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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
25543266 Bitter correlationship between autoimmune hepatitis and smoking. 2015 Feb Cigarette smoke contains numerous toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals, stable and unstable free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which cause biological oxidative damage. Continuous exposure to those chemicals leads to immense amount of damage to the human health either directly or indirectly. A hypothesis is advanced here that a possible explanation for developing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is due to regular smoking for long years of time. To examine this hypothesis, I relied on an experience of a case of a patient, as well as critical reading of the literature on smoking and different autoimmune disorders. Among the autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), thyroid disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are reported mostly among tobacco-exposed animals. The observational and theoretical knowledge strengthen the hypothesis that smoking can be one of the causes of generating autoimmune hepatitis. This hypothesis could lead to a new diagnostic category, as well as therapeutic approaches for changing the regular smoking behavior.
29018744 Ocular syphilis masquerading as bilateral peripheral ulcerative keratitis. 2016 Oct Ocular syphilis has varied manifestations in the eye. Peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) is a crescent-shaped ulcer involving the peripheral cornea and associated with thinning. PUK is caused by both autoimmune and infectious diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, and herpes. Here, we report a rare case of bilateral PUK caused by syphilis. A 55-year-old man presented with recurrent pain and redness in both eyes for 2 months. The cornea of both eyes had bilateral peripheral crescent-shaped ulcers suggestive of PUK. The patient was started on topical steroids elsewhere, but the lesion was not showing any signs of healing. A series of investigations were performed, with positive venereal disease research laboratory and fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption tests. The patient was then started on systemic penicillin, as well as topical steroids. The response to the treatment was good and the ulcer began to heal. PUK as the presenting feature of acquired syphilis is a rare scenario. Such infective causes should be managed with systemic antimicrobials for optimal outcomes.
27909281 [Transaortic Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Via Right Anterior Mini-thoracotomy;Repor 2016 Dec An 81-year-old man presented with ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm under stable condition. He had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure and rheumatoid arthritis. We performed hybrid thoracic endovascular aortic repair via right anterior mini-thoracotomy inserting a device through a conduit on the ascending aorta. The patient was discharged without aorta-related complications.
27830097 Histoplasmosis-Induced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in an Adult Patient: A Case Repo 2016 Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an aggressive and life-threating immune dysregulation syndrome characterized by persistent activation of the mononuclear phagocytic system leading to uncontrolled systemic hyperinflammatory response. The proliferation and activation of histiocytes and lymphocytes lead to production of large amounts of cytokines, also called cytokine storm. Hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues are directly involved while other organs are damaged by circulating cytokines. Primary HLH is attributed to genetic defects of the immune system and secondary HLH is usually seen in adults secondary to malignancy, infection, or autoimmune diseases. Zoonotic diseases including fungal infections are an important cause of HLH. Secondary HLH can delay the recognition of the underlying zoonoses. We report the case of a 61-year-old female with history of rheumatoid arthritis with histoplasmosis associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
27407273 Intestinal microbiota transplant - current state of knowledge. 2016 Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has induced a lot scientific interest and hopes for the last couple of years. FMT has been approved as a treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis. Highly sophisticated molecular DNA identification methods have been used to assess the healthy human microbiome as well as its disturbances in several diseases. The metabolic and immunologic functions of the microbiome have become more clear and understandable. A lot of pathological changes, such as production of short-chain fatty acids or components of the inflammatory cascade, caused by changes in microbiome diversity, variability and richness have been observed among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. The published clinical results are encouraging, but still there is huge demand for FMT controlled clinical trials.
27165670 The use of hematopoietic stem cells in autoimmune diseases. 2016 Jun Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been shown recently to hold much promise in curing autoimmune diseases. Newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes individuals have been successfully reverted to normoglycemia by administration of autologous HSCs in association with a nonmyeloablative regimen (antithymocyte globulin + cyclophasmide). Furthermore, recent trials reported positive results by using HSCs in treatment of systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis as well. Early data suggested that HSCs possess immunological properties that may be harnessed to alleviate the symptoms of individuals with autoimmune disorders and possibly induce remission of autoimmune diseases. Mechanistically, HSCs may facilitate the generation of regulatory T cells, may inhibit the function of autoreactive T-cell function and may reshape the immune system.
