IgG,kappa monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance with AL amyloidosis simulating giant cell arteritis.

Monoclonal gammopathies complicated by AL amyloidosis can mimic giant cell arteritis (GCA). We hereby present the case of a 63 year old woman in whom symptoms consistent with GCA were the first manifestations of a monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) associated with amyloidosis. A 63 year old woman was admitted for temporal headache, maseterine claudication, neck and shoulder stiffness.

Quantification and molecular characterization of regulatory T cells in connective tissue diseases.

The aim of our study was to investigate and characterize regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with connective tissue diseases (Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, poly- and dermatomyositis) as compared with blood from healthy controls. Treg cells were quantified and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry while the expression level of Foxp3 mRNA was evaluated by real time PCR. A reduced percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was found in patients than in controls, irrespective of the type of connective tissue disease.

[Wegener granulomatosis with severe alveolar hemorrhagic syndrome].

The article presents the case of a female admitted for the suspicion of pulmonary TB (clinical and radiological pattern compatible with this diagnosis), in which the lack of bacteriological confirmation together with a rapid and dramatic deterioration of clinical, radiological and functional status excluded tuberculosis and oriented the diagnosis towards a severe alveolar hemorrhage; further tests confirmed a Wegener granulomatosis with pulmonary, renal and ORL manifestations. The evolution was rapidly favorable using pulse-therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone i.v.

Roles of CD147 on T lymphocytes activation and MMP-9 secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in many abnormalities described in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are still unclear. Some of these abnormalities referred to the hyperactivation of T lymphocytes and the enhanced secretion of MMP-9 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Therefore, in this paper we investigated the potential role of CD147 molecule in these abnormalities.

Plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetics.

Background: Type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), being characterized by a continuous low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation state. Atherosclerotic lesions occur in diabetic patients at an earlier age with severe clinical manifestations and poor outcome. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (PLA2-LDL), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and paraoxonase (PON), enzymes implicated in the evolution of endothelial dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes.

Patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and coronary microvascular dysfunction--a distinct clinical subset.

Unlabelled: Morbidity of patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is high. Impairment of microvascular endothelial function has been suggested to be a mechanism of the disease. The study was undertaken to assess some of the characteristics of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (pAPS) and CSX.

Limited Wegener's disease presenting as pharyngolaryngeal tumor.

Wegener's disease (WD) which is mostly a systemic illness rarely presents as isolated, monoorganic, limited disease. Limited pharyngolaryngeal WD is thus a very rare occurrence. We report the case of a 29 years old man who developed a pharyngolaryngeal tumor with clinically benign evolution, histologically showing granulomatous inflammation and small vessel vasculitis, with no signs of: tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, fungal disease, Hodgkin's disease or foreign body aspiration.

Clinical particularities in a Romanian series of Behcet's disease patients.

Behcet's disease (BD) is characterized by a great geographic diversity of clinico-evolutive features. We identify the main clinical characteristics in our series as compared to other data in international literature. We studied 36 patients (16 women and 20 men) with BD fulfilling International Study Group for Behcet's Disease (ISGBD) criteria.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in patients with chronic stable angina (preliminary results).

Coronary atherosclerotic disease is related to endothelial inflammation and dysfunction, thrombosis and plaque instability. Different inflammatory markers are studied in stable angina and coronary acute syndromes, in order to stratify better the risk and to prevent the cardiovascular events. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) represent a complex with proinflammatory actions, possibly related to progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

The significance of human platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase in patients with chronic stable angina.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory reactions within coronary atherosclerotic plaques are increasingly thought to be crucial determinants of the clinical course in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is considered to reflect the ongoing inflammatory process in patients with CAD. Our objective was to determine the activity of PAF-AH in patients with stable angina and its correlations to lipoprotein levels and the inflammatory status of the patient.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its natural inhibitor TIMP-1 expressed or secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was involved in inflammation and immune system dysfunctions. Besides immunologic abnormalities, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also presents chronic inflammatory components. Therefore, a role of MMP-9 in SLE pathology might be supposed.

Significance of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase in patients with non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus.

Background: Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), being characterized by a continuous low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation state. Plasma platelet - activating factor - acetylhydrolases (PAF-AHs) are a subgroup of Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) family (also known as lipoprotein-associated phospholipases A(2)) that hydrolyze and inactivate the lipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) and/or oxidized phospholipids. This enzyme is considered to play an important role in inflammatory diseases and atherosclerosis.

The antiphospholipid antibodies.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) are a group of autoantibodies directed against certain phospholipids, or their protein cofactors. Assay of APLAs is important because their interaction with anionic phospholipid-protein cofactors can generate a syndrome of hypercoagulability associated with a wide variety of thromboembolic events. This article presents the characteristics of some APLAs [anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLAs), lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies (anti-beta2-GPIAs)], their action, and their interaction with blood and endothelial cells.

Familial lupus anticoagulant.

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is defined by widespread arterial and venous thromboses associated with elevated plasma levels of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA). The primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (PAPS) appear to be a fairly homogeneous disease, and HLA, family and other studies provide new insights into this cause of thrombosis and vascular disease. We describe two patients with PAPS (lupus anticoagulant positive), whose family members were analyzed for clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with APS.

Pycnogenol efficacy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

A pilot study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol treatment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Eleven SLE patients were treated with first line medication according to disease activity and in addition, six of them received Pycnogenol and five a placebo. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), serum anti-dsDNA antibodies, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by neutrophils, spontaneous apoptosis and p56(lck) specific activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated.

Dysregulation of p56lck kinase in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In this study we investigated one of the possible mechanisms of p56lck down-regulation in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients and we correlated p56lck dysregulation with accelerated apoptosis in SLE PBLs. PBLs from SLE patients and healthy donors were isolated. p56lck protein expression and lck mRNA level were estimated by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, respectively.

p56lck activity and expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

In this study we analyzed the activity and the expression of p56lck protein tyrosine kinase in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and from healthy donors. The p56lck activity, determined by a non-radioactive Tyrosine Kinase Assay Kit, was significantly higher in active SLE PBLs and discriminated this group of patients from inactive SLE patients (p = 0.002) and healthy donors (p = 0.

Tyrosine phosphorylation in peripheral lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A comparative study of tyrosine phosphorylation was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and from healthy donors. Freshly isolated SLE lymphocytes presented an elevated tyrosine phosphorylation level when compared to healthy donors lymphocytes (p = 0.005).

Oxidant stress and antioxidant protection in lupus nephropathy.

In a group of 65 patients with lupus nephropathy the level of lipid peroxidation and of the capacity of antioxidant protection was followed up as influenced by the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), of catalase (CAT) and of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as of the concentration of glutathione. The determinations were made in total blood and the results were compared with those obtained in a control group of 30 apparently healthy subjects. The degree of lipid peroxidation seemed to be correlated with the extent of proteinuria.

Lipid peroxidation in autoimmune systemic vasculitides. Effect of corticoid treatment on lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant protection with vitamin E.

The effect of treatment with prednisone on lipid peroxidation and on lipid metabolism generally and the effect of vitamin E on plasma lipid peroxidation were studied in a group of patients with autoimmune systemic vasculitides. Vitamin E total plasma antioxidant capacity was determined to ascertain the antioxidant efficiency of vitamin E. Treatment with prednisone was found to induce disturbances of the lipid metabolism at the level of total cholesterol and of triglycerides.

Lipid peroxidation and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes in patients with systemic vasculitides treated with corticoids.

The level of lipid peroxidation and the activity of superoxide dismutase and of catalase as antioxidant enzymes were studied in 54 patients with systemic vasculitides with autoimmune pathogeny as well as in a control group of patients of the same age and sex. The patients were distributed into a group without treatment, a group treated with prednisone and a group treated with prednisone and vitamin E. Lipid peroxidation is attenuated by the addition of vitamin E while the activity of the antioxidant enzymes studied in the same groups of patients is not significantly changed.

Is cardiac involvement in collagen diseases important? A clinical study in 917 patients.

Cardiac involvement in collagen diseases was studied in 917 patients representing all the cases of collagen diseases diagnosed in the "N. Gh. Lupu" Institute of Internal Medicine between 1985 and 1987.

The systemic vasculitides.

The systemic vasculitides include a heterogenous group of diseases, characterized by inflammatory and necrotic lesions of the vessel walls, with subsequent ischemic changes in different organs. Various factors are incriminated in the vasculitides etiology, despite the fact that, in most of the cases, the etiologic agents are unknown. The pathogenic mechanisms are generally mediated through circulant immune complexes, which induce the inflammatory reaction at the vessel wall site, accompanied by complex immune reactions.

Cardiac involvement in progressive systemic sclerosis and polymyositis: a comparative study in 116 patients.

A comparative study was carried out in 116 patients-51 with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and 65 with polymyositis (PM) to detect the cardiac involvements secondary to these two collagen diseases. Different forms of cardiac involvement could be detected in 51% of the patients with PSS and in 18.5% of those with PM.

The Bucharest multifactorial prevention trial. The changes of morbidity and of general and specific mortality.

The paper presents the results of the Bucharest multifactorial prevention trial of coronary heart disease, concerning changes in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during the first 5-year-period of follow-up. The age adjusted 5-year-rates disclose important reductions in the intervention group in comparison with the control one: for hard events (myocardial infarction, stroke, acute coronary insufficiency)--by 41%; for myocardial infarction--by 35%; for coronary mortality--by 38%; for stroke--by 39%; for cardiovascular mortality--by 30%. The decrease of hard events, myocardial infarction and stroke incidences are statistical significant.