Evaluating serum level of thymidylate synthase in post burn keloid patients before and after intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil

Background Keloids are fibrous lesions formed at the site of trauma due to types I and III collagen irregular production. The presence of thymidylate synthase (TS) is a must for DNA synthesis and repairs causing cell death. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a fluorinated pyrimidine analogue acting as an anti-metabolic agent that inhibits thymidylate synthase and interferes with ribo-nucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. Objectives we aimed to evaluate the level of thymidylate synthase in post burn keloid patients before and after intralesional injection of 5-fluorouracil. Methods The study included 20 keloid patients and 20 healthy subjects as a control. Serum TS was estimated using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits before and after treatment with 5-fluorouracil. Results There was a statistically significant difference in TS levels before and after 5-FU treatment (p < 0.05). Also, results have shown that 5-FU injection has good satisfactory results in treatment of keloid causing reduction in scar volume and symptoms improvement (90% of the patients improved). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in TS levels and the outcomes of the treatment. Conclusion Our findings suggest that intralesional 5-FU injection in keloid has very satisfactory results. However, thymidylate synthase enzyme has a minimal role in evaluating the treatment of keloid, so further studies are required to elaborate the relation between this enzyme and keloid scars.

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Alteration of Serum Levels of Cytokines in Schizophrenic Patients before and after Treatment with Risperidone

Iranian Journal of Allergy Asthma and Immunology ◽

10.18502/ijaai.v18i3.1119 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Esfandiar Azizi ◽

Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini ◽

Sara Soudi ◽

Ahmad Ali Noorbala

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Syndrome Scale ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Ifn Γ

A growing body of evidence suggests the existence of abnormalities in the immune system of schizophrenic patients. The current study examined serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, IL-2,interferon(IFN) -γ, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with risperidone and correlated levels of these cytokines with symptomatology. The study group consisted of 24 schizophrenic patients as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria and 24 healthy controls. Serum cytokine levels were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Schizophrenic symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) questionnaire. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in participants before treatment compared with the healthy controls and after treatment (p<0.001). IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were significantly lower in participants after treatment compared with before treatment and the healthy controls (p<0.001). Except for IL-6 (p<0.05), there was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β between the patients receiving treatment and the healthy subjects. Moreover, there was no significant difference in levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 between patients before treatment and the healthy subjects. There were no significant correlations between the concentration of cytokines studied and the PANSS. Positive intercorrelations between the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 were detected for sums of all groups(r=0.33, p=0.005). Clinical improvement of treated patients was associated with a reduction in the studied cytokines. It seems that changes in the cytokines level may play a significant role in the psychopathology of these patients.

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Exhalative Breath Markers Do Not Offer for Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Diseases: Data from the European IPF Registry (eurIPFreg) and Biobank

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8050643 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 643 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ekaterina Krauss ◽

Maike Froehler ◽

Maria Degen ◽

Poornima Mahavadi ◽

Ruth C. Dartsch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Lung Diseases ◽

Interstitial Lung Diseases ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Exhaled Breath ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Significant Difference ◽

New Biomarkers ◽

Diagnostic Benefit

Background: New biomarkers are urgently needed to facilitate diagnosis in Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), thus reducing the need for invasive procedures, and to enable tailoring and monitoring of medical treatment. Methods: In this study we investigated if patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 21), non-IPF ILDs (n = 57) and other lung diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) n = 24, lung cancer (LC) n = 16) as well as healthy subjects (n = 20) show relevant differences in exhaled NO (FeNO; Niox MINO), or in eicosanoid (PGE2, 8-isoprostane; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) levels as measured in exhaled breath condensates (EBC) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF). Results: There was no significant difference in FeNO values between IPF, non-IPF ILDs and healthy subjects, although some individual patients showed highly elevated FeNO. On the basis of the FeNO signal, it was neither possible to differentiate between the kind of disease nor to detect exacerbations. In addition, there was no correlation between FeNO values and lung function. The investigation of the eicosanoids in EBCs was challenging (PGE2) or unreliable (8-isoprostane), but worked out well in BALF. A significant increase of free 8-isoprostane was observed in BALF, but not in EBCs, of patients with IPF, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and sarcoidosis, possibly indicating severity of oxidative stress. Conclusions: FeNO-measurements are not of diagnostic benefit in different ILDs including IPF. The same holds true for PGE2 and 8-isoprostane in EBC by ELISA.

