Significant Differences In IL-6 Research Articles

Novel Insights into Amlodipine-Induced Gingival Enlargement: A Clinical and Molecular Perspective.

This study aimed to identify risk factors for amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement, assess quality of life, and analyze gingival tissue. This cross-sectional study involved hypertensive patients on amlodipine, divided into groups with and without gingival enlargement. Assessments included sociodemographic data, clinical evaluations, and clinical parameters. Quality of life was assessed using OHIP-14 and WB-HRQoL scales. Gingival tissue samples were analyzed for oxidative status and key molecules using RT-PCR and colorimetric assays. The study included 32 patients with no significant sociodemographic differences between groups (p > 0.05). Patients with gingival enlargement had higher systolic blood pressure (139.63 ± 10.743 vs. 128.38 ± 7.249, p = 0.028) and higher OHIP-14 scores. The RT-PCR analysis showed significant differences in IL-6, TNF-α, IL-33, ST2, TGF-β1, FGF-2, CTGF, VEGF-D, and KGF expression. IL-6, TNF-α, ST2, and FGF-2 expression levels were lower in patients taking amlodipine, with and without gingival enlargement. TGF-β1 and CTGF expression levels were highest in patients with amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement. SOD activity was also highest in these patients, whereas MDA levels were higher in patients with gingival enlargement without amlodipine. Our study highlights the impact of amlodipine-induced gingival enlargement on oral health and quality of life, emphasizing fibrosis and oxidative stress, and suggests the need for integrated healthcare approaches and further research.

Effects of Photobiomodulation Associated with Platelet-Rich Plasma in Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis Induced in Female Wistar Rats' Knee.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and joint degradation, necessitating treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, posing various challenges. We aimed to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) at two different doses associated to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in an invivo model of induced acute arthritis in Wistar rats' knee. Methods: Eighty-four Wistar rats were assigned into seven groups, including animals treated with PBM and/or PRP. On day 0, arthritis was induced in sham and treated groups through the intra-articular injection of zymosan (200 μg). Twenty-four hours after induction, the PBM groups were treated with an AsGaAl laser, whereas the PRP-treated groups received intra-articular injections with a concentration of 8 × 105 platelets obtained from another four animals. After 3 days, the animals were euthanized, and the interleukin (IL)-6 and complement C3 gene and protein expression levels were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the mean ± SD with analysis of variance and Tukey's posttest, with a significance level set at 5% (p < 0.05). Results: Synovial inflammation decreased in PBM-treated groups; however, PRP alone showed no significant difference. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant difference in IL-6 and C3 levels in the PBM and PBM+PRP-treated groups. Meanwhile, the PRP alone group exhibited significance for IL-6. Moreover, the PBM and PBM+PRP-treated groups showed a significant difference in C3 protein expression levels, whereas the PRP alone group showed no difference. Conclusion: The increase in cellular activity in the synovial membrane and the decrease protein expression levels are owing to the reduction in proinflammatory mediators following PBM therapy.

Human olfactory neural progenitor cells reveal differences in IL-6, IL-8, thrombospondin-1, and MCP-1 in major depression disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Discovering biological markers is essential for understanding and treating mental disorders. Despite the limitations of current non-invasive methods, neural progenitor cells from the olfactory epithelium (hNPCs-OE) have been emphasized as potential biomarker sources. This study measured soluble factors in these cells in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and healthy controls (HC). We assessed thirty-five participants divided into MDD (n=14), BPD (n=14), and HC (n=7). MDD was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. BPD was evaluated using the DSM-5 criteria and the Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders. We isolated hNPCs-OE, collected intracellular proteins and conditioned medium, and quantified markers and soluble factors, including Interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and others. Analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test and linear regression. We found that hNPCs-OE of MDD and BPD decreased Sox2 and laminin receptor-67 kDa levels. MASH-1 decreased in BPD, while tubulin beta-III decreased in MDD compared to controls and BPD. Also, we found significant differences in IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and thrombospondin-1 levels between controls and MDD, or BPD, but not between MDD and BPD. Altered protein markers are evident in the nhNPCs-OE in MDD and BPD patients. These cells also secrete higher concentrations of inflammatory cytokines than HC cells. The results suggest the potential utility of hNPCs-OE as an in vitro model for researching biological protein markers in psychiatric disorders. However, more extensive validation studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness and specificity in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Prognostic value of inflammatory cytokine detection for sepsis patients in ICU: a meta-analysis.

