Patients benefi ts from physicians empathy and results of including of empathy development into medical training.

Background:  The extent of empathy is an individual human property, not completely dependent on cognitive intelligence. People arise with certain genetic fundament for empathy but the ability to perceive empathically develops further during the life. There has been much discussion in the medical literature about the importance of empathy and physician communication style in medical practice.

CXCR3, CCR5, and CRTH2 Chemokine Receptor Expression in Lymphocytes Infiltrating Thyroid Nodules with Coincident Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Obtained by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.

To determine the expression of chemokine receptors in lymphocytes from thyroid nodules and peripheral blood in patients with and without Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). The study included 46 women with thyroid nodules and HT and 60 women with thyroid nodules without HT (controls) who underwent a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3, CCR5, and CRTH2 was assessed by flow cytometry in lymphocytes from FNAB samples and from peripheral blood.

Two-year outcome of thymectomy with or without immunosuppressive treatment in nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis and its effect on regulatory T cells.

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the autoimmune disorder in which the thymus is considered the pathogenic organ. Thymectomy (TE) is a therapeutic option for MG and often ameliorates clinical symptoms.

Methods: We evaluated clinical features and outcomes after TE in patients without thymoma and the influence of TE with or without concomitant immunotherapy on the CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell subpopulation of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in defined followed groups of nonthymomatous MG patients.

Rituximab use in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: clinical efficacy and impact on immunological parameters.

Rituximab (RTX) was reported effective in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy of RTX in AAV along with its impact on immunological parameters. Eighteen RTX-treated AAV patients (M/F 11/7; median age 37.

Cercarial dermatitis, a neglected allergic disease.

Cercarial dermatitis (swimmer's itch) is a common non-communicable water-borne disease. It is caused by penetration of the skin by larvae (cercariae) of schistosomatid flukes and develops as a maculopapular skin eruption after repeated contacts with the parasites. The number of outbreaks of the disease is increasing, and cercarial dermatitis can therefore be considered as an emerging problem.

Novel flow cytometric method for the detection of podocalyxin-positive elements in urine of patients with glomerulonephritides - first promising results.

Glomerulonephritides together create a heterogenic group of supposedly immunologically mediated diseases of glomeruli. They still belong among the most frequent causes of chronic renal failure. Detection of podocytes in urine might serve as an important marker of glomerulonephritides activity.

The evaluation of survival and proliferation of lymphocytes in autologous mixed leukocyte reaction with dendritic cells. The comparison of incorporation of (3)H-thymidine and differential gating method.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play the key role in T-lymphocyte proliferation and induction of antitumour response. The mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) of T-lymphocytes and DCs is essential instrument for immunological mechanisms studies. Conventionally used method for determination of T-lymphocytes proliferation, (3)H-thymidine incorporation, provides only general information.

Toxocara canis larvae reinfecting BALB/c mice exhibit accelerated speed of migration to the host CNS.

Using a small animal imaging system, migratory activity of Toxocara canis larvae stained by carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) was observed post primary infection (PPI) and post reinfection (PR) of BALB/c mice. Each infection was performed with 1,000 larvae per mouse. Primary infections were performed with labeled larvae, while for challenge infections the reinfecting larvae were stained by CFSE.

Intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood lymphocytes: a comparison of values in infertile and fertile women.

Problem: To analyze the relation of the fertility and pregnancy of women of childbearing age to the intracellular (IC) production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukins 2 and 4 (IL-2 and IL-4).

Method Of Study: Intracellular cytokine production in peripheral blood CD3(+)  CD4(+) lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry in 185 women being treated for infertility and 50 fertile women of childbearing age.

Results:  Infertile women have a significantly higher IC production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 and higher ratios of TNF-α/IL-2, TNF-α/IL-4, and TNF-α/IFN-γ compared to the fertile women.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV in synovial fluid and in synovial fluid mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) enzymatic activity controls biological halftime of multiple local mediators. Its deregulation is associated with pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although DPP-IV is the canonical representative of the group, a number of other proteins have been shown to have similar enzymatic activity.

Plasma calprotectin in chronically dialyzed end-stage renal disease patients.

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate plasma calprotectin levels and clearance end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with and without acute infection undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD).

Materials And Methods: Blood samples from 54 HD patients were obtained before and after the HD and 42 healthy blood donors were examined as controls. The blood levels of calprotectin, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and intracellular production of interleukins 10 and 12 in monocytes were determined in both groups.

Intracellular cytokine production in ANCA-associated vasculitis: low levels of interleukin-10 in remission are associated with a higher relapse rate in the long-term follow-up.

Background And Aims: Dysregulation of cell-mediated immune response likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), but it has not yet been fully established. The aim of this study was to assess the intracellular cytokine production in patients with AAV at different stages of the disease, in particular, in relation to the long-term prognosis.

Methods: We included 69 patients with AAV and 24 healthy controls.

A novel method for the estimation of podocyte injury: podocalyxin-positive elements in urine.

