BACKGROUNDAdhesion molecules play an important role in the development and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to compare concentrations of soluble forms of adhesion molecules in patients with different clinical presentations of coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight patients with CAD were divided into three groups; the first group was acute myocardial infarction group (AMI group, n = 45), the second group was unstable angina pectoris group (UAP group, n = 48), the third group was stable angina pectoris group (SAP group, n = 35). We compared them with patients with normal coronary arteries (control group, n = 31). The serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin were measured in all subjects.

RESULTSThe serum level of VCAM-1 in the AMI group was significantly higher than in the UAP, SAP and control groups (P < 0.01). The level in the UAP group was significantly higher than the SAP group and control group (P < 0.01) and the level in the SAP group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). The serum ICAM-1 level was significantly elevated in the AMI, UAP and SAP groups as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). The levels of serum E-selectin and P-selectin in the AMI and UAP groups were significantly higher than in the SAP and control groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin, as markers of inflammation, showed the importance of inflammatory processes in the development of atherosclerosis and clinical expression of CAD. Soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin concentrations are useful indicators of the presence of atherosclerosis and the severity of CAD clinical presentation.

Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; pathology ; E-Selectin ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVEIt has been reported that soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) participates in many immune and inflammatory reactions. Its expression and role in severe pneumonia has not fully been understood. This study aimed to investigate the changes of sICAM-1 expression in severe pneumonia and the relationship between sICAM-1 and severe pneumonia in children.

METHODSSerum sICAM-1 levels were determined by the double antibody sand using ELISA in 50 children with severe pneumonia and 56 children with mild pneumonia. Fifty-two healthy children served as control group.

RESULTSSerum sICAM-1 levels in children with severe pneumonia (402.36 +/- 31.24 mu g/L) were remarkably higher than those in the mild pneumonia group (278.86 +/- 36.24 mu g/L) at the acute stage and higher than in the control group (180.74 +/- 21.46 mu g/L) (P < 0.01). Serum sICAM-1 levels in children with severe pneumonia decreased significantly at the recovery stage (198.56 +/- 12.63 mu g/L) (P < 0.01), which were not statistically different from those in the mild pneumonia group at the recovery stage and the control group. There were no significant differences in serum sICAM-1 levels among the severe pneumonia subgroups caused by different pathogens (bacteria, virus or Mycoplasma) at the acute stage. Serum sICAM-1 levels at the acute stage in children with severe pneumonia who were treated successfully were not significantly different from those in patients whose symptoms were partly improved.

CONCLUSIONSsICAM-1 might be involved in the inflammation course of severe pneumonia. It can severe as a marker of the diagnosis and the severity evaluation of severe pneumonia.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia ; blood ; Prognosis

This study determined the levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with different types of Keshan disease (KD), examined the relationship between Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM antibody (CBV-IgM) and sICAM-1 or sVCAM-1 in KD patients, and investigated the role of these adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of KD and their clinical implications. The levels of serum sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and CBV-IgM were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 22 patients with chronic Keshan disease (CKD), 27 with latent Keshan disease (LKD) and 28 healthy controls. The subjects in different groups were adjusted for sex and age. Echocardiography was adopted to determine left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 22 patients with CKD. The results showed that CKD patients had significantly higher levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than LKD patients and healthy controls (P<0.01 for all). And there was significant difference in the levels of the 2 adhesion molecules between LKD patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). A negative correlation was found between LVEF and sICAM-1 or sVCAM-1 in CKD patients. The percentage of CBV-specific IgM positive individuals in KD patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. In CVB-specific IgM positive patients, the levels of serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly greater than those in CBV-specific IgM negative counterpart. It was concluded that the increase in the levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 suggests the progression of inflammation in KD. sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 can promote the development of myocardial pathology and lead to poor myocardial function. The increased serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in KD patients may be related to CBV infection.
Cardiomyopathies/*blood ; Cardiomyopathies/etiology ; Cardiomyopathies/*virology ; Coxsackievirus Infections/*complications ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/*blood ; Selenium/blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To measure the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (s-VCAM-1), and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the plasma of patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and to provide basic theory for the mechanism of valvular and myocardial damage. METHODS: The consecutive patients with RHD (n=40) and healthy people (n=40) were chosen. All blood samples were taken from the peripheral veins. s-ICAM-1, s-VCAM-1 and vWF levels in all samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: s-ICAM-1, s-VCAM-1 and vWF levels were significantly elevated in patients with RHD compared with healthy people (P < 0.01. The level of sICAM-1 was elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation compared with patients without atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION The concentrations of s-ICAM-1, s-VCAM-1 and vWF levels were significantly elevated in patients with static rheumatic fever, which might be one of the pathogenic mechanisms of valvular damage, endothelial dysfunction, and myocardial damage in rheumatic heart disease.
Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

Asthma ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement Membrane Attack Complex ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Male ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVEImpulse oscillometry (IOS) is a novel technique for the evaluation of pulmonary function. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) are definitive indicators for the severity of asthma. This study aimed to explore the relationship of IOS pulmonary function with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, and their values in childhood asthma.

METHODSIOS via Master Screen System for pulmonary function was performed in 40 children with acute asthma and 25 healthy children. Twenty-three of 40 children with acute asthma were re-tested for IOS pulmonary function at remission. sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels were measured in 23 children with acute asthma, 20 asthmatic children at remission and 16 healthy children.

