Increased serum leptin levels are associated with metabolic syndrome and carotid intima media thickness in premenopausal systemic lupus erythematosus patients without clinical atherosclerotic vascular events.

Aim To assess subclinical atherosclerosis and the role of inflammatory mediators, vascular endothelial cell activation markers and adipocytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods We studied 66 premenopausal female SLE patients (20 with MetS) and 28 female healthy controls (HCs) without history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Subclinical atherosclerosis was screened by measuring carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Serum levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin, leptin and visfatin were measured. Results The mean age of MetS+SLE, MetS- and HC were 38.3 ± 6.7, 32.7 ± 9.3 and 29.9 ± 5.6 years, respectively. The mean disease duration, SLICC (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index scores were 74.8 ± 54.9 months, 0.16 ± 0.48 and 1.18 ± 1.5, respectively, and were similar between MetS+and MetS- SLE patients. CIMT values were higher in both MetS+ and MetS- SLE patients than HCs ( p < 0.001). sICAM-1 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels were higher in both MetS+ and MetS- SLE patients than HCs ( p < 0.001; p = 0.002, p = 0.001). The SLE MetS+ group had higher CIMT values than SLE MetS- (right: p = 0.003; left: p = 0.025). Leptin levels and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) scores were significantly higher in SLE MetS+ than SLE MetS- ( p = 0.018; p = 0.04). Leptin and CRP levels and body mass index, SLICC and HOMA scores were correlated with CIMT values (right: p = 0.03, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.026 and p < 0.001, and left: p = 0.028, p = 0.03, p = 0.003, p = 0.002 and p = 0.025). Conclusions In premenopausal women with SLE without a history of CVD, CIMT values were increased and related to MetS. Leptin was increased in patients with MetS and correlated with CIMT values.

Evaluation of the risk of systemic fat mobilization and fat embolus following liposuction with dry and tumescent technique: an experimental study on rats.

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies have revealed that liposuction causes systemic fat mobilization. However, the degree of the risk it causes is not clear. In this study we investigated the risk of systemic fat mobilization and fat embolus in rats following liposuction using dry and tumescent techniques. METHODS: At the end of the procedures, the rats were sacrificed and specimens were obtained from the lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, and skin. Histological examinations of the specimens were carried out. Liposuction was not performed in the control group (n = 8), but blood and tissue specimens for histological examinations were obtained. RESULTS: We found signs of fat embolus in both blood specimens and histological examinations of tissue samples in the study groups. However, the results of the examinations were normal in the control group. Although there were no fat particles in the blood before liposuction, blood specimens obtained following the procedures and in the long-term had fat particles.

Natural killer cells in allergic inflammation.

Natural killer (NK) cells are large granular lymphocytes of the innate immune system that exert a potent function against infected and tumor cells. Although NK cells were originally defined by their capacity to lyse target cells and produce interferon-gamma without prior activation, recent studies showed that NK cells also display a potent regulatory function. They are activated or inhibited through the ligation of germline-encoded receptors and are involved in mediating cytotoxicity, producing cytokines and providing costimulation to cells of the adaptive immune system. NK cells play important roles in viral infections, autoimmunity, pregnancy, cancer and bone marrow transplantation, but little is known about the role of NK cells in allergy. Recent developments in the understanding of the role of human NK cells in allergy are overviewed.

Analog VLSI implementation for stereo correspondence between 2-D images.

Many robotics and navigation systems utilizing stereopsis to determine depth have rigid size and power constraints and require direct physical implementation of the stereo algorithm. The main challenges lie in managing the communication between image sensor and image processor arrays, and in parallelizing the computation to determine stereo correspondence between image pixels in real-time. This paper describes the first comprehensive system level demonstration of a dedicated low-power analog VLSI (very large scale integration) architecture for stereo correspondence suitable for real-time implementation. The inputs to the implemented chip are the ordered pixels from a stereo image pair, and the output is a two-dimensional disparity map. The approach combines biologically inspired silicon modeling with the necessary interfacing options for a complete practical solution that can be built with currently available technology in a compact package. Furthermore, the strategy employed considers multiple factors that may degrade performance, including the spatial correlations in images and the inherent accuracy limitations of analog hardware, and augments the design with countermeasures.