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Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Inflammatory Mediators in Pediatric Asthma

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/2016/5143703 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hui Du ◽

Yonghong Wang ◽

Yumin Shi ◽

Jian Yu ◽

Wen Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Inflammatory Mediators ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Pediatric Asthma ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After

Objective. To observe the effects of empirical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on inflammatory mediators in pediatric asthma and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism in the treatment of asthma.Methods. A total of 182 children with asthma were randomly placed into either the TCM group (n=97) or the salbutamol and montelukast (SM) group (n=85). Patients in the TCM group were treated with a series of empirical prescriptions of TCM, while those in the SM group received salbutamol and montelukast. Both groups received their respective treatment for 12 weeks. There were 35 patients in TCM group and 34 patients in SM group providing venous blood. Real-time PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of interleukin- (IL-) 10, IL-17, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and transforming growth factorβ1 (TGF-β1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of IL-10, IL-17, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 in peripheral blood before and after treatment.Results. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in the SM group was downregulated (P=0.00) after treatment. No significant differences were found between the TCM group and the SM group after treatment (P>0.05). In the TCM group, the levels of IL-10, IL-17, and MMP-9 significantly decreased after treatment (P=0.01, 0.04, and 0.03, resp.). In the SM group, IL-17, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 levels significantly decreased after treatment (P=0.00, 0.03, and 0.00, resp.). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the levels of IL-10, IL-17, TGF-β1, and MMP-9 (P>0.05). The difference of the level of IL-17 was negatively correlated with the change of C-ACT score in TCM group and SM group.Conclusion. TCM has a regulatory effect on the balance of some inflammatory mediators in pediatric asthma.

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Involvement of Eotaxins (CCL11, CCL24, CCL26) in Pathogenesis of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Iranian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.18502/ijph.v49i9.4098 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hadis AHMADI ◽

Hossein KHORRAMDELAZAD ◽

Gholamhossein HASSANSHAHI ◽

Mitra ABBASI FARD ◽

Zahra AHMADI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Dual Energy ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Mineral Density ◽

X Ray ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Elisa Technique ◽

Circulating Levels

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of eotaxin family members including C-C motif chemokine 11 (CCL11), C-C motif chemokine 24 (CCL24), and C-C motif chemokine 26 (CCL26) as the subgroups of CC-chemokine in patients affected with osteoporosis and osteopenia. Methods: Overall, 19 osteoporotic patients, 18 osteopenic individuals, and 20 healthy subjects were recruited in this study. The bone mineral density (BMD) was then measured at the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and the hip (femoral neck and total hip) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for diagnosis of bone density and related disorders. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was employed to measure the serum levels of CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26. Results: The circulating levels of CCL11, CCL24, and CCL26 had been increased in both groups of patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis compared to those in healthy subjects (P<0.05); while no significant difference was observed between serum levels of these chemokines in such patients. Conclusion: Eotaxins can play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and osteopenia; however, further studies are needed to clarify various roles of eotaxins in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and osteopenia.

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Effects Of Minocycline Combined With Tinidazole For Treatment Of Chronic Periodontitis

Clinical & Investigative Medicine ◽

10.25011/cim.v44i3.36477 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jiangjian Huang ◽

Jianping Xue ◽

Jinchao Gu

Keyword(s):

Chronic Periodontitis ◽

Adverse Reactions ◽

Alveolar Bone ◽

Periodontal Pocket ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Bone Height

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of minocycline combined with tinidazole in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). Methods: Seventy-three CP patients treated May 2018–December 2019 at Yuyao People’s Hospital (Yuyao, China) were enrolled in this study: 34 were treated with minocycline alone (control group; CG) and 39 were treated with a combination of minocycline and tinidazole (observation group; OG). Both groups were treated continuously for four weeks and plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), periodontal pocket depth (PD), periodontal attachment level (PAL) and alveolar bone height were compared before and after treatment. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Levels of TNF-α and IL-6 before and after treatment were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Adverse reactions were compared. Results: In each group, PLI, BI, PD, PAL and alveolar bone height were lower after treatment (P<0.05), and those in OG were lower than those in CG (P<0.05). TNF-α and IL-6 levels in both groups were lower after treatment (P<0.05), and the levels in serum of the OG were lower than those of the CG (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS in OG was lower than that of CG (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Minocycline combined with tinidazole was more effective in treating CP than minocycline alone. This drug combination improved the periodontal indexes and inflammatory reaction of CP and relieved their pain. No significant difference in adverse reactions was seen.

