In utero exposure to Azathioprine in autoimmune disease. Where do we stand?

Azathioprine (AZA), an oral immunosuppressant, is safe during pregnancy. Some reports suggested different impairments in the offspring of mothers with autoimmune diseases (AI) exposed in utero to AZA. These observations are available from retrospective studies or case reports.

The adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) and the risk of recurrent thrombosis: Results from the APS ACTION cohort.

Objectives: To assess whether patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and history of recurrent thrombosis have higher levels of adjusted Global AntiphosPholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS) when compared to patients without recurrent thrombosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-positive patients, we identified APS patients with a history of documented thrombosis from the AntiPhospholipid Syndrome Alliance For Clinical Trials and InternatiOnal Networking (APS ACTION) Clinical Database and Repository ("Registry"). Data on aPL-related medical history and cardiovascular risk factors were retrospectively collected.

The obese healthy paradox: is inflammation the answer?

A paradoxical but common finding in the obesity clinic is the identification of individuals who can be considered 'inappropriately' healthy for their degree of obesity. We think that studying these obese but metabolically healthy individuals and comparing them with equally obese but insulin-resistant individuals could provide important insights into the mechanistic link between adipose tissue expansion and associated metabolic alterations. In the present study, we investigated whether there are differences in inflammatory and insulin signalling pathways in VAT (visceral adipose tissue) that could account for the metabolic differences exhibited by morbidly obese individuals who are either insulin-resistant (IR-MO) or paradoxically insulin-sensitive (NIR-MO).

[Drug-induced lupus].

Drug-induced lupus (DIL) is syndrome characterised by the occurrence of lupus-like symptoms and serological findings, following exposure to certain drugs. A substantial number of drugs can induce the positivity of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) but the diagnosis of DIL cannot be done in the absence of clinical features. Most patients with DIL have constitutional symptoms, arthralgia or occasionally arthritis, myalgias, fever and weight loss.

Antithrombin III prevents early pulmonary dysfunction after lung transplantation in the dog.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury with the resulting inflammatory response is a devastating complication of lung transplantation; much of the tissue damage could be diminished by control of the inflammatory response. Recent studies have show that antithrombin III (AT III) has an anti-inflammatory effect in addition to its established role in the regulation of blood coagulation. Thus, we hypothesized that the administration of AT III might help to prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury after lung transplantation.

A modulatory role for substance P on the regulation of luteinizing hormone secretion by cultured porcine gonadotrophs.

Substance P (SP) has been suggested to regulate gonadotroph function both directly and indirectly in different species. In pigs, the possible role of hypothalamic and pituitary SP in the control of LH release has not been examined. Here, we investigated SP effects on basal and GnRH-stimulated LH secretion by porcine gonadotrophs in vitro, in both static and dynamic culture systems.

C1-esterase inhibitor prevents early pulmonary dysfunction after lung transplantation in the dog.

The success of lung transplantation to a large extent depends on effective protection of the graft from ischemic injury after reperfusion. Although mechanisms have not been clarified, the pathologic findings of ischemic injury after reperfusion are similar to adult respiratory distress syndrome, a condition in which the blood coagulation contact system is activated. This study evaluates the effect of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), the main inhibitor of the blood coagulation contact system, on short-term lung function in a dog model of orthotopic lung transplantation.

Heterogeneity of growth hormone (GH)-producing cells in aging male rats: in vitro GH releasing activity of somatotrope subpopulations.

Studies on the age-related decline of growth hormone (GH) release have ignored that the population of GH-producing cells (somatotropes) is heterogeneous. In aging male rats, centrifugation of dispersed pituitary cells in a density gradient yields two somatotrope subpopulations, i.e.