27092678 [Hydroxychloroquine for autoimmune diseases]. 2016 Feb Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is by far the most frequently used antimalarial for the management of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. It has immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antithrombotic properties and it diminishes the risk of malignancies. The most important mechanisms to explain the immunomodulatory actions are its ability to reduce inflammatory pathways and Toll-like receptors activation. The safety profile is favorable. In spite of its low frequency, retinal toxicity is potentially severe. In systemic lupus erythematous HCQ therapy reduces activity, the accrual of organ damage, risk of infections and thrombosis and improves the cardiometabolic profile. It contributes to induce lupus nephritis remission, spares steroid use and increases survival rates. In rheumatoid arthritis, it improves cardiometabolic risk and has a favorable effect in joint inflammation. In Sjögren's syndrome, an increased lacrimal quality as well as an improvement in objective and subjective inflammatory markers has been demonstrated with HCQ. In Antiphospholipid Syndrome, HCQ is effective in primary and secondary thrombosis prevention. The effectiveness of the drug in other systemic autoimmune diseases is less established. HCQ therapy may improve dermatological manifestations in Dermatomyositis and may have a positive effects in the treatment of Sarcoidosis and Still disease.
27014261 Targeting Syk in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. 2016 Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, which associates directly with surface receptors, including B-cell receptor and Fcγ receptor, and is involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus are autoimmune diseases in which autoantibodies, immune complexes, and autoreactive T cells account for the expression of tissue inflammation and damage. Syk inhibitors efficiently suppress RA in patients albeit in the expression of unwanted side effects, including gastrointestinal effects, hypertension, and neutropenia. Syk inhibitors also inhibit clinical manifestations in lupus-prone mice. Here, we review the evidence that supports the use of Syk inhibitors to treat rheumatic and other autoimmune diseases.
26215994 Glucocorticoids and Skeletal Muscle. 2015 Glucocorticoids are known to regulate protein metabolism in skeletal muscle, producing a catabolic effect that is opposite that of insulin. In many catabolic diseases, such as sepsis, starvation, and cancer cachexia, endogenous glucocorticoids are elevated contributing to the loss of muscle mass and function. Further, exogenous glucocorticoids are often given acutely and chronically to treat inflammatory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, resulting in muscle atrophy. This chapter will detail the nature of glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy and discuss the mechanisms thought to be responsible for the catabolic effects of glucocorticoids on muscle.
26077826 The paradoxical role of IL-17 in atherosclerosis. 2015 Sep Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease mediated by innate and adaptive immune responses. In recent years, CD4(+) T cells (Th1, Th2, Treg, and Th17) have been increasingly studied for their role in atherosclerosis pathophysiology, atheroma stability, plaque rupture, and life-threatening acute coronary syndrome. IL-17, a marker cytokine of Th17 cells, has been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma. However, its role in atherosclerosis has been poorly characterized. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of IL-17 in the development of atherosclerosis and human coronary artery diseases.
25732996 Improvement in Bone Mineral Density and Architecture in a Patient with Gaucher Disease Usi 2015 Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme acid beta-glucosidase (glucocerebrosidase) due to mutations in the GBA gene. The most common form (type I) is associated with severe hematologic, visceral and bone disease. Disease-modifying treatments, such as enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy, can improve the hematologic and visceral aspects of the disease but success with improving severe osteopenia, which can increase the risk of fractures, is limited. Our case involves a patient with complex disease affecting bone health including Gaucher disease (type I), Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and corticosteroid use who did not respond to long term use of bisphosphonates. We report an improvement in bone mineral density and bone architecture commensurate with a reduced incidence of fractures in whom we used teriparatide (human parathyroid hormone (PTH; 1-34) to treat severe osteopenia. We conclude that teriparatide should be considered for further studies as an agent to improve bone mineral density in patients with Gaucher disease.