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PLASMA PROLACTIN LEVELS AFTER TRH AND CHLORPROMAZINE IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH IMPAIRED PITUITARY FUNCTION

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0790663 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 663-676 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

G. Schwinn ◽

A. von zur Mühlen ◽

J. Köbberling ◽

E. Halves ◽

K. W. Wenzel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

The Other ◽

Pituitary Function ◽

Hormonal Contraceptives ◽

Plasma Prolactin ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Basal Plasma ◽

Maximum Increment

ABSTRACT Basal plasma prolactin levels and values after stimulation with TRH and chlorpromazine respectively were measured. TRH tests were performed in 50 healthy subjects (25 women and 25 men). The basal prolactin levels and the maximum increment were found to be as follows in women 22.02 ng/ml ± 5.02 sem and 100.0 ng/ml ± 11.3 sem respectively, in men 16.62 ng/ml ± 2.46 sem and 45.26 ng/ml ± 5.70 sem respectively. The maximum prolactin increase after chlorpromazine in 6 men amounted to 64.77 ng/ml ± 8.28 sem respectively and in 12 women, 6 of them taking hormonal contraceptives, 81.0 ng/ml ± 16.53 sem. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups of women. The behaviour of plasma prolactin under stimulation in patients with impaired pituitary function was compared with the other trophic pituitary functions before therapy, in 7 patients before and after hypophysectomy and 15 patients only after therapy. In addition 6 patients with tumours adjacent to the pituitary and 3 women with Sheehan's syndrome were investigated. Plasma prolactin before and after stimulation was not pathologically changed in all cases. After surgery the prolactin levels were also normal in many patients. In most of them slight or marked elevation of prolactin levels were found. There was no good correlation between the trophic pituitary functions in most cases. It seems that prolactin measurement under stimulation conditions is the most sensitive indicator of a residual pituitary function.

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Association between circulating zinc/ferritin levels and parent Conner’s scores in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.09.002 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 ◽

pp. 68-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Farida M. El-Baz ◽

Azza M. Youssef ◽

Eman khairy ◽

Dina Ramadan ◽

Walaa Y. Youssef

Keyword(s):

Rating Scale ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Iron Supplements ◽

Group I ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Group Ii ◽

Zinc Supplements ◽

Cognitive Problems ◽

Deficient Group

Abstract ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders among children and adolescents. In this prospective study, we aimed to measure circulating zinc and ferritin levels in children with ADHD, pick up the deficient ones to give zinc and iron supplements then compare before and after treatment according to their Conner’s scores and Wecsler IQ test. Current study included fifty children diagnosed as having ADHD by DSMV criteria, their zinc and ferritin levels were measured by Colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. They were divided into: group I (zinc only deficient),group II (zinc and ferritin deficient),group III (non-deficient), cases with mineral deficiency received zinc (55 mg/day) and/or iron (6 mg/kg/day) for 6 months then reassessed by parent Conner’s rating scale. In group 1, there was no significant difference between the Wecsler verbal and non-verbal IQ scores and oppositional and cognitive problems in Conner’s scores before and after zinc supplements, although there was significant improvement in attention, hyperactivity, emotional liability and impulsivity. In group II, there was significant improvement in verbal and total IQ but not in performance IQ, also there was significant improvement in hyperactivity, emotional liability and impulsivity with no significant difference in oppositional, cognitive problems and inattention before and after zinc/ iron supplements. In Conclusion, Zinc supplements in adjuvant to the main treatment significantly improved symptoms of ADHD children. However, a combined zinc and iron supplements was superior to zinc alone in alleviating ADHD symptoms as well as IQ improvement.

