sIL-2R- an Immuno-biomarker for Prediction of Metastases in Uveal Melanoma.

Background/aim: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. High serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) have been reported in acute inflammations and metastatic cancers. This study evaluated the potential of high/increasing sIL-2R levels in predicting metastases.

VEGF as a biomarker for metastatic uveal melanoma in humans.

Purpose: High levels of serum VEGF have been reported in many types of cancers, especially in the metastatic stage. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of VEGF serum level as a tumor marker for metastases in uveal melanoma (UM) patients.

Materials And Methods: Levels of serum VEGF were analyzed by ELISA for 23 UM patients (none of whom developed metastases within 5 years from diagnosis) at the time of diagnosis, soon after treatment, and 3 years later, and compared with serum VEGF levels of 39 metastatic patients, 58 10-year disease-free (10yDF) patients, and 23 healthy subjects.

Trends in liver function tests: a comparison with serum tumor markers in metastatic uveal melanoma (part 2).

Aim: To compare trends in liver function test (LFT) levels over consecutive visits before detection of liver metastasis (LM) from uveal melanoma (UM) with such trends in the serum tumor markers S-100β, melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA), osteopontin (OPN), and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS).

Patients And Methods: Blood was drawn from 32 patients with metastatic UM and 43 disease-free (DF) patients semi-annually for levels of S-100β, MIA, OPN, and TPS. Abdominal ultrasonography (US) and LFTs were used to detect LM.

The dynamics of serum tumor markers in predicting metastatic uveal melanoma (part 1).

Aim: To examine the kinetics of the tumor marker levels: osteopontin (OPN), S-100β, melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), and to evaluate their potential for predicting earlier liver metastasis in patients with uveal melanoma (UM).

Patients And Methods: Forty-three UM patients who remained disease-free (DF) for at least 10 years, 32 patients with metastatic UM and 53 healthy controls were enrolled. Median and mean levels of the tumor markers OPN, S-100β, MIA and TPS at the time periods of 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and >24 months prior to confirmation of metastasis by liver ultrasound, CT scan and biopsy, served in a box and whiskers analysis and were compared by Students t-test.

Serum inflammatory cytokines, complement components, and soluble interleukin 2 receptor in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by selective destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts and highly specific serum anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA). Several studies have attempted to determine the cytokine pattern characterizing PBC, yet no definitive data have been gathered. The present study was designed to evaluate pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R, e.

Using the direct-injection model of early uveal melanoma hepatic metastasis to identify TPS as a potentially useful serum biomarker.

Purpose: To develop a method to screen for serum biomarkers of early hepatic metastasis from uveal melanoma.

Methods: Cytokeratin 18 (TPS) was identified from gene expression profiles as protein generated by highly invasive uveal melanoma cells. Sera were collected from two groups of 15 SCID mice 2 weeks after injection of either tissue culture medium or MUM2B human metastatic uveal melanoma cells into the mouse liver.

Serum markers to detect metastatic uveal melanoma.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is overexpressed in metastatic uveal melanoma (UM). S-100beta and melanoma-inhibitory activity (MIA) serum levels are elevated in metastatic cutaneous melanoma. The ability of OPN, S-100beta and MIA serum levels to be used as non-invasive markers for detecting metastatic UM was tested.

Osteopontin expression and serum levels in metastatic uveal melanoma: a pilot study.

Purpose: This was a pilot study conducted to examine the expression of osteopontin in uveal melanoma and to determine whether serum osteopontin can be used in detecting metastatic uveal melanoma.

Methods: Osteopontin mRNA was measured in three uveal melanoma cell lines of various invasive potential by real-time PCR. Tissue sections of primary and metastatic uveal melanomas were stained for osteopontin.

PADMA-28, a Tibetan herbal preparation is an inhibitor of inflammatory cytokine production.

Background: Previous studies have shown that PADMA-28, a multicomponent, traditional Tibetan herbal plant preparation possesses a variety of beneficial effects on several experimental models of inflammatory and immune processes, including autoimmune diabetes and autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In humans, PADMA-28 attenuated the symptoms associated with intermittent claudications in atherosclerotic patients.

Objective: To assess the effect of PADMA 28 on the immune system, e.