To explore the prognostic effect of cytokine levels such as IL-6 (interleukin), IL-8 and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α on patients with sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) by Meta-analysis. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and other databases up to May 2023 to retrieve clinical research articles on cytokine testing for predicting sepsis prognosis in ICU settings. Relevant indicators were extracted and recorded in Excel. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3. A total of 25 studies were finally included in this Meta-analysis: 21 investigated IL-6, 6 examined IL-8, 11 addressed IL-10, 12 reviewed TNF-α, and 6 focused on IL-1β. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α and IL-1β) in survival groups were substantially lower than those in non-survival groups (ALL P < 0.00001). Specific findings include significant differences in IL-6 [SMD = -25.32, 95% CI (-27.14, -23.49), P < 0.00001], IL-8 [SMD = -140.48, 95% CI (-154.32, -126.64), P < 0.00001], IL-10 [SMD = -54.10, 95% CI (-56.74, -51.47), P < 0.00001], TNF-α [SMD = -8.67, 95% CI (-9.82, -7.52), P < 0.00001], and IL-1β [SMD = -3.71, 95% CI (-4.11, -3.30), P < 0.00001]. The funnel plots for IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-1β displayed roughly symmetrical distributions, suggesting minimal bias and high reliability of the findings. Cytokine levels such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α are valuable prognostic indicators for patients with sepsis in the ICUs. Early testing of these cytokines can guide clinical interventions and enable targeted treatments for high-risk patients to reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes.

Ex vivo Evaluation of a Liposome-Mediated Antioxidant Delivery System on Markers of Skin Photoaging and Skin Penetration.

The topical application of antioxidants has been shown to augment the skin's innate antioxidant system and enhance photoprotection. A challenge of topical antioxidant formulation is stability and penetrability. The use of a targeted drug delivery system may improve the bioavailability and delivery of antioxidants. In this ex vivo study, we assessed the effects of the topical application of a liposome-encapsulated antioxidant complex versus a free antioxidant complex alone on skin photoaging parameters and penetrability in human skin explants. Human organotypic skin explant cultures (hOSEC) were irradiated to mimic photoaging. The encapsulated antioxidant complex and free antioxidant complex were applied topically onto the irradiated hOSEC daily for 7 days. The two control groups were healthy untreated hOSEC and irradiated hOSEC. Photoprotective efficacy was measured with pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) secretion. Cell viability and metabolic activity were measured via resazurin assay. Tissue damage was evaluated via lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assay. Skin penetration of the encapsulated antioxidant complex was assessed via fluorescent dye and confocal microscopy. Compared to healthy skin, irradiated skin experienced increases in IL-6, IL-8 (p < 0.05), and MMP-9 (p < 0.05) secretion. After treatment with the encapsulated antioxidant complex, there was a 39.3% reduction in IL-6 secretion, 49.8% reduction in IL-8 (p < 0.05), and 38.5% reduction in MMP-9 (p < 0.05). After treatment with the free antioxidant complex, there were no significant differences in IL-6, IL-8, or MMP-9 secretion. Neither treatment group experienced significant LDH leakage or reductions in metabolic activity. Liposomes passed through the stratum corneum and into the epidermis. The topical application of a liposome-encapsulated antioxidant complex containing ectoin, astaxanthin-rich microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis extract, and THDA improves penetrability and restored IL-6, IL-8, and MMP-9 levels in irradiated human skin explants, which was not seen in the comparator free antioxidant complex group.

