No abstract available.
Antibodies*

No abstract available.
Hamartoma* ; Muscle, Smooth*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are different from those of normal controls and SLE patients and to find out any correlation with disease activity parameters of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Sera from 20 healthy normal persons, 16 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 16 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were collected and measured for IL-10 and IL-6. Various disease activity parameters were measured in RA patients. RESULTS: The serum level of IL-10 in RA patients was significantly elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. In RA patients there was no definite correlation between the disease activity parameters and serum IL-10 levels. Despite significant improvements in terms of various disease activity parameters, there was no significant change of serum IL-10 levels after treatment in RA patients. In seropositive RA patients, positive correlation was found between serun IL-10 and rheumatoid factor levels. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the serum IL-10 levels in patietns with RA are elevated compared to normal controls but lower than those of SLE patients. There was no correlation between serum IL-10 levels and disease acivity parameters of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6 ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Rheumatoid Factor

No abstract available.
Bacteria*

A 34-year-old woman presented with several intensely pruritic erythematous serpiginous thread-like skin lesions which began as a small papule on the epigastrium 4 months prior to her visit and was migrating to the left chest area. The laboratory examination showed eosinophilia and the total serum IgE level was slightly increased. Histopathologic examination revealed a pustular burrow in the epidermis with a larva-like cystic lesion apart from the burrow in the epidermis. The patient was treated with topical 10 % albendazole cream 3 times daily for 1 week without recurrence for 22 months up to now. We thought this was a rare case which was confirmed by a skin biopsy showing larva in the epidermis.
Adult ; Albendazole ; Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Larva ; Larva Migrans* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Leg* ; Skin*

No Abstract available.
Vascular Calcification*

BACKGROUND: Infection with respiratory virus has been shown to exacerbate asthma in humans. However, the role of a respiratory virus in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma and/or wheezing in young children has not been clearly defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether respiratory virus infections such as RSV, and influenza A virus are related to the productions of IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions. METHOD: We compared IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from 38 non-asthmatic wheezing children with viral infections (RSV in 21 children, influenza A virus in 17 children), and 16 non-asthmatic healthy children who were included as the controls. IL-11, and IFN-gamma levels were analysed by ELISA. ECP concentrations were measured by monoclonal antibody-based fluorometric assay. RESULT: RSV infection in children induced a greater release of IL-11 in nasopharyngeal secretions than in influenza A virus infection, and in the controls. The release of IFN-gamma levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with influenza A virus infection was significantly higher than in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with RSV. ECP levels of subjects with viral infection were significantly higher than in control children. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that RSV is a potent inducer of IL-11 elaboration in nasal epithelium and that IL-11 is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of RSV infection. Increased IFN-gamma production in response to the influenza A virus infection may be related to effective Th1 responses.
Asthma ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Humans ; Influenza A virus* ; Influenza, Human* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-11* ; Nasal Mucosa ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses*

The elongation and widening of intracranial vessels(fusiform aneurysm, ectasia) known to be related to various etiologies often causes neurologic focal signs because of the pressure on the adjacent structures and/or impaired circulation distal to ectatic vessel. We report two cases with pupil sparing ophthalmoplegia as a manifestation of carotid artery ectasia(the second case had signs of recurrent cerebrovascular attacks due to contralateral carotid artery occlusion).
Aneurysm* ; Carotid Arteries* ; Ophthalmoplegia* ; Pupil*

No abstract available.
Indicators and Reagents*