RESULTSThe parameters of IOS pulmonary function, R5, R20, R5-R20, X5, Fres and Zrs in children with acute asthma were significantly higher than in asthmatic children at remission and in normal controls (q= 2.91-15.61, P < 0.01 or 0.05). There were significant differences in R5, R5-R20, Fres and Zrs between the asthmatic children at remission and normal controls (q= 3.08- 9.19, P < 0.01 or 0.05). sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels in children with acute asthma were significantly higher than in asthmatic children at remission and in normal controls (q= 6.23-26.15, P < 0.01). The asthmatic children at remission had higher levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 than the normal controls (q=16.86, 12.46, P < 0.01). R5-R20 positively correlated with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in children with acute asthma (r=0.45, 0.57, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIOS for pulmonary function and sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 may be used to evaluate the severity and therapeutic effects of childhood asthma. A correlation exists between IOS pulmonary function and sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oscillometry ; methods ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

BACKGROUND: Agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma may help to regulate inflammation by modulating the production of inflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti- inflammatory effects of rosiglitazone on renal injury in sepsis model. METHODS: In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse sepsis, we examined the effect of rosiglitazone on LPS-induced overproduction of inflammatory mediators, on the expression of adhesion molecules, on the infiltration of inflammatory cells and on renal function. RESULTS: Rosiglitazone significantly decreased serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta levels during sepsis. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were significantly lower in mice pretreated with rosiglitazone than that in LPS-treated mice. Rosiglitazone reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in renal tissue of LPS-treated mice. Pretreatment with rosiglitazone reduced the infiltration of macrophages/ monocytes in renal tissue. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that pretreatment with rosiglitazone attenuated the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and reduced adhesion molecule expression and infiltration of inflammatory cells in renal tissue of LPS-treated mice. Therefore, rosiglitazone may have a protective effect in maintaining renal function and reducing mortality and morbidity in sepsis.
Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukins ; Mice ; Monocytes ; Mortality ; PPAR gamma ; Sepsis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

PURPOSE: Current concepts of preeclampsia have been focused on dysfunction of the maternal vascular endothelium, a central pathogenetic feature of the disease. But it is uncertain whether maternal preeclampsia has a harmful effect on fetal or neonatal vascular endothelium. In this study, plasma levels of endothelial adhesion molecules in preeclamptic mother and cord blood were determined to delineate vascular effects of preeclampsia on neonates. METHOD: Quantitative determinations of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured from plasma of preeclamptic mother and neonatal cord blood in pairs according to gestational age and was compared to nonpreeclamptic control groups. RESULTS: Plasma ICAM-1 level was significantly higher in the maternal groups compared to corresponding cord groups (P<0.001). Preeclamptic maternal groups showed significantly higher sICAM-1 level compared to control maternal groups (P<0.001) and preterm maternal groups showed higher levels than term maternal groups (P<0.001). The level of sICAM-1 was significantly elevated in preeclamptic preterm cord groups than other cord groups (P<0.001). In respect to plasma sVCAM-1 level, higher value was observed in the preeclamptic preterm cord groups than preeclamptic preterm maternal groups. CONCLUSIONS: Elevation of the plasma sICAM-1 level caused by factors including vascular endotherial damage in preeclamptic mothers was observed in their neonates but with much lesser degree than their mothers. Factors associated with preterm labor other than maternal preeclampsia may seem to influence vascular endothelial injury in the cord blood.
Endothelium, Vascular ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Mothers* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

To compare the diagnostic value of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) with that of c-reactive protein (CRP) for detecting chorioamnionitis (CAM) in serum of women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM), 55 pregnant women with PROM, including 18 pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and 20 normal pregnant women at term (TPROM) were studied. Maternal serum were measured by Sandwish enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) for sICAM. CAM was histologically confirmed after delivery. The results revealed that (1) maternal serum levels of sICAM-1 and CRP were significantly higher in women with PROM than those without it; (2) maternal serum levels of sICAM-1 and CRP were significantly higher in women with CAM than those without it; (3) serum levels of sICAM-1 in PPROM women were similar to those in TPROM women, whereas serum levels of CRP in PPROM women were significantly higher than those in TPROM women; (4) the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Kappa index and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of maternal serum sICAM-1 (cutoff 104.7 ng/ml) and CRP (cutoff 1.03 mg/dl) for diagnosing CAM were 100%, 91.2%, 87.5%, 100%, 0.20, 0.995 and 81.0%, 73.5%, 65.4%, 86.2%, 0.13, 0.811, respectively; (5) among the mild histological CAM group, severe histological CAM group and clinical CAM group, the difference in maternal serum levels of sICAM-1 were significantly (P<0.001), with the order of concentration from high level to low level corresponding to the severity of CAM. It is concluded that maternal serum level of ICAM-1 is superior to that of CRP as biomarker for diagnosing intraamniotic infection in pregnant women with PROM.
Biomarkers ; blood ; Chorioamnionitis ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture ; blood ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of adhesion molecules, cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in divers post 480 heliox saturation diving.

METHODSFour divers were compressed within 96 hours to depths of 480 m with heliox-oxygen and held at the designated depth for 49 hours, excursion to 493 m during their saturation stay, then decompressed within 302 hours to the surface. The blood samples were collected before compression and post decompression, the expression level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin, cAMP, cGMP were detected with ELISA analysis box.

RESULTSCompared with the levels of CAMs before compression, the levels of ICAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin and cGMP in the serum were changed post decompression (P > 0.05). The levels of cAMP were significantly elevated post decompression (629.91 +/- 75.01) nmol/L vs (66.72 +/- 83.15) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe decompression schedule in this heliox saturation diving is safe, the decompression sickness pathology in this diving has not been induced. But the stress response of divers are enhanced by this great depth saturation diving.

Cyclic AMP ; blood ; Diving ; physiology ; E-Selectin ; blood ; Helium ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Oxygen ; P-Selectin ; blood