Activation state of circulating eosinophils in nasal polyposis.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common disease with an uncertain pathophysiology. It is characterized by polyps rich in eosinophils, with an activation status already investigated at the tissue level. In a group of CRSwNP patients, we assessed the activation status of circulating eosinophils in the blood before migration into tissues.

Oral probiotic treatment of Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 prevents visceral hypersensitivity to a colonic inflammation and an acute psychological stress.

Aims: This study evaluated the efficacy of a repeated oral treatment with two active pharmaceutical ingredients (Lcr Lenio and Lcr Restituo ) derivated from the probiotic bacterial strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 in two animal models mimicking different features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is characterized by visceral pain associated with alteration of bowel transit. IBS patients present visceral hypersensitivity with peripheral and central origins.

Slight Pro-Inflammatory Immunomodulation Properties of Dendritic Cells by Gardnerella vaginalis: The "Invisible Man" of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common genital infection in reproductive-aged women, is associated with increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. Its etiology remains unclear, especially the role of Gardnerella (G.) vaginalis, an anaerobic bacterium characteristic of the BV-alteration of the vaginal ecosystem.

Binding Potency of Heparin Immobilized on Activated Charcoal for DNA Antibodies.

In vitro experiments showed that heparin adsorbed on activated charcoal can bind antibodies raised against native and single-stranded DNA in a diluted sera pool with a high level of these DNA. Thus, heparin used as anticoagulant during hemosorption procedure can demonstrate supplementary therapeutic activity resulting from its interaction with various agents involved in acute and chronic inflammatory reactions such as DNA- and RNA-binding substances, proinflammatory cytokines, complement components, growth factors, etc. Research and development of heparin-containing carbonic adsorbents for the therapy of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases seems to be a promising avenue in hematology.

Airborne pollen levels and drug consumption for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: a 10-year study in France.

Background: Few time-series studies, and none lasting longer than 4 years, have investigated the etiology of treated seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR) on the basis of anti-allergic medication prescriptions. The aim of this article was to study the short-term relationship between pollen exposure and drug-treated SAR over 10 years in an urban area in central France.

Methods: A SAR case was defined as the association between an oral antihistamine and a local anti-allergic drug on the same prescription.

Soluble IL-2 receptor: a biomarker for assessing myositis activity.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of serum soluble IL-2R (sIL-2R) in inflammatory myopathies.

Methods: Serum sIL-2R and CK levels were determined in 27 patients with IM during periods of disease exacerbation and inactive disease and were compared to 20 healthy controls and 23 controls with noninflammatory elevated CK. The performance of sIL-2R and CK tests for assessing disease activity was compared.

Is IgG4-Related Disease a Cause of Xerostomia? A Cohort Study of 60 Patients.

Objective. Immunoglobulin-G4-(IgG4-) related disease (IgG4 RD) is a fibrosing process characterized by a significant infiltration of IgG4-secreting plasma cells. IgG4 RD can affect almost all organs including salivary glands.

Eosinophilic activity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness within an asthmatic paediatric population.

Background: Our study aims to assess the importance of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels as a non-invasive marker of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in children with asthma, and may predict objectively the asthmatic severity and sensitivities.

Methods: This study, which was carried out on 75 asthmatic patients from a paediatric population (average age: nine years old, sex-ratio M/F: 1.64), is based on both interrogation conducted by the clinician and biological explorations, essentially serological testing of ECP and eosinophilia determination, as well as the measurement of serological IgE amounts.

Dose-dependent immunomodulation of human dendritic cells by the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35.

The response of the immune system to probiotics remains controversial. Some strains modulate the cytokine production of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and induce a regulatory response, while others induce conversely a pro-inflammatory response. These strain-dependent effects are thought to be linked to specific interactions between bacteria and pattern recognition receptors.

[Allergenic environment in asthmatic children in Annaba (Algeria)].

We determined blood levels of total and specific immunoglobulins E in a cohort of 75 asthmatic children at Annaba (mean age: 9 years, sex ratio M/F: 1,64). Analysis clinical investigation and biological results allowed us to estimate the clinico-biological relations in this population. We showed that: atopy based on family criteria was very frequent (74%); the symptoms of atopy associated with asthma were frequent for atopic children (96%) whose majority (46%) had severe asthma (grade 3) that required treatment.

CFSE flow cytometric quantification of lymphocytic proliferation in extracorporeal photopheresis: use for quality control.

Quality control is essential to validate extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) processes. There is just one protocol based on PHA-induced proliferation. Since it involves the use of radioactive thymidine, we developed another technique using CFSE labeling.