Prognostic differences in sepsis caused by gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBacteria are the main pathogens that cause sepsis. The pathogenic mechanisms of sepsis caused by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are completely different, and their prognostic differences in sepsis remain unclear.MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for Chinese and English studies (January 2003 to September 2023). Observational studies involving gram-negative (G (−))/gram-positive (G (+)) bacterial infection and the prognosis of sepsis were included. The stability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis. Funnel plots and Egger tests were used to check whether there was publication bias. A meta-regression analysis was conducted on the results with high heterogeneity to identify the source of heterogeneity. A total of 6949 articles were retrieved from the database, and 45 studies involving 5586 subjects were included after screening according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Twenty-seven high-quality studies and 18 moderate-quality studies were identified according to the Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale score. There was no significant difference in the survival rate of sepsis caused by G (−) bacteria and G (+) bacteria (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Subgroup analysis according to survival follow-up time showed no significant difference. The serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI 0.02–0.76), procalcitonin (SMD = 1.95, 95% CI 1.32–2.59) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (MD = 0.31, 95% CI 0.25–0.38) in the G (−) bacterial infection group were significantly higher than those in the G (+) bacterial infection group, but there was no significant difference in IL-6 (SMD = 1.33, 95% CI − 0.18–2.84) and WBC count (MD = − 0.15, 95% CI − 0.96–00.66). There were no significant differences between G (−) and G (+) bacteria in D dimer level, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, international normalized ratio, platelet count, length of stay or length of ICU stay. Sensitivity analysis of the above results indicated that the results were stable.ConclusionThe incidence of severe sepsis and the concentrations of inflammatory factors (CRP, PCT, TNF-α) in sepsis caused by G (−) bacteria were higher than those caused by G (+) bacteria. The two groups had no significant difference in survival rate, coagulation function, or hospital stay. The study was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42023465051).

Efficacy of phentolamine combined with milrinone on severe pneumonia in children, and its effect on serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and sICAM-1

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the co-administration of phentolamine and milrinone on severe pneumonia in children, as well as on serum MMP-9, TIMP-1 and sICAM-1 levels.&#x0D; Methods: From January 2021 to January 2022, 100 patients diagnosed with severe pneumonia were randomly divided into 2 groups; the control group received oxygen inhalation and other symptomatic treatment, while the study group received phentolamine concurrently with milrinone, Serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, sICAM-1 levels and clinical efficacy were determined in the two groups before and after treatment.&#x0D; Results: After treatment, there were significant differences in IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α levels between the study group and the control group. Furthermore, IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in both groups were significantly higher after treatment than before treatment (p &lt; 0.05). The study group exhibited significant differences in MMP-9, TIMP-1, and sICAM-1 levels after treatment compared to control group (p &lt; 0.05). Healing and therapeutic effectiveness in the study group was 76 %, which was significantly greater than in the control group (48 %; p = 0.000). Additionally, total treatment effectiveness in the study group was 92 %, which was significantly higher than in the control group (80 %; p = 0.015). After treatment, the PEF, FRC, and TEF25 % in the study group were significantly higher than in the control group (p &lt; 0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Co-administration of phentolamine and milrinone is highly effective for the treatment of severe pneumonia in children, and significantly reduces the levels of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1 and sICAM-1. However, multi-center clinical trials should be carried out prior to the adoption of this treatment mode in clinical practice.

The Role of Interleukin 6 (IL6), Cancer Antigen-125 (CA-125), and Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) to predict tumor resectability in the advanced epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

A study of tumor resectability in pre-operative patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer is required to predict primary surgical benefits accurately. This study aims to investigate IL6, CA-125 and HE4 to predict tumor resectability in the pre-operative patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the polyclinic, oncology and gynecology inpatient room of Dr. M. Jamil Padang Hospital from June until December 2022. Advanced epithelial ovarian cancer stage based on histology result from FIGO stages IIIB-IVA. IL6, CA-125, and HE4 were measured using ECLIA (electrochemiluminescence immunoassay). Categorical data were assessed using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Numerical variable correlations were analyzed using Pearson Correlation tests. While the correlation between numerical and nominal variables was analyzed using the Eta correlation test. A p-value of <0,05 was considered a significant correlation. The cut-off value of serum IL6, CA-125, and HE4 was determined with a ROC curve. The sensitivity and specificity of each clinical parameter were calculated. There was a significant difference in IL-6 (1328 vs 752 pg/ml; p<0,001), CA-125 (1260,5 vs 819,5 U/ml; p<0,001), and HE4 levels (1320 vs 760 pmol/L; p<0,001) between patients with tumor resectability of > 1 cm (suboptimal) vs < 1 cm (optimal). There was a correlation between IL6 (r = 0,832), CA-125 (r = 0,716), and HE4 (r = 0,716) with tumor resectability. Measuring IL6, CA-125, and HE4 levels is useful for clinicians to predict tumor resectability in pre-operative patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Role of Serum Interleukin-6, Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-10 in Assessment of Disease Activity and Nutritional Status in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterised by multifactorial and chronic inflammation. Much attention has been paid to immune dysfunction in inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of serum IL-6, IL-1β and IL-10 in determining the activity and nutritional status in IBD patients. The case-control study was carried out on 82 patients with IBD; the control group consisted of 25 clinically healthy subjects. The serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-1 β and IL-10 were determined by the quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There were no significant differences in IL-6 and IL-1β levels in UC and CD patients according to disease activity as assessed by the Montreal classification, Partial Mayo Score and CDAI. Significantly higher IL-6 levels were found in patients with low body fat in comparison to patients with normal body fat. Furthermore, significantly higher mean IL-6 levels were observed in patients with excess body fat in comparison to patients with normal body fat, and also in comparison to patients with deficient body fat. IL-6 and IL-1β may provide extra information regarding the nutritional status of IBD patients. IL-10 can be considered a non-invasive biomarker of IBD activity.

