An Observational Study on Chronic Pain Biomarkers in Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis Patients: Which Role for Mu Opioid Receptor's Expression on NK Cells?

The evaluation of chronic pain is challenging because of the lack of specific biomarkers. We identified the Mu opioid receptor-positive (Mu+) B cell percentage of expression, named Mu-Lympho-Marker (MLM), as a candidate marker for chronic pain in fibromyalgia (FM) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Here, we investigate the role of MLM on natural killer (NK) cells in the same patients.

PCSK9 Regulates Nox2-Mediated Platelet Activation via CD36 Receptor in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: High levels of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) is predictive of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that PCSK9 may directly induce platelet activation (PA).

Methods: We measured platelet aggregation, recruitment, Thromboxane B2 (TxB2) formation and soluble P-selectin levels as markers of PA and soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp), HO, isoprostanes and oxidized Low-Density-Lipoprotein (oxLDL) to analyze oxidative stress (OS) in 88 patients having PCSK9 values < ( = 44) or > ( = 44) 1.

Gut-derived endotoxin stimulates factor VIII secretion from endothelial cells. Implications for hypercoagulability in cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Patients with cirrhosis display enhanced blood levels of factor VIII, which may result in harmful activation of the clotting system; however, the underlying mechanism is unknown.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients with cirrhosis (n=61) and matched controls (n=61) comparing blood levels of factor VIII, von Willebrand factor (vWf), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and positivity for Escherichia coli DNA. Furthermore, we performed an in vitro study to investigate if LPS, in a concentration range similar to that found in the peripheral circulation of cirrhotic patients, was able to elicit factor VIII secretion from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Sporadic Blau syndrome with a double CARD15 mutation. Report of a case with lifelong follow-up.

Blau syndrome (MIM 186580) is a rare granulomatous disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner characterized by the early appearance of granulomatous arthritis, skin rash and anterior uveitis. Missense mutations in CARD15, usually on codon 334, have been described in several families with Blau syndrome. The disorder has been described as familial; here we report the first evidence of a sporadic case of Blau syndrome in a 19 year-old man with two CARD15 mutations (R334Q and G908R).

Time course of radiologic lesions in spinal hyperostosis: an osteoradiometric study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes over time in the flowing spinal ossification characteristic of spinal hyperostosis. Thirty-two patients were studied. A QR-ORM osteoradiometry apparatus was used to measure variations in the surface area of the ossification on radiographs obtained after three, ten, and 20 years.

Long-term follow-up of low-dose methotrexate therapy in one case of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is characterized by the development of a fibrotic mass surrounding the abdominal aorta and its branches, of unknown aetiology. Several immunological mechanisms can be operative in the pathogenesis of RPF. Based on this assumption we treated a patient affected by idiopathic RPF with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy.