Anti-infliximab antibody status and its relation to clinical response in psoriatic patients: A pilot study.

Although the mechanisms underlying the loss of response to infliximab are not completely understood, the formation of antibodies to infliximab (ATI) are thought to play a role. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of ATI in psoriatic patients and to evaluate its relationship to the clinical response. Fifteen patients with psoriasis were treated with infliximab (5 mg/kg) every 8 weeks after an initial three-dose induction treatment.

Homocysteine, fibrinogen and anti-ox-LDL antibody levels as markers of atherosclerosis in prepubertal obese children.

Background: Homocysteine, fibrinogen and antibodies to oxidised LDL were shown to be important markers of atherosclerosis in adults.

Aim: To investigate the levels of these three risk factors in prepubertal obese children.

Methods: Fasting homocysteine, fibrinogen and antibodies to oxidised LDL, plasma lipids, insulin, HbA1c and blood glucose levels were investigated in 30 prepubertal obese and 28 control children 6-9 years old.

The relationship between adiponectin levels and proinflammatory cytokines and left ventricular mass in dialysis patients.

Introduction: Adiponectin is increased in end-stage renal disease. However, efforts to clarify the cause of that increase and its clinical effects have been inconclusive. The aim of this study was to compare serum adiponectin levels of dialysis patients against healthy individuals and evaluate the relationship among adiponectin levels, IL-6, TNF- alpha and left ventricular mass index (LVMI).

Salivary epidermal growth factor levels in Behçet's disease and recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in saliva is cytoprotective against injuries and contributes to the maintenance of the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Low salivary EGF levels have been observed in patients with various forms of oral mucosal disease.

Objective: Our aim was to determine whether salivary EGF is low in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) or those with Behçet's disease (BD) when compared with healthy controls.

Effect of oophorectomy and exogenous estrogen replacement on liver injury in experimental obstructive jaundice.

Aim: To investigate the role of estrogen on liver injury in an experimental obstructive jaundice model.

Methods: Three groups of female rats were constituted; group 1 was oophorectomized and given E2 (n = 14), group 2 was oophorectomized and given placebo (n = 14), and group 3 was sham operated (n = 14). Fourteen days following constitution of bile duct ligation, all groups were compared in terms of serum tests, histopathologic parameters, and tissue levels of IFN-gamma and IL-6.

Determinants of protection against diphtheria in adult hemodialysis patients.

Diphtheria is of great epidemiological concern. Although mainly observed during childhood, unvaccinated adults and relatively immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for acquiring diphtheria. We aimed to determine the rates and certain determinants of protection against diphtheria in adult hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Investigation of the functional characteristics of antibodies to therapeutic anti-human tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody.

Humanized antibody-based treatment modalities represent an active area of investigation. Included in these strategies are passive administrations of monoclonal antibodies, which recognize tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). However, several problems associated with these types of treatment strategies have been reported in the literature.

Effect of blood collection tube types on the measurement of human epidermal growth factor.

We observed significant differences in measured human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) levels for the same individual's serum/plasma samples between different tube types (glass, polystyrene, plastic with clot activator, plastic without clot activator, plastic with EDTA, polypropylene tubes). For all individuals, hEGF levels in plasma were found to be below the detection limit. The discrepancy of the hEGF levels in serum and plasma was attributed to the platelet derived EGF by analyzing platelet lyzate with size exclusion chromotography and demonstrating the immunoreactivity of the fractions corresponding to the pre-proEGF and/or proEGF elution time.

Characterization of human epidermal growth factor in human serum and urine under native conditions.

The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular nature of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) in serum and urine samples of normal subjects. Recombinant EGF emerged as a single peak and did not interact with human IgG1 and albumin up to the concentration of 12 microg/ml. Freshly separated human serum contained only trace amounts of EGF.

A novel mutation in the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a case presenting with colonic perforations.

A 15-year-old girl who had chronic constipation presented with peritonitis caused by sigmoid colon perforation. After her sigmoid colon was resected and an end colostomy performed, as there were no apparent causes for perforation, she was followed-up. After the second colonic perforation proximal to the end colostomy, as the pathologic findings revealed myopathic changes, the connective tissue disorders were evaluated.

Demonstration of specific antibodies against infliximab induced during treatment of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.

