Serum Interleukin-6 Levels In Patients Research Articles

Mutual communication between radiosensitive and radioresistant esophageal cancer cells modulates their radiosensitivity

Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for patients with esophageal cancer; however, the response to radiation varies among different tumor subpopulations due to tumor heterogeneity. Cancer cells that survive radiotherapy (i.e., radioresistant) may proliferate, ultimately resulting in cancer relapse. However, the interaction between radiosensitive and radioresistant cancer cells remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that the mutual communication between radiosensitive and radioresistant esophageal cancer cells modulated their radiosensitivity. Radiosensitive cells secreted more exosomal let-7a and less interleukin-6 (IL-6) than radioresistant cells. Exosomal let-7a secreted by radiosensitive cells increased the radiosensitivity of radioresistant cells, whereas IL-6 secreted by radioresistant cells decreased the radiosensitivity of radiosensitive cells. Although the serum levels of let-7a and IL-6 before radiotherapy did not vary significantly between patients with radioresistant and radiosensitive diseases, radiotherapy induced a more pronounced decrease in serum let-7a levels and a greater increase in serum IL-6 levels in patients with radioresistant cancer compared to those with radiosensitive cancer. The percentage decrease in serum let-7a and the percentage increase in serum IL-6 levels at the early stage of radiotherapy were inversely associated with tumor regression after radiotherapy. Our findings suggest that early changes in serum let-7a and IL-6 levels may be used as a biomarker to predict the response to radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer and provide new insights into subsequent treatments.

C‑reactive protein and related predictors in soft tissue sarcoma (Review).

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a useful predictor of poor survival in patients with several types of cancer because inflammation is strongly associated with cancer progression. The production of CRP in hepatocytes appears to be primarily induced at the transcriptional level following the elevation of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is produced by various cell types, including cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts. Serum CRP levels are associated with serum IL-6 levels in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Additionally, patients with elevated CRP levels had worse oncological outcomes than those with normal CRP levels. It has been attempted to combine CRP levels with other inflammatory or immune markers, and the utility of this has been demonstrated. Therefore, a novel treatment strategy should be developed for patients with STS with elevated CRP levels. The present review aimed to clarify the role of CRP levels and related tools in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with STS.

Sivelestat sodium for treatment of patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome in intensive care unit: a single-center retrospective cohort study

To investigate the effect of sivelestat sodium on survival, oxygenation index, and serum markers for infection in critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This retrospectively study was performed among the critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. We collected the clinical data of the patients on the first day of ICU admission and on the day of discharge and laboratory tests results of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) and oxygenation index on days 1, 3 and 7 following ICU admission. Propensity-score matching was used to match the patients receiving sivelestat sodium to those without the treatment. Cox proportional hazards model and linear regression analysis were used to assess the association of sivelestat sodium treatment with in-hospital mortality and the length of hospital stay. A total of 199 patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS patients were included for data analysis. After propensity-score matching PSM, 35 patients receiving sivelestat sodium were matched to 70 patients without the treatment. Treatment with of sivelestat sodium was not associated with the reduction of in- hospital mortality (P=0.36), prolonged ICU stay (P=0.39), hospital stay (P=0.68) or improved oxygenation index (P>0.05) of the patients. No significant difference was found in serum CRP or PCT levels between the patients with and without sivelestat sodium treatment, but a significant reduction in IL-6 level was found in sivelestat sodium group (P=0.016). Sivelestat sodium treatment is not correlated with the reduction of mortality or length of hospital stay, but is associated with reduced serum IL-6 level in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS.

