Alterations in innate immune responses of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis related to cystic fibrosis.

The role of phagocytes of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) associated with different phenotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phagocytic capacity of blood neutrophils and monocytes and production of superoxide anion by phagocytes in patients with CF with or without chronic rhinosinusitis and with or without nasal polyps (NP). This cross-sectional study was established in 2015-2017 in a tertiary reference center to the CF treatment, Brasilia, Brazil.

Phagocytic activity of monocytes and neutrophils in patients with periodontitis, whether or not associated to type 2 diabetes.

Phagocytic functions by neutrophils/ monocytes and biochemical parameters were assessed in peripheral blood of patients with periodontitis, whether or not associated to type 2 diabetes, or patients with type 2 diabetes, or systemically healthy people. Fifty-eight participants were divided into four groups: Control - systemically and periodontally healthy patients (C, n=16), Periodontitis (P, n=14), Type 2 Diabetes (DM, n=11) and Periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes (DMP, n=17). Blood samples were used to analyze phagocytic activity and the production of superoxide anion using optical microscopy.

Quantification of lipid bodies in monocytes from patients with periodontitis.

Objectives: For the first time in the history of periodontics, the production of lipid bodies by monocytes was assessed from blood of patients with periodontitis in comparison to systemically healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to compare the lipid body frequency within monocytes between healthy patients and those with periodontal disease.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 participants (11 males and 19 females), were divided between orally healthy control subjects (C, n = 16) and periodontitis subjects (P, n = 14), in a cross-sectional study.

Mechanical Periodontal Therapy Recovered the Phagocytic Function of Monocytes in Periodontitis.

Background: Several studies have focused on the association between periodontitis and systemic implications; however, the biological mechanisms of the immune responses before and after periodontal therapy involved in this relationship, such as phagocytic functions, remain unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether periodontal treatment improves the phagocytic function of blood monocytes in patients with severe periodontitis. .

Atomic Force Microscopy Is a Potent Technique to Study Eosinophil Activation.

Eosinophils are multifunctional cells with several functions both in healthy individuals, and those with several diseases. Increased number and morphological changes in eosinophils have been correlated with the severity of an acute asthma exacerbation. We measured eosinophils obtained from healthy controls and individuals with acute asthma using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Effect of piplartine and cinnamides on Leishmania amazonensis, Plasmodium falciparum and on peritoneal cells of Swiss mice.

Context: Plants of the Piperaceae family produce piplartine that was used to synthesize the cinnamides.

Objective: To assess the effects of piplartine (1) and cinnamides (2-5) against the protozoa responsible for malaria and leishmaniasis, and peritoneal cells of Swiss mice.

Materials And Methods: Cultures of Leishmania amazonensis, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, and peritoneal cells were incubated, in triplicate, with different concentrations of the compounds (0 to 256 μg/mL).

Enhanced neutrophil phagocytic capacity in rheumatoid arthritis related to the autoantibodies rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides.

Background: There is no consensus on the mechanisms by which anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) influence the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study verified if the presence of RF or anti-CCP is associated with phagocytic capacity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by phagocytes in RA patients to better clarify the role played by these antibodies in pathogenesis of the disease.

Methods: A cohort of 30 RA patients followed from early stages of the disease were characterized by positivity for RF or anti-CCP, disease activity score (DAS-28), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), use of synthetic or biologic therapy, lifestyle, comorbidities and radiographic erosions.

Inhaled corticosteroid treatment for 6 months was not sufficient to normalize phagocytosis in asthmatic children.

Background: Corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for asthma; however, the effect of corticosteroids on the innate immune system remains unclear. This study's objective was to evaluate the effect of inhaled corticosteroid therapy (ICT) on phagocytic functions.

Methods: To evaluate the impact of ICT, the phagocytosis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by blood monocytes and neutrophils and the production of superoxide anions were assessed before and after three and six months of ICT treatment in 58 children with persistent asthma and 21 healthy controls.