Neurosensory Alterations and Interleukins Cascade in SARS-CoV-2 Infection - Results from a Retrospective Cohort of COVID-19 Inpatients.

The aim of this study was to relate IL-6 and IL-1β serum levels with the severity of olfactory disorders and with the type of unperceived odors. 82 inpatients (45 men aged 62.3 ± 14.2 and 37 women aged 57.1 ± 12.8) with only smell dysfunctions were divided into two groups. The evaluation of the smell disorder was carried out with a questionnaire to define which sensitivity is most compromised in COVID-19 patients. Cytokine levels were measured with chemiluminescence and ELISA assay. Statistical analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon Rank test, Welch's T-test, and Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences in IL-6 and IL-1 β levels were found in moderate disease patients when there was an impairment of trigeminal sensitivity (p <0.05) and trigeminal and olfactory sensitivity. The results obtained showed that in COVID-19 patients the impairment of trigeminal sensitivity in association with olfactory sensitivity was more prevalent in moderate than in mild forms.

Serum levels of IL-6/IL-10/GLDH may be early recognition markers of anti-tuberculosis drugs (ATB) -induced liver injury

To explore the potential value of serum glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) combined with inflammatory cytokines as diagnostic biomarkers for anti-tuberculosis drug -induced liver injury (ATB-DILI). We collected the residual serum from the patients who met the criteria after liver function tests. We have examined these parameters including GLDH which were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cytokines which were determined by cytokine combination detection kit. Multivariate logistics stepwise forward regression was applied to establish regression models. A total of 138 tuberculosis patients were included in the diagnostic markers study of ATB-DILI, including normal liver function group (n = 108) and ATB-DILI group(n = 30). Serum GLDH, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly increased in the ATB-DILI group. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve showed that the area under curve (AUC) of serum GLDH, IL-6 and IL-10 for the diagnosis of ATB-DILI were 0.870, 0.714 and 0.811, respectively. In logistic regression modeling, the AUC of GLDH combined with IL-10 as an ATB-DILI marker is 0.912. Serum IL-6、IL-10 and GLDH levels began to rise preceded the increase in ALT by 7 days, with significant differences in IL-6 compared with 7 days. Serum GLDH, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were correlated with the severity of liver injury. In conclusion, we found that GLDH, IL-6 and IL-10 alone as diagnostic markers of ATB-DILI had good diagnostic efficacy. Logistic regression model established by GLDH and IL-10 had better diagnostic efficacy and IL-6 may be an early predictor of liver injury in the setting of ATB poisoning.