The Effect of Ginseng Extract on Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is the most common cause of death and illness in the world. Increased IL-6 can be used as an early indicator of infection or inflammation. Ginseng is a popular herbal medicine. The anti-inflammatory effect of Ginseng is mediated by its ability to inhibit Nuclear Factor Kappa Beta (NF-kB), a proinflammatory regulator to initiate the synthesis of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. Clinical trial research, quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest approach was carried out on 26 community pneumonia patients who were hospitalized at Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta from October 2020 to January 2021 using purposive sampling. The independent variable was Ginseng extract (GinsanaR) at a dose of 2x100 mg and the dependent variable was serum IL-6 levels. Serum IL-6 levels were measured using the Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunoabsorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Mean IL-6 levels in the control group on day 0, day 3, and day 14 were 232,89+156,61 pg/mL, 113,46±83.30 pg/mL and 66.18±66.02 pg/mL, respectively (p=<0.001). Mean IL-6 levels in the treatment group on day 0, day 3, and day 14 were 519,55±609,19 pg/mL, 205.41±329.17 pg/mL and 133,59±291,68 pg/mL, respectively (p=<0.001). Delta IL-6 levels in the control group and the treatment group on day 3 compared to day 0, the mean of the IL-6 control group -119,42±111,70 pg/mL, the mean for the IL-6 treatment group -314,14±532,16 pg/mL; On day 14 compared to day 0, the mean of the IL-6 control group was -166,70±135,54 pg/mL, the mean of the IL-6 treatment group was -385,96±547,10 pg/mL; On day 14 compared to day 3, the mean IL-6 control group was -47.28±47.47, the mean IL-6 control group was -71.82±58.16. The post hoc test (Wilcoxon) obtained a p-value < 0.05, suggesting that Ginseng extract has a significant effect on reducing serum IL-6 serum levels in community pneumonia patients.

Interleukin-6 in schizophrenia is associated with negative symptoms, side effects of therapy and smoking: results of a pilot study

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the most important pro-inflammatory markers with immunomodulatory activity associated with schizophrenia. The possible involvement of interleukin-6 in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia and the development of different clusters of symptoms remains debatable; the relationship between an increase in interleukin-6 and a number of possible confounding factors, including smoking, has not yet been studied. The aim of this work was the pilot evaluation of the serum IL-6 level in patients with schizophrenia compared with healthy controls, as well as its association with clinical symptoms, socio-demographic factors and smoking. Materials and methods: 43 patients with schizophrenia and 24 healthy volunteers were examined. The determination of IL-6 was carried out by enzyme immunoassay. All patients were assessed using the Positive and Negative Schizophrenia Syndrome Scale (PANSS), The UKUSERS-Clin Therapeutic Side Effects Scale (UKU), Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), the Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS), Barnes Akathisia Scale (BARS), Personal and Social Functioning Scale (PSP). Results: In patients with schizophrenia in a Russian sample, serum IL-6 levels were significantly associated with smoking status (p = 0.0017), the severity of negative symptoms and symptoms of the PANSS general psychopathology scale (p=0.014 and p=0.038, respectively), disorders of personal and social functioning (PSP, p=0.011), as well as side effects measured using the UKU scale (general, p=0.038, 0041 and extrapyramidal, p=0.018), as well as drug-induced parkinsonism (p=0.043), dyskinesia (p=0.0084) and akathisia (p=0.043). All scores are worse in patients with nicotine addiction. The occurrence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in response to standard doses of antipsychotics (AP) can serve as a clinical marker of possible immune-inflammatory disturbances in patients with schizophrenia, and the smoking status can act as a provocing factor for increasing of latent inflammation. Replication of the study is required to confirm the findings.

Cortical volume is inversely correlated with Interleukin-6 serum levels in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: It is well established that cortical volume are decreased in patients with schizophrenia. One possible explanation is that the increased pro-inflammatory status in schizophrenia is related to volumetric decrease of gray matter. The aim of this study was to correlate interleukin 6 (IL-6) with cortical volume in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Methods: We selected 36 patients with schizophrenia and 35 controls. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) was correlated with cortical volume in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Results: IL-6 was negatively correlated with cortical volume (p = 0.027; rho = −0.370) in patients, but not in controls (p = 0.235). Discussion: Our results are in line with previous studies suggesting that chronic inflammatory activation in patients with schizophrenia could be one plausible mechanism that could contribute for the cortical volumetric decrease often seen in this population. However, this cross-sectional study with a small number of patients does not allow us to establish causal relations.

