Outcome of Patients With Lupus Nephritis Treated With an Anti-CD40 Monoclonal Antibody According to Kidney Biopsy Features.

Objective: A phase 2 trial tested different doses of the anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody BI 655064 as an add-on therapy to the standard of care in patients with class III or IV lupus nephritis (LN) with active disease. A post hoc analysis showed a potential benefit of the higher tested doses (180 and 240 mg) versus a low dose (120 mg) or placebo. We investigated whether the treatment effect of BI 655064 on kidney outcomes may be modified by the presence of glomerular monocytes, a target for this drug with a well-known role in LN pathogenesis.

Corrigendum to "Changing Phenotypes and Clinical Outcomes Over Time in Microscopic Polyangiitis" [ Volume 8, Issue 10, October 2023, Pages 2107-2116].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.

Nonlupus Full House Nephropathy: A Systematic Review.

Key Points: Nonlupus full house nephropathy is a rare, complex entity: confusion arises by the low-quality evidence and the lack of consensus on nomenclature. This systematic review supports that systemic lupus erythematosus and nonlupus full house nephropathy are distinct clinical entities, with comparable outcomes. The identification of three pathogenetic categories provides further clues for a shared clinical and diagnostic approach to the disease.

Changing Phenotypes and Clinical Outcomes Over Time in Microscopic Polyangiitis.

Introduction: Diagnosis and management of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) have evolved considerably over the past decades, but it is unknown whether clinical and histological presentation and patient and renal outcomes have changed accordingly.

Methods: We compared clinical and histopathological characteristic at diagnosis, risk of death, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and relapse rate in patients diagnosed with MPA between 1980 and 2022, after grouping them in 2 periods (p): p1980-2001 and p2002-2022. We compared the mortality rate between the 2 periods using Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox-regression, and competing risks of ESKD and death using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, Fine-Gray multiple regression, and multistate models.

A Prospective Observational Study on the Role of Immunohistochemical Expression of Orphanin in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Recurrence.

To date, histological biomarkers expressed by laryngeal cancer are poorly known. The identification of biomarkers associated with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), would help explain the tumorogenesis and prevent the possible recurrence of the lesion after treatment. For this reason, the aim of this study is to investigate, for the first time, the Orphanin expression in 48 human specimens of laryngeal SCC and evaluate its possible correlation with patients prognosis.

Thin Basement Membrane: An Underrated Cause of End-Stage Renal Disease.

The term "thin basement membrane" (TBM) refers to a glomerular disorder characterized by diffuse uniform thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) on electron microscopy. Patients with TBM usually show an isolated hematuria with excellent renal prognosis. However, some patients can develop proteinuria and progressive kidney dysfunction in the long term.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Amyloid A Amyloidosis: Association or Coincidence?

AA amyloidosis may complicate several chronic inflammatory conditions. From a clinical point of view, causality between inflammatory pathology and AA amyloidosis can be assumed because of the data described in the literature; some of the best known include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic infections. Singles cases of inflammatory diseases have been found at AA amyloidosis.

Novel Therapies in Takayasu Arteritis.

Takayasu Arteritis (TAK) is a large-vessel vasculitis that preferentially involves the aorta and its primary branches. Cardiac involvement is frequent in TAK and is a major determinant of the patient's outcome. Glucocorticoids (GC) are the mainstay of therapy for TAK, with high doses of GC effective to induce remission.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Analysis.

Introduction: The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on March 11, 2020. Two vaccine types were developed using two different technologies: viral vectors and mRNA. Thrombosis is one of the most severe and atypical adverse effects of vaccines.

Novel Targets for Drug Use in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by medium and small vessels inflammation. Cardiac vasculitic involvement is one of the most severe manifestations with a significant impact on patients' long-term prognosis: anyway, a specific therapeutic approach for heart involvement in EGPA has not been explored yet. Current regimen consists of a long-term therapy with high dose of glucocorticoids, causing the well-known related-adverse events; immunosuppressive drugs are used in patients with severe manifestations, with some limitations.

Caspase 9 and Caspase 3 Immunohistochemical Pattern in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscles at Different Times after Death: An Experimental Study on PMI Estimation.

(1) Background: The estimation of the post mortem interval (PMI) is a challenge for forensic pathologists because data emerging from methods commonly applied are not always conclusive, since several conditions exist that may affect the reliability of these parameters. Thus, new approaches have been proposed to overcome such a limit. In recent years, several studies have been performed on proteins analyzing their expression/degradation patterns in relation to the progressing of the post mortem interval.

[State of art and new perspectives in the induction regimen of ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement: from histopathology to therapy].

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) are rare autoimmune diseases characterised by medium and small vessels inflammation. Renal vasculitic involvement is one of the most severe manifestations, with high mortality in case of a delayed diagnosis and a significant impact on patients' long-term prognosis. Histological classifications and scores for the definition of renal involvement in AAV exist and correlate with the renal outcome.

Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Human Umbilical Cord: a Close-up on Immunomodulatory Molecules Featured In Situ and In Vitro.

Therapeutic options for end-stage organ failure are often limited to whole organ transplantation. The tolerance or rejection of the transplanted organ is driven by both early non-specific innate and specific adaptive responses. The use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is considered a promising tool in regenerative medicine.

Tea catechins induce crosstalk between signaling pathways and stabilize mast cells in ulcerative colitis.

