Thomas Werner^1,2, Susan M. Dombrowski^3,4, Carlos Zgheib⁵, Fouad A. Zouein⁵, Henry L. Keen⁶, Mazen Kurdi^5,7, George W. Booz⁵

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 75-90, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0336

Abstract Microarrays do not yield direct evidence for functional connections between genes. However, transcription factors (TFs) and their binding sites (TFBSs) in promoters are important for inducing and coordinating changes in RNA levels, and thus represent the first layer of functional interaction. Similar to genes, TFs act only in context, which is why a TF/TFBS-based promoter analysis of genes needs to be done in the form of gene(TF)-gene networks, not individual TFs or TFBSs. In addition, integration of the literature and various databases (e.g. GO, MeSH, etc) allows the adding of genes relevant for the functional… More >

Ravi Verma^a, Nirmal Verma^a, Jaishree Paul

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.3, pp. 130-138, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0343

Abstract Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract involving aberrant activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. We aimed to study the expression profiles of the susceptibility gene Nod1 and selected pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines during different stages of UC. Methods: 65 patients with mild, severe or remission stage of UC, and 22 normal colon mucosal biopsies from control individuals were included in the study for measuring the expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization 1(Nod1) and related pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). mRNA expression levels were… More >

Benjamin Piura^1,4, Liat Medina^2,4, Alex Rabinovich^1,4, Victor Dyomin^3,4, Mahmoud Huleihel^2,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.3, pp. 122-129, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0342

Abstract Background. Thalidomide inhibits TNF-α production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thalidomide on TNF-α, IL-6 and MMP secretion in epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells. Materials and methods. SKOV-3 cells and primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells were cultured in the presence of various concentrations of thalidomide. Cell proliferation was examined by MTT proliferation assay. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were determined in the supernatants of the cell cultures by ELISA, and MMP activity was examined by gelatin zymography. Results. Thalidomide did not significantly affect the proliferation and growth of SKOV-3… More >

Imam O. Sherif¹, Mohammed M. H. Al-Gayyar^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.3, pp. 114-121, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0341

Abstract Purpose: Sodium nitrite, a food additive that is used as a color fixative and preservative for meats and fish, has been reported to have adverse health effects due to increased oxidative stress that could be harmful to different organs including the liver. Meanwhile, silymarin protects against hepatotoxicity caused by a variety of agents, on account of its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. We therefore examined the impact of dietary silymarin on sodium nitrite-induced liver damage in rats. Methods: Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received 80 mg/kg sodium nitrite in the presence or absence of silymarin (10… More >

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.3, pp. 106-113, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0340

Abstract In the present study, associations between pretreatment interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) were analyzed using commercially available, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 118 patients and 64 control subjects. Values were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes. Control variables included age, stage, grade, histological type and residual tumor size. Kaplan-Meier plots and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to study the associations between IL-6, IL-8 and CRP levels, control variables, overall survival and disease-free survival.The median IL-6, IL-8 and CRP serum… More >

Victoria Perna¹, Antonio Pérez-Pérez¹, Patricia Fernández-Riejos¹, Juan Polo-Padillo², Nínive Batista³, Angel Domínguez-Castellano³, Víctor Sánchez-Margalet¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.4, pp. 157-161, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0346

Abstract An impaired immune response in tuberculosis patients seems to be related to weight loss that coexists with an immunoendocrine imbalance. Thus, wasting is well-recognised as a prominent feature of tuberculosis (TB), which may not be reversed even after six months of treatment. Adipokines may play a role in the immune response to M. tuberculosis, and TB may impair the expression of inflammatory adipokines, such as leptin. We aimed to study patients with pulmonary TB before and six months after treatment, by measuring plasma leptin, soluble leptin receptor and adiponectin, weight and body mass index. Nineteen patients… More >

Randeep S. Jawa¹, Erin Quist², Craig W. Boyer³, Valerie K. Shostrom⁴, David W. Mercer⁵

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.4, pp. 148-156, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0345

Abstract Introduction: Trauma patients who develop multi-organ dysfunction have increased systemic levels of chemotactic cytokines. Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to the gut may play a role. The purpose of this study was to examine chemokine production in a mouse model of mesenteric IR injury. Given the pre-eminent role of the neutrophil, there has been much investigation of the CXC chemokines, but very limited research on the CC and XC chemokines. We hypothesized that intestinal IR injury would induce remote organ injury and enhance serum CC and XC chemokine levels. Methods: Fasted female C57BL6 mice were anesthetized prior… More >

Hala S. Bayomi, Nehal M. Elsherbiny, Amal M. El-Gayar, Mohammed M. H. Al-Gayyar

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.4, pp. 139-147, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0344

Abstract Purpose: The use of cisplatin, the first of the platinum-containing anti-cancer drugs, is limited by the development of a myriad of adverse reactions, including nephrotoxicity. We conducted this study therefore to find out whether SB-431542, potent and specific inhibitor of type I transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TGF-βR1), could prevent or attenuate kidney damage in rats, and to elucidate its possible mechanism of action. Methods: Fifty rats were treated with cisplatin (10 mg/kg) in the presence (1 and 3 mg/kg) or absence of SB-431542. Morphological changes were assessed in kidney sections stained with H/E. Oxidative stress… More >

L. Spencer Krane, Patrick W. Mufarrij, Theodore B. Manny, Ashok K. Hemal

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 6662-6667, 2013

Abstract Introduction: Partial nephrectomy without renal vascular occlusion has been introduced to improve outcomes in patients undergoing robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN). We prospectively evaluated unclamped RPN at our institution and compared this to other clamping techniques in a non-randomized fashion.
Materials and methods: Ninety-five consecutive patients who successfully completed RPN between June 2010 and October 2011 are included in this analysis. All RPNs were performed by a single surgeon. Clamping technique was artery and vein (AV), artery alone (AO), or unclamped (U), without hypotensive anesthesia. Clamping decision was based on surgeon preference and feasibility of minimizing ischemia. All… More >

Michael Belsante, Sunshine Murray, Benjamin Dillon, Philippe Zimmern

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 6656-6661, 2013

Abstract Introduction: Use of robotic mesh sacrocolpopexy (RMS) has increased for management of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We present our experience with mid term follow up.
Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review of consecutive patients who had RMS was performed. Patients underwent history and physical exam including POP-Q classification. In cases of bladder involvement a standing voiding cystourethrogram and urodynamics with vaginal pack reduction of the prolapse were done. Indication for RMS was patient preference, BMI < 30, no prior major abdominal surgery, and age < 80. We utilized Marlex mesh and absorbable polyglactin sutures to anchor… More >