Pathological and clinical effects of interleukin-6 on human myocarditis

BackgroundNumerous basic studies have shown a relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the development or severity of myocarditis. However, there has been no study in which the effect of IL-6 levels in patients with myocarditis was evaluated. MethodsWe enrolled control patients (n = 12) and consecutive patients with acute myocarditis (n = 13), including lymphocytic, eosinophilic, and giant cell myocarditis, and investigated the pathological and clinical effects of IL-6 on human myocarditis. ResultsThe serum IL-6 level in patients with myocarditis (16.7 [9.9, 103.8] pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in the control patients (1.4 [1.0, 1.9] pg/mL) (P<0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that IL-6 was expressed in infiltrating inflammatory cells of endomyocardial biopsy samples from all patients with myocarditis. Moreover, the log-transformed value of serum IL-6 level showed significant positive correlations with serum creatine kinase (CK) level, CK-MB level, peak CK level, peak CK-MB level and C-reactive protein level (all P ≤ 0.005) and a negative correlation with the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (p = 0.014). We divided the patients with myocarditis into a low IL-6 group (9.9 [4.5, 14.2] pg/dL, n = 7) and a high IL-6 group (108.9 [51.1, 130.9] pg/dL, n = 6). The degree of infiltration of IL-6-expressing inflammatory cells in myocardial samples obtained from patients in the high IL-6 group was significantly more severe than that in samples obtained from patients in the low IL-6 group. Furthermore, patients in the high IL-6 group significantly more frequently received catecholamine therapy (P = 0.005), venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (P = 0.029), and artificial respirator support (P = 0.021) in the acute phase of myocarditis. ConclusionThe results suggest that there is a strong impact of IL-6 on cardiac injury and dysfunction in patients with myocarditis.

Effect of Simvastatin in Serum Interleukin-6 Level in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Acute ischemic stroke is the leading cause of death and causing permanent disability in adults worldwide. In acute ischemic stroke, IL-6 levels positively correlated to more severe neurological deficits, more extensive brain damage and worse prognoses. The use of statin was associated with milder initial stroke severity, better functional outcome and lower mortality. This clinically randomized controlled trial study was aimed to analyze the serum levels of IL 6 in acute ischemic stroke patients who treated with Simvastatin 20 mg compare to placebo. Samples were taken using consecutive sampling method from hospitalized acute ischemic stroke patients in Neurology Department of Dr. Soetomo Teaching Hospital Surabaya and Airlangga University Hospital Surabayafrom August to November 2017. Total of 44 patients met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 22 patients in treatment group and 22 patients in control group.There were no significant difference in the characteristic of the patients in both groups (p&gt;0.05). Averages of serum IL-6 in the control and the treatment group are 38.594±74.313 and 17.760±25.253(p=0,438) while averages of serum IL-6 post in the control group and the treatment are 46.586±103.484 and 15.275±17.183 (p=0,589). There were no significant level escalation in pre and post of control group (p = 0.205) and also no significant level reduction in pre and post of treatment group (p = 0.411), while the average difference in the control group (-7.992 + 78.912 pg/ml) and in the treatment group (2.485 + 23.738 pg/ml).

Diagnostic and Prognostic Roles of Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Patients with Uveitis

ABSTRACT Purpose To examine the diagnostic and prognostic roles of serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with uveitis. Methods This was a retrospective observational case series. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between Group One (sixty patients) with normal serum IL-6 levels and Group Two (twenty patients) with high serum interleukin-6 levels. Results Mean IL-6 level was 1.77 ± 0.97 pg/ml and 10.2 ± 9.7 pg/ml in Group One and Group Two respectively. Age, presence of systemic disease, and mean number of flare-ups were statistically significant (p = .015, p = .000, p = .03, respectively). Multivariate analysis was performed on variables that were statistically significant in univariate analysis and showed that three variables had significant correlation with IL-6 levels in both groups: systemic disease (OR = 10.83, p < .001), Age (OR = 0.95, p = .03) and number of flare-ups (OR = 2.9, p = .02). Conclusion Serum IL-6 levels can provide diagnostic and prognostic information in regard to the course of disease and its treatment.

Effect of Simvastatin in Serum Interleukin-6 Level in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Acute ischemic stroke is the leading cause of death and causing permanent disability in adults worldwide. In acute ischemic stroke, IL-6 levels positively correlated to more severe neurological deficits, more extensive brain damage and worse prognoses. The use of statin was associated with milder initial stroke severity, better functional outcome and lower mortality. This clinically randomized controlled trial study was aimed to analyze the serum levels of IL 6 in acute ischemic stroke patients who treated with Simvastatin 20 mg compare to placebo. Samples were taken using consecutive sampling method from hospitalized acute ischemic stroke patients in Neurology Department of Dr. Soetomo Teaching Hospital Surabaya and Airlangga University Hospital Surabaya from August to November 2017. Total of 44 patients met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 22 patients in treatment group and 22 patients in control group. There were no significant difference in the characteristic of the patients in both groups (p&gt;0.05). Averages of serum IL-6 in the control and the treatment group are 38.594±74.313 and 17.760±25.253 (p=0,438) while averages of serum IL-6 post in the control group and the treatment are 46.586±103.484 and 15.275±17.183 (p=0,589). There were no significant level escalation in pre and post of control group (p=0.205) and also no significant level reduction in pre and post of treatment group (p=0.411), while the average difference in the control group (-7.992 ± 78.912 pg/ml) and in the treatment group (2.485 ± 23.738 pg/ml).

