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Weak Positive Correlation (weak + positive_correlation)
Selected AbstractsA T2 cytokine environment may not limit T1 responses in human immunodeficiency virus patients with a favourable response to antiretroviral therapyIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Patricia Price Summary Low-level production of interferon-, (IFN-,) marks human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-induced immunodeficiency and has been ascribed to a bias towards T2 cytokines. This was investigated in two cross-sectional studies of HIV patients who were immunodeficient when they began antiretroviral therapy (ART) and had stable increases in CD4 T-cell counts. Blood leucocytes were assessed unstimulated or after stimulation with cytomegalovirus (CMV), anti-CD3 or mitogen. IFN-, and interleukin (IL)-5 responses were initially assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming cell assay (ELISPOT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We then adopted a sensitive reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction (RT,PCR) system to assess IFN-,, IL-5, IL-4 and IL-4,2 (an inhibitory splice variant of IL-4) mRNA. The results were correlated with putative serological markers of a T1 [lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), CD26] or a T2 [CD30, immunoglobulin E (IgE)] cytokine environment. IL-5 production and IgE levels were elevated in patients. IgE levels did not correlate with IFN-,, but showed an inverse correlation with IL-5 released in culture (P = 0·05). The levels of IL-4, IFN-,, IL-5 and IL-4,2 mRNA were correlated after anti-CD3 stimulation, where IL-5 was the best predictor of IFN-, mRNA (P = 0·006). Weak positive correlations were evident between CD30 and cytokine mRNA levels, whilst IgE correlated inversely with IL-4, IL-4,2, IL-5 and IFN-, mRNA levels. These analyses provide no evidence for an inverse relationship between T1 and T2 cytokine responses in HIV patients, but suggest that the elevation of IgE marks low cytokine responses. [source] Synchrony in the downstream migration of smolts and upstream migration of adult Atlantic salmon in the subarctic River UtsjokiJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007P. Orell Seasonal and diel migration timing of wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts and adults were investigated annually (2001,2004) in the subarctic River Utsjoki, a tributary of the large River Teno (70° N), using underwater video monitoring. Submerged video cameras provided information on the exact timing and intensity of both migrations in a natural river channel, without disturbing the fish. In contrast to the mainly nocturnal migration pattern described from temperate rivers, the River Utsjoki smolts and adults migrated throughout the day. Smolts migrated most intensively during hours of rising (0300,0900 hours) and high sun (0900,1500 hours), while adults favoured the period of low sun (2100,0300 hours). Smolt migrations started in June and lasted on average 42 days. Adults usually ascended the site 2,3 weeks before the first descending smolts were observed and the adult migrations extended to the end of August. Seasonal synchrony was observed between smolt and adult migrations in years of slowly warming water, whereas in a year of exceptionally warm early summer (2002), smolts migrated earlier than adults. Thus, water temperature seemed to be an important environmental factor triggering the smolt migration, while the migration of adults was probably more fixed to a certain season. Weak positive correlations between fish counts and water temperature were observed, indicating that increasing water temperature may have promoted both smolt and adult migrations. The influence of discharge was negligible, although increasing discharge late in the season may have activated the remaining individuals in both groups. [source] Co-localization of von Willebrand factor with platelet thrombi, tissue factor and platelets with fibrin, and consistent presence of inflammatory cells in coronary thrombi obtained by an aspiration device from patients with acute myocardial infarctionJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 1 2006Y. HOSHIBA Summary.,Background:,Detailed histochemical analysis of coronary thrombi obtained freshly from acute phase of myocardial infarction patients may provide information necessary to understand the mechanism of coronary occlusive thrombus formation. Methods and Results:,Coronary thrombi causing myocardial infarction were obtained from 10 consecutive patients of myocardial infarction in the acute phase, using a newly developed aspiration catheter. All the fixed specimens of coronary thrombi, by hematoxylin and eosin staining, were found to contain three major constituents, namely, platelets, densely packed fibrin and inflammatory cells, including polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells, although their distribution in each specimen is totally heterogeneous. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the prominent presence of von Willebrand factor (VWF) at the sites of platelet accumulation, presence of tissue factor and platelets at the sites of deposition of fibrin fibrils. It also revealed the presence of CD16-, CD45- and CD34-positive cells, yet the functional roles of these cells have still to be elucidated. There are weak positive correlation between the number of inflammatory cells involved in the unit area of coronary thrombi specimen and the time of collection of the specimens after the onset of chest pain. Conclusions:,In spite of various limitations, our results contain information suggesting the possible role of VWF in platelet-thrombus formation, possible important role played by tissue factor and activated platelets in the formation of fibrin fibrils, and the positive relationship between inflammatory cells migration and the formation of occlusive thrombi in human coronary arteries. [source] Health-related and diabetes-related quality of life in Japanese children and adolescents with type 1 and type 2 diabetesPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010Nobue Nakamura Abstract Background:, The aim of this study was to assess (i) the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of primary, junior and high school children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and to compare it with that of healthy school children; and (ii) to compare the diabetes-related QOL (DR-QOL) and the QOL of parents of children with diabetes, between type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Japan. Methods:, Overall, 471 patients aged 9,18 years (368 with type 1 and 103 with type 2 diabetes) and their parents were involved. QOL was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results:, The total score for HR-QOL of primary and junior school children with type 1 diabetes was significantly higher than that of those with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in high school children. Some subscales