The Impact of the IL-10 Gene Polymorphism on mRNA Expression and IL-10 Serum Concentration in Polish Lupus Patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies against a lot of nuclear components. Despite many studies on the genetic background of this disease, the pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of the study is to comprehensively evaluate the polymorphism of the IL-10 promoter gene, its mRNA expression, and the serum IL-10 concentration of SLE female patients and females age-matched controls.

Addison's Disease in the Course of Recurrent Microangiopathic Antiphospholipid Syndrome-A Clinical Presentation and Review of the Literature.

The article presents a male patient with adrenocortical insufficiency in the course of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It also describes recurrent exacerbations of his clinical status, characteristic of microangiopathic antiphospholipid syndrome (MAPS) which had been misdiagnosed as a disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) syndrome due to sepsis with multi-organ failure, including heart, kidneys, and liver. Issues related to pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, differential diagnosis, and treatment of APS in the context of presently distinguished subtypes of this syndrome have been addressed.

The impact of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) on the development of blood vessel damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the preliminary study.

Vascular injury represents one of the most frequent lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of the study was to assess the influence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs) on the development of endothelial cell (EC) activation, dysfunction and subsequent vasculitis in women with SLE. Fifty six women with SLE were divided into 2 subgroups, i.

Abnormal portal vein waveform as an indicator of constrictive pericarditis - a case report.

We report a case of a 17-year-old patient referred to our outpatient Doppler Department due to clinical suspicion of liver cirrhosis. The patient presented with non-specific symptoms, such as malaise, pain in the right subcostal region, peripheral oedema. Until then, diagnostic imaging, including echocardiography was inconclusive.

Post-Lyme disease syndrome.

About 10% of patients with Lyme disease continue to experience musculoskeletal pain and cognitive dysfunction after recommended antibiotic treatment. This condition is called post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS) or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. These two terms are used interchangeably.

Pentraxin 3 as a biomarker of local inflammatory response to vascular injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder with organ injury related to vasculitis. Inflammation of blood vessels results from auto-immunological activation of endothelial cells. The pentraxin 3 (PTX3), might act as an indicator of vasculitides in many diseases.

Assessment of selected B cells populations in the workers of X-ray departments.

Objectives: Workers of X-ray departments are occupationally exposed to long-term low levels of ionizing radiation (LLIR), which may affect their humoral immunity. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of LLIR on the number and proportion of B cells (CD19+), B1 cells (CD5+CD19+) and memory B cells (CD27+CD19+) in peripheral blood of such workers.

Materials And Methods: In the study group of 47 X-ray departments workers and the control group consisting of 38 persons, the number and percentage of CD19+, CD5+CD19+, CD27+CD19+ cells as well as CD5+CD19+/CD19+ and CD27+CD19+/CD19+ cell ratios were assessed using flow cytometry.

Ultrasonography of the tongue in macroglossia - a case report.

This paper is an attempt to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of the enlargement of the tongue (macroglossia). The role of sonography in diagnosing local pathologies of the tongue, such as neoplasms, abscesses or granulomas, has been well-established for 20 years. Rarely is its usefulness considered with respect to diagnosing macroglossia with concomitant systemic diseases.

Long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in the light of its structure, mechanism of action and clinical implications.

Pentraxins are a group of evolutionarily conserved ancient proteins. Depending on their structure, pentraxins are divided into short and long pentraxin families. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is the prototype of the long pentraxin group.

Annexin A5 and anti-annexin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Plasma levels of annexin A5 (ANX A5) and anti-annexin A5 (aANX A5) antibodies were evaluated in 51 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The results were compared between the total SLE group, subgroups on/without immunosuppressive therapy and the control (28 women). The relationships between ANX A5/aANX A5 antibodies levels and laboratory variables (anti-cardiolipin antibodies-aCL, total cholesterol, thrombocyte count, activated partial thromboplastin time-APTT, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio-INR) were performed in the total SLE group and in the patient subgroups identified as the arithmetic mean of ANX A5 concentration in the control plus 1-4 standard deviations (SD).

Selected angiogenic cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the serum concentration of angiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF; transforming growth factor beta, TGF-beta1; hepatic growth factor, HGF; basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF; tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-alpha; soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, sVEGF-R1; soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, sVEGF-R2), the relationships among them and to assess the relation of their levels with the applied therapy in 48 females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 37 long-term treated +11 newly diagnosed). The control group consisted of 24 healthy women. A statistically significant increase of sVEGF-R2 and significant decrease of sVEGF-R1 were observed in the subgroup of newly diagnosed SLE patients as compared to the control subjects.

Vasculopathy and vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease, where vascular lesions are one of the typical symptoms. The pathological process often involves skin vessels, renal glomeruli, the cardiovascular system, brain, lung alveoli, and gastrointestinal tract vessels. This review presents possible adverse mechanisms underlying the cause and effect relationship of various factors causing vascular lesions in SLE patients.

Expression of cellular isoform of prion protein on the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes among women exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation affects the expression of adhesive and co-stimulatory molecules in lymphocytes. The physiological function of cellular isoform of prion protein (PrPc) is little known. Evidences indicate a link between lymphocytes activation and PrPc expression on their surface; however, no direct effect of radiation on PrPc level in these cells was investigated.

Assessment of blood serum immunoglobulin and C-reactive protein concentrations in workers of x-ray diagnostics units.

Objectives: Workers of x-ray departments are occupationally exposed to long-term low levels of ionizing radiation. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of occupational exposure of low-level x-ray radiation on immunoglobulin and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in radiology workers.

Materials And Methods: In the study group of 41 x-ray department workers and the control group composed of 32 persons, immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA) and CRP concentrations were analyzed.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: a case report.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a rare benign cervical lymphadenopathy, which often affects young adult women. Its etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. We present the case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in the Polish population and analyse the difficulties in differentiating this disease from the systemic lupus erythematosus.

HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and gene polymorphisms of selected cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic profiles of selected cytokines (transforming growth factor beta 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, interferon gamma, and interleukin-10) in systemic lupus erythematosus and the contributions of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles to susceptibility for this disease.

Patients And Methods: The study was carried out in 24 SLE patients and 36 healthy controls (from Upper Silesia) using polymerase chain reaction methods. All persons were of Caucasoid origin.