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Strong Inverse Correlation (strong + inverse_correlation)
Selected AbstractsLow Serum Biotinidase Activity in Children with Valproic Acid MonotherapyEPILEPSIA, Issue 10 2001K. H. Schulpis Summary: ,Purpose: Valproic acid (VPA) is an effective antiepileptic drug (AED), which is associated with dose-related adverse reactions such as skin rash, hair loss (alopecia), etc. Profound as well as partial biotinidase deficiency causes dermatologic manifestations similar these. Therefore, it was of interest to evaluate serum biotinidase activity in patients receiving VPA monotherapy. Methods: Seventy-five patients with seizures, mean age, 8.6 years (±1.9 years) were divided into three groups. Group A (n = 25) was treated with VPA 28.7 ± 8.5 mg/kg/24 h, group B (n = 25) with 41.6 ± 4.9 mg/kg/24 h, and group C with 54.5 ± 5.8 mg/kg/24 h. Their "trough" VPA serum levels were 40.9 ± 13.2, 86.25 ± 11.5, and 137 ± 14.5 ,g/ml, respectively. Fifty healthy children were the controls. Patients and controls underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations including liver function data, complete blood counts, NH3, and so on, after 45 days of VPA treatment. Biotinidase serum levels were evaluated fluorometrically. Results: Liver function data were found elevated in the groups B and C. On the contrary, biotinidase activity was significantly statistically lowered (p < 0.001) in groups B and C (1.22 ± 1.11, 0.97 ± 0.07 mmol/min/L respectively), as compared with controls (5.20 ± 0.90 mmol/min/L). Strong inverse correlations were observed between liver enzymes and VPA blood levels with the activity of the enzyme. Additionally, no inhibitory effect on biotinidase activity was found, when the enzyme was incubated in vitro with high (1.2 mM) concentrations of the drug. Skin lesions (seborrheic rash, alopecia) were improved in our patients after biotin (10 mg/day) supplementation. Conclusions: It is suggested that VPA impairs the liver mitochondrial function, resulting in a low biotinidase activity and or biotin deficiency. Biotin supplementation could restore some of the side effects of the drug. [source] Human monocyte CD163 expression inversely correlates with soluble CD163 plasma levelsCYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2005Bruce H. Davis Abstract Background CD163 is a monocyte/macrophage-restricted receptor involved in the clearance of hemoglobin,haptoglobin complexes and regulation of inflammatory processes. CD163 is shed from the cell surface and exists as a soluble form in plasma (sCD163). Monocyte CD163 and sCD163 are potential diagnostic tools in variety of disease states. Methods We determined the relation between plasma sCD163 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, membrane expressions of CD163, CD64, and CD14 on blood monocytes by flow cytometry, and monocyte counts in 129 random blood samples. Results A strong inverse correlation was found between membrane CD163 expression and sCD163 levels (r = ,0.65, P < 0.001). Monocyte CD163 expression and SCD163 levels did not correlate with the monocyte absolute count. Conclusions The inverse relation between monocyte surface CD163 expression and sCD163 levels in human blood suggests that plasma sCD163 is derived from circulating monocytes, in addition to an unknown component from tissue macrophages. The lack of correlation with the absolute monocyte number suggests that such a balance is driven by the functional state of monocytes, rather than simply by numerical changes in circulating cells. We propose that further clinical evaluations of CD163 as a diagnostic parameter should include simultaneous measurements of soluble and cell-bound forms of this antigen. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Impaired intestinal iron absorption in Crohn's disease correlates with disease activity and markers of inflammationINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 12 2006Gaith Semrin MD Abstract Background: Anemia in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) is a common problem of multifactorial origin, including blood loss, malabsorption of iron, and anemia of inflammation. Anemia of inflammation is caused by the effects of inflammatory cytokines [predominantly interleukin-6 (IL-6)] on iron transport in enterocytes and macrophages. We sought to elucidate alterations in iron absorption in pediatric patients with active and inactive CD. Methods: Nineteen subjects with CD (8 female, 11 male patients) were recruited between April 2003 and June 2004. After an overnight fast, serum iron and hemoglobin levels, serum markers of inflammation [IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate], and a urine sample for hepcidin assay were obtained at 8 am. Ferrous sulfate (1 mg/kg) was administered orally, followed by determination of serum iron concentrations hourly for 4 hours after the ingestion of iron. An area under the curve for iron absorption was calculated for each patient data set. Results: There was a strong inverse correlation between the area under the curve and IL-6 (P = 0.002) and area under the curve and CRP levels (P = 0.04). Similarly, the difference between baseline and 2-hour serum iron level (,[Fe]2hr) correlated with IL-6 (P = 0.008) and CRP (P = 0.045). When cutoff values for IL-6 (>5 pg/mL) and CRP (>1.0 mg/dL) were used, urine hepcidin levels also positively correlated with IL-6 and CRP levels (P = 0.003 and 0.007, respectively). Conclusions: Subjects with active CD have impaired oral iron absorption and elevated IL-6 levels compared with subjects with inactive disease. These findings suggest that oral iron may be of limited benefit to these