Circulating levels of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: During inflammation, activated vascular endothelial cells and other cell types express various adhesion molecules, which facilitate the binding of circulating leukocytes and their extravasation in surrounding tissue (i.e. renal tissue).

Prevalence of biliary lithiasis in a Sicilian population of chronic renal failure patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of biliary lithiasis (BL) and associated risk factors in a population of undialysed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), and to compare these with findings we had obtained previously in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients and in subjects from the general population located in the same geographic region.

Methods: A total of 118 CRF patients on conservative treatment were included in the study. In all subjects, we measured several clinical and humoral parameters potentially correlated with BL.