MR1-deficiency in neonatal mice renders protection from necrotizing enterocolitis

Abstract Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening disease that affects ~ 7% of premature neonates. NEC maintains high morbidity/mortality and there are long term sequelae including short bowel syndrome. The risk factors of developing NEC include prematurity, very low birth weight, microbial dysbiosis and infections. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate T cells that have both innate and adaptive immune cell characteristics and are enriched in mucosal tissues, such as intestines. MR1 is the antigen presenting molecule for MAIT cells. Therefore, MR1-knockout (MR1 KO) mice lack MAIT cells. We hypothesized that MR1/MAIT cells play a key role in the development of NEC. To test the hypothesis, NEC was induced in 5-day old B6 wild type (WT) and MR1 KO mouse pups with gavage formula feeds supplemented with LPS as well as exposure to intermittent hypoxia and hypothermia. Pups were assessed daily for clinical sickness scores. Animals were euthanized on postnatal day 9. Intestine segments were harvested and assessed for histological NEC and cytokines were measured using multiplex assay. Compared to WT mice, we found MR1 KO pups did not develop typical NEC symptoms. When compared to WT mice with NEC, MR1 KO mice undergoing the treatment for NEC, had lower clinical scores (WT=4 [3–4]; MR1 KO=0 [0–0], p&amp;lt;0.05) and intestinal histology scores (WT=1.5 [1–2.375]; MR1 KO=0 [0–0.3745], p&amp;lt;0.05). The cytokine profile of the intestines in MR1 KO NEC mice, when compared to those in WT NEC mice, showed significant differences in IL-6 and IL-10 levels. In conclusion, deletion of MR1 in mice appears to be protective in experimental NEC. Future work will focus on studying the role MR1/MAIT cells in NEC disease development.

Urinary interleukins (IL)-6 and IL-10 in schoolchildren from an area with low prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infections in coastal Kenya.

Urinary cytokines are gaining traction as tools for assessing morbidity in infectious and non-infectious inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract. However, little is known about the potential of these cytokines in assessing morbidity due to S. haematobium infections. Factors that may influence the urinary cytokine levels as morbidity markers also remain unknown. Therefore the objective of the present study was to assess how urinary interleukins (IL-) 6 and 10 are associated with gender, age, S. haematobium infections, haematuria and urinary tract pathology and; 2) to assess the effects of urine storage temperatures on the cytokines. This was a cross-sectional study in 2018 involving 245 children aged 5-12 years from a S. haematobium endemic area of coastal Kenya. The children were examined for S. haematobium infections, urinary tract morbidity, haematuria and urinary cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10). Urine specimens were also stored at -20°C, 4°C or 25°C for 14 days before being assayed for IL6 and IL-10 using ELISA. The overall prevalence of S. haematobium infections, urinary tract pathology, haematuria, urinary IL-6 and urinary IL-10 were 36.3%, 35.8%, 14.8%, 59.4% and 80.5%, respectively. There were significant associations between prevalence of urinary IL-6, but not IL-10, and age, S. haematobium infection and haematuria (p = 0.045, 0.011 and 0.005, respectively) but not sex or ultrasound-detectable pathology. There were significant differences in IL-6 and IL-10 levels between urine specimens stored at -20°C and those stored at 4°C (p<0.001) and, between those stored at 4°C and those stored at 25°C (p<0.001). Urinary IL-6, but not IL-10, was associated with children's age, S. haematobium infections and haematuria. However, both urinary IL-6 and IL-10 were not associated with urinary tract morbidity. Both IL-6 and IL-10 were sensitive to urine storage temperatures.

Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and its Regulation of Autophagy.