Infectious agents and immune responses in schizophrenia: A case control study

Introduction: Exact causal mechanism of schizophrenia is still unknown; however, genetic and environmental factors are implicated in disease aetiology. The aim of the study is to determine the association of infectious agents cytomegalovirus and T.gondii along with immune cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ with schizophrenia. Methods: Ninety subjects participated in the study, 45 were patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the other 45 were a healthy control group. Qualitative and quantitative enzyme immunoassays were used for detection of antibodies and quantitation of cytokines respectively in subjects’ sera. Results: Both patients and control groups had similar CMV seroprevalence of 93.3% (42/45). Prevalence of anti T. gondii IgG antibodies were 53.3% and 64.4% among schizophrenic patients and controls respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed between patients and controls (p &gt; 0.05). A significant difference (p&lt;0.005) between mean serum Interleukin-2 levels in patients (14.7 pg/mL) and controls (33.5 pg/mL) was observed. No statistically significant difference (p&gt;0.05) was found between the median IQR serum Interleukin-6 levels of patients (4.3 pg/mL) and controls (3.1 pg/mL). There was a significant difference (p&lt; 0.001) in median IQR serum IFN – γ levels between patients (0.8 pg/mL) and the control group (4.9 pg/mL). Conclusions: No significant differences between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls with regard to previous infections with cytomegalovirus or T.gondii were observed. While significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IFN – γ among controls than patients might be an indication of weaker than normal immune responses in schizophrenic patients.

Impact of functional IL-18 polymorphisms on genetic predisposition and diverse clinical manifestations of the disease in Indian SLE patients.

Several studies have demonstrated associations between interleukin-18 polymorphisms and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in different populations except one of Indian origin. We therefore investigated for the influence of interleukin-18 (-1297T/C, -607A/C, -137G/C; + 105A/C) polymorphisms on genetic susceptibility and clinical expression of the disease in Indian systemic lupus erythematosus patients. A total of 200 systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 201 controls were recruited. Genotyping of interleukin-18 polymorphisms were performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Serum interleukin-18 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interleukin-18 (-1297T/C; -137G/C) polymorphisms showed significant association with genetic susceptibility to the disease in our systemic lupus erythematosus cohort. Stratification analysis revealed -1297CC and -1297C associated with renal involvement (odds ratio = 3.4, correcting p value = 0.0207), (odds ratio = 2.0, correcting p value = 0.0054) respectively. Additionally, -1297C allele frequency was significantly increased in patients with anti-nucleosome antibody (odds ratio = 2.1, correcting p value = 0.0301). Haplotype analysis showed CC haplotype strongly associated with serositis (odds ratio = 9.1, correcting p values = 0.0009) and neurologic involvement (odds ratio = 9.3, correcting p value = 0.0018). We reported a 2.7-fold increase in serum interleukin-18 levels in patients (511.5 ± 242.3 pg/ml) compared to controls (189.4 ± 80.8 pg/ml) ( p < 0.0001). Furthermore, interleukin-18 levels were positively correlated with disease activity ( r = 0.548, p = 0.0001) and renal involvement in the patients with lupus nephritis ( r = 0.569, p < 0.0001). In summary, interleukin-18 polymorphisms elucidated in this study appear to confer genetic susceptibility to the disease and are associated with renal, serositis and neurologic involvement in Indian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Validation of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and the relationships among fatigue, pain and serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Fatigue and pain are disabling symptoms in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) has not yet been validated in patients with NMOSD, and anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antibody was reported to decrease pain and fatigue in patients with NMOSD. The aim of this study was to validate MFIS and to investigate the relationships among fatigue, pain and serum IL-6 levels in patients with NMOSD.MFIS and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI), an established scale for fatigue, were administered to patients with NMOSD and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). The Pain Effects Scale score and serum IL-6 levels were also measured in patients with NMOSD. Correlations among clinical characteristics, laboratory data and each score were investigated. To validate MFIS in patients with NMOSD, MFIS was administered twice within 4days from the first administration. Fifty-one patients answered the first MFIS, and 26 patients answered the second MFIS. There was no difference between the first and second MFIS scores. Patients with NMOSD had higher MFIS and MFI scores than HCs. No correlations were observed between serum IL-6 levels and either score. MFIS was validated in patients with NMOSD. Serum IL-6 levels may not be involved in the pathogenesis of fatigue and pain in patients with NMOSD.