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Elevation of soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in nasal allergy

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/s096293519500007x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 39-42

Author(s):

K. Hisamatsu ◽

T. Ganbo ◽

T. Nakazawa ◽

S. Horiguchi ◽

S. Shimomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nasal Mucosa ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Interleukin 2 ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Clinical Severity ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Nasal Allergy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Nasal Secretions ◽

Soluble Interleukin 2 Receptor

To investigate soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in nasal allergy, the sera and nasal secretions from patients with nasal allergy and from healthy subjects were subjected to a double-epitope enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant elevation of sIL-2R concentrations in the sera and nasal secretions was observed in the allergy patients (n = 26) compared with those of healthy subjects (n = 9). IL-2R-positive (CD25+) cells were observed in the crust formed in an allergic nasal mucosa. The concentration of sIL-2R in the sera correlated neither with the eosinophil count of the peripheral blood count nor with clinical severity. The concentration of sIL-2R in the nasal secretions was significantly higher compared with that in the sera from allergic patients (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was observed between sIL-2R levels in the sera and nasal sections from normal subjects. These findings indicate that sIL-2R plays an essential role in allergic processes by regulating IL-2R-positive cells recruited into the nasal mucosa.

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Serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria undergoing sex reassignment surgery

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy ◽

10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0033 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 43-47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maiko A. Schneider ◽

Tahiana Andreazza ◽

Anna Martha V. Fontanari ◽

Angelo B. Costa ◽

Dhiordan C. da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Hormonal Treatment ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Sex Reassignment Surgery ◽

Surgical Trauma ◽

Sex Reassignment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After

Abstract Introduction: Transsexualism (ICD-10) is a condition characterized by a strong and persistent dissociation with one's assigned gender. Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) and hormone therapy provide a means of allowing transsexual individuals to feel more congruent with their gender and have played a major role in treatment over the past 70 years. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) appears to play a key role in recovery from acute surgical trauma and environmentally mediated vulnerability to psychopathology. We hypothesize that BDNF may be a biomarker of alleviation of gender incongruence suffering. Objectives: To measure preoperative and postoperative serum BDNF levels in transsexual individuals as a biomarker of alleviation of stress related to gender incongruence after SRS. Methods: Thirty-two male-to-female transsexual people who underwent both surgery and hormonal treatment were selected from our initial sample. BDNF serum levels were assessed before and after SRS with sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The time elapsed between the pre-SRS and post-SRS blood collections was also measured. Results: No significant difference was found in pre-SRS or post-SRS BDNF levels or with relation to the time elapsed after SRS when BDNF levels were measured. Conclusion: Alleviation of the suffering related to gender incongruence after SRS cannot be assessed by BDNF alone. Surgical solutions may not provide a quick fix for psychological distress associated with transsexualism and SRS may serve as one step toward, rather than as the conclusion of, construction of a person's gender identity.

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EFFECTS OF PROBIOTIC INTAKE ON INTESTINAL BIFIDOBACTERIA OF CELIAC PATIENTS

Arquivos de Gastroenterologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-2803.201700000-07 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 85-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Flávia MARTINELLO ◽

Camila Fontana ROMAN ◽

Paula Alves de SOUZA

Keyword(s):

Healthy Subjects ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Microscopic Analysis ◽

Stool Culture ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

Ph Values ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Faecal Ph

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Healthy individuals exhibit a significantly higher concentration of faecal bifidobacteria in comparison to celiac patients. Even though there are potential benefits in probiotic usage, they have been little explored as an adjunctive therapy in celiac disease. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at the comparison of faecal bifidobacteria concentration and pH among celiac patients and healthy subjects before and after the daily intake of 100 g of yogurt containing probiotic for a thirty-day period. METHODS Feces from 17 healthy subjects and 14 celiac patients were analyzed, in which stool culture was performed for the isolation and quantification of faecal bifidobacteria. Furthermore, Gram’s method was employed for the microscopic analysis of the colonies, while the identification of the Bifidobacterium genus was made through determination of the fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase enzyme. Faecal pH was measured using a calibrated pHmeter. RESULTS Faecal bifidobacteria concentration before probiotic consumption was significantly higher in healthy individuals (2.3x108±6.3x107 CFU/g) when compared to celiac patients (1.0x107±1.7x107 CFU/g). Faecal pH values did not show a significant difference. After the daily consumption of probiotic-containing yogurt both groups showed a significant increase in the concentration of faecal bifidobacteria, but healthy subjects presented significantly higher bifidobacteria concentrations (14.7x108±0.2x108 CFU/g) than the celiac group (0.76x108±0.1x108 CFU/g). The obtained pH values from both groups were not significantly different, being 7.28±0.518 for the celiac patients and 7.07±0.570 for healthy individuals after the probiotic intake. CONCLUSION The probiotic supplementation significantly increased the number of bifidobacteria in the feces of celiac patients, although it was not sufficient to reach the concentration found in healthy individuals prior to its consumption.

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