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Increased Plasma Levels (increased + plasma_level)
Selected AbstractsIncreased Plasma Levels of Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Febrile SeizuresEPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2002Miia Virta Summary: ,Purpose: Pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines regulate the febrile response during infection. Febrile seizures (FSs) conversely are associated with rapid onset of high fever. Activation of the cytokine network has been shown in previous studies of FSs and cytokines. In this study, the association between cytokines and FSs was further investigated. Methods: Interleukin-1, (IL-1,), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-, plasma levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 55 children with FSs and in 20 age-matched febrile controls immediately on arrival at the hospital. Cerebrospinal fluid cytokine levels also were measured in 16 FS children. Results: The plasma IL-1RA/IL-1, ratio (mean, 2,133 vs. 119; median, 790 vs. 105; p < 0.0001) and plasma IL-6 (mean, 41.7 pg/ml vs. 16.1 pg/ml; median, 19.6 pg/ml vs. 10.5 pg/ml; p = 0.005) were significantly higher in FS patients compared with control children. Logistic regression analysis was used to find the most significant predisposing factors for FSs. In this analysis, the high plasma IL-1RA/IL-1, ratio was the most significant factor connected to FSs (OR, 41.5; 95% CI, 4.9,352.8), but high plasma IL-6 also was significantly associated with FSs (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.4,20.3). Conclusions: Present results support the hypothesis that the cytokine network is activated and could have a role in the pathogenesis of FS. [source] Why is soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 related to cardiovascular mortality?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2002A. Becker Increased plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecules are associated with an increased risk of atherothrombosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for these associations are not known. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) concentration and risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality among individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. In addition, we assessed potential pathophysiological mechanisms by which sICAM-1 may promote mortality. Six hundred and thirty-one subjects taken from a general population of the middle-aged and elderly participated in this prospective cohort study. Baseline data collection was performed from 1989 to 1992; subjects were followed until 1 January 2000. Subjects who died had higher levels of sICAM-1 than those who survived (506(164) vs. 477(162) ng mL,1, respectively). After adjustment for age, gender and glucose tolerance status, subjects with sICAM-1 levels in the upper quartile (,550 ng mL,1) had a relative risk of cardiovascular mortality of 2·05 (95% confidence interval, 1·10,3·81) compared to subjects with sICAM-1 levels in the other quartiles. Further adjustment for classical cardiovascular risk factors or indicators of (sub)clinical atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and renal function did not materially alter this relative risk. A high sICAM-1 level was more frequent in subjects with type 2 diabetes than in subjects with a normal glucose tolerance (33·3 vs. 17·8%). Individuals with a plasma concentration of sICAM-1 higher than 550 ng mL,1 had a cardiovascular mortality risk that was twice that of individuals with a lower concentration. Classical cardiovascular risk factors (sub)clinical atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and inflammation do not explain this excess risk. [source] Tissue factor-dependent blood coagulation is enhanced following delivery irrespective of the mode of deliveryJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 12 2007K. BOER Summary. Background:,The risk of thrombosis is clearly increased in the postpartum period. Mice with a targeted deletion of the transmembrane domain of tissue factor (TF) develop serious activation of blood coagulation and widespread thrombosis after delivery. Objective and methods:,We hypothesized that TF, abundantly present in placental tissue, is released during delivery, resulting in the activation of blood coagulation. We measured sensitive markers for TF-dependent activation of coagulation before and after induction of labor in two groups: a vaginal delivery (VAG) group and a cesarean section (CS) group.Results:,One hour after delivery, soluble TF (sTF) significantly increased in both groups [VAG group (mean ± SD) 226 ± 42 to 380 ± 42 pg mL,1 and CS group 193 ± 17 to 355 ± 44 pg mL,1]. The day after delivery, sTF was somewhat less increased. Both groups also showed an increase in factor VIIa, indicating activation of the TF pathway of coagulation. Indeed, after delivery, TF-dependent coagulation, as measured by the TF clotting time assay, was significantly enhanced. Increased plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 and thrombin,antithrombin complexes demonstrated thrombin generation following delivery. TF pathway-dependent activation of coagulation upon delivery was not blocked by TF pathway inhibitor and was not dependent on the mode of delivery.Conclusion:,The postdelivery increase in TF-dependent activation of coagulation is likely to be a natural mechanism to prevent excessive blood loss during and after delivery, and may also indicate a novel mechanism by which puerperal women have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. [source] Effects of factor XI deficiency on ferric chloride-induced vena cava thrombosis in miceJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 9 2006X. WANG Summary.,Background:,Increased plasma levels of coagulation factor (F) XI are a risk factor for venous thrombosis. Objective:,To further explore the relationship between FXI and venous thrombosis, we evaluated FXI-deficient and wild-type mice in a ferric chloride (FeCl3)-induced vena cava thrombosis model. Methods and Results:,Thrombosis was induced by 3-min topical application of filter papers containing increasing concentrations of FeCl3 and the thrombus was measured at 30 min. In contrast to wild-type mice, FXI-deficient mice failed to form a thrombus with 5% FeCl3, and were partially