Publications by authors named "Kathy Stein"

Introduction: Previous work of our group showed that lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways become activated upon surgical manipulation of the bowel wall and revealed a beneficial immune modulating role of the LOX-derived anti-inflammatory mediator protectin DX in postoperative ileus (POI). While we found a particular role of 12/15-LOX in the anti-inflammatory LOX action during POI, the role of 5-LOX, which produces the pro-inflammatory leukotriene B4 (LTB4), remained unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of 5-LOX within the pathogenesis of POI in a mouse model.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study focuses on the roles of two molecules, IL-1α and IL-1β, in the development of POI, finding that mice lacking these molecules were protected from the condition.
  • * Results showed that IL-1α arises from resistant cells, while IL-1β comes from sensitive infiltrating leukocytes, and IL-1β production relies on the AIM2 inflammasome and the microbiome, suggesting potential interventions to prevent POI.
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Strategies to stabilize remissions by specific elimination of residual acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts are needed. Leukemia-derived dendritic cell (DCleu/DC) generated from myeloid blasts improve antileukemic T-cell reactivity and install T-cell memory. Interferon (IFN)α-DC methods produce DCleu from chronic myeloid leukemia-patients (pts') blood.

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Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common complication after abdominal surgery characterized by motility disturbances leading to increased morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Intestinal manipulation of the murine small bowel is an established animal model resulting in an increased postsurgical inflammation within the intestinal muscular externa and a delayed gastrointestinal transit. Some analgesics have been shown to affect inflammation.

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Postoperative ileus (POI) is an inflammation-mediated complication of abdominal surgery, characterized by intestinal dysmotility and leukocyte infiltration into the muscularis externa (ME). Previous studies indicated that interleukin (IL)-10 is crucial for the resolution of a variety of inflammation-driven diseases. Herein, we investigated how IL-10 affects the postoperative ME inflammation and found an unforeseen role of IL-10 in POI.

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Aim: To explore the effects of abdominal surgery and interleukin-1 signaling on antimicrobial defense in a model of postoperative ileus.

Methods: C57BL/6 and Interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1R1) deficient mice underwent intestinal manipulation to induce POI. Expression of mucosal IL-1α, IL-1β and IL-1R1 and several antimicrobial peptides and enzymes were measured by quantitative PCR or ELISA, western blotting or immunohistochemistry.

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Purpose: Laparoscopic surgery (LS) has proved superior compared to conventional surgery (CS) regarding morbidity, length of hospital stay, rate of wound infection and time until recovery. An improved preservation of the postoperative immune function is assumed to contribute to these benefits though the role of the local peritoneal immune response is still poorly understood. Our study investigates the peritoneal immune response subsequent to abdominal surgery and compares it between laparoscopic and conventional surgery to find an immunological explanation for the clinically proven benefits of LS.

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Resolution of inflammation is an active counter-regulatory mechanism involving polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived proresolving lipid mediators. Postoperative intestinal motility disturbances, clinically known as postoperative ileus, occur frequently after abdominal surgery and are mediated by a complex inflammation of the intestinal muscularis externa. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that proresolving lipid mediators are involved in the resolution of postoperative ileus.

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Background: Pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the undulating symptom pattern, or indeed causative agents for the development, of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] are largely unknown. Many physicians and most patients are convinced that stress affects the course of IBD. As with most factors that contribute to IBD, it is unclear whether stress merely exacerbates established disease or indeed contributes to the development of disease.

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Background & Aims: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common consequence of abdominal surgery that increases the risk of postoperative complications and morbidity. We investigated the cellular mechanisms and immune responses involved in the pathogenesis of POI.

Methods: We studied a mouse model of POI in which intestinal manipulation leads to inflammation of the muscularis externa and disrupts motility.

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Objective: To compare facial pain outcomes from different surgical techniques for patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who continue to have persistent or recurrent TN despite multiple operations.

Methods: Review of a prospective surgical database identified 62 TN patients with ongoing facial pain despite having undergone three or more prior operations (mean = 3.4) from July 1999 to March 2008.

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While both men and women can be victims, domestic violence usually consists of assaults on women, and most violence against women occurs within an intimate relationship. In the past twenty years, numerous state and provincial programs to intervene in domestic violence cases have developed. The programs tend to focus on treating batterers, although they also offer counseling to domestic violence victims.

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