Prognostic impact of preoperative serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma, defined by sentinel node biopsy.

Failure to detect recurrence and lymph node metastasis early represents a fundamental barrier to the improvement of survival rate in early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study evaluated the association between serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and clinical outcomes in patients with early stage OSCC patients defined by sentinel node biopsy (SNB). A total of 53 patients with clinical stage I/II OSCC who underwent SNB were enrolled. SNB was determined by a radioisotope method, and was evaluated by histopathological examination and genetic analysis. Preoperative sera were measured for IL-6 by ELISA. In the clinical stage I/II patients, disease-free survival (DFS) was demonstrated to be higher in patients with negative SNB compared with patients with positive SNB. In total, 13 patients were demonstrated to exhibit lymph node metastasis by SNB or were reclassified to pathological stage T4 subsequent to analysis of the surgically resected specimens. Thus, 40 patients were diagnosed with early stage OSCC. Of these 40 patients, DFS of the patients with low serum IL-6 was significantly higher compared with the patients with high serum IL-6 (P=0.012). In 19 patients with negative SNB and low serum IL-6, the disease-free rate was 100%. These findings suggested that SNB staging and serum IL-6 level have a high prognostic value in patients with early stage OSCC. Additional investigation and longer follow-up times are warranted to improve understanding of the group of patients that may benefit from this procedure.

Change in serum interleukin-6 levels in patients after pancreatoduodenectomy for periampullary cancer

&lt;p&gt;This study was undertaken to elucidate the changes in interleukin-6 concentrations in the systemic circulation of 20 patients following pancreatoduodenectomy and whether it had any predictive value for postoperative complications. Blood was drawn on the day before surgery, at fixed intervals immediately after closure of the abdomen, and on day 1, 3, 5 after surgery for the measurement of interleukin-6. Change in the serum interleukin-6 levels was observed before and after pancreatoduodenectomy and between patients with and without complications. There was no mortality, but morbidity occurred in 5 patients. Serum interleukin-6 levels peaked immediately after surgery and gradually declined to preoperative level on postoperative day 5, but it remained persistently higher in a patient who developed postoperative complication. The peak level of interleukin-6 was significantly correlated with body mass index, duration of jaundice, biliary decompression prior to surgery, operation time and hospital stay, but not with operative blood loss. In conclusion, interleukin-6 is an important stress marker for predicting the complications after pancreatoduodenectomy operation. Patient with good body mass index status, short duration of jaundice and without preoperative biliary decompression provides less operative stress, less chance of complications and shorter hospital stay.&lt;/p&gt;

Increased serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Increased serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.

Serum Endotoxin Activity Measured with Endotoxin Activity Assay Is Associated with Serum Interleukin-6 Levels in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Background: This study aims to evaluate, in patients on chronic hemodialysis (PHD), the levels of endotoxin through a chemiluminescent bioassay based on the oxidative burst reaction of activated neutrophils to complement coated LPS-IgM immune complexes and define the variables possibly correlated. Methods: In 61 PHD, we measured serum endotoxin activity (EA) with the Endotoxin Activity Assay (EAA™) and we defined the possible association with demographic, clinical and laboratory variables. Results: Mean serum EA was 0.43 ± 0.26 UI. EA was low (<0.40) in 29 patients (47.5%), intermediate (0.40-0.60) in 14 (23%) and high (>0.60) in 18 (29.5%). A significant exponential relationship was detected between EA and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (r = 0.871). At the multiple regression analysis, intermediate-high EA was directly associated only with serum IL-6 levels. In a second model of multiple regression analysis without the variable serum IL-6 levels, intermediate-high EA was directly associated with constipation and serum troponin levels and inversely associated with serum albumin and the monthly number of sevelamer tablets. Conclusions: A high percentage of PHD has intermediate or high EA. Intermediate-high EA is significantly associated with serum IL-6 levels.