Objective: Through clinical trials, this study observes the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (platelet-rich plasma, PRP) on diabetic foot ulcers and explored the relationship between the relationship between PRP and autophagy. Methods: Thirty patients with diabetic foot ulcer who met the relevant criteria were randomly divided into PRP treatment group and control group. In the PRP treatment group, the formed PRP gel was coated and bandaged on the diabetic foot ulcer wound, and the PRP treatment was repeated on the seventh day. The control group was covered with normal saline sterile gauze. Observe the healing rate of the wound in 7 days, 14 days and 21 days, the pain in 5 consecutive days and the healing time of the wound after treatment, collect wound granulation tissues before and twenty-first days after treatment then detect the expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC-3, P62) and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-10) in diabetic foot ulcer wound to investigate the potential relationship between PRP treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and autophagy and inflammatory responses. Results: The wound healing rate of diabetic foot ulcer patients in the PRP treatment group was higher than that in the control group on the seventh, 14th and 21st days, the healing time (31.40 ± 4.47) was better than that in the control group (43.20 ± 5.03) days, and the pain improvement was better than that in the control group (P < .05). The results of Western blot analysis and quantitative PCR of autophagy-related proteins (LC-3 and p62) in granulation tissue showed that the values of LC3 and LC3-II/LC3-I and the expression of LC3 gene in wound granulation tissue of PRP group were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < .05). The value and gene expression of P62 protein were lower than those before treatment (P < .05). In the control group, there was no significant difference in LC3 and P62 protein gray level and gene expression before and after treatment (P > .05). The level of autophagy in the wound of PRP group increased after treatment, while there was no statistical significance in the control group. The results of ELISA showed that the concentration of IL-6 in granulation tissue of the PRP treatment group was lower than that before treatment (P < .05), while there was no significant difference in IL-6 in the control group after treatment. The concentration of IL-10 increased in both groups after treatment, but the concentration in PRP group was higher than that in control group (P < .05). Conclusions: This study shows that PRP gel has advantages in accelerating wound healing, relieving pain, shortening healing time and reducing inflammatory response in treating diabetic foot ulcers wound, which may be related to autophagy, and provides new ideas for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Interplay between lymphocyte subpopulation, inflammatory cytokines and their correlation with oxidative stress parameters in COVID-19

Our objective was to investigate the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in patients with moderate and severe form of COVID-19. In addition, we show the correlation between changes in lymphocyte subsets and markers of oxidative stress as a tool for patient classification. IL-6 and VEGF were analysed by utilizing a High Sensitivity Evidence Investigator™ Biochip Array technology. The total antioxidant capacity (PAT) and the free radical concentrations (d-ROM) were measured in serum utilizing analytical photometric system FRAS5. Peripheral blood was used to determine CD45 + mononuclear, B, T, and NK cells using a multi-parameter flow cytometric immunophenotypic test.&#x0D; Statistically significant differences in IL-6 and VEGF levels were observed between the two patient groups. Decreased values of the absolute number of lymphocytes and their CD4 + and CD8 + positive T cells, NK cells, and CD8 were obtained. In the moderate group, good correlations were found between IL-6 and VEGF and NK cells (r = 0.6973, p &lt;0.05; for IL6 and r = 0.6498, p &lt;0, for VEGF. 05). Cytokines were correlated with CD45+ (r = 0.5610, p &lt;0.05; for IL-6 and r = 0.5462, p &lt;0.05 for VEGF). The oxidative stress index can be used as a cheaper alternative and as a triage tool between severe and moderate illnesses, after showing good correlation with more expensive patient classification analysis.

An organotypic oral mucosal infection model to study host-pathogen interactions

Early in vitro oral mucosal infection models (OMMs) failed to consider the suitability of the model environment to represent the host immune response. Denture stomatitis (DS) is mediated by Candida albicans, but the role of Staphylococcus aureus remains uncertain. A collagen hydrogel-based OMM containing HaCaT and HGF cell types was developed, characterised and employed to study of tissue invasion and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to pathogens. Models formed a robust epithelium. Despite their inflammatory baseline, 24-h infection with C. albicans, and/or S. aureus led to tissue invasion, and significantly upregulated IL-6 and IL-8 production by OMMs when compared to the unstimulated control. No significant difference in IL-6 or IL-8 production by OMMs was observed between single and dual infections. These attributes indicate that this newly developed OMM is suitable for the study of DS and could be implemented for the wider study of oral infection.

Expression of MUC-2, MUC-6, NAPE-PLD, IL-6 and IL-13 in Healthy and Metaplastic Bronchial Epithelium

Background: The normal tissue structure of the respiratory system is necessary to provide adequate protection of the airways and lungs. Prolonged exposure to trigger factors can result in adaptive mechanism activation and lead to the development of chronic pulmonary diseases or even dysplastic changes. Materials and methods: Respiratory system material with a pseudostratified ciliated epithelium was obtained from 12 patients (aged 16 to 95), and material with a stratified squamosa epithelium was obtained from six patients (aged 23 to 93). Routine staining was performed, and an immunohistochemistry was conducted for MUC-2, MUC-6, NAPE-PLD, IL-6 and IL-13. Results: Inflammatory processes were not detected in any of the specimens. A number of correlations were identified, with the most important being a strong positive correlation for IL-13 between the alveolar epithelium and alveolar macrophages and a strong positive correlation for IL-6 between the alveolar epithelium and alveolar macrophages in the stratified squamous epithelium group. We also detected a statistically significant difference in IL-6 in alveolar macrophages. Conclusions: There were no signs of dysplastic changes in either group. Increased secretion of IL-13 in the stratified squamous epithelium group shows its involvement in metaplastic changes in the bronchial epithelium. The secretion of atypical factors by hyaline cartilage demonstrates its plasticity and adaptability.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Echinosophora koreensis nakai root extract in lipopolysaccharides-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema model

