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Biomedical subjects

F Zugun

Publications and source records attributed to F Zugun.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Production of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Q fever endocarditis.

The pathophysiology of Q fever endocarditis is characterized by the suppression of antigen-specific cell-mediated immune responses. We investigated the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), known to interfere with the development of protective cell immunity. IL-10 was markedly released by unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with Q fever endocarditis. This release resulted from the upregulation of IL-10 gene transcription. Similarly, the release of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 was significantly higher in patient PBMC than in control cells, but the expression of their respective mRNA was not enhanced in patient cells. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated transcription and release of IL-10 and TGF-beta were similar in patients and controls. The release of IL-10 by PBMC but not that of TGF-beta was correlated with the clinical status of the patients. First, IL-10 production was correlated with specific antibody levels. Second, IL-10 release remained elevated in patients prone to relapse. Taken together, our results suggest that the release of IL-10 and TGF-beta is upregulated in Q fever endocarditis. IL-10 might be considered as a marker of disease relapses and might be instrumental in monitoring the efficiency of the treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1 beta in Q fever endocarditis.

The occurrence of Q fever endocarditis likely involves some alterations in the responses of monocytes, the in vivo targets of Coxiella burnetii. To test this hypothesis, the production of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 was assessed in monocytes from patients with Q fever endocarditis. Spontaneous transcription and secretion of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 were significantly higher in patient monocytes than in healthy controls. The interleukin-6 transcripts were also upregulated in patient cells. Moreover, in patients with recent endocarditis exhibiting high titers of immunoglobulin G directed to C. burnetii in phase I, monocytes released significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 than in patients with stabilized endocarditis. Immunoglobulin G titers and the overproduction of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 were significantly correlated. Hence, the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines might be a marker of disease activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The Shouldice procedure in the surgical treatment of inguinal hernias].

The Shouldice repair gained a major importance in the treatment of inghinal hernias provided by the excellent results that had been obtained in the Shouldice Hospital on more than 200,000 cases. This study analyze prospectively 101 cases of inguinal hernias that had been treated using the Shouldice procedure with in a 3 year period, comparative with a control cohort of 102 cases of inguinal hernias treated using classic procedures (Bassini, Kimbarowski). The data analyze was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H test and t Student test. The immediately postoperative results have been favorable in 95% cases and the long term postoperative results have been very good in 99% cases (a unique recurrence in a multiple recidivated patient). The result of this study proves that Shouldice repair has advantages comparative with classic treatment: short postoperative hospitalization, low incidence of complication and recurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The evolution of the natural-killer-dependent cytotoxic activity during normal pregnancy].

The fetus was compared to an allograft because paternal antigens are also expressed. Even the analogy is not a real one, the main steps of the rejection phenomenon are relevant for the understanding of the complex materno-fetal interactions as the large granular lymphocytes are the first immune cells which invade the graft. Due to the important role of NK cells in the cell mediated immune response, the purpose of this paper was to assess the NK cell dependent cytotoxicity during normal pregnancy. The study was performed on a test group of 52 normal gravidas, in the Ist, IInd and IIIrd trimester and a control group of 20 healthy nonpregnant women with similar age and parity averages. The cytotoxic activity of the NK cells was measured in a 51Cr release assay against K 562 cell line. The results were expressed as the cytotoxicity index (%) and showed a statistically significant decrease for all gravidas compared to controls, mostly for the IInd trimester. The trend of the NK cytotoxic activity during normal pregnancy suggests the deep involvement of the NK cells in the mechanisms acting at the fetomaternal interface.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Maternal immunophenotypic profile in normal pregnancy and preterm birth].

UNLABELLED: During normal pregnancy, the maternal immune response achieves a split tolerance state towards the fetal allograft, expressed by immunophenotypic profile. This may be impaired in the preterm birth. Our study aimed to analyze the immunophenotypic profiles of the peripheral and retroplacental blood in women with normal pregnancy and preterm birth. Blood leukocyte populations were assessed by flowcytometry in nine normal at term pregnancies, five preterm births and eight nonpregnant controls. Our results showed in normal pregnant women as compared to controls, a significant decreased number of lymphocytes, monocytes and B cells, while granulocytes, T-lymphocytes and the T CD8+ subsets were elevated. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly decreased, especially in the retroplacental blood. The preterm birth group demonstrated a significantly elevated number of lymphocytes and B cells, lower T CD8+ cells and an increased CD4/CD8 ratio, in comparison with normal pregnancies group. CONCLUSION: Normal pregnancy determines a suppressive immunophenotypic profile that is impaired in the preterm birth suggesting its immunological involvement.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Synchronous colonic cancers].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study is to present the difficulty of an accurate preoperative diagnostic for synchronous colonic cancers and to sustain the necessity of total colectomy. A retrospective study was carried out on 16 patients hospitalized in the IIIrd Surgical Unit, St. Spiridon Hospital, U.M.Ph. "Gr.T.Popa" Iasi between 1990-1999. The surgical procedures were: extensive colectomy with ileo-sigmoid anastomosis, segmentary colectomy, total colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality: zero; uneventfully recovery for all patients. A metachronous lesion 3 years after the first operation was detected in one patient; postoperatively, one patient developed occlussion 3 months after, requiring re-operation. CONCLUSIONS: 1. synchronous colonic cancers are closely related with a genetic instability of the colonic mucosa; 2. total colectomy is a safe manner to prevent metachronous lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

HLA-B57 is significantly associated with psoriasis in Northeast Romania [corrected].