Intracytoplasmic cytokine levels and neutrophil functions in early clinical stage of type 1 diabetes.

Studies indicate that both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and their cytokines play a critical role in different clinical stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Disturbances of oxidative burst and phagocytic activities in neutrophils of diabetic patients compared to uncontrolled disease support the importance of neutrophil functions in the treatment and follow up of diabetic patients. This study is designed in order to investigate Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles and neutrophil functions in early clinical stage of T1D. Patients diagnosed as T1D but not yet under insulin therapy (Group 1; n=15) and T1D patients with disease duration of <3 months (Group 2; n=20) were compared to healthy subjects (Group 3; n=15). All subjects with T1D were positive for islet cell antibody (ICA) and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA), their fasting glucose levels were >126 mg/dl and A1(c) levels were >8. Intracytoplasmic interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels of isolated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and neutrophil functions were determined by flow cytometry. Intracellular TNF-alpha level of CD4(+) T lymphocytes was significantly decreased in Group 1 compared to Group 2 and healthy subjects. In contrast, TNF-alpha in CD8(+) T lymphocytes was higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2. Increased TNF-alpha content of CD8(+) T lymphocytes was also obtained in Groups 1 and 2 compared to healthy subjects. Increased TNF-alpha secretion of CD8(+) T cells might reflect the role of CD8(+) T cells in beta cell destruction. Similar to cytokine content, phagocytic and oxidative burst activities in Group 1 were significantly lower compared to Group 2 and healthy subjects. Impaired neutrophil functions could be recovered by the treatment of the disease.

Effect of acute maximal exercise on lymphocyte subgroups in type 1 diabetes.

The essential therapy of diabetes mellitus includes medical nutrition therapy (MNT), exercise and medical therapy. Exercise, besides its metabolic effects, has positive influence on the immune system, but some forms of exercise may cause trauma for muscle and skeletal systems, they may also support negative effects on the immune system. Nineteen type 1 diabetic patients (mean age 22.1 +/- 2.8 yrs), followed by Diabetes Outpatient Clinic and twenty age matched male control subjects were included into the study, to demonstrate the effects of maximal, acute exercise on the immune system. The exercise test was performed according to Bruce protocol on treadmill. In diabetic subjects, increased CD19 and CD23 expressions were observed before exercise. In both groups (diabetic/control) CD3, CD4 expressions and CD4/CD8 ratio were decreased following the exercise, however expression of natural killer (NK) cells increased. Compared to type 1 diabetic patients healthy subjects had longer acute exercise that caused the increased level of CD8 expression, however type 1 diabetic patients did not show any difference. These results indicate that submaximal aerobic exercise might be recommended for type 1 diabetics without any complications because of its positive reflection on metabolic control and no negative effects on the immune system.

Organ specific autoantibodies in preclinical and early clinical type 1 diabetes in Turkey.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) patients (G1; n=73) and first degree relatives with islet cell antibody (ICA) values of >or=10 JDF u twice or >or=20 JDF u one and loss of FPIR (G2; n=18) were screened for two other autoantibodies, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA), and for other organ-specific autoantibodies, anti-gastric parietal cell (anti-PCA) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) as well. The two control groups consisted of healthy subjects (G3; n:55 and G4; n:13). In G1, positivity of ICA, GADA, IAA, anti-TPO and anti-PCA were 63%, 75.1%, 27.4%, 17.8% and 8.2%, respectively. In G2, positivity for GADA, IAA, anti-TPO and anti-PCA were 55.6%, 11.1%, 16.7% and 11.1%, respectively. None of the anti-TPO or anti-PCA positive cases had clinical or laboratory thyroid disease or pernicious anemia. Other organ specific antibodies, in case they accompany GADAand/or IAA in high risk individuals, result in higher risk for T1D. Moreover, this condition may indicate future potential for developing thyrogastric autoimmune diseases. In conclusion; autoantibodies are markers for autoimmune destruction in T1D, and for identification of subjects at risk for disease. Even at the time of diagnosis of T1D, screening for thyrogastric autoimmunity might be recommended for early detection of the relevant diseases.