hcy level and hemorheological indicators would raise constantly with disease progression in diabetic patients,which might be associated with the development and progression of retinopathy.
