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BACKGROUND AND AIM Gastrointestinal complications post cardiac surgery are infrequent but difficult to diagnose and carry a high mortality. Plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) concentrations and the relationship between I-FABP, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and postoperative outcomes were investigated in patients who developed gastrointestinal dysfunction (acute gastrointestinal injury [AGI] grade ≥2) and those with normal gastrointestinal function. METHODS Patients with (AGI 2 group, n = 11) and without (matched controls, AGI 0 group, n = 22) early postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction were extracted from a larger single-center prospective observational study, including adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation, and investigated in this nested case-control analysis. RESULTS Both groups displayed variations in I-FABP concentrations with higher I-FABP on postoperative Day 1 compared to baseline and postoperative Days 2 and 3 (p

Objective: The distribution of postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction and its association with outcome were investigated in cardiac surgery patients. Gastrointestinal function was evaluated using the Acute Gastrointestinal Injury (AGI) grade proposed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Design: Prospective observational study at a single center. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Consecutive patients presenting for elective cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Interventions: None. Results: Daily assessment using the AGI grade was performed on the first 3 postoperative days in addition to standard care. For analysis, 3 groups were formed based on the maximum AGI grade: AGI 0, AGI 1, and AGI ≥2. Five hundred and one patients completed the study; 32.7%, 65.1%, and 2.2% of the patients scored a maximum AGI 0, AGI 1, and AGI ≥2, respectively. Patients with AGI grade ≥2 had more frequently undergone thoracic aortic surgery and had longer surgery duration and time on ECC. Patients with AGI grade ≥2 had statistically significant higher frequency of GI complications within 30 days (63.6% vs 1.2% and 5.5% in patients with AGI 0 and AGI 1) and higher 30-day mortality (9.1% vs 0.0% and 1.8% in patients with AGI 0 and AGI 1). Conclusions: Early GI dysfunction following cardiac surgery was associated with an unfavorable outcome. Increased attention to GI dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients is warranted and the AGI grade could be a helpful adjunct to a structured approach.

Natalizumab exerts impressive therapeutic effects in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The proposed main mode of action is reducing transmigration of leukocytes into the CNS, but other immunological effects may also be operative. Cytokines and chemokines are involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses and may reflect the disease process in MS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of natalizumab treatment on cytokine and chemokine profiles systemically and intrathecally in multiple sclerosis. We used luminex to analyse a panel of cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF) and chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CCL17, CCL22) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 31 patients with relapsing MS before and after one year of natalizumab treatment. There was a marked decline in CSF levels of cytokines and chemokines, thus including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8) as well as chemokines associated with both Th1 (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11) and Th2 (CCL22). Circulating plasma levels of some cytokines (GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10) also decreased after one year of treatment. This is the first study to show that natalizumab treatment is associated with a global decline in cytokine and chemokine levels at a protein level. This finding was most pronounced in CSF, in line with the reduced transmigration of cells into CNS, whereas reduction in plasma levels indicates other possible mechanisms of natalizumab treatment. Original Publication: Johan Mellergård, Måns Edström, Magnus Vrethem, Jan Ernerudh and Charlotte Dahle, Natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis: marked decline of chemokines and cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid, 2010, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, (16), 2, 208-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1352458509355068 Copyright: SAGE Publications http://www.uk.sagepub.com/

Background Changes in the peripheral blood lymphocyte composition probably both mediate and reflect the effects of natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis, with implications for treatment benefits and risks. Objectives To assess changes in circulating lymphocyte subpopulation compositions and T-cell responses during natalizumab treatment. Material and methods A broad panel of markers for blood lymphocyte populations, including states of activation and co-stimulation as well as T-cell responses to recall antigens and mitogens, was assessed by flow cytometry in 40 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis before and after one-year natalizumab treatment. Results Absolute numbers of all major populations of lymphocytes increased after treatment, most markedly for NK- and B-cells. The fraction of both memory and presumed regulatory B-cell subsets increased, as did CD3-CD56dim cytotoxic NK-cells, whereas CD3-CD56bright regulatory NK-cells decreased. Treatment was also associated with a restored T-cell responsiveness to recall antigens and mitogens. Conclusions Our data confirms that natalizumab treatment increases the number of lymphocytes in blood, likely mirroring the expression of VLA-4 being highest on NK- and B-cells. This supports reduction of lymphocyte extravasation as a main mode of action, although the differential composition of lymphocyte subpopulations suggests cell-signalling effects may also be operative. The systemic increase in T-cell responsiveness reflects the increase in numbers, and while augmenting anti-infectious responses systemically, localized responses become correspondingly decreased.