25716960 Saliva and oxidative stress in oral cavity and in some systemic disorders. 2015 Feb Saliva is a liquid environment of the oral ecosystem that to some extent reflects the local state of oral cavity or the general state of health of the human body. Since saliva reflects general health status of the human organism and is easy to collect, it can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. In the present review the authors discuss and highlight the role of oxidant-antioxidant balance in the blood and saliva in human pathology. Particularly, the evaluation of oxidative stress status was proposed as an important factor in diagnosing the development and progress of such general diseases as periodontal disease, oral cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic renal failure, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and HIV. Moreover, the tryptophan metabolites via kynurenine pathway measured in the plasma and saliva are proposed as new and sensitive markers of oxidative stress status. It is concluded that measurement of oxidative stress in salivary fluid may provide a tool for diagnosing, monitoring and treatment of some systemic diseases as well as of local pathologic disturbances (e.g. periodontal disease).
27964744 Differential gene and protein expression of chemokines and cytokines in synovial fluid of 2016 Dec 13 BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease, develops in approximately 30% of patients with psoriasis. Previously, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10) was identified as a predictive biomarker of PsA in patients with psoriasis and was reduced after development of PsA. The purpose of the present study was to explore messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of CXCL10 and its receptor, chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3), in the joints of patients with PsA to gain insight into their role in the pathogenesis of the disease. METHODS: Sera from 47 patients with PsA and 33 healthy control subjects were compared for expression of CXCL10 by Luminex assay. Synovial fluid (SF) was obtained from patients with PsA (n = 40), osteoarthritis (OA; n = 14), gout (n = 8), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 11) during clinical care. SF mRNA and protein expression of CXCL10, interleukin-17A (IL-17A), CXCR3, TBX21, RORC and/or interferon γ (IFNγ) were compared among the above-mentioned disease groups, as well as in paired SF and serum samples from patients with PsA using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Luminex assays, respectively. RESULTS: Serum CXCL10 was significantly higher in patients with PsA than in control subjects (p = 0.0007). CXCL10, IL-17A, and TBX21 expression were elevated in SF cells of patients with PsA compared with those of patients with OA and gout, but not those of patients with RA. CXCR3 and RORC were elevated in PsA SF cells compared with all other patient groups. Concordant results were obtained for CXCL10 and IL-17A protein expression. IFNγ was elevated in PsA SF compared with OA SF (p = 0.015). CXCL10 protein expression was substantially increased in SF (median 7283.9 pg/ml, interquartile range [IQR] 1330-10,362 pg/ml) compared with paired serum samples (median 282.06, IQR 180.7-395.8 pg/ml; p = 0.001), whereas IFNγ was significantly reduced (SF median 6.03 pg/ml, IQR 4.47-8.94 pg/ml; versus serum median 23.70 pg/ml, IQR 3.2-104.6 pg/ml; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CXCL10 may have an important etiological role in PsA that is analogous to that in RA, and it is a candidate biomarker to distinguish PsA from healthy individuals and from patients with OA and gout.
33429504 Identifying Factors of Microparticles Modified with Arginine Derivatives That Induce Pheno 2016 Jun 13 Macrophages are key players in the progression of many diseases, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer. Drug delivery systems have the potential not only to transport payloads to diseased tissue but also to influence cell behavior. Here, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microparticles were modified with 14 different arginine derivatives. These particles were then incubated with interleukin-4 or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages or naïve macrophages (RAW 264.7). The phenotypic state of the macrophages was assessed by measuring arginase activity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion, and nitrite production. Partial least-squares analysis revealed material properties and descriptors that shifted the macrophage phenotype for the three cell conditions in this study. Material descriptors relating to secondary bonding were suggested to play a role in shifting phenotypes in all three macrophage culture conditions. These findings suggest that macrophage responses could be altered through drug delivery vehicles, and this method could be employed to assist in screening potential candidates.
27071147 Endocytosis of pro-inflammatory cytokine receptors and its relevance for signal transducti 2016 Aug 1 The pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are key players of the innate and adaptive immunity. Their activity needs to be tightly controlled to allow the initiation of an appropriate immune response as defense mechanism against pathogens or tissue injury. Excessive or sustained signaling of either of these cytokines leads to severe diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), steatohepatitis, periodic fevers and even cancer. Studies carried out in the last 30 years have emphasized that an elaborate control system for each of these cytokines exists. Here, we summarize what is currently known about the involvement of receptor endocytosis in the regulation of these pro-inflammatory cytokines' signaling cascades. Particularly in the last few years it was shown that this cellular process is far more than a mere feedback mechanism to clear cytokines from the circulation and to shut off their signal transduction.
