Polymyalgia rheumatica: inflammation suppression with low dose of methylprednisolone or modified-release prednisone.

Objective: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disease that affects people aged > 50 years, and is characterised by pain and morning stiffness in the shoulder and pelvic girdle with synovitis of the proximal joints and extra-articular synovial structures. It is currently mainly treated with glucocorticoids (GCs). The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in inflammatory markers and their correlations with cortisol levels after treatment with 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP) or modified-release prednisone (MR-P) in patients with "early" PMR.

Investigation on the Origin of Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Role of Apoptosis, Immaturity and Oxidative Stress.

Sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) represents a threat to male fertility, human reproduction and the health of the offspring. The causes of sDF are still unclear, even if apoptosis, oxidative assault and defects in chromatin maturation are hypothesized. Using multicolor flow cytometry and sperm sorting, we challenged the three hypothesized mechanisms by simultaneously evaluating sDF and signs of oxidative damage (8-hydroxy, 2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG] and malondialdehyde [MDA]), apoptosis (caspase activity and cleaved poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase [cPARP]) and sperm immaturity (creatine phosphokinase [CK] and excess of residual histones).

Interferon-gamma release assay sensitivity in children younger than 5 years is insufficient to replace the use of tuberculin skin test in western countries.

Tuberculin skin test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB were performed in 338 children at risk for tuberculosis (TB), including 70 active TB cases. In children <5 years of age, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube sensitivity was 73.

Characterization and sorting of flow cytometric populations in human semen.

Human semen is a complex biological matrix. It contains mature spermatozoa, immature germ cells, residual apoptotic bodies and, in some cases, epithelial cells and leucocytes. Hence, one of the challenges in applying flow cytometry in spermatology is the correct recognition of spermatozoa and their separation from signals of other semen cells/elements.

Highlights on novel technologies for the detection of antibodies to Ro60, Ro52, and SS-B.

Objective: We aimed to compare a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA, QUANTA Flash) on BIO-FLASH with a multiplex flow immunoassay (MFI) on BioPlex 2200 for the detection of antibodies to Ro60, Ro52, and SS-B.

Methods: The study included 241 samples, from patients suffering from systemic autoimmune diseases (n = 108) as well as disease controls (n = 133). All samples were tested for anti-Ro52, anti-Ro60, and anti-SS-B (La) antibodies on QUANTA Flash (INOVA Diagnostics, San Diego, USA) and BioPlex 2200 (Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.