Disparate reports exist on the eosinophil chemotactic capacity of interleukin-8 (IL-8). We hypothesized that the difference is due to the methods used to purify eosinophils. We therefore compared the eosinophilotactic capacity of IL-8 on human cells isolated by Percoll (positive selection) vs. magnetic cell separation system (MACS) (negative selection). Discontinuous Percoll gradients were prec...

Increased levels of serum pro-fibrotic cytokines have been reported in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Some of these cytokines also play an important role in the differentiation and migration of eosinophils. The aim of this study was to determine whether eosinophilic inflammation is caused in SSc. We retrospectively reviewed the peripheral blood eosinophil counts in 70 untreated patient...

Cerebral sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease of the central nervous system that is caused by sparganum. Cerebral sparganosis occurs worldwide, but it is found more frequently in China, Japan, and Southeastern Asia (12). Sparganum, the second-stage larva of Spirometra mansoni, can produce chronic active inflammation through slow migration in the brain (1). They can also parasitize other site...

Peroxynitrite, an oxidant generated by the interaction between superoxide and nitric oxide (NO), has been implicated in the etiology of numerous disease processes. Several studies have shown that peroxynitrite-induced protein nitration may compromise enzyme and protein function. We hypothesized that peroxynitrite may regulate cytokine function during inflammation. To test this hypothesis, the e...

Ramatroban (Baynas, BAY u3405), a thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) antagonist marketed for allergic rhinitis, has been shown to partially attenuate prostaglandin (PG)D(2)-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in humans, as well as reduce antigen-induced early- and late-phase inflammatory responses in mice, guinea pigs, and rats. PGD(2) is known to induce eosinophilia following intranasal administratio...

Clinical reports indicate that patients with allergy/asthma commonly have associated symptoms of anxiety/depression. Anxiety/depression can be reduced by 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation. However, it is not known whether 5-HTP reduces allergic inflammation. Therefore, we determined whether 5-HTP supplementation reduces allergic inflammation. We also determined whether 5-HTP decreases...

Asthma is characterised by a 50-fold increase in the number of eosinophils relative to neutrophils in the bronchial mucosa. This is the result of the cumulative and sequential effects of several, approximately fourfold, increases in selective eosinophil versus neutrophil migration occurring at a number of stages in the life cycle of the eosinophil. These events, which are integrated and directe...

purpose: in the present work, clinical symptoms, serum immunoglobuline alteration and eosinophil count were investigated in the patients infected with giardia lamblia. materials and methods: in this regard, 50 persons infected with giardia and 50 healthy individuals were selected as the study and control groups respectively in tehran. sera of the groups were tested for igg, ige, iga levels and...

Toxocariasis is the clinical term used to describe human infection with either the dog ascarid Toxocara canis or the feline ascarid Toxocara cati. As with other helminths zoonoses, the infective larvae of these Toxocara species cannot mature into adults in the human host. Instead, the worms wander through organs and tissues, mainly the liver, lungs, myocardium, kidney and central nervous system...