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Biomedical subjects

Laura Airas

Publications and source records attributed to Laura Airas.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Elevated serum soluble vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) in patients with active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is an endothelial cell molecule which controls leukocyte infiltration into tissues. Elevated serum soluble VAP-1-levels have been described in certain diseases with an inflammatory component. VAP-1 expression or function has not previously been studied in multiple sclerosis (MS). We report here that the concentration of soluble VAP-1 in serum is significantly higher in multiple sclerosis patients with ongoing inflammatory activity, as demonstrated by gadolinium-enhancing MRI lesions, when compared to patients with no gadolinium-enhancing lesions (555+/-195 vs. 388+/-102 ng/ml, p=0.0068). We propose that VAP-1 might participate in controlling leukocyte entry into inflamed brain.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Successful pregnancy of a patient with Balo's concentric sclerosis.

Balo's concentric sclerosis is a severe demyelinating disease with poor prognosis. To date, nothing is known about the effects of pregnancy on the course of Balo's disease. We describe here the first successful pregnancy of a patient with Balo's concentric sclerosis. Upon neurological worsenings during pregnancy, our patient was treated with high-dose methylprednisolone and plasma-exchange. Intravenous immunoglobulin and interferon-beta-1a were given postpartum. At the last follow-up visit 2.5 years after the delivery the patient had only minor residual symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Riedel's thyroiditis in a patient with multiple sclerosis.

Our patient developed Riedel's thyroiditis soon after having an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS has been associated with other autoimmune diseases, including thyroiditis, and both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis have been described in connection with MS. Yet, we are not aware of any other patient reported to have concomitant MS and Riedel's thyroiditis. The association between MS and Riedel's thyroiditis remains obscure but may reflect an autoimmune disorder common to both diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

IFN-alpha induced adenosine production on the endothelium: a mechanism mediated by CD73 (ecto-5'-nucleotidase) up-regulation.

CD73 (ecto-5'-nucleotidase; EC 3.1.3.5) participates in lymphocyte binding to endothelial cells and converts extracellular AMP into a potent anti-inflammatory substance adenosine. However, the regulation of expression and function of CD73 has remained largely unknown. In this study, we show that IFN-alpha produces a time- and dose-dependent long-term up-regulation of CD73 on endothelial cells, but not on lymphocytes both at protein and RNA levels. Moreover, CD73-mediated production of adenosine is increased after IFN-alpha treatment on endothelial cells, resulting in a decrease in the permeability of these cells. Subsequent to induction with PMA, FMLP, dibutyryl cAMP, thrombin, histamine, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and LPS, no marked changes in the level of CD73 expression on endothelial cells are observed. We also show that CD73 is up-regulated in vivo on the vasculature after intravesical treatment of urinary bladder cancers with IFN-alpha. In conclusion, distinct behavior of lymphocyte and endothelial CD73 subsequent to cytokine treatment further emphasizes the existence of cell type-specific mechanisms in the regulation of CD73 expression and function. Overall, these results suggest that IFN-alpha is a relevant in vivo regulator of CD73 in the endothelial-leukocyte microenvironment in infections/inflammations, and thus has a fundamental role in controlling the extent of inflammation via CD73-dependent adenosine production.

5'-Nucleotidase↗
PubMed2004

Positron emission tomography as an aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of Riedel's thyroiditis.

We describe the usage of positron emission tomography (PET) as an aid in the initial diagnosis and follow-up of Riedel's thyroiditis. A 41-year-old patient was admitted for an enlarged and tender thyroid gland in association with severe systemic symptoms of inflammation. Imaging with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and PET demonstrated an intensive uptake of FDG in both lobes of the thyroid gland as an indication of severe inflammation. The diagnosis of Riedel's thyroiditis was confirmed by the histological findings of biopsy specimens taken during a palliative thyroid resection. The inflammatory symptoms and local pain dramatically disappeared after commencement of high-dose corticosteroid therapy. A follow-up PET scan after 2 weeks of corticosteroid treatment showed a 60% decrease in the uptake of FDG in the thyroid. This indicates that FDG metabolic activity can also be used to assess a patient's response to therapy in Riedel's thyroiditis.

Journal Article↗