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to identify HLA class I types associated with susceptibility to psoriasis among population of Northeast region of Romania. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 27 psoriatic patients and 89 controls were typed serologically for HLA-A and HLA-B lymphocyte expression using CDC-NIH (complement dependent-cytotoxicity--National Institute of Health) method. The Terasaki plates used for HLA class I typing were prepared in our laboratory using antisera of known specificities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: psoriatic patients in the group of study frequently express HLA-B57 phenotype. The relative risk induced by this phenotype was highly statistically significant (p = 0.0016) while HLA-B13 was not associated with a significant risk for developing psoriasis in patients under study compared with controls (p = 0.48). Also, HLA-B27 (p = 0.96) and HLA-B44 (p = 0.99), reported by others to be associated with late psoriasis, do not meet (a particular) disease susceptibility between psoriatic patients under investigation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The value of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of gallbladder pathologies].

We have prospectively studied all cholecystectomies performed in one year in our clinic in two groups: 190 cases performed laparoscopically and 98 open. We used standardized records and the EPI 5 program on an IBM compatible computer. There were no significant differences between groups regarding weight, sex and proportion of cases with acute cholecystitis. There were however major differences regarding age, type of habitat, ASA score and association with acute pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice and angiocholitis. Conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open procedure was imposed in 17 cases (not included in statistical analysis) due to technical difficulties (12 cases), haemorrhagic accidents (6 cases), injury of the common bile duct (1 case), stones lost in the abdominal cavity (3 cases), local peritonitis (5 cases). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy lasted a mean of 74 minutes. We encountered 3 specific complications: one CBD injury recognized intraoperatively and managed by Kehr's procedure (one CBD injury in the open cholecystectomy group), one small bowel perforation and one of biloma. Mortality averaged 0.5% in the LC group (one case of late postoperative stroke considered not related to the procedure) and 1% in the open cholecystectomy group. The hospital admission period was significantly reduced in the LC group (5 days vs. 12 days). LC appears as a safe procedure with a low complication rate. Conversion to open procedure is not a complication. Our study recommend LC as the method of choice in the treatment of gallbladder lithiasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The parameters of the immune function in the evolution of HIV-1 infection in institutionalized children in Romania].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the evolution of HIV-1 + horizontal infected children nursed in closed community. METHOD: The biological status of 26 HIV-1 + children nursed in Iaşi Orphanage was assessed in dynamic during April. 1993-Feb. 1994. The income age ranged among 1 month-3 years. RESULTS: The following progressive stages could be drawn accordingly to the biological status parameters dynamic: stage 1 ("oligosymptomatic"), stage 2 ("multiform, medium or severe symptomatology"), and stage 3 ("severe immunodepression, with predominant infectious symptomatology, waves evolution"). These stages could not be assimilated to the currently CDC or WHO classifications. The following thresholds of the immunologically parameters separate the stages 1 and 2, and respective stages 2 and 3: CD4% lymphocytes (27% respective 20%); absolute CD4+ lymphocytes (1150/microliter respective 700 + 750/microliter), CD4/CD8 ratio (0.75 respective 0.45), beta 2-microglobulin (1.5 mg/1000 respective 2.5 mg/ 1000). Lymphocytes lacking the markers CD4, CD8, CD19, CD3, ranging between 15 + 20% were also detected by flow-cytometry; these cells could be attributed to the immature subpopulations (typically for dystrophy) or to down-regulation of membrane expression of some markers. Also, a dichotomy in the distribution of the CD2/CD3 surface markers was recorded in the case of lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Immunological features demarcate this epidemiological group versus the current described models for the HIV-1 + child.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Malignant tumors of the digestive tract below the diaphragm in young people].

We have retrospectively studied 1243 malignancies of the infradiaphragmatic tract treated in the First Surgical Clinic between 1978-1994 (678 gastric, 300 rectal and 256 colonic malignancies). Out of these 39 cases have been encountered in young patients (14 gastric, 13 colon and 12 rectal malignancies). The following particularities have been noted in this group: hereditary predisposition, more advanced stage at diagnosis, predominance of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and poorly differentiated forms. Young age does not significantly influence prognostic, with the control group. In young people the most important prognostic factors are tumor stage, cellular grading and tumor DNA index as determined by flow cytometry.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Flow-cytometry DNA index of colorectal carcinomas.

The authors investigated the relationship between flow cytometric DNA index (D.I.-defined as the ratio of the DNA content of malignant cells to that of normal cells) and other prognostic factors (grade, stage of the disease, anatomical site, patients' sex and age) of 20 patients with colorectal cancer. The entire material was obtained from 20 unselected and previously untreated patients. This material consists of fresh tumoural or normal tissues taken after radical colectomy for the flow-cytometric analysis. A normal diploid DNA content was found in six tumours, the other fourteen being founded to be aneuploid. All non malignant tissue samples showed normal diploid DNA content. In the current series of cases we have found that DI was significantly associated with stage but not with grade, anatomical site or other prognostic factors. Our data indicates that cytometrically evaluated DI values have probably an independent predictive power for the clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The determination of the prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and of the serum levels of C-reactive protein in chronic dialysis patients].

UNLABELLED: The chronic dialysis patients are subject at risk for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Among these subjects, the hemodialysis-induced and increased synthesis of IL6 which suggest an acute phase response. 58 chronic dialysis patients were tested for presence of anti-HCV antibodies; 45 (77.58%) presented this serological marker. None of the 15 nursing subjects tested presented anti-HCV. C reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in 41 patients. Elevated levels were detected in 5 (12.19%) patients. Such a high prevalence of anti-HCV reveals the hemodialysis to be a risk factor for the HCV infection. CRP levels measured by Mancini method lack the sensitivity for a more accurate interpretation. CONCLUSION: 1. the high anti-HCV prevalence among hemodialysis patients emphasize the opportunity of blood testing also for serological markers in ante-transfusional screening. 2. the immunoturbidimetry method for CRP testing may be a better assay in order to establish significant correlations.

Adult↗