Investigation of the effects of urotensin II receptors in LPS-induced inflammatory response in HUVEC cell line through calcineurin/NFATc/IL-2 pathway.

Purpose: The effect of urotensin II (U-II), a powerful endogenous vasoconstrictor substance, on the immune system and its mediators is very important. It was herein aimed to demonstrate the possible relationship between the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1/interleukin-2 (CaN/NFATc/IL-2) pathway and urotensin receptors (UTRs) in inflammatory response due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: An LPS-induced inflammation model was used on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cell line and drugs were applied accordingly, forming the following groups: Control Group, LPS Group, Agonist Group (10 ​M U-II), Antagonist Group (10 ​M palosuran), Tacrolimus (TAC) Group (10 ​ng/mL FK-506), Agonist ​+ ​TAC Group, and Antagonist ​+ ​TAC Group.

Relationship Between Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Antibody Positivity and Cytokine Gene Polymorphism in Renal Transplant Patients When Organ Rejection Occurs.

Objectives: Kidney transplant remains the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage renal disease. Relationships between the presence of non-HLA antibodies, antibodies to AT1R, and cytokine gene polymorphisms with rejection have recently been shown. We sought to determine whether the presence of antibodies to AT1R and cytokine gene polymorphisms affected the development of rejection in pediatric and adult patients, whether a relationship is present between cytokine polymorphism and level of antibodies to AT1R, and whether their presence can be a biomarker pretransplant.

Caspase-1 and interleukin-18 in children with post infectious bronchiolitis obliterans: a case-control study.

Unlabelled: The exact immunological mechanisms of post infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) in childhood are not fully known. It has been shown that the inflammasome and IL-18 pathway play important roles in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the role of caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-18 components in PIBO.

Evaluation of systemic inflammatory response in cardiovascular surgery via interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and neopterin.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and neopterin as a sign of systemic inflammatory response syndrome after open-heart surgery. In this study, we evaluated the influences on the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and neopterin of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve replacement surgeries with and without the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was performed in 30 patients.

Effects of different medical treatments on serum copper, selenium and zinc levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to measure the changes in serum selenium, zinc, and copper in patients being treated for rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty-two patients and 52 healthy controls were included in the study. The copper level was higher and those of selenium and zinc were lower in the patients relative to controls.

Neopterin levels and dexamethasone suppression test in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Neopterin, a biopterin precursor that is released by macrophages, is an important immunological marker in psychiatric disorders. It has been reported that glucocorticoids may cause suppression of cell-mediated immunity and consequently result in decreased neopterin levels. In the present study, we evaluated whether dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and neopterin findings were associated with pure obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients (OCD-D group) and the concomitant OCD and depression (OCD+D group).

Effect of chronic exercise on immunoglobin, complement and leukocyte types in volleyball players and athletes.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of various sports disciplines on basic elements of the acquired and natural defense systems and to compare their results with that of non-sporting controls.

Materials/methods: The study included 15 sedentary (Group 1), 15 volleyball players (Group 2) and 15 long distance running athletes (Group 3). The VO2 Max for the groups was determined by subjecting the individuals to a 20 meter Shuttle run test.

The effects of exercise on the immune system and stress hormones in sportswomen.

Background: Despite the numerous studies controversial results exist in specific immune response to exercise. The aim of this study was to determining the differences in the humoral immune parameters, serum ACTH and cortisol levels existing between sportswomen and sedentary subjects and the effect of acute aerobic and anaerobic exercise on these parameters.

Materials/methods: 40 sportswomen (Groups 1 and 2) and 20 sedentary women (Group 3) were enrolled and Group 1 performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill for 30 minutes while the Group 2 was subjected to the Wingate effort test for 30 seconds.

Procalcitonin, c-reactive protein and neopterin levels in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective: Recent studies demonstrate that the serum inflammatory markers increase in patients with atherosclerosis. We aimed to assess whether a difference exists between patients with acute coronary syndrome and patients with stable angina pectoris in respect to serum neopterin, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

Methods And Results: A total of 52 patients (42 male, 10 female) who had atherosclerosis confirmed by angiography and were being followed up for an acute coronary syndrome were recruited and for control group, 45 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA) (35 male and 10 female) who underwent coronary angiography, were examined.

The role of allergy in the etiology of otitis media with effusion; immune system and cytokines.

Objectives: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the major causes of hearing loss in childhood. In this study, the role and the importance of allergy in the etiology of OME was evaluated with reference to the immune system and the cytokines.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-eight ears of 59 patients who had undergone myringotomy with the diagnosis of OME were included in this study.

Determination of intracellular cytokines produced by Th1 and Th2 cells using flow cytometry in patients with brucellosis.

The aim of the study was to evaluate intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels in pre- and post-treatment periods of brucellosis patients and to determine the relationship between these parameters and patients' clinical findings. Twenty-five patients diagnosed as brucellosis and 11 aged-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes levels were significantly lower in patients with brucellosis as compared to the control group.

Trace elements in viral hepatitis.

In this study, serum trace elements, including selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (SpectrAA 250 Plus Zeeman, Varian, Australia) in sera of patients with viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E) cases (n = 102), and statistically compared with the controls (n = 52). In viral hepatitis, Cu levels were found as 3.23 +/- 1.

Antimonial therapy induces circulating proinflammatory cytokines in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between antimonial therapy and circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Patients were treated with conventional chemotherapy by using pentavalent antimonium salts (Glucantime) for 3 weeks. Circulating plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined for CL patients and healthy subjects before and 3 weeks after the treatment was started.