27043634 Roles of NF-κB in Cancer and Inflammatory Diseases and Their Therapeutic Approaches. 2016 Mar 29 Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including immune response, inflammation, cell growth and survival, and development. NF-κB is critical for human health, and aberrant NF-κB activation contributes to development of various autoimmune, inflammatory and malignant disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis and malignant tumors. Thus, inhibiting NF-κB signaling has potential therapeutic applications in cancer and inflammatory diseases.
26939275 Inflammatory Bowel Disease. 2016 Inflammation response plays an important role in host survival, and it also leads to acute and chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, bowel diseases, allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and various neurodegenerative diseases. During the course of inflammation, the ROS level increases. In addition to ROS, several inflammatory mediators produced at the site lead to numerous cell-mediated damages. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is a chronic intestinal disorder resulting from a dysfunctional epithelial, innate and adaptive immune response to intestinal microorganisms. The methods involving indomethacin-induced enterocolitis in rats with macroscopic changes of IBD, myeloperoxidase assay, microscopic (histologic) characters and biochemical parameters are discussed.
26770024 Insights from the predicted epitope similarity between Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulent 2015 Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to be associated with several autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. This is attributed to sequence similarity between virulent factors and human proteins. Therefore, it is of interest to identify such regions in the virulent factors to assess potential autoimmune related information. M. tb specific virulent factors were downloaded from the VFDB database and its human homologs were identified using the sequence comparison search tool BLASTP. Both virulent proteins and their corresponding human homologs were further scanned for epitopes (B cell and HLA class I and II allele specific) using prediction programs (BCPRED and NETMHC). Data shows the presence of matching 22 B-cell, 79 HLA class II and 16 HLA class I specific predicted epitopes in these virulent factors having human homologs. A known peptide (HAFYLQYKNVKVDFA) associated with autoimmune atopic dermatitis is shown in the superoxide dismutase homolog structures of the bacterium (PDB ID: 1IDS) and human (PDB ID: 2QKC). This data provides insight into the understanding of infection-associated auto-immunity.
26567492 Mechanisms of Cardiotoxicity and the Development of Heart Failure. 2015 Dec Cardiotoxicity is a broad term that refers to the negative effects of toxic substances on the heart. Cancer drugs can cause cardiotoxicity by effects on heart cells, thromboembolic events, and/or hypertension that can lead to heart failure. Rheumatoid arthritis biologics may interfere with ischemic preconditioning and cause/worsen heart failure. Long-term and heavy alcohol use can result in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and decreased contractile protein function. Cocaine use results in sympathetic nervous system stimulation of heart and smooth muscle cells and leads to cardiotoxicity and evolution of heart failure. The definition of cardiotoxicity is likely to evolve along with knowledge about detecting subclinical myocardial injury.
28261362 Atherosclerosis in Systemic Sclerosis: a Modern Controversy. 2015 Sep Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic disease of unknown etiology. The main feature of SSc is microvascular disease, but contemporary studies in the field have confirmed the presence of macrovascular affectation. Due to its inflammatory background, and higher cardio- and cerebrovascular death rates, it is presumed that SSc is more frequently associated to accelerated atherosclerosis, similarly to other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. The assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with SSc through different methods (such as intima media thickness, echo-tracking, wave intensity, pulse wave velocity, flow mediated dilation, nitroglycerin mediated dilation, ankle brachial pressure index or coronary angiotomography) has failed to show concordant results, regardless of the used tool. In this review, we try to synthetise the most recent evidence about atherosclerotic involvement in SSc, reviewing the association between SSc and risk factors and also performing a summary of studies that compared atherosclerosis in SSc to controls. Our research leads to the conclusion that in order to elucidate the extent of atherosclerosis and its consequences in SSc, further investigations are needed, combining atherosclerosis assessment tools and larger number of patients.