Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Moderate Disease (moderate + disease)
Selected AbstractsLocal and systemic interleukin-18 and interleukin-18-binding protein in children with inflammatory bowel diseaseINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 1 2008Steven T. Leach Abstract Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is increased in the inflamed mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The balance between this pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine and its natural inhibitor, IL-18-binding protein (IL-18BP), may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Serum and mucosal biopsies were collected from children with IBD, from children with celiac disease, and from controls. Biopsies were maintained in culture for 24 hours, and supernatant was collected. Serum and supernatant IL-18 and IL-18BPa concentrations were measured by immunoassay. Disease activity score (PCDAI) and standard serum inflammatory markers (albumin, platelets, ESR, and CRP) were recorded. Results: Serum IL-18 was greater in children with CD (537 pg/mL) than in controls (335 pg/mL; P < 0.05) but not in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD type unclassified (IBDU). Mucosal IL-18 was greater in children with CD and UC/IBDU than in controls (P < 0.01). Serum IL-18BPa was increased in children with CD compared with that in controls (3.9 versus 2.6 ng/mL; P < 0.05), but was not elevated in children with UC/IBDU. Furthermore, calculated free-serum IL-18 was elevated in CD, but not UC/IBDU, compared with that in controls (P = 0.001). Total and free-serum IL-18 were elevated in severe CD relative to in mild/moderate disease. Conclusions: IL-18, produced in the colons of children with IBD, may contribute to local inflammatory changes. Systemic IL-18 level may be a useful indicator of gut inflammation. Furthermore, free IL-18 is greatly elevated in children with CD, suggesting that compensatory increases in IL-18BPa are insufficient. Further exploration of the role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of IBD is now required. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007) [source] Cellular and molecular mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an overviewCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2004A. Di Stefano Summary In the last decade, the analysis of bronchial biopsies and lung parenchyma obtained from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients compared with those from smokers with normal lung function and non-smokers has provided new insights on the role of the different inflammatory and structural cells, their signalling pathways and mediators, contributing to a better knowledge of the pathogenesis of COPD. This review summarizes and discusses the lung pathology of COPD patients with emphasis on inflammatory cell phenotypes that predominate in different clinical conditions. In bronchial biopsies, a cascade of events takes place during progression from mild-to-severe disease. T lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ cells and macrophages are the prevalent inflammatory cells in the lung of healthy smokers and patients with mild COPD, while total and activated neutrophils predominate in severe COPD. The number of CD4+, CD8+ cells and macrophages expressing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-,B), STAT-4 and IFN-, proteins as well as endothelial adhesion molecule-1 in endothelium is increased in mild/moderate disease. In contrast, activated neutrophils (MPO+ cells) and increased nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity develops in severe COPD. In bronchial biopsies obtained during COPD exacerbations, some studies have shown an increased T cell and granulocyte infiltration. Regular treatment with high doses of inhaled glucocorticoids does not significantly change the number of inflammatory cells in bronchial biopsies from patients with moderate COPD. The profile in lung parenchyma is similar to bronchial biopsies. ,Healthy' smokers and mild/moderate diseased patients show increased T lymphocyte infiltration in the peripheral airways. Pulmonary emphysema is associated with a general increase of inflammatory cells in the alveolar septa. The molecular mechanisms driving the lymphocyte and neutrophilic prevalence in mild and severe disease, respectively, needs to be extensively studied. Up-regulation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors NF-,B and STAT-4 in mild, activated epithelial and endothelial cells in the more severe disease may contribute to this differential prevalence of infiltrating cells. [source] Nontransplant Surgical Options for Congestive Heart FailureCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 1 2003Aftab R. Kherani MD A wide array of surgical options are currently available for the treatment of congestive heart failure ranging from traditional coronary artery bypass grafting to total artificial heart implantation. The indications for each procedure depend on the severity of disease and the individual patient's desires. Some surgical options are indicated for patients with moderate disease and prevent worsening heart failure, whereas other procedures are limited to patients who will only survive with high-risk surgery. Ongoing technologic advances are increasing the number of patients that benefit from the reparative surgical treatment of congestive heart failure. [source] In non-severe hemophilia A the risk of inhibitor after intensive factor treatment is greater in older patients: a case,control studyJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 10 2010C. L. KEMPTON Summary.,Background:,Twenty-five percent of new anti-factor VIII (FVIII) antibodies (inhibitors) that complicate hemophilia A occur in those with mild and moderate disease. Although intensive FVIII treatment has long been considered a risk factor for inhibitor development in those with non-severe disease, its strength of association and the influence of other factors have remained undefined. Objective:,To evaluate risk factors for inhibitor development in patients with non-severe hemophilia A. Methods:,Information on clinical and demographic variables and FVIII genotype was collected on 36 subjects with mild or moderate hemophilia A and an inhibitor and 62 controls also with mild or moderate hemophilia A but without an inhibitor. Results:,Treatment with FVIII for six or more consecutive days during the prior year was more strongly associated with inhibitor development in those , 30 years of age compared with those < 30 years of age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 12.