Enhanced Production of IL-10 in PCR-Positive Dogs Infected with and Facilitate Specific Immune Responses.

Infection of dogs with the tick-borne rickettsiae and provokes an immune response mediating the pathology and bacterial resistance. IL-10 is the main anti-inflammatory cytokine and plays a multifaceted role in host protection. The study aimed to investigate circulating IL-10 in 32 dogs naturally infected with and , identified by PCR positivity, and 33 PCR-negative animals which tested positive for antibodies against these pathogens, as well as 22 healthy animals.

An Elevated mRNA Combined with Lower mRNA Level in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Peripheral Blood.

We aimed to investigate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes , , , , and immunoregulatory genes , , and in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level. The total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to perform TaqMan-based assays to quantify mRNAs from 8 target genes.

and Species in Ticks Collected from Two Regions of Bulgaria.

The aim of the study was to determine prevalence of -infected ticks in the Black Sea Coast and the Pleven regions of Bulgaria. A total of 350 ticks from different tick species were collected. Two hundred fifty-five ticks were removed from dogs in the Black Sea Coast region, and 95 ticks were collected by flagging vegetation with a white flannel cloth in two areas in the region of Pleven.

A Strategy for Controlling Motions Related to Sensory Information in a Walking Robot Big Foot.

Acquiring adequate sensory information and using it to provide motor control are important issues in the process of creating walking robots. The objective of this article is to present control algorithms for the optimization of the walking cycle of an innovative walking robot named "Big Foot". The construction of the robot is based on minimalist design principles-only two motors are used, with which Big Foot can walk and even overcome obstacles.

Influence of and Promoter Polymorphisms on Serum Cytokine Levels in Development and Severity of RA.

In our study, we focused on the role of the immunosuppressive cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-10 in RA and, in particular, the influence of the -1082 A/G (rs1800896) and -509C/T (rs1800469) promoter polymorphisms on their levels as a prerequisite for RA and disease activity clinical features. We found significantly higher IL-10 and lower TGF-β1 serum levels in women with RA than in controls. Patients who carried the -1082AA and AG genotypes had significantly higher levels of lnIL-10 compared to GG in contrast to healthy women carrying the same genotypes.

Cutaneous Manifestations and Their Corresponding Dermoscopic Features in Patients with Dermatomyositis.

Introduction: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive and easy to apply technique that allows in vivo magnification of the skin and thus observation of morphologic structures invisible to the naked eye. Recently, it gained popularity for evaluation of inflammatory skin conditions. In the field of connective tissue diseases, dermoscopy has been used mainly as a simple and accessible substitute of nailfold capillaroscopy.

Prevalence of Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Kaylaka Park in Pleven, Bulgaria.

We aimed to determine the presence and distribution of sensu lato (s.l.) in ticks collected from urbanized and wild areas in Kaylaka Park (Bulgaria).

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are a heterogeneous group of clinical entities sharing a common feature-an impairment of structural components like collagen and elastin, arising by autoimmune mechanisms. Because most patients are on a long-term immunosuppressive therapy, which renders them vulnerable to infections, a new challenge appears in front of physicians in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. Immune mechanisms are substantial for the control and ceasing of viral infections, and their impairment may cause serious complications; however, data from immunosuppressed transplant patients do not reveal a higher frequency or diseases' severity in those infected by COVID-19.

Paraneoplastic Dermatomyositis in a Patient with Metastatic Gastric Carcinoma.

Dear Editor, Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis is a distinct clinical variant of dermatomyositis (DM) in which the typical cutaneous features and muscle weakness appear before, simultaneously, or after the diagnosis of an internal malignancy. It occurs in approximately one-third of patients with DM, predominantly adults, after the age of 40 (1). Different neoplasms have been described in association with DM, the most common of which are lung, breast, ovarian, gastrointestinal, prostate, and bladder cancers.

Association between TNFA, IL10 and IL18 promoter gene variants and cognitive functions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between TNFA-308G > A, IL10-1082A > G, IL18-607C > A, and cognitive functioning in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Results: In the patients' group: AG genotype of TNFA-308G > A was associated with higher serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) than GG genotype, and higher TNF-alpha levels correlated with poorer results on Symbol Digit Modalities Test; CC genotype of IL18-607C > A was related to lower score on Isaacs test, compared to AC variant; AA genotype of IL10-1082A > G was associated with abnormally low results on Paced Auditory Series Addition Test.

Conclusions: TNFA-308G > A, IL10-1082A > G and IL18-607C > A gene variants may be associated with impaired cognitive functions in RRMS patients.

Interleukin-6 compared to the other Th17/Treg related cytokines in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

Background: The connection between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) is well-established, as persistent intestinal inflammation plays a substantial role in both disorders. Cytokines may further influence the inflammation and the carcinogenesis process.

Aim: To compare cytokine patterns of active IBD patients with early and advanced CRC.

High interleukin-18 and low FOXP3 mRNAs in peripheral blood of women with severe systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study.

Gene expression analysis of peripheral blood cells may provide valuable information about the triggered molecular processes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study aimed to quantify the mRNA in peripheral blood of seven target genes, including inflammatory cytokine genes (IL23A, IL12B, TNFA, IL18), and T regulatory-related genes (FOXP3, TGFB1, IL10) in patients with SLE and to correlate expression levels with disease activity and/or clinical manifestations. The relative quantification of target genes was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood obtained from 28 adult SLE females and 17 healthy women.

Rowell's Syndrome Triggered by Omeprazole.

Dear Editor, Rowell's syndrome is a rare disease, characterized by the appearance of erythema multiforme (EM)-like lesions in patients with lupus erythematosus. It was initially reported by Rowell (1) in 1963 and its existence as a separate clinical entity is currently under debate (2,3). A few cases may have been induced by drugs such as systemic antimycotics, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and more recently proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Impact of Polymorphisms on Genetic Susceptibility and IL-12p40 and IL-23 Serum Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association of gene polymorphisms with serum levels of IL-12p40, IL-23 and genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Bulgarian population. Genotyping for (rs17860508) and A/C - 3' UTR (rs3212227) polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods in 125 RA patients and 239 healthy controls. The IL-23 and IL-12p40 serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids provoke a specific transcriptional profile in rabbit adipose-derived stem cells in vitro.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) possess multipotent properties, and their proper functionality is essential for further development of metabolic disorders. In the current study, we explored the impact of two n-3 LC-PUFAs (long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, DHA-docosahexaenoic; C22:6, and EPA-eicosapentaenoic; C20:5) on a specific profile of lipolytic-related gene expressions in the in vitro-differentiated subcutaneous and visceral ADSCs from rabbits. The subcutaneous and visceral ADSCs were obtained from 28-day-old New Zealand rabbits.

IL12B gene polymorphisms have sex-specific effects in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

IL-12-family cytokines play a pivotal role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether two polymorphisms in IL12B gene, rs17860508 and rs3212227, are associated with RRMS, and to define their function effect on serum level of IL-12p40 and IL-23 and degree of disability in RRMS cases. In total 156 Bulgarian patients with Expanded Disability Status Scale score ranging from 1.

Genetic variations in the IL-12B gene in association with IL-23 and IL-12p40 serum levels in ankylosing spondylitis.

In the present study, we evaluated the implication of IL12Bpro (rs17860508) and IL12B 3' UTR A/C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3212227) for the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) development and the impact of IL12B genetic variations on IL-23 and IL-12p40 production and musculoskeletal disease characteristics. 80 patients with AS and 242 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping for the rs3212227 was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for the rs17860508 by allele-specific PCR.