Near-fatal poisoning after ricin injection.

Objective: To report a near-fatal poisoning after intentional injection of ricin from a castor bean () extract.

Case Report: A 21 year-old man self-injected ∼3 mL of a castor bean extract intramuscularly and subcutaneously in the left antecubital fossa. Upon admission to our ED (1 h post-exposure; day 1, D1) he was awake and alert, but complained of mild local pain and showed slight local edema and erythema.

Effect of ArtinM on Human Blood Cells During Infection With .

Infections caused by fungi are prominent in our environment and can be potentially fatal. paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by fungi of the genus, is the most frequent systemic mycosis in Brazil and the main cause of death among immunocompetent individuals. The antifungal therapy for PCM is usually effective but side effects and relapses are often reported.

Preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide, and not the inflammation status, predicts an adverse outcome for patients undergoing heart surgery.

Objectives: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and inflammatory markers are implicated in the pathophysiology of both ischemic cardiomyopathy and complications after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The purpose of this study was to assess preoperative and postoperative levels of BNP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB and investigate their variation and ability to correlate with immediate outcome.

Methods: Plasma levels of these markers were measured preoperatively, 6 and 24 h after CBP in 62 patients.

Reduced expression of systemic proinflammatory and myocardial biomarkers after off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a prospective randomized study.

Background: The effects of off-pump (OffPCABG) and on-pump (OnPCABG) coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on myocardium and inflammation are unclear.

Objective: Compare the inflammatory response and myocardial injury from patients (pts) submitted to OffPCABG with those that undergo OnPCABG.

Methods: Patients with normal left ventricular function were assigned to OffPCABG (n = 40) and OnPCABG (n = 41).

Differences in the inflammatory response between patients with and those without diabetes mellitus after coronary stenting.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus who undergo coronary stenting are at increased risk of restenosis. It is known that inflammation plays a crucial role in restenosis.

Objective: We assessed the inflammatory response to elective coronary stent implantation (CSI) in stable diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Serum levels of interleukin-6 (Il-6), interleukin-18 (Il-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with type-2 diabetes and acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation.

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease, and serum levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 18 (IL-18) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are used to evaluate patients with coronary artery disease. In patients with type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis is related to a larger number of events such as myocardial infarction and death, when compared with patients without diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate the inflammatory response in patients with diabetes and acute events of coronary instability.

Up-regulation of NADPH oxidase components and increased production of interferon-gamma by leukocytes from sickle cell disease patients.

We have previously demonstrated that mononuclear leukocytes from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) release higher amounts of superoxide compared with normal controls. The aim of this study was to further study the NADPH oxidase system in these patients by investigating gene expression of NADPH oxidase components, phosphorylation of p47(phox) component, and the release of cytokines related to NADPH oxidase activation in mononuclear leukocytes from patients with SCD. gp91(phox) gene expression was significantly higher in monocytes from SCD patients compared with normal controls (P=0.

Pentoxifylline reduces pro-inflammatory and increases anti-inflammatory activity in patients with coronary artery disease--a randomized placebo-controlled study.

The balance between different immunological stimuli is essential in the progression and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Immune regulation has been suggested as potential target for the treatment of atherosclerotic disease. We sought to determine whether treatment with pentoxifylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with immunomodulating properties, could reduce the pro-inflammatory response observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and increase anti-inflammatory activity.

Regression of coronary artery outward remodeling in patients with non-ST-segment acute coronary syndromes: a longitudinal study using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: The association of plaques with outward arterial remodeling and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has been mostly investigated by cross-sectional intravascular ultrasound studies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made it possible to noninvasively assess the coronary vessels of patients with chronic coronary artery disease, but no study has been done in patients with ACS. We sought to serially investigate changes in coronary vessel walls of patients with ACS using noninvasive serial MRI.

Differences in human antioxidized LDL autoantibodies in patients with stable and unstable angina.

Background: Autoantibodies to oxidized LDL (anti-oxLDL) have been found in the serum of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was designed to compare the differences in anti-oxLDL titers and isotypes in unstable and stable angina patients and to correlate these results with known markers of active inflammation in CAD.

Methods: Thirty patients from a tertiary referral general hospital with documented CAD were studied.

Increased Th1 activity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Atherosclerotic lesions are mainly composed of macrophages and T lymphocytes. Specific T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) inducible chemokines have been shown to be present in these lesions, modulating the local immunologic response. To explore whether this increase in Th1 activity could also be detected in circulating cells indicating a systemic activation, we studied the peripheral expression of Th1 cytokines and chemokines in patients with coronary artery disease and controls.

Negative immunodiffusion test results obtained with sera of paracoccidioidomycosis patients may be related to low-avidity immunoglobulin G2 antibodies directed against carbohydrate epitopes.

Immunodiffusion (ID) is the serologic test most frequently used for the diagnosis and posttherapy follow-up of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). The ID test is highly specific (100%), but its sensitivity is relatively low (90%), leading to false-negative results. The aim of this study was to determine the profiles of antibodies in sera from patients with proven PCM and with negative results in the ID test (IDneg) versus positive results in the ID test (IDpos).

Cytokines and lymphocyte proliferation in juvenile and adult forms of paracoccidioidomycosis: comparison with infected and non-infected controls.

Cellular immune response to Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis antigens (PbAg) was evaluated in patients with the juvenile (JF) and adult (AF) forms of paracoccidioidomycosis as well as in a group of infected individuals living in the endemic area but without any clinical manifestation of the disease. The immune profile of this group of paracoccidioidomycosis-infected individuals was characterized by: 1) a positive skin test to P. brasiliensis antigen; 2) absence of specific antibodies; 3) a vigorous lymphoproliferative response to PbAg; and 4) a typical Th1 pattern of cytokines, with production of IFN-gamma and basal levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10.