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.76,57.81 vs. OR 2.54; 95% CI, 0.61,10.68]. Having previously received < 50 days of FVIII was also not statistically associated with inhibitor development on univariate or multivariate analysis. Conclusions:,These findings suggest that inhibitor development in mild and moderate hemophilia A varies with age, but does not vary significantly with lifetime FVIII exposure days: two features distinct from severe hemophilia A. [source] Heart Rate Variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Prospective Study and Frequency Domain AnalysisANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2003Lorne J Gula F.R.C.P.C. Background: Cyclic variation of the heart rate is observed during apneic spells in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that autonomic changes would affect frequency-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: We studied 20 patients (15 men, 5 women, mean age 47.2 ± 12.2 years) with suspected OSA undergoing overnight polysomnography, and five patients (4 men, 1 woman, mean age 49.2 ± 8.6 years) with recently diagnosed sleep apnea undergoing polysomnography while wearing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Holter monitors were applied during sleep studies and data were analyzed in 5-minute blocks over the course of the night. Using spectral analysis, low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) powers were calculated for each interval. Overall mean and standard deviation (SD) for LF power, HF power, and the LF:HF ratio were recorded for each patient. Comparisons were made between patients with severe OSA (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 30, n = 8), moderate OSA (AHI 1,30, n = 5), without OSA (AHI < 10, n = 7), and patients wearing CPAP (n = 5). Results: Assessment of overnight LF or HF power revealed no significant difference between the four groups. The LF:HF ratio, which represents sympathovagal balance, was higher among those with moderate disease compared to normals and those with severe OSA (both P = 0.037). The standard deviation of the LF:HF ratio was higher among those with moderate disease compared to normals (P = 0.0064) and those with severe OSA (P = 0.0006). OSA patients receiving CPAP behaved like patients with moderate OSA, with increased SD of the LF:HF ratio. Conclusions: The observed changes in the LF:HF ratio and its SD suggest an increased sympathetic tone and discordance in sympathovagal activity in moderate OSA, which is blunted in severe OSA. CPAP may restore autonomic defects, characteristic of severe OSA, to moderate levels. [source] Tibial subchondral trabecular volumetric bone density in medial knee joint osteoarthritis using peripheral quantitative computed tomography technologyARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2008Kim L. Bennell Objective Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is an organ-level failure of the joint involving pathologic changes in articular cartilage and bone. This cross-sectional study compared apparent volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of proximal tibial subchondral trabecular bone in people with and without knee OA, using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Methods Seventy-five individuals with mild or moderate medial compartment knee OA and 41 asymptomatic controls were recruited. Peripheral QCT was used to measure vBMD of trabecular bone beneath medial and lateral tibiofemoral compartments at levels of 2% and 4% of tibial length, distal to the tibial plateau. Results There was no significant difference in vBMD beneath the overall medial and lateral compartments between the 3 groups. However, in the affected medial compartment of those with moderate OA, lower vBMD was seen in the 2 posterior subregions compared with controls and those with mild knee OA, while higher vBMD was seen in the anteromedial subregion. Beneath the unaffected or lesser affected lateral compartment, significantly lower vBMD was seen at the 2% level in the anterior and lateral subregions of those with moderate disease. Volumetric BMD ratios showed relatively higher vBMD in the medial compartment compared with the lateral compartment, but these ratios were not influenced by disease status. Conclusion Subregional vBMD changes were evident beneath the medial and lateral compartments of those with moderate medial knee OA. Of import, the posterior subchondral trabecular regions of the medial tibial plateau have markedly lower vBMD. [source] Repeated peribulbar injections of triamcinolone acetonide: a successful and safe treatment for moderate to severe Graves' ophthalmopathyACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2009Marcela Bordaberry Abstract. Purpose:, In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of peribulbar triamcinolone injections to treat inflammatory signs of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) in patients with moderate to severe GO and associated optic neuropathy (ON). Methods:, Twenty-one patients with active GO [clinical activity score (CAS) , 4] and systemic thyroid disease under control were enrolled in this prospective pilot study. Peribulbar triamcinolone acetonide was injected in each orbit (42 eyes), in four doses of 20 mg at 2-week intervals. Ophthalmological examination including CAS evaluation, visual field, computerized tomography (CT) scan and digital photography were performed before and after treatment. Results:, Twenty-one patients (11 with moderate disease, 10 with ON) were enrolled in this study and followed for at least 14 months. Initial mean CAS was 6.38 ± 1.49, which dropped to 1.8 ± 1.12 after 6 months of treatment (P = 0.01; mean difference of 4.57 ± 1.56; range 1,8 score points). ON was diagnosed in 10 patients. Of these, 66% improved with peribulbar triamcinolone exclusively. A transitory increase in intraocular pressure in two patients was controlled with topic medication. Conclusion:, Peribulbar triamcinolone injections reduce the inflammatory signs of moderate GO, as measured by the CAS, and could also be used as an alternative treatment for ON. Randomized clinical trials are needed to compare the results of triamcinolone peribulbar injections to those of other treatment modalities. [source] | ||||||||||