regarding HR-QOL were significantly lower for children with type 2 diabetes than for children with type 1 diabetes or healthy controls. The DR-QOL of children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes did not significantly differ. The Family Burden and Family Involvement were significantly greater in parents of children with type 1 diabetes. There were significantly positive correlations between HR-QOL and DR-QOL in both groups. In type 1 diabetes only, there were significant negative correlations between glycated hemoglobin and some subscales of the HR-QOL and QOL of parents of children with diabetes, and weak positive correlation between glycated hemoglobin and Family Burden. Conclusions:, The HR-QOL of school children with type 1 diabetes was higher than that of those with type 2 diabetes and healthy school children. The QOL of school children with type 1 diabetes was not impaired. [source] Simultaneously detection of genomic and expression alterations in prostate cancer using cDNA microarray,THE PROSTATE, Issue 14 2008Mei Jiang Abstract BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is a common disease among men but the knowledge of the prostate carcinogenesis is still limited. METHODS cDNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and expression profiling were performed to screen the genomic and the expression changes in prostate cancer respectively. The two data were integrated to study the influence of genomic aberrations on gene expression and seek for the genes with their expression affected by the genomic aberrations. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the array data. RESULTS Array-based CGH detected gains at 2q, 3p/q, 5q, 6q, 8q, 9p, 10p/q, 11q, 12p, 14q, and 19p/q and losses at 1p, 2p, 4q, 6p/q, 7p, 11p/q, 12q, 17p/q, 19p/q, and Xp/q in more than 20% prostate tumors and narrowed these aberrations. For example, the gain of 8q was mapped to five minimal regions. Novel aberrations were also identified, such as loss at Xq21.33-q22.2. Expression profiling discovered the significant biological processes involved in the prostate carcinogenesis, such as exogenous antigen presentation via MHC class II and protein ubiquitination. Integration analysis revealed a weak positive correlation between genomic copy number and gene expression level. Fifty-three genes showed their expression directly affected by the genomic aberrations possibly, including more than one member of Ras superfamily and major histocompatibility complex (MHC). These genes are involved in multiple biological processes. CONCLUSIONS Integration of the CGH and expression data provided more information than separate analysis. Although the direct influence of genomic aberrations on gene expression seems weak, the influence can be extended by indirect regulation through a few directly affected genes. Because the influence can be persistent, the genes directly affected by the genomic aberrations may play key roles in the prostate carcinogenesis and are worth further analysis. Prostate 68: 1496,1509, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Comparison of anterior chamber depth measurements taken with the Pentacam, Orbscan IIz and IOLMaster in myopic and emmetropic eyesACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009Canan Asli Utine Abstract. Purpose:, This study determined to assess the degree of agreement between anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements obtained using three different devices and to analyse the relationship between ACD and spherical equivalent (SE) refraction. Methods:, In this cross-sectional study, 42 eyes of 42 patients with a mean SE of , 4.69 ± 4.61 D (range 0.00 D to , 14.88 D) were analysed. Measurements of ACD between the corneal epithelium and the anterior surface of the crystalline lens, obtained using the Pentacam, Orbscan IIz and IOLMaster, were compared. The relationships between SE and ACD measurements obtained with different devices were also investigated. The results were analysed using Bland,Altman analyses, single-sample t -test and Pearson's correlation test. Results:, Orbscan ACD measurements were an average of 0.05 mm less than Pentacam measurements (p = 0.01). IOLMaster measurements were an average of 0.06 mm less than Orbscan measurements (p < 0.001). None of the ACD values measured by any of the devices were correlated with increasing SE (p > 0.05 for all). There was a weak positive correlation between SE and the difference in ACD measurements with Pentacam and Orbscan (p = 0.04); however, the differences between Pentacam and IOLMaster ACD measurements and Orbscan and IOLMaster ACD measurements seemed to be independent of SE (p = 0.17 and p = 0.54, respectively). Conclusions:, The ACD in clinically normal eyes is measured differently by various non-ultrasonic devices. However, the observed mean error between these modalities is too small to create any noticeable difference in refractive outcome. No significant relationship was found between SE and ACD measurements obtained by Pentacam, Orbscan or IOLMaster. [source] Mannan-binding lectin plasma levels in leprosy: deficiency confers protection against the lepromatous but not the tuberculoid formsCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006L. N. Dornelles Summary Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is an important component of the first-line defence against infections. Evidence has shown that MBL deficiency, reducing phagocytosis and internalization of intracellular pathogens may protect the host against intracellular infections such as leprosy. In this study, we speculated whether genetically determined low MBL serum levels confer protection against Mycobacterium leprae infection. One hundred and ninety-one patients with leprosy, presenting lepromatous (n = 118), tuberculoid (n = 31), dimorph (n = 30) and indeterminate (n = 12) clinical forms and 110 healthy controls matched with the patients according to sex, age and ethnic background were investigated. MBL concentrations were measured in a double-antibody enzyme immune assay and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels by nephelometry. A significant negative association of MBL low values (< 100 ng/ml) was observed with lepromatous patients when comparing with controls and tuberculoid patients [10/118, 8·47%versus 21/110, 19·09%P = 0·03 ,2 with Yates' correction, odds ratio (OR) 0·39, confidence interval (CI) 0·18,0·88 and 8/31, 25·81%, P = 0·02, OR 0·27, CI 0·09,0·75, respectively]. There was no significant difference in the distribution of MBL levels between patients and controls or among the clinical forms. The concentration of CRP was significantly increased in the patients (P = 0·0002) and in the lepromatous form (P = 0·0001) when compared to controls. A weak positive correlation between MBL and CRP levels was observed in the patients (P = 0·010, R = 0·255). These data suggest a protective role for MBL deficiency against the development of the most severe and multi-bacillary form of leprosy. [source] | ||||||||||