Roles of capsule and lipopolysaccharide O antigen in interactions of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

In humans, Klebsiella pneumoniae is a saprophytic bacterium of the nasopharyngeal and intestinal mucosae that is also frequently responsible for severe nosocomial infections. Two major factors of virulence, capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O antigen, are involved in mucosal colonization and the development of infections. These bacterial surface structures are likely to play major roles in interactions with the mucosal immune system, which are orchestrated by a network of surveillance based on dendritic cells (DCs).

Human C3 deficiency associated with impairments in dendritic cell differentiation, memory B cells, and regulatory T cells.

Primary C3 deficiency, a rare autosomal inherited disease (OMIM 120700), was identified in a 2-year-old male suffering from recurrent pyogenic infections from early infancy with undetectable total complement hemolytic activity (CH50) and C3 values. The nonconsanguineous parents and the two patients' two siblings had 50% normal serum C3 concentration. The molecular abnormality associated a paternal allele coding C3 with the missense mutation p.

[Intra-alveolar haemorrhage without renal damage as the initial presenting feature of Goodpasture's syndrome: case report and review of literature].

Isolated pulmonary involvement in Goodpasture's syndrome is exceptionally described. We report a 36-year-old woman with pulmonary haemorrhage and review 28 additional cases of the literature. In fact, these patients had often mild urine abnormalities and constant glomerular lesions.

[Dense cytoplasmic fluorescence on Hep-2 cells: do not overlook anti-PL].

Objective: Any dense cytoplasmic fluorescence on Hep-2000 cells seen in the immunology laboratory of the Clermont-Ferrand teaching hospital was closely studied to determine the presence or not of anti-PL antibodies.

Patients And Methods: From January 2006 to January 2007, twelve patients presented a dense cytoplasmic fluorescence on Hep-2000 cells. So we activated a Hep-2 cells'slide, a triple substrate's slide and a dot in order to exclude antiribosomes and anti-JO1 antibodies.

[Crozet protocol: does a lipid-rich meal interfere with cryoglobulinemia assay?].

Cryoglobulins are serum immunoglobulins that precipitate reversibly at low temperature. It is important to determine their presence, because they can be responsible for severe complications. They can also reveal underlying conditions, in particular hepatitis C and haematological diseases.

Increase in complement component C3 is an early response to experimental magnesium deficiency in rats.

The importance of the inflammatory process in the pathology of experimental Mg-deficiency has been reconsidered but the sequence of events leading to inflammatory response remains unclear. In this study, the effect of Mg-deficiency on complement system by measuring total C3 concentration, mRNA abundance for rat pre-pro complement C3 in liver by RT-PCR, complement haemolytic activity and C3 activation by Western Blot was studied. Weaning male Wistar rats were fed either Mg-deficient or control experimental diets for 2 or 8 days.

[Analysis of eosinophilia and ECP levels in blood and nasal secretions of 119 nasal polyposis patients].

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to determine eosinophilia and ECP (Eosinophilic Cationic Protein) levels in blood and in nasal secretions of patients with nasal polyposis (NP).

Patients: 119 patients with NP were prospectively studied. The control group included 25 patients.

High magnesium concentration in vitro decreases human leukocyte activation.

In view of experimental data suggesting that pharmacological magnesium (Mg) therapy could be expected to temper hypersensitivity, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of in vitro high Mg concentration (8 mmol/l vs. 0.8 mmol/l) on human leukocyte activation.

Is the neutrophil reactive oxygen species production measured by luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence intra or extracellular? Comparison with DCFH-DA flow cytometry and cytochrome c reduction.

Background: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are crucial in host defense against invading microorganisms through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, generated ROS released in excess into media can damage the host tissue. It is therefore essential, when exploring oxygen species production, to discriminate between its intracellular (IC) and extracellular (EC) localization.

Increased phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils during magnesium deficiency in rats and inhibition by high magnesium concentration.

Recent studies underline the importance of the immunoinflammatory processes in the pathology of Mg deficiency. Neutrophils possess a superoxide anion-generating NADPH oxidase and its inappropriate activation may result in tissue damage. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of experimental Mg deficiency in the rat on polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) activity and the role of increasing extracellular Mg.

Effects of ornithine 2-oxoglutarate on neutrophils in stressed rats: evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide and polyamines.

Diets enriched in ornithine 2-oxoglutarate (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate; OKG) improve immune status during stress. We described previously the ability of OKG to increase the respiratory burst in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OKG is usually recognized as generating glutamine, arginine and polyamines.