Nicolas Gestermann^1,a, Mikael Koutero^2,a, Rakiba Belkhir^1,a, Jörg Tost^2,3,a, Xavier Mariette^4,a, Corinne Miceli-Richard^4,a

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 166-172, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0316

Abstract The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), in the type I interferon pathway is involved in the genetic susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases. A 5-bp insertion/deletion (CGGGG indel) polymorphism in the promoter region of IRF5 associated with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) could be epigenetically deregulated in this condition. Therefore, we investigated DNA methylation patterns of the promoter region of IRF5 to determine whether its epigenetic deregulation could explain the increased expression of IRF5 mRNA in pSS patients, along with the risk of pSS induced by the genetic polymorphism. DNA extracted from total peripheral blood… More >

Nasrin Behniafard¹, Mohammad Gharagozlou¹, Elham Farhadi^2,3, Mojdeh Khaledi⁴, Soheila Sotoudeh¹, Behzad Darabi¹, Seid Mohammad Fathi¹, Zahra Gholizadeh Moghaddam¹, Mahdi Mahmoudi⁵, Asghar Aghamohammadi^1,6, Ali Akbar Amirzargar², Nima Rezaei^1,2,6

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 163-165, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0323

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) could be considered as potential biomarkers in atopic dermatitis (AD), while its level could be influenced by cytokine single gene polymorphisms (SNP). This study was performed in 89 pediatric patients with AD and 137 controls to assess polymorphisms of the TNF-α gene at positions -308 and -238, using the polymerase chain reaction and the sequence-specific primers method. The highest positive allelic association that made the patients susceptible to AD was seen for TNF-α -238/G (p<0.001) and TNF-α -308/G (p = 0.003). The GG genotypes at TNF-α -238 and TNF-α -308, were More >

Arnon Blum¹, Dorina Socea², Rotem Shelly Ben-Shushan³, Lital Keinan-Boker³, Modi Naftali², Gila Segol², Snait Tamir⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 158-162, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0321

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy is the most severe ocular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is associated with micro-vascular damage. The more advanced stage, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Our hypothesis was that inflammatory and angiogenic markers will detect the different stages of type 2 diabetes, and may predict development of micro-vascular damage. Methods. Seventy three type II diabetic patients were randomly assigned to three groups (A - 25 patients {12 males], no diabetic retinopathy; B - 25 patients {19 males], non-proliferative retinopathy; and C - 23 patients… More >

Arnon Blum¹, Snait Tamir², David Hazzan³, Oxana Podvitzky¹, Rizak Sirchan¹, Lital Keinan-Boker⁴, Rotem Shelly Ben-Shushan², Nava Blum¹, Laylee Shaich Suliman⁵, Nissim Geron⁶

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 154-157, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0318

Abstract Studies have shown that mortality was reduced by 31.6% in patients that underwent bariatric surgery compared with the non-operative control group. However, in most surgical series the majority of patients were women, and men had higher post-operative mortality rates and a higher postoperative morbidity, regardless of weight. Our primary end point was to study gender effects on vascular inflammation following bariatric surgery for weight loss. Methods. A prospective study evaluated vascular inflammation in obese patients before and three months after bariatric surgery. Markers of vascular inflammation were measured - before surgery and three months afterwards.Results.One… More >

Håkon Reikvam, Kimberley Joanne Hatfield, Hanne Fredly, Ina Nepstad, Knut Anders Mosevoll, Øystein Bruserud

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 140-153, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0322

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by bone marrow accumulation of immature leukemic blast cells. Conventional AML treatment includes induction chemotherapy to achieve disease control, followed by consolidation therapy with conventional chemotherapy or allogeneic/autologous stem cell transplantation (allo/autoSCT) to eradicate residual disease. Even younger patients receiving the most intensive treatment have a median, long-term, AML-free survival of only 45-50%, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies. The important role of the bone marrow cytokine network during disease development and treatment is suggested by several observations, including: (i) the increased microvascular density (MVD) in leukemic bone… More >

Nicolò Costantino Brembilla, Carlo Chizzolini

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 128-139, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0325

Abstract Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular alterations and deregulated fibroblast activation leading to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. SSc is thought to be an autoimmune disease, owning the presence of auto-antibodies. Genetic studies lend support to the critical role exerted by the immune response in the physiopathology of the disease, since several of the SSc-associated polymorphisms have been found in genes involved in the immune response. Oligoclonal T cells, preferentially producing type 2 cytokines, are present in affected tissues and peripheral blood early in the disease course, and… More >

Emma Lefrançais^1,2, Corinne Cayrol^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.23, No.4, pp. 120-127, 2012, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2012.0320

Abstract Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is the latest member of the IL-1 family that has become very attractive since the discovery of its major target cells, the innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2), involved in the initiation of the type 2 immune response (secretion of IL-5 and IL-13) during parasitic infection and allergic diseases such as asthma. IL-33 is a chromatin-associated protein as it possesses in its N-terminus, a chromatin-binding domain, and is constitutively expressed in the nuclei of endothelial cells and in epithelial cells of tissues exposed to the environment. It is however, essential for IL-33 to… More >

Jack Barkin¹, Christine Folia²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, Suppl.5, pp. 49-53, 2012

Abstract Researchers are constantly seeking ways to improve existing drugs, drug mechanisms of activity, find new indications for old drugs or to develop new drugs to treat urological diseases and conditions. In Canada, tadalafil in a 5 mg daily dosage (old drug), and a new drug, silodosin, have recently become available to treat patients who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). In clinical studies, silodosin has shown promise as a treatment for ureteral stones, whereas it has shown conflicting results as a potential treatment for prostatitis. Two new therapies have emerged More >

Tony Mazzulli^1,2

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, Suppl.5, pp. 42-48, 2012

Abstract Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain a common clinical problem in both the community and healthcare-associated settings. Each patient should be carefully assessed to ensure that a correct diagnosis is made and that antimicrobial therapy is appropriately prescribed—defined as using a clinically indicated agent in the correct dose and route of administration, for the correct duration—for symptomatic patients, and avoided for most asymptomatic patients. This should help stem the growing tide of antimicrobial resistance and allow for the continued use of simpler, less expensive agents. Continued surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance rates will be critical More >

Roland I. Sing, Rajiv K. Singal

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, Suppl.5, pp. 36-41, 2012

Abstract Hematuria is a common finding in primary care practice. Causes of significant hematuria include urinary tract infection, urolithiasis, malignancies, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and nephropathies. Hematuria is identified by taking a patient history and by performing a routine urine dipstick test. If a patient has a history of gross hematuria and/or a positive urine dipstick test, he or she should then have a microscopic urinalysis. The primary care physician can order ancillary tests such as laboratory tests to assess renal function, and possible imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography urography, or magnetic resonance urography. The More >