protected against 7.5% and 10% FeCl3, respectively. The protective effect was substantially stronger than a high dose of heparin (1000 units kg,1, i.v.), clopidogrel (30 mg kg,1, p.o.) or argatroban (30 mg kg,1, i.p.). These antithrombotic agents resulted in off-scale bleeding in a tail bleeding time assay, whereas the bleeding time of FXI-deficient mice was unchanged compared to wild-type mice. In addition to its known effect on the coagulation cascade, enhanced clot lysis was demonstrated in FXI-deficient mouse and human plasma compared to those supplemented with FXIa. Conclusion:,Given the strong antithrombotic efficacy (possibly contributed by strong anticoagulant activity associated with increased fibrinolytic activity) and mild bleeding diathesis associated with FXI deficiency, therapeutic inhibition of FXI may be a reasonable therapeutic strategy to treat or prevent venous thrombosis. [source] Increased plasma levels of natriuretic peptide type B and A in children with congenital heart defects with left compared with right ventricular volume overload or pressure overloadCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 5 2005Daniel Holmgren Summary Aim:, Natriuretic peptide levels B (BNP) and A (ANP) have been described in children with congenital heart defects (CHD) with pressure and volume overload. However, the impact of ventricular morphology per se on natriuretic peptide levels has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma BNP and ANP in children with CHD with left or right ventricular volume or pressure overload. Methods and results:, Plasma BNP and ANP were analysed in 61 children, median age 3·1 (0·3,16·2) years. Haemodynamic load was evaluated by echo-Doppler and/or catheterization measurements and classified as: pressure overload of the right (RV pressure) or left (LV pressure) ventricle, or volume overload of the right (RV volume) or left (LV volume) ventricle, of a sufficient degree to indicate surgery/catheter intervention. Twenty-three children, with a median age of 1·1 (0·1,8·3) years, without heart disease, served as controls for the natriuretic peptide measurements. Children in the LV volume group had significantly higher BNP and ANP values, 55·4 ng l,1 (10·7,352) and 164 (31·8,346), than children in the RV volume, 15·6 (0·0,105·1) and 57·2 (11·3,234·1), LV pressure, 6·8 (0·7,170) and 40·8 (12·6,210), and RV pressure, 18·0 (5·0,29·1) and 69·3 (8·7,182), groups respectively (P<0·0001). The values in the LV pressure group were close to the values in the Control group, 4·7 (0·0,17·7) and 32·9 (11·7,212·1), respectively (P = 0·051 and P = 0·378, respectively). Conclusions:, Plasma concentrations of BNP and ANP were higher in children with CHD with left ventricular volume overload compared with right ventricular volume overload or pressure overload. [source] Interferon-, in healthy subjects: selective modulation of inflammatory mediatorsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2001J. De Metz Background It is suggested that interferon-, (IFN-,), like other cytokines, is a mediator in the host inflammatory response, which could be of importance in the pathophysiology of sepsis. The role of IFN-, in human host inflammatory responses, however, has not been studied. Design In a placebo-controlled trial we studied the acute effects of IFN-, administration on host inflammatory mediators in healthy men: i.e. the cytokine/chemokine cascade system, acute-phase proteins, activation markers of the innate cellular immunity and coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters. Results IFN-, increased plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and IFN-,-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) (P < 0·05), but did not affect plasma levels of other cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-,, IL-12p40/p70). Plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein and secretory phospholipase A2 both increased (P < 0·05). Plasma levels of the leucocyte activation marker elastase-,1,antitrypsin complexes increased after IFN-, administration (P < 0·05), IFN-, increased the percentage of high-affinity Fc,-receptor (Fc,RI) -positive neutrophils (P < 0·05), but did not affect the mean fluorescence intensity of Fc,RI on neutrophils. Procoagulant and profibrinolytic effects of IFN-, were evidenced by increased plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F1 + F2, tissue-plasminogen activator and plasmin-,2,antiplasmin complexes (P < 0·05). Conclusion We conclude that IFN-, selectively affects host inflammatory mediators in humans. [source] Increased plasma MMP9 in integrin ,1-null mice enhances lung metastasis of colon carcinoma cellsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2005Xiwu Chen Abstract Inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were developed as anticancer agents based on the observation that MMPs facilitate local tumor spread and metastasis by promoting matrix degradation and cell migration. Unfortunately, these inhibitors were unsuccessful in the clinical treatment of several cancers, including lung cancer. A possible reason contributing to their failure is that MMP activity is critical for the generation of inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis, including angiostatin. Thus, MMPs might play opposing roles in tumor vascularization and invasion. To determine which effect of elevated MMP levels dominates in the progression of metastatic cancer, experimental lung metastasis assays were performed in integrin ,1-null mice, a genetic model for increased plasma levels of MMP9 and MMP9-generated angiostatin (Pozzi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2000;97:2202,7). We show that while the number of lung colonies in integrin ,1-null mice was significantly increased compared to their wild-type counterparts, tumor volume was markedly reduced. In vivo treatment with the MMP inhibitor doxycycline resulted in a significant decrease in the number of lung colonies in both genotypes, but the tumors that formed were bigger and more vascularized. Increased tumor vascularization paralleled decreased plasma levels of MMP9 and consequent decreased angiostatin synthesis. These results demonstrate that while inhibition of MMPs prevents and/or reduces tumor invasion and lung metastasis, it has the paradoxical effect of increasing the size and vascularization of metastatic tumors due to decreased generation of inhibitors of endothelial cell proliferation. The continued growth of these large well-vascularized tumors may explain the poor efficacy of MMP inhibitors in lung cancer clinical trials. