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The velocity of the COVID-19 pandemic spread and the variable severity of the disease course has forced scientists to search for potential predictors of the disease outcome. We examined various immune parameters including the markers of immune cells exhaustion and activation in 21 patients with COVID-19 disease hospitalised in our hospital during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
Methotrexate (MTX) impairs antibody response after pneumococcal vaccination. We aimed to investigate differences in phenotypes of circulating B and T cells after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on MTX (MTX group), RA without disease-modifying drugs (0DMARD), and controls (HC). MTX group (n = 11), 0DMARD (n = 12) and HC (n = 13) were studied. Blood samples
Partially unfolded alpha-lactalbumin forms the oleic acid complex HAMLET, with potent tumoricidal activity. Here we define a peptide-based molecular approach for targeting and killing tumor cells, and evidence of its clinical potential (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03560479). A 39-residue alpha-helical peptide from alpha-lactalbumin is shown to gain lethality for tumor cells by forming oleic acid complex
Birth is a dangerous and dynamic event resulting in new life, as well as in death and loss. As distinct as the birth transition may seem, it remains essentially a process. The term ‘perinatal’ defines the phase beginning in late pregnancy when the fetus has potential to survive the delivery, and ending, roughly, seven days after birth, demarcating the period when the child gradually emerges and st
Background: Rhinovirus (RV)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations exhibit TH(2)-like inflammation. We hypothesized that RV-infected bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) overproduce TH(2)-switching hub cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in COPD. Methods: Primary BEC from healthy (HBEC) and from COPD donors (COPD-BEC) were grown in 12-well plates, infected with RV
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the prevalence and mechanism of poor responsiveness to clopidogrel and prasugrel in coronary artery disease patients with and without diabetes. BACKGROUND: Low platelet inhibition by clopidogrel is associated with ischemic clinical events. A higher 600-mg loading dose (LD) has been advocated to increase responsiveness to clopidogrel. METHODS: In this study, 110 aspirin-tre
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease caused by the T cell-mediated destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells. Currently there are no widely accepted and standardized assays available to analyse the function of autoreactive T cells involved in T1D. The development of such an assay would greatly aid efforts to understand the pathogenesis of T1D and is also urgently require
In an earlier study, infection of human pancreatic islets with epidemic strains of echovirus (E4, E16, E30), with proven but differently ability to induce islet autoimmunity, resulted either in a severe damage (i.e. E16 and E30) or proceeded without visible changes in infected islets (i.e. E4). In this study, the ability of these strains to replicate in beta cells and the consequence of such an in
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether statin treatment is effective and safe in very elderly (80 years and older) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. BACKGROUND: Elderly individuals constitute an increasing percentage of patients admitted to hospitals for AMI. Despite that these patients have a higher mortality risk, the application of evidence-based medicine remai
A novel heterozygous mutation in the clusterin gene, nucleotide position A1298C (glutamine>proline Q433P), was detected in exon 7 of a child with recurrent hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The same mutation was found in the child's two siblings and mother but not in 120 controls. In addition, a previously described heterozygous mutation was detected in the gene encoding membrane cofactor protein (
Galectins are involved in many cellular processes due to their ability to bind carbohydrates. Understanding their functions has shown the necessity for potent and specific galectin inhibitors. Human galectin-7 (hGal-7), in particular, has been highlighted as an important marker in many types of cancer by either inhibiting or promoting tumour growth. Producing ligands able to selectively targe
OBJECTIVES: /st> Because standard immunosuppressive treatment for antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) (granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)) has been associated with a significant risk of developing cancer, the cancer incidence of treated AAV patients was assessed. METHODS: /st> This analysis concerned 535 patients with new
The mechanisms by which mycobacteria subvert the inflammatory defence to establish chronic infection remain an unresolved question in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. Using primary epithelial cells, we have analysed mycobacteria induced epithelial signalling pathways from activation of TLRs to cytokine secretion. Mycobacterium bovis bacilli Calmette-Guerin induced phosphorylation of glycogen synt
Landfilling is the most commonly used method for solid waste disposal in Jordan. It is an important source of pollution, which can be displayed through analysis of data for climatic conditions, hydrology and geology of the country. The migration of gas and leachate from the landfill body into the surrounding environment present a serious environmental concern, which include groundwater pollution,
Ongoing inflammation including activation of the complement system is a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antimicrobial neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are composed of secreted chromatin that may act as a source of autoantigens typical for SLE. In this study, we investigated how complement interacts with NETs and how NET degradation is affected by complement in SLE patients. We
Context: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is known to affect liver glycogenolysis, insulin, and glucagon secretion and pituitary ACTH release. We previously showed that high copeptin, the stable C-terminal fragment of AVP prohormone, is independently associated with hyperinsulinemia and future development of diabetes mellitus. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether plasma copeptin
The heat transferred to the turbine blade is substantially increased as the turbine inlet temperature is increased. Cooling methods are therefore much needed for the turbine blades to ensure a long durability and safe operation. The blade tip region is exposed to the hot gas flows. A common way to cool the tip is to use serpentine passages with 180-deg turn under the blade tip cap taking advantage
Allergic diseases affect many individuals world-wide and are dependent on the interaction between allergens and antibodies of the IgE isotype. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) can alter the development of the disease, e.g., through induction of allergen-specific IgG that block allergen-IgE interactions. The knowledge of epitopes recognized by allergy-causing and protective antibodies are limi
Background: Hypotension is common after cardiac arrest (CA), and current guidelines recommend using vasopressors to target mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) higher than 65 mmHg. Pilot trials have compared higher and lower MAP targets. We will review the evidence on whether higher MAP improves outcome after cardiac arrest. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted based o
