Activated platelet-derived microparticle numbers are elevated in patients with severe fungal (Candida albicans) sepsis.

Background: The treatment of severe sepsis highly depends on the identification of bacteria or fungi from blood and/or other body materials. Although widely available blood culturing and risk assessment scores are not completely reliable, current guidelines do not recommend the wide empirical use of antifungal medications based on questionable benefit or possible side-effects. We aimed to test whether platelet-derived microparticle (MP) measurements can improve the early detection of the infective agent behind sepsis.

Justification of 150 mg clopidogrel in patients with high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity.

Background: The GRAVITAS trial showed that 150 mg clopidogrel did not improve outcome in patients with high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HPR) screened by the VerifyNow assay. We aimed to determine the impact of 150 mg clopidogrel in stable angina patients with HPR identified with conventional aggregometry (LTA).

Materials And Methods: Clopidogrel-naive stable angina patients before ad hoc percutaneous coronary intervention were recruited into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT00638326).

Impact of genetic variants on post-clopidogrel platelet reactivity in patients after elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: To determine the effect of various SNPs on post-clopidogrel platelet reactivity and clinical outcome.

Materials & Methods: Cytochrome 2C19 (CYP2C19) loss-of-function (LOF; *2, *3) and gain-of-function (GOF; *17) allelic variants, together with ABCB1 (3435 C→T and 2677 G→T/A) and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1; 192 Q→R) SNPs were analyzed in 189 patients after elective stent implantation who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (NCT00638326). Platelet reactivity was determined with light transmission aggregometry and vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation (VASP-PRI) 12-24 h after 600 mg clopidogrel.

Mice deficient in pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) show increased susceptibility to in vivo renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with well-known cytoprotective effects. We have reported earlier that PACAP decreases mortality and the degree of tubular atrophy in a rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Recently, we have shown that kidney cultures isolated from PACAP deficient mice show increased susceptibility to renal oxidative stress.

Prognostic significance of high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity after percutaneous coronary intervention: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A growing number of observational studies suggest that high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HPR) is associated with recurrent thrombotic events after percutaneous coronary intervention. We aimed to perform an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the clinical relevance of HPR to summarize the available evidence and to define more precise effect estimates.

Methods: Relevant observational studies published between January 2003 and February 2010 were searched that presented intent-to-treat analyses on the clinical relevance of HPR measured with an adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-specific platelet function assay.

Comparison of conventional aggregometry with VASP for monitoring P2Y12-specific platelet inhibition.

No consensus exists regarding the optimal estimate of light transmission aggregometry (LTA) to reflect P2Y12 ADP receptor inhibition in patients receiving thienopyridine therapy. Currently, the only completely P2Y12-receptor specific method is the measurement of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation (PRI) with flow cytometry. In the current analysis, we aimed to test the superiority of the late platelet aggregation value over other estimates of light transmission aggregometry in determining P2Y12-receptor inhibition by comparing them to VASP-PRI.

Effects of PACAP on mitochondrial apoptotic pathways and cytokine expression in rats subjected to renal ischemia/reperfusion.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide with highly efficient cytoprotective actions. Its neuroprotective effects are well-known, but PACAP is able to exert similar actions in non-neuronal cells. Recently, we have shown that PACAP prolongs renal ischemic time, decreases mortality, and attenuates tubular degeneration in a rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion, but the mechanism of renoprotection is not yet known.

O-GlcNAc modification of proteins affects volume regulation in Jurkat cells.

An increasing amount of recent research has demonstrated that the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) plays a significant role in the modulation of intracellular signaling transduction pathways, and affects cellular processes via modification of protein by O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). Besides the many known and postulated effects of protein O-GlcNAc modifications, there is little available data on the role of O-GlcNAc in cellular volume regulation. Our objective was to test the effect of increased O-GlcNAc levels on hypotonia-induced volume changes in Jurkat cells.

Invariant Valpha7.2-Jalpha33 TCR is expressed in human kidney and brain tumors indicating infiltration by mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells.

The anti-tumor response of human invariant NKT (NKT) cells is well established. A novel T cell subset, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, possesses similar regulatory properties to NKT cells in autoimmune models and disease. Here, we examined the clonality of four T cell subsets expressing invariant alphaTCR, including Valpha7.

Effects of PACAP on survival and renal morphology in rats subjected to renal ischemia/reperfusion.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) occurs and exerts a variety of biological functions in the nervous system and in the peripheral organs, including the urinary system. PACAP has protective effects against myeloma kidney injury and renal ischemia. Ischemia/reperfusion injury of the kidney is a major clinical problem, and based on the protective effects of PACAP in cerebral and cardiomyocyte ischemia, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a single intravenous PACAP injection on the survival and renal morphology after varying times of ischemia.

[Multidrug resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia].

Introduction: New prognostic factors discovered in chronic lymphocytic leukemia have recently got into the center of clinical interest. While the predictive value of cytogenetical abnormalities, immunoglobulin heavy chain gene mutation status, CD38 and ZAP70 expression is already well known, the significance of multi-drug resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not well characterized.