Effects of exercise on Irisin, BDNF and IL-6 serum levels in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis

BackgroundClinical studies have suggested beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function in ageing adults and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. Recent work indicates the same for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The biological pathways associated with these effects are however not well understood. ObjectiveIn this randomized controlled study, we explored serum levels of the myokine Irisin, the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) during acute endurance exercise and over the course of a 9-weeks endurance exercise training period in n=42 patients with progressive MS. ResultsWe detected a significant increase of BDNF levels in progressive MS patients after 30min of bicycling (p<0.001). However, there were no significant changes for baseline levels after 22 sessions of training. No significant effects of acute or prolonged exercise could be found for Irisin or Interleukin-6. ConclusionOur results indicate that BDNF is strongly induced during acute exercise even in patients with progressive MS and advanced physical disability. Long-term effects of exercise programs on biological parameters (Irisin, BDNF, IL-6) were much less pronounced. Given the hypothesis-driven selection of a limited set of biological markers in this pilot study, future studies should use unbiased approaches in larger samples to obtain a comprehensive picture of the networks involved in exercise effects on neurological diseases.

Urine intestinal fatty acid-binding protein predicts acute mesenteric ischemia in patients

BackgroundAcute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) has a high morbidity and mortality and often presents as a diagnostic challenge. Currently, there is no blood, urine, or radiologic tests that provide a definitive diagnosis of AMI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical accuracy of urine intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) to diagnosis AMI. Materials and methodsTwenty patients referred to the Acute Care Surgery service at University of Alberta Hospital with suspected AMI taken to the operating room for definitive diagnosis were recruited. Pathologic findings from surgical specimens confirmed a gold standard diagnosis for intestinal ischemia. The patients found to be nonischemic became the internal controls. Conventional clinical markers were examined in blood including white blood cell count, lactate, and creatinine. Blood was also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for I-FABP and interleukin-6. Urine was examined preoperatively and 6 and 24 h postoperatively for I-FABP. ResultsThirteen patients were pathologically diagnosed with AMI while five patients were nonischemic; two were excluded due to missing biologic specimens. There was no difference in age or gender between ischemic and nonischemic patients (56 ± 5 versus 66 ± 11 years old, respectively; six females with ischemic and three females in the nonischemic group). There was no difference in serum lactate and creatinine between the two groups. Serum interleukin-6 levels in patients with AMI were significantly higher than nonischemic controls (0.4 ± 0.2 ng/mL versus 0.2 ± 0.07 ng/mL, respectively, P = 0.03). There was a nonstatistically significant increase in serum I-FABP in AMI patients compared to internal controls (9 ± 3 ng/mL versus 2.4 ± 0.9 ng/mL, respectively, P = 0.2). Urine I-FABP was significantly higher in patients diagnosed with AMI than in controls (7 ± 1 ng/mL versus 2 ± 1 ng/mL, respectively, P = 0.007). The receiver operating characteristic curve illustrated that urine I-FABP discriminates significantly between patients with AMI and controls (area under receiver operating characteristic = 0.88, P = 0.03). ConclusionsThe traditional clinical markers lactate and white blood cell count were not able to differentiate AMI from nonischemic bowel. However, we found that urine I-FABP was a noninvasive biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity for accurately diagnosing AMI in patients. A noninvasive accurate tool for AMI would facilitate for a rapid treatment, while preventing unnecessary surgical interventions in high-risk patient populations.

Effects of Narrow Band Ultraviolet B on Serum Levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Interleukin-8 in Patients with Psoriasis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with psoriasis. Relevant Chinese and English scientific literature databases were searched to identify studies published before November, 2013 that included serum VEGF and IL-8 levels in patients with psoriasis. The studies retrieved from database searches were screened on the basis of predefined selection criteria, and data from finally selected studies were extracted for meta-analysis. Analyses were conducted using STATA 12.0 software. Our systematic search resulted in retrieval of 700 studies (500 studies in Chinese, 200 studies in English), and after a multistep screening process, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled for meta-analysis. The 13 studies contained a combined total of 400 patients with psoriasis and 221 healthy controls. The results of meta-analysis revealed that healthy controls exhibited significantly lower serum level of VEGF, compared to patients with psoriasis before therapy. After NB-UVB, VEGF levels were significantly decreased in patients with psoriasis, as compared to their pretherapy VEGF levels. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in IL-8 serum levels between patients with psoriasis and healthy controls before therapy, after NB-UVB therapy, the serum IL-8 levels in patients with psoriasis were markedly decreased. Corresponding reductions in the psoriasis area and severity index scores of patients with psoriasis were observed after NB-UVB treatment. Our results revealed that NB-UVB therapy significantly decreased the serum levels of VEGF and IL-8 in patients with psoriasis. Furthermore, VEGF and IL-8 levels correlated with disease status, indicating that they are sensitive biomarkers for evaluating the effectiveness of psoriasis therapy.