Ethnopharmacological relevanceEchinosophora koreensis Nakai is an endemic plant species distributed in a limited area within the Korean province of Gangwon, including the Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Cheorwon-gun, Chuncheon-si, and Hongcheon-gun counties. It is used in traditional medicine to treat various disorders, such as fever, skin diseases, diuresis, and neuralgia. Materials and methodsThis study demonstrated the effects of E. koreensis Nakai root extract (EKRE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability was assessed through a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using Griess reagent. Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression were assessed using Western blot analysis. To examine the effects of EKRE in vivo, it was administered orally at doses of 50 or 200 mg/kg for 3 days in mice. Edema in the paws was induced through λ-carrageenan injection and measured hourly for up to 5 h using calipers. ResultsEKRE markedly suppressed LPS-generated NO, IL-6, and iNOS production in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, it suppressed the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, EKRE significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced edema in mouse paws. There were no significant differences in IL-6 and TNF production in paw tissue harvested from mice, but levels decreased at high EKRE concentrations (200 mg/kg). ConclusionThe results of this study provided validation for EKRE-induced inhibition of inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. This research suggested that EKRE is a promising treatment for inflammatory disorders.

Comparison of Iliac Bone Transplantation with Bone Transport in the Treatment of Femur Fracture and Bone Defect.

Objective To compare the curative effect of iliac bone transplantation with the bone transport in the treatment of femur fracture complicated with a bone defect. Methods Patients with femur fractures and defects who were admitted to our hospital from January 1, 2020, to January 31, 2022, and met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively selected and allocated into an iliac bone transplantation group or a bone transport group. The treatment effect and quality of life of the two groups were compared. Results A total of 98 patients who met the inclusion standards were enrolled, including 50 cases in the iliac bone transplantation group and 48 cases in the bone transport group. There were no significant differences in IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, visual analog scale (VAS) score, or Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score between the two groups on postsurgical day 1 (p=0.051, 0.150, 0.102, 0.564, and 0.826 respectively), but there were significant differences in the above index on postsurgical day 7 (all p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in social function, physical function, role function, and cognitive function between the two groups one week after the operation (p=0.245, 0.051, 0.102, and 0.067, respectively), but there were significant differences in the above parameters at one month after operation (p=0.001, 0.005, 0.005, and 0.001, respectively). The total effective rate of the bone transplantation group was significantly better than that of the iliac bone transplantation group (p=0.026). The number of postoperative complications in the bone removal group was significantly fewer than that of the iliac bone graft group (p=0.001). Conclusion Bone transport is effective in treating femur fractures complicated with bone defects, with fewer postoperative complications.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Exposure Triggers Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in BALB/c Mice: A Pilot Study.

The particulate matter present in air pollution is a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles that vary in size, origin, and composition, among which are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although exposure to PAHs has become an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the mechanisms by which these compounds contribute to increased cardiovascular risk have not been fully explored. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PAH exposure on systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction. An intervention was designed using a murine model composed of twenty BALB/c male mice separated into controls and three groups exposed to a mixture of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene using three different concentrations. The serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines and gene expression of adhesion molecules located on endothelial cells along with inflammatory markers related to PAH exposure in aortic tissue were determined. Furthermore, the expression of the ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins was evaluated. The data showed significant differences in IL-6 and IFN-γ in the serum. In the gene expression, significant differences for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-Selectin were observed. The results suggest that phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene, present in air pollution, stimulate the increase in serum inflammatory cytokines and the expression of markers of endothelial dysfunction in the murine model studied, both relevant characteristics associated with the onset of disease atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.