Therapeutic proteins, such as infliximab, have revolutionized the treatment of many diseases during the last decade and more than 80 therapeutic proteins are currently approved for clinical use. However, all exogenous proteins have the potential to cause antibody formation. In order to ensure patient safety and the efficacy of therapeutic proteins, careful monitoring of the immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins is therefore necessary not only during preclinical trials, but also during the treatment of patients.

Endothelial activation and inflammation in prepubertal obese Turkish children.

To investigate the degree of endothelial activation and inflammation in prepubertal obese children and to determine the relationship between the markers of endothelial activation, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors. In 30 obese and 28 healthy prepubertal children, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sE-selectin) as markers of endothelial activation and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers of endothelial inflammation in addition to cardiovascular risk factors including blood lipids, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were investigated and compared. The tests were repeated after an oral glucose tolerance test in the obese group.

Effect of monophosphoryl lipid A on antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its subunits.

Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) was evaluated for its ability to enhance the antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its fragment A and fragment B subunits. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with 1 Lf of diphtheria toxoid in the presence of 25 microg of MPL on days 0 and 14. Two weeks after the second immunization, sera were obtained from the mice and analysed for antibody response to diphtheria toxin and its subunits.

A new efficient method for eliminating the interference effect of human serum and increasing the sensitivity and recovery rate of enzyme immunoassay.

A new, very simple method for increasing the sensitivity and recovery rate of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the precise quantification of antigen in human serum is described. The assay design uses CATNF6A4c IgG2a monoclonal antibody and biotinylated anti-human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (hTNF-alpha) polyclonal mouse IgG as the capture and tracer antibodies, respectively. The assay is completed within 4 hours at room temperature and is capable of detecting both recombinant and native human TNF-alpha.

Fc-dependent monoclonal IgG1-mediated suppression of antibody response.

It has been known for a long time that passively administered antibodies (Abs) or immune complexes regulate the immune response to their specific antigen (Ag). IgG may sometimes suppress the humoral immune response against soluble antigens. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon has not been understood yet and the requirement for the Fc part is still a matter of controversy.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunoassay for sensitive detection of native and recombinant human interferon-gamma using whole IgG fraction as polyclonal tracer.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) against human interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were produced and used for development of a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection and quantitation of native and recombinant human IFN-gamma in tissue culture fluid and human sera. The human IFN-gamma ELISA was constructed using mAb CAy-IFNg111 as the capture antibody (Ab) and biotinylated polyclonal mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) as the tracer Ab. The assay is completed within 4 hr at room temperature (RT).

Differential binding characteristics of protein G and protein A for Fc fragments of papain-digested mouse IgG.

It has been previously reported that staphylococcal protein A (SPA) bound only to the Fc region of mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG) and streptococcal protein G (SPG) bound to both Fab and Fc regions of mouse IgG and the binding sites for SPG and SPA on Fc were overlapped. In this study the binding characteristics of SPG and SPA for papain-digested mouse IgG were analysed. Papain digestion of mouse IgG purified from CAy-IFNg99C hybridoma (secreting IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for human interferon gamma)-induced ascites resulted in Fab and two major Fc fragments referred to as the high molecular weight (HMW) and the low molecular weight (LMW) Fc fragments.

Determination of intracellular efficacies of azithromycin against Leishmania major infection in human neutrophils in vitro.

Azithromycin is one of a new class of antibiotics known as azalides. Azithromycin has high tissue affinity and this feature is thought to be due to the presence of two basic tertiary amine groups. Leishmania major, one of the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniosis, is an obligate intracellular parasite.

Effect of mucosal immunomodulation with fed cholera toxin on healing of experimental colonic anastomosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate in rats whether preoperative orogastric administration of low doses of cholera toxin would influence the mechanical strength of experimental colonic anastomosis on the basis of the gut mucosal immunomodulation effect of this antigen.

Methods: The cholera toxin group (n = 14) was fed 10 microg of cholera toxin in phosphate-buffered saline three times before surgery at 10-day intervals, whereas the controls (n = 14) received phosphate-buffered saline only. Twenty-four hours after the last dose of cholera toxin (or placebo in control group), the animals underwent left colonic transection and anastomosis.