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Introduction: The interleukin-12/23 (IL-12/23) signalling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In addition, even molecularly targeted therapy has been reported to lose adequate response to treatment. Aim: To determine the expression patterns of mRNAs and miRNAs related to IL-12/23 signalling pathways in the human keratinocyte culture exposed to liposaccharide A (LPS) and then adalimumab in comparison with untreated cells. Material and methods: Human, adult, low-Calcium, high-Temperature keratinocyte (HaCaT) cultures were exposed to 1 µg/ml LPS for 8 h, and then adalimumab was added to the cultures at a concentration of 8 µg/ml and incubated for 2, 8, and 24 h. We used mRNA and miRNA microarray, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Results: STAT1, STAT3, STAT5, IL-6, IL-6R, SOCS3, and JAK3 genes differentiated HaCaT cultures with the drug from controls regardless of the time the cells were exposed to the drug. The addition of adalimumab to a culture previously exposed to LPS resulted in silencing of SOCS3 and IL-6 expression compared to the control, while for the other transcripts they were found to be overexpressed compared to the control culture. The assessment indicated the strongest connections between JAK3 and hsa-miR-373-5p (target score 96); SOCS3, STAT5, and hsa-miR-1827 (target score 96). Conclusions: Our study indicates that adalimumab has the strongest modulating effect on mRNA and miRNA expression of JAK/STAT and IL-6-dependent IL-12/23 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Heart & Vascular Diseases / Choroby Serca & Naczyn is the property of VM Medica-VM Group (Via Medica) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Heart & Vascular Diseases / Choroby Serca & Naczyn is the property of VM Medica-VM Group (Via Medica) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major threat to long-term survival after heart transplantation (HT). Aim: To determine factors associated with CAV detection in patients after HT. Material and methods: We analyzed 299 consecutive patients after HT who underwent routine visits at our institution between 2016 and 2018. Human interleukin 33 (IL-33) and suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a commercially available kit (Human ST-2 and IL-33 ELISA, SunRedBio Technology Co, Ltd, Shanghai, China). Results: The patients' median age was 59.00 years, and 74.2% were men. The frequency of CAV was 47.5%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that IL-33 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.044 (1.029-1.059), p < 0.001) and ST2 (OR = 1.061 (1.040-1.083), p < 0.001) serum concentrations, donor age (OR = 1.046 (1.009-1.085), p = 0.015), left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDD) (OR = 1.081 (1.016-1.149), p = 0.013), and time from HT to blood collection (OR = 1.256 (1.151-1.371), p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for CAV. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) indicated good prognostic power of IL-33 and ST2 concentrations (AUC = 0.779 and AUC = 0.784, respectively) and excellent prognostic power of the IL-33/ST2 score (AUC = 0.863). Conclusions: Lower IL-33 and higher ST2 serum concentrations, as well as older donor age, larger LVDD and longer time from HT to blood collection, are independently associated with CAV. IL-33 and ST2 have good discriminatory power and the IL-33/ST2 score has excellent strength for detecting CAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plastic Surgery & Burns / Chirurgia Plastyczna i Oparzenia is the property of Evereth Publishing Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accumulated evidence suggest that the adverse outcome of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is closely related to prothrombotic microvascular pathology with a high risk of venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, the first observational studies indicated that adjunct therapy with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was associated with lower mortality in this cohort of patients. However, the timing of starting LMWH and the dose remain controversial in COVID-19 patients. Considering the above, the aim of this study was to reveal the rationale for using LMWH in the therapy of symptomatic COVID-19 patients based on experimental and clinical studies on LMWH in inflammatory settings with special consideration given to randomized trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plastic Surgery & Burns / Chirurgia Plastyczna i Oparzenia is the property of Evereth Publishing Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction. Endothelial dysfunction is a critical part of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. It is not clear, however, whether it is present at the similar level in the early and late HF stages. Material and methods. von Willebrand factor (vWF) and its mRNA levels in biopsies of non-ischemic patients with HF secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Consecutive patients with HF were divided into two groups: group A with disease duration ≥ 12 months (n = 59) and group B with disease duration > 12 months (n = 68). The immunoreactivity of the vWF was compared with autopsy sections of 19 control cases. Tissue vWF gene expression was analyzed at the mRNA level by RT-PCR. Results. In the group A, there was lower vWF immunoreactivity in the coronary microvessels compared to the group B [1.5 (1.0-2.0) vs. 2.0 (1.5-2.4), P = 0.001]. In the control group, only weak vWF expression was observed. Protein expression was not accompanied by vWF mRNA whose levels were significantly higher in the Group A as compared to the Group B [14671 (4932-51561) vs. 3643 (185.3-9030.8), P = 0.005]. Protein vWF expression was inversely associated with its mRNA levels (r = -0.34, P = 0.04). Conclusions. High myocardial protein expression of vWF in patients with long-lasting HF symptoms may highlight the persistent nature of endothelial dysfunction in such a cohort of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Plastic Surgery & Burns / Chirurgia Plastyczna i Oparzenia is the property of Evereth Publishing Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Plastic Surgery & Burns / Chirurgia Plastyczna i Oparzenia is the property of Evereth Publishing Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to characterise the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and HLA antigens in biopsy specimens patients with two clinical suspected myocarditis. Study group consisted of 47 randomly selected patients (pts) classified in two groups based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): A - 29 pts, with LVEF £ 30% (24M, 5F, mean age 39±6) and B - 18 pts with LVEF >40% (15M, 3F, mean age 38±7). The expression of HLA class I (A,B,C) and II (DR) antigens and CAMs on frozen sections were examined using a Leica Bond Max autostainer (BOND Polymer Refine Red Detection; DS9390; Leica Biosystems) and monoclonal antihuman antibodies (HLA-DR, HLA-ABC, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 from DAKO). The semiquantitative scoring system was defined as follows: 0-1, absent or slight focal staining of the endothelium; 2+, diffuse endothelial staining, 3+, diffuse endothelial and concomitant focal myocyte staining. The routine histopathological study was performed with hematoxylin & eosin and Masson trichrome stain. The data were analysed by a Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman R correlation coefficient test. A p value of <0.05 was statistically significant. The expression of HLA-DR antigens > 2+ was seen in the 17 (59%) pts in Gr. A and 12 (67%) in Gr. B. The expression of the HLA-A,B,C antigens was observed in the 11 (38%) and 12 (67%) pts, respectively. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 immunoreactivity > 2+ was seen: ICAM-1, Gr. A - 12 (41%) and Gr. B - 9 (50%); VCAM-1, Gr. A - 6 (21%) and Gr. B - 9 (50%). There was no statistical differences between both groups and there was no relationship between LVEF and HLA-DR, HLAABC, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 immunoreactivity. The lack relationship between positive staining for HLA antigens and CAMs in two groups of pts with clinically suspected myocarditis (with and without symptomatic congestive heart failure) indicates on independence of immunological reactions in myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]