It is well documented that nutraceuticals, in general, and Green tea catechins, in particular, possess a potential therapeutic value in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) due to their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of action of catechins in a rat model of colitis induced by 2.4.

A possible biomarker for methadone related deaths.

Unlabelled: Methadone (MTH) concentrations in those dying of MTH toxicity totally overlap concentrations where the presence of MTH is only an incidental finding, making it very difficult to make distinctions in actual cases. A biomarker, be it anatomical or biochemical for MTH toxicity is badly needed, particularly if that markers were known to disrupt effective ventilation. Because the brainstem houses the regulatory centers for cardiorespiratory-control enters, it would seem to be the most likely anatomical site to seek abnormalities in cardiorespiratory control.

Dental pulp in mature replanted human teeth: morphological alterations and metalloproteineses-2 and -9, Annexin-5, BCL-2 and iNOS modulation.

Tooth replantation, as a treatment concept, has been subject to controversies regarding the mechanism as well as the various parameters underlying this process. This work aimed to study time-related changes in the pulp of replanted mature human premolars through the changes in the levels of certain factors involved in the underlying mechanisms of pulpal tissue healing after replantation. Eleven experimental mature teeth were extracted, immediately replanted in the original socket and left without any other intervention for 1, 2, 3 and 12 weeks before re-extraction.

The immunohistochemical peptidergic expression of leptin is associated with recurrence of malignancy in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Leptin is a peptide that plays a key role in the control of satiety, energy expenditure, food intake and various reproductive processes. In the last years, the expression of leptin had been found in malignant cells of various origins. The aim of this study is to evaluate leptin expression in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to investigate its possible role in predicting prognosis.

Comparative analysis of Hsp10 and Hsp90 expression in healthy mucosa and adenocarcinoma of the large bowel.

Background: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) assist other proteins in their folding and drive the degradation of defective proteins. During evolution, these proteins have also acquired other roles. Hsp10 is involved in immunomodulation and tumor progression.

Modulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Churg-Strauss syndrome respiratory mucosa: potential monitoring parameters.

Churg-Strauss (CSS) syndrome is rare and of unknown etiology. It is associated with vasculitis, blood eosinophilia and granulomatosis, and affects multiple organs and systems at various stages of the disease. Specific diagnostic and monitoring tests are not yet available.

Lactobacillus casei and bifidobacterium lactis supplementation reduces tissue damage of intestinal mucosa and liver after 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid treatment in mice.

Probiotics (PB) are living microorganisms that act as a commensal population in normal intestines and confer numerous beneficial effects on the host. The introduction of probiotics in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prolongs remission. The aim of this study was to investigate the intestinal and hepatic effects of PB supplementation in an experimental IBD model in mice induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

Orthodontic stress Bcl-2 modulation and human odontoblast survival.

This study assessed the effect of orthodontic traction on Bcl-2 expression and apoptosis in human dental pulp. It also explored, in absence of noxious stimuli the regeneration of odontoblasts during the entire life of the tooth. Twenty young patients, with Class II malocclusion and severe to moderate crowding, were referred for orthodontic assessment.

Immunohistochemical expression and distribution of orexin, orphanin and leptin in the major salivary glands of some mammals.

The aim of the study was to determine by immunochemistry the expression of leptin, orexin A and orphanin FQ in the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) of rat, sheep and cow. These peptides, originally synthesized in central nervous system, adipose tissue and peripheral tissues including gastrointestinal tract, play an orexigenic (orphanin and orexin) or anorexigenic (leptin) roles in the intricate neuronal network appointed to the control of nutritional homeostasis. Peptide-specific immunoreactivity was present in the studied salivary glands with various intensities in different species, in the ductal epithelium, sometimes in the acinar epithelium, and in nervous trunks spread in connective tissue stroma.

Immunohistochemical expression of apoptotic factors, cytokeratins, and metalloproteinase-9 in periapical and epithelialized gingival lesions.

The aim of the study was to assess the involvement of apoptotic factors, cytokeratins and metalloproteinase-9 in the histogenesis of both Epithelialized Gingival Lesions (EGL) and Periapical Lesions (PAL). 55 consecutive patients, 30 with PAL and 25 with EGL, were selected for the study after clinical and radiological examinations. The PAL patients had severe periapical lesions and tooth decay with exposure of the pulp chamber.

Immunohistochemical and biomolecular identification of orphanin FQ, eNOS, atrial natriuretic factor and oxytocin in rat seminal vesicles.

In previous studies performed on rodents, we detected the presence of adreno-cholinergic and peptidergic innervation in seminal vesicles and other organs of the male genital system, such as prostate and deferent duct, in which we also investigated the expression of NOS and NADPH-diaphorase. During this project, we focused our attention on the expression of some peptides involved in local control of smooth muscle relaxation, contractility, vasodilatation and control of blood flow in rat seminal vesicles. We investigated, through immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, the presence of four peptides: orphanin, eNOS, ANF and oxytocin.

Perivascular carotid collar placement induces neointima formation and outward arterial remodeling in mice independent of apolipoprotein E deficiency or Western-type diet feeding.

We investigated the influence of apolipoprotein E deficiency and Western-type diet feeding on the development and composition of neointimal lesions induced by periadventitial carotid placement of a non-occlusive collar in mice. ApoE-/- and wild-type mice were fed a Western-type diet or chow diet for 4 weeks before collar surgery. Diets were continued after collar placement for 6 or 12 weeks.