Aims: The goal of this study was to characterize the multidrug resistance features in 82 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at the genetical, expression- and functional level and to compare it with the patient's clinical behavior (survival and response to therapy).

Association between carcinosarcoma and the transplanted kidney.

Background: Renal carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor with 12 reported cases in the world literature. To our knowledge, carcinosarcoma of a renal allograft has not been reported to date.

Case Report: A multifocal urothelial carcinosarcoma of a transplanted kidney in a 49-year-old woman is described.

Histologic findings after gastrocystoplasty in rabbits.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term histologic changes after bladder augmentation with gastric segment in an animal subject.

Materials And Methods: Gastrocystoplasty was performed in 13 young, 3-month-old male rabbits. Open biopsies were taken from the native bladder and the gastric segment preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

[Multidrug resistance: diagnostic approaches and difficulties].

During the mid sixties scientists recognized that tumour cells can be resistant to a variety of chemotherapeutical drugs of different chemical structure simultaneously. They named this phenomenon multidrug resistance (MDR). Following this observation, number of in vitro and in vivo experiments proved that transmembrane proteins of the cell membrane are responsible for the mechanism.

Simultaneous presence of neutrophil alveolitis and Ki-67 positivity of alveolar macrophages in dermato-/polymyositis and systemic sclerosis.

Objective: The proportion of cell proliferation-associated nuclear Ki-67 antigen positive alveolar macrophages was compared in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL) of patients with dermato-/polymyositis (DM-PM), scleroderma-myositis overlap syndrome (Scl-M), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD).

Patients And Methods: We examined 8 patients with DM-PM, 3 with Scl-M, 11 with SSc, and 10 with UCTD. The patients were selected on the basis of their interstitial lung involvement diagnosed by non-invasive methods.

Histological findings after colocystoplasty and gastrocystoplasty.

Purpose: We conducted a prospective, long-term assessment of the histological changes that can occur following bladder augmentation with colon or stomach.

Materials And Methods: Histological evaluations of biopsies from 44 consecutive patients undergoing augmentation (colocystoplasty in 26, gastrocystoplasty in 18) were performed. Patients underwent endoscopic assessment and tissue sampling at 2 or 4-year intervals following the initial augmentation procedure.

[Plasma electrolytes in multiple myeloma].

The plasma cell myeloma (multiple myeloma, myelomatosis) is a progressive disease, characterized by bone marrow plasmacytomas and the presence of monoclonal antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE), or free kappa or lambda immunoglobulin side chains. The monoclonal antibodies or Bence-Jones protein may precipitate in the tubuli and impair kidney function. In addition, the plasma protein concentration may increase at the expense of plasma water level causing unrealistically low electrolyte levels.

Prognostic histological and immune markers of renal cell carcinoma.

Recent development on the fields of molecular genetics and immunology of human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have resulted in more successful treatment of advanced and metastatic RCCs. Re-evaluation of the prognostic/predictive data aim the initial tumor staging of RCC patients to achieve better patient selection for immune and gene therapy. 125 RCC patients diagnosed according to the Heidelberg histological classification, graded, Robson staged, immune treated (Interferon-a a+ Vinblastine or Broncho-Waxom/Decaris) were followed-up clinically for 36 months.

Specific von Hippel-Lindau protein expression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with "immunogenic" features.

Human clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is characterized by specific von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene alterations and immunogenic features. In the present study, the immunohistochemical expression of the von Hippel-Lindau gene protein (pVHL) was compared with the presence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC I-II), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and tumoral immune complexes (TIC) in CCRCC. Native tumor tissues of 132 RCC patients (95 with the common clear cell subtype), diagnosed according to the Heidelberg classification, were obtained for immunohistochemistry.

[Clinical value of "zero-hour" biopsy in kidney transplantation].

We have performed 115 "zero-hour" biopsies of transplanted kidneys since 1994. Donor kidneys were divided into five groups, based on the morphological findings of "zero-hour" biopsies. No morphological abnormalities were found in 38.

Renal cell carcinoma and paraneoplastic IgA nephropathy.

Paraneoplastic nephropathy is rarely associated with human tumors. Little is known about the pathogenetic background of this relationship. To our knowledge, no conclusive study of the association of potentially 'immunogenic' renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and paraneoplastic nephropathy has been published.

[Paraneoplastic nephropathy associated with adult renal carcinoma (immunologic and clinicopathologic study)].

Rare "paraneoplastic nephropathies" are associated with a wide variety of human tumors. Little is known about the pathogenetical background. To our knowledge no systematic study about the association of potentially "immunogenic" renal cell cancer (RCC) and "paraneoplastic nephropathy" has been published so far.

Predictive morphological findings in "zero-hour" biopsies of renal allografts.

"Zero-hour" biopsies of 65 donors have been performed since 1994. Donor kidneys were categorized into five groups based on the morphological findings in "zero-hour" biopsies. No morphological abnormalities were found in 38% of the cases (group 1).