Plasma myeloperoxidase levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a glycoprotein released by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils, which takes part in the defence of the organism through production of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent oxidant. MPO has a role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the time course of MPO plasma levels in the early stage of ischemic stroke.

Changes of magnesium serum levels in patients with acute ischemic stroke and acute infections.

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency seems to be implicated in immune dysfunction, including acute and chronic infections. Magnesium serum levels in 53 patients with acute ischemic stroke and acute bacterial (37 patients) and acute viral infections (16 patients) (29 men and 24 women, mean age 68.6+/-4.

Phospholipase A2 in patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction.

The inflammatory reaction is characterized by increased circulatory levels of various indicators of the severity of inflammation. The objective was to investigate the value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and severe proinflammatory reaction. There were investigated prospectively Lp-PLA2 levels in sera from 47 patients with ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction (32 men and 15 women, mean age 63 +/- 4.

Expression of IL-6 activity in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Cerebral ischemia initiates an inflammatory response in the brain and periphery. Inflammatory mechanisms, including IL-6, are suspected to play a role in arterial thrombogenesis. Their presence in the periphery is still controversial.

Detecting anti-prothrombin antibodies in young women with acute ischemic stroke.

Prothrombin (PT) is a target for antibodies with lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity. Anti-prothrombin antibodies (aPT) were recently identified as antibodies directed toward a phospholipid-binding protein. aPT are a new serologic marker of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Some clinico-immunological aspects in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

The link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) is thought to be related to the production of autoantibodies. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of some antibodies in OMG patients with IBD. Sixty-four patients with IBD and neurological symptoms were examined neurologically and immunologically (41 men and 23 women, mean age 43-5.