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Ongoing Inflammation (ongoing + inflammation)
Selected AbstractsPrimary sclerosing cholangitis as a cause of false positive bile duct brushing cytology: Report of two cases.DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2005Lester J. Layfield M.D. Abstract Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology characterized by ongoing inflammation, destruction, and fibrosis of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Irregular narrowing and dilation of the biliary duct system produces the characteristic beaded pattern seen on cholangiogram. Malignant degeneration resulting in cholangiocarcinoma is a well-recognized sequela of PSC. Bile duct brushing cytology is the primary screening technique for cholangiocarcinoma. It is associated with a relatively low sensitivity but high specificity. Few false positive bile duct brushings have been reported in the literature, with the majority of these having occurred in a background of PSC. We report two patients with PSC in whom bile duct brush cytologies were falsely positive for carcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32:119,124. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Activated complement is more extensively present in diseased aortic valves than naturally occurring complement inhibitors: a sign of ongoing inflammationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2010M. Ter Weeme Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (1): 4,10 Abstract Background, Recent studies indicate a role for complement in the pathogenesis of aortic valve disease. However, the role of naturally occurring anti-complement mediators in this context is unknown. In this study, we have analysed this in three different pathological conditions of the aortic valve: degeneration, atherosclerosis and bacterial endocarditis. Materials and methods, Human aortic valves were obtained at autopsy (n = 30): 5 control valves, 10 aortic valves with atherosclerotic changes, 10 aortic valves with degenerative changes and 5 degenerative changed aortic valves with bacterial infection. These valves were analysed immunohistochemically for the presence of activated complement (C3d and C5b9) and the complement inhibitors C1-inh and clusterin. Areas of positivity were then quantified. Results, C3d, C5b9 and the complement inhibitors C1-inh and clusterin depositions were mainly found in the endothelium and extracellular matrix in aortic valves. All these mediators were already present in control valves, but the area of positivity increased significantly in response to the different diseases, with the highest increase in response to bacterial endocarditis. Interestingly, in all three aortic diseases, the depositions of complement were significantly more widespread than that of their inhibitors. Conclusions, Our study indicates that anti-complement mediators (C1-inh and clusterin) are deposited in diseased aortic valves together with activated complement, indicating an existing counter response against complement locally in the valve. However, deposition of activated complement is significantly more widespread than that of its inhibitors, which could explain ongoing inflammation in those diseased aortic valves. [source] Faecal lactoferrin , a novel test to differentiate between the irritable and inflamed bowel?ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 12 2010R. SIDHU Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 1365,1370 Summary Background, Distinguishing between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be challenging. Aims, To investigate the utility of faecal lactoferrin as a marker of inflammation in patients with IBD, IBS and controls. Methods, Disease activity in IBD patients was assessed using the modified Harvey,Bradshaw Activity Index. Stool samples were analysed using an ELISA assay. Results, We recruited 137 patients with IBS, 126 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 104 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 98 healthy volunteers. The median ± IQ lactoferrin concentration (,g/g faecal weight) was 0 ± 1.4 for IBS patients, 6.6 ± 42 for UC patients, 4 ± 12.7 for CD patients and 0.5 ± 2 for healthy controls. Lactoferrin levels were significantly higher in IBD patients compared with IBS/healthy controls (P < 0.001). The median lactoferrin concentrations were significantly higher in active UC & CD patients compared with inactive patients (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002 respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of lactoferrin in distinguishing active IBD from IBS/healthy controls were 67% and 96%, 87% and 86.8% respectively. Conclusions, Lactoferrin is useful to differentiate between IBD and IBS, and can be used as an adjunct to blood parameters to determine IBD patients who have ongoing inflammation. [source] Cholangiocytes as immune modulators in rotavirus-induced murine biliary atresiaLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 8 2009Barrett H. Barnes Abstract Background/Aims: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive disease characterized by bile duct inflammation and fibrosis. The aetiology is unknown and may be due to a virus-induced, autoimmune-mediated injury of cholangiocytes. Cholangiocytes are not only targets of injury but may also modulate hepatic inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine the immune profile of murine cholangiocytes and the ability to function as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in culture with Rhesus rotavirus (RRV), poly I:C (viral mimic) or interferon-,/tumour necrosis factor-,. Methods/Results: Both the cholangiocyte cell line (long-term culture) and fresh, ex vivo cholangiocytes expressed APC surface markers major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class I and II and CD40, while only the cultured cell line expressed costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2. Despite APC expression, cultured cholangiocytes were unable to function as competent APCs in T-cell proliferation assays. Furthermore, both cultured and ex vivo cholangiocytes expressed RNA transcripts for many pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Conclusions: Although cholangiocytes contain APC molecules, they are incompetent at antigen presentation and cannot elicit effective T-cell activation. Upregulation of MHC-class I and II found in BA mice may serve to prime the cholangiocyte as a target for immune-mediated injury. Cholangiocytes produced many pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the setting of RRV infection and T-helper type 1 cytokine milieu, suggesting a role of cholangiocytes as immune modulators promoting the ongoing inflammation that exists in RRV-induced BA. [source] Dendritic cells in asthma: a function beyond sensitizationCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 9 2005L. S. Van Rijt Summary Allergic asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in western society, characterized by variable airway obstruction, mucus hypersecretion and infiltration of the airway wall with T-helper type 2 (Th2) cells, eosinophils and mast cells. If we are to devise new causal therapies for this disease, it is important to elucidate how Th2 cells are activated and respond to intrinsically harmless allergens. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen-presenting cells in the lung and are mainly recognized for their exceptional potential to generate a primary immune response and sensitization to aeroallergens. Much less attention has been paid to the role of DCs in established inflammation. Based on functional studies in a murine model for asthma, in this review article, we propose that DCs are essential for generating allergen-specific effector Th2 responses in ongoing inflammation in sensitized mice. A better understanding of the role of DCs in the maintenance of the inflammatory response to allergens in asthma should lead to new therapeutic approaches intervening at the top of the inflammatory cascade. [source] Identifying ongoing inflammation , the clinical need to review the underlying disease processCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2001J Kips First page of article [source] | ||||||||||