patients. Future study is needed to define the molecular basis for impaired iron absorption. [source] Early responses associated with chronic pathology in murine schistosomiasisPARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2007C. B. CÊTRE-SOSSAH SUMMARY Inbred male CBA/J mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni develop either hypersplenomegaly syndrome (HSS) or moderate splenomegaly syndrome (MSS) by 20 weeks of infection. Pathologically and immunologically, MSS and HSS closely parallel the intestinal and hepatosplenic clinical forms of schistosomiasis in humans, respectively. By 6 weeks after infection, mice that eventually will become MSS develop T cell-stimulatory, cross-reactive idiotypes (CRI) while HSS mice never produce CRI. Because presence of CRI is useful to predict degree of chronic pathology, we used this measure to investigate what other early immunological events occurred in animals destined to develop severe morbidity. At 8 weeks of infection, there was a strong inverse correlation between CRI and splenomegaly, egg counts, and liver hydroxyproline. Similarly, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and ionomycin-stimulated intracellular cytokine expression of IL-4, IL-5, and GM-CSF in splenic CD4+ T cells was inversely correlated with serum CRI and directly correlated with spleen size. In contrast, spleen cell intracellular TNF-, and peritoneal cell production of nitric oxide demonstrated positive correlations with CRI and inverse correlations with measures of morbidity. Surprisingly, IL-10 and IFN-, were not correlated with CRI levels. These studies link chronic pathology to certain immunological responses during the acute phase of schistosomiasis. [source] Skin Responses to Ultraviolet Radiation: Effects of Constitutive Pigmentation, Sex, and AncestryPIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH, Issue 5 2002Jennifer K. Wagner Constitutive skin pigmentation and skin responses to ultraviolet radiation were measured on a sample of volunteers (n=250) living in State College, PA, USA. The sample was composed of individuals of European American (n=190), Hispanic (n=45), and East Asian ancestry (n=15). Constitutive pigmentation was measured using the Adjusted Melanin Index (AMI), Erythemal Dose Response (EDR) was measured using the slope of a* at 24 h (,a*), and Melanogenic Dose,Response (MDR) was measured using ,AM, the slope of AMI at 7 d. The relationships between constitutive skin pigmentation, EDR, MDR, sex, age, and ancestry were investigated. European Americans showed a lower constitutive pigmentation, had a significantly higher burn response (EDR), and had a significantly lower tanning response (MDR) than Hispanics and East Asians. No significant difference is seen between Hispanics and East Asians for either constitutive pigmentation or EDR. Constitutive pigmentation in females was slightly lower than in males in all three samples, but the difference was not significant. While no differences were observed in MDR between sexes, males had a stronger EDR than females regardless of population or constitutive pigmentation level, and this difference was significant in European Americans and Hispanics. We observed no age-related differences in any of the populations or measures investigated. We evaluated the relationship between constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR. There was a strong inverse correlation between constitutive pigmentation and EDR in the three samples (European Americans, R2=0.176, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R2=0.204, P=0.009; East Asians, R2=0.223, P=0.098) and a strong direct correlation between constitutive pigmentation and MDR in European Americans and Hispanics (European Americans, R2=0.094, P < 0.001; Hispanics, R2=0.164, P=0.012). In other words, persons with lower constitutive pigmentation both burn more and tan less than persons with higher pigmentation. However, after controlling for constitutive pigmentation, EDR and MDR were significantly correlated in European Americans (R2=0.041 P=0.006). Thus, the general observation that persons who burn more tan less is probable because of the common link that these two phenotypes have with constitutive skin pigmentation and, in fact, once pigmentation has been adjusted for, there is a positive correlation between tanning response and burning response in European Americans. [source] Relationship Between Rhinitis Duration and Response to Nasal Decongestion Test,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2008Giorgio Ciprandi MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Nasal obstruction depends on allergic inflammation. Decongestion tests evaluate the reversibility of nasal airflow limitation. It has been previously reported that duration of persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) may involve important functional consequences. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the duration of rhinitis on the response to nasal decongestion test in a cohort of patients with PER. Methods: A total of 312 patients with moderate-severe PER were prospectively and consecutively evaluated: 234 males and 78 females, mean age 23.6 years. A detailed clinical history was taken and complete physical examination, nasal endoscopy, skin prick test, rhinomanometry, and nasal decongestion test were performed for all patients. Results: A strong inverse correlation was observed (Pearson's r = ,0.81) between rhinitis duration (years) and posttest percentage change of nasal airflow values. Conclusions: The duration of PER may induce a progressive impairment of the response to nasal decongestion test. [source] | |||||||||||||