Serum proteomic profiling in granumomatosis with polyangiitis using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis along with matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.

Aim: The present study is a proteomic approach to find differentially expressed proteins in sera of limited and systemic subsets of active disease versus their remitting state in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and their correlation with disease activity.

Methods: Eighteen patients with GPA in active as well as in remitting state and four healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. For proteomics analysis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis along with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were performed.

Cellular immune response and cytokine profile among hepatitis C positive living donor renal transplant recipients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent among renal transplant recipients.

Methods: Twenty-five recipients of living donor renal transplantation with HCV (group I) and without HCV (group II) were serially monitored at three time points, that is, pretransplant, day 10, and 6 months posttransplant. Phenotypic characterization of T-cell subsets and natural killer cells was performed by flow cytometric immunophenotyping.

Comparison of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sodium citrate as anticoagulants in collection of samples for cytomegalovirus pp65 antigen detection in renal transplant recipients with suspected cytomegalovirus disease.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Antigenemia and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay are used for diagnosis of CMV disease. A number of anticoagulants are used for the collection of blood samples for antigenemia assay.

Frosted branch angiitis associated with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Simultaneous occurrence of frosted branch angiitis and immune-mediated rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is reported. The two diseases possibly share a common immune mechanism. Patients of frosted branch angiitis should undergo complete systemic evaluation including renal function tests even if the patient is systemically asymptomatic.