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Long term consequences of the 1944,1945 Dutch famine on the insulin-like growth factor axisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2004Sjoerd G. Elias Abstract The insulin-like growth factor axis is highly responsive to nutritional status and may be involved as one of the underlying mechanisms through which caloric restriction could affect cancer risk. High levels of circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, or IGF-I relative to IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 have been related to various human cancer types. In a group of 87 postmenopausal women, we found that childhood exposure to the 1944,1945 Dutch famine was associated with increased plasma levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3, whereas IGFBP-1 and -2 levels were weakly decreased. These results are opposite to immediate responses seen under starvation and we hypothesize that this could indicate a permanent overshoot upon improvement of nutritional status after the famine. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Curcuma Aromatica Inhibits Diabetic Nephropathy in the RatJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 9 2006Ji-Young Hong ABSTRACT:, To test the possible involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the etiology of diabetic complications and therapeutic potential of antioxidant biofactors, we studied the effects of Curcuma aromatica (C. aromatica) on the pathologic events in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Administration of streptozotocin (100 mg/kg, i.p.) increased plasma levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and lipid peroxidation products but decreased plasma albumin levels and suppressed the growth of animals. Histological examination revealed a marked injury in renal glomeruli and proximal tubules with concomitant occurrence of 8-hydroxy-2,-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and mitochondrial 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE). Urinary excretion of 8-OHdG was also increased in streptozotocin-treated animals. Administration of streptozotocin decreased the mitochondrial localization of both Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytochrome C in the kidney without affecting the localization of Mn-SOD. When animals were given 1.5%C. aromatica- containing diet for 1 wk before and 8 wk after administration of streptozotocin, all the events induced by streptozotocin except for hyperglycemia decreased markedly. Thus, C. aromatica may have therapeutic potential for the prevention of hyperglycemia-associated diabetic complications. [source] Immunopathogenic mechanisms in tourette syndrome: A critical review,,MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 9 2009Davide Martino MD Abstract Tourette syndrome (TS) has a multifactorial etiology, in which genetic, environmental, immunological and hormonal factors interact to establish vulnerability. This review: (i) summarizes research exploring the exposure of TS patients to immune-activating environmental factors, and (ii) focuses on recent findings supporting a role of the innate and adaptive immune systems in the pathogenesis of TS and related disorders. A higher exposure prior to disease onset to group A ,-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections in children with tics and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms has been documented, although their influence upon the course of disease remains uncertain. Increased activation of immune responses in TS is suggested by changes in gene expression profiles of peripheral immune cells, relative frequency of lymphocyte subpopulations, and synthesis of immune effector molecules. Increased activity of cell-mediated mechanisms is suggested by the increased expression of genes controlling natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, increased plasma levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines which correlate with disease severity, and increased synthesis of antineuronal antibodies. Important methodological differences might account for some inconsistency among results of studies addressing autoantibodies in TS. Finally, a general predisposition to autoimmune responses in TS patients is indicated by the reduced frequency of regulatory T cells, which induce tolerance towards self-antigens. Although the pathogenic role of immune activation in TS has not been definitively proven, a pathophysiological model is proposed to explain the possible effect of immunity upon dopamine transmission regulation and the generation of tics. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society [source] Effects of 5,-uridylic acid feeding on postprandial plasma concentrations of metabolites and metabolic hormones in pre-weaning goatsANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009Yoshihisa OHTANI ABSTRACT 5,-Uridylic acid (UMP), which is present at high concentrations in cow's colostrum, has been shown to cause a reduction in increased plasma levels of insulin and glucose after ingestion of milk replacer in pre-weaning calves. However, the precise mechanisms of UMP action have not been investigated, and its action has not been investigated in other pre-weaning ruminants. In order to demonstrate whether UMP causes changes in postprandial metabolic and hormonal parameters in pre-weaning goats, 11 Saanen kids were given milk replacer (twice a day) without (n = 5) or with (n = 6) UMP (1 g for each meal, 2 g/day for each head) for 14 days. Analysis of blood samples taken in the morning of day 14 demonstrated that the feeding of milk replacer with UMP abolished the significant changes in postprandial plasma glucose, NEFA, GH and insulin concentrations induced by feeding of milk replacer alone, and demonstrated a tendency to increase IGF-I levels. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups at any sampling time. We conclude that UMP feeding with milk replacer showed a tendency to blunt the postprandial changes in levels of some plasma metabolites and hormones that are induced by replacer alone in pre-weaning goats. [source] | ||||||||||