Podocytes form an outer aspect of the glomerular capillary wall and play a decisive role in its permeability for macromolecules. The main podocyte surface antigen podocalyxin, a highly electronegative sialoglycoprotein, prevents the podocyte foot processes from collapsing. Podocyte damage in glomerular disease is supposed to be accompanied by podocyte detachment, and shed podocytes and their fragments (marked by podocalyxin) may be identified in the urine.

T cells in the pathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis: current knowledge.

AAV are a group of systemic immune-mediated diseases with a strong and highly specific association with ANCA. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that ANCA might play a direct pathogenic role in triggering AAV. Nevertheless, effectors of cell-mediated immunity prevail in the inflammation sites in patients with AAV.

Autoantibodies against complement C1q correlate with the thyroid function in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

Autoantibodies against complement C1q (anti-C1q) have been well described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, where they correlate with the occurrence of severe lupus nephritis. However, data on anti-C1q in organ-specific autoimmune diseases are scarce. In order to determine the prevalence of anti-C1q in patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) and a possible association with thyroid function, we measured prospectively anti-C1q in 23 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 52 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).

Natalizumab in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: first experience.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually develops in young adults with a complex predisposing genetic background. Polymorphisms in the gene for chemokine receptor CCR5 have been proposed to confer susceptibility to or protection from MS. Study of molecules participating in the inflammatory process contributed to the development of a new humanized monoclonal antibody, natalizumab, aimed at the adhesive molecule VLA-4.

Occupational asthma after withdrawal from the occupational allergen exposure.

Occupational asthma is characterised by airway inflammation, variable airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness related causally to work. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether in patients with occupational asthma findings persist after withdrawal from occupational allergen exposure. A group of 37 patients with occupational asthma and a control group of 19 persons were examined.

Immunological predictors of different responses to combination therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: This study aimed to investigate peripheral blood CD4+ T-helper (Th) and CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to combination treatment with interferon (IFN) alpha and ribavirin in 59 patients with chronic hepatitis C, and to correlate the results with the therapy outcome.

Methods: The expression of activation molecules on the surface of CD8+ T cells and cytokine production by in-vitro activated CTLs and Th lymphocytes were examined before and at the end of the therapy, using flow cytometry.

Results: There were 36 complete responders to the treatment and 23 transient responders who relapsed after withdrawal of the therapy.

T helper, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, NK cell and NK-T cell subpopulations in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The phenotype of intrahepatic (IHL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was determined, and the production of cytokines by T lymphocytes analyzed in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Three-color fluorescence-activated cytometric analysis was done for 36 patients with untreated CHC. The percentage of peripheral blood memory T cells was higher in patients with CHC than in healthy controls (all data in %, significant at p < 0.

[Detection of the production of intracellular cytokines by T lymphocytes using flow cytometry--methodologic problems].

The method of assessment of intracellular proteins by means of flow cytometry makes it possible to evaluate the production of different cytokines by a clearly defined cell (sub-population type, state of cell activation). If the method should become a routine functional test, it must be standardized. This was the objective of our work when, based on data in the literature, we detected all controversial points and investigated them experimentally.

Production of interleukins 10 and 12 by activated peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C virus infection with respect to the response to interferon and ribavirin treatment.

Circulating monocytes/macrophages are important for the initiation of immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Their presentation capacities and production of immunoregulatory cytokines enable them to activate cellular immune responses which is critical in determining the outcome of infection. We used flow cytometry to examine the expression of a CD80 costimulatory molecule on the surface of peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes/macrophages and to analyse the production of IL10 and IL12 by these cells.

[The chemiluminescence test in the laboratory evaluation of effects of immunostimulatory therapy].

Background: Number of patients treated by general practitioners with various immunomodulatory drugs has recently increased. Effects of such medication on the immune system were not usually monitored. The aim of our work was to evaluate effect of selected immunomodulatory drugs on the phagocytic and metabolic activities of the phagocytes.

High-dose immunosuppressive therapy with PBPC support in the treatment of poor risk multiple sclerosis.

High-dose immunoablative chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic cell support might be beneficial in the treatment of intractable forms of MS. We mobilised PBPC in 11 patients with secondary progressive MS and finally eight patients were grafted after high-dose BEAM chemotherapy with either in vitro or in vivo T cell depletion. Median EDSS and SNRS scores at the time of inclusion were 6.

[Study of leukocyte phagocytic activity using flow cytometry and hydrophilic fluorochrome-labeled microspheric particles].

The phagocytic activity was determined in human polymorphonuclear leucocytes using the flow cytometry technique with microspheric hydrophilic particles labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Non-specific adherence of particles is discussed and normal values of phagocytic activity are presented. The advantages of this method include simplified sample preparation using whole blood, rapidity of the test, precise phagocytosis quantification and possibility of archiving all findings in a computer.

[Risk factors for ischemic heart disease in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome].

Risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) between a group of patients suffering of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a control group of healthy persons (whose exercise activity was not health-limited) were compared. Thirty three patients (27 women, 6 men, average age 39.9 +/- 11.