Differential induction of total IgE by two Salmonella enterica serotypes.

The main goal of this study was to establish how the inflammation caused by infection with two different Salmonella enterica serotypes, S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, may lead to the predisposition to allergy as measured by total IgE level in the blood.

Increased levels of circulating Annexin A5 in Familial Mediterranean fever.

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever is a genetic autoinflammatory disease most commonly affecting the ethnic groups originating from around the Mediterranean Sea. Apoptosis plays an important role in down-regulation of the inflammatory response by reducing the lifespan of activated immunocompetent cells. Thus, increased apoptosis may be associated with pathogenesis of familial Mediterranean fever.

Alterations in the complement cascade in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Background: In the present study we assessed the functional state of the major mediator of the immune response, the complement system, in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: Thirty one PTSD patients within 13 years from traumatic event and the same number of sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were involved in this study. In the blood serum of the study subjects hemolytic activities of the classical and alternative complement pathways, as well as the activities of the individual complement components have been measured.

Astrocytic and neuronal biochemical markers in the sera of subjects with diabetes mellitus.

To determine if clinical diabetes is associated with disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and/or brain injury, enzyme-linked immunoassays and Western blots were used to measure serum levels of S100B, NSE and their auto-antibodies in type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects. Serum S100B concentrations in type 2 diabetic subjects, but not in type 1 diabetic subjects, were significantly lower than those found in healthy controls. There were no significant differences in serum NSE levels of either type 1 or type 2 diabetics compared to healthy controls.