Interleukin-18 levels correlate with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Objective: To assess the involvement of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the pathophysiology of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and study its use as a marker of disease and its correlation to capillary hyperpermeability.

Design: Prospective controlled study.

Setting: An IVF unit in a tertiary medical center.

Cytokine levels in gingival crevicular fluid of erupting primary teeth correlated with systemic disturbances accompanying teething.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are increased levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-8, and TNFalpha in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of erupting primary teeth. This increase could explain such clinical manifestations as fever, diarrhea, increased crying, and sleeping and eating disturbances that occur at this time.

Methods: Sixteen healthy children aged 5 to 14 months (mean=9.

The effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Background: Some herbal remedies are sold as food additives and are believed to have immune-enhancing properties.

Objectives: To study the effect of five herbal remedies--Sambucol Black Elderberry Extract, Sambucol Active Defense Formula and Sambucol for Kids (with known antiviral properties), Protec and Chizukit N (containing propolis and Echinacea, claimed to be immune enhancers)--on the production of cytokines, one of the main components of the immune system.

Methods: The production of four inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6 and IL-8) and one anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was tested using blood-derived monocytes from 12 healthy donors.

The effect of Sambucol, a black elderberry-based, natural product, on the production of human cytokines: I. Inflammatory cytokines.

Sambucus nigra L. products - Sambucol - are based on a standardized black elderberry extract. They are natural remedies with antiviral properties, especially against different strains of influenza virus.

Cytokines in Gaucher's disease.

Gaucher's disease (GD) is characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, bone marrow infiltration, osteonecrosis, which may all be associated with the presence of pathological macrophages that contain undegraded glycosphingolipids. Levels of serum cytokines, which are soluble products of mononuclear phagocytes (MNP), were evaluated in 24 GD patients. Levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in GD patients were significantly higher than in normal controls.

Changes in cytokine production of breast cancer patients treated with interferons.

A clinical randomized study was performed on advanced breast cancer patients who were treated by interferons (IFN) beta and gamma in combination with hormonotherapy (Megace or Tamoxifen). Cytokine levels (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma) and sIL-2R of individual patients before, during (3 months) and after (6 months) therapy were evaluated and correlated to clinical response according to UICC criteria (responder patients-partial or Complete Response versus non-responder patients-Stable/Progression). Decreases in IL-1beta, IL-6 and sIL-2R were associated with clinical response to therapy versus increases in their levels which corresponded to progression of disease.

Prevalence of hypophosphatemia in sepsis and infection: the role of cytokines.

Background: Sepsis occurs following the presence of bacteria in the circulation and is associated with fever, hyperthermia, and hypotension. Hypophosphatemia develops in the early stages of sepsis. High levels of inflammatory cytokines also characterize early sepsis.

Elevated inflammatory cytokine levels in bone marrow graft rejection.

Graft rejection and graft failure represent major obstacles in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Cytokines possibly play a central role in the inflammatory and allospecific components of allograft rejection. Therefore, we evaluated inflammatory cytokine levels following BMT in 12 consecutive patients with graft rejection (GR).

Serum interleukin 1 beta levels as a marker in hairy cell leukemia: correlation with disease status and sIL-2R levels.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of the B cell lineage. In the search for specific markers with prognostic significance we evaluated the clinical value of IL-1 beta and sIL-2R levels in HCL patients. HCL patients (25) were classified according to their clinical status as "active", "non active" disease or partial or complete remission and response treatment.

Elevated serum levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-R) in patients with HIV infection.

Serum levels of the soluble form of tumour necrosis factor receptor type II (p75) (sTNF-R) were determined in HIV-infected individuals and risk groups and were then correlated with the course of infection and prognosis. sTNF-R levels were determined by an ELISA with MoAbs and polyclonal antibodies to urine-derived sTNF-R proteins. The mean +/- s.

Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels are associated with clinical disease status and histopathological grade in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Serum soluble Interleukin-2 receptor levels (sIL-2R) were measured in 121 patients (pts) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and in 30 patients with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Sera collected from 32 normal volunteers and 18 patients with infection or a variety of non malignant hematological disorders served as controls. A small number of patients with Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) were also studied.