Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have subnormal vitamin B6 status, both quantitatively and functionally. Abnormal vitamin B6 status in rheumatoid arthritis has been associated with spontaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production and markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Impaired vitamin B6 status could be a result of inflammation, a...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is able to reduce proteinuria in nondiabetic glomerulopathies through activation of melanocortin receptors (MCR) expressed in the podocyte. To determine the efficacy of ACTH, we conducted a randomized, open-label pilot trial of ACTH gel in patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy. STUDY DESIGN Twenty-three (23) patients with diabe...

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) are the principal hospital-acquired infections. Proteus mirabilis is characterized by several virulence factors able to promote adhesion and biofilm formation and ameliorate the colonization of urinary tract and the formation of crystalline biofilms on the abiotic surface of the urinary catheters. Since, to date, the role of ...

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by pain, pressure, or discomfort perceived to be bladder related and with at least one urinary symptom. It was recently concluded that 3.3-7.9 million women (>18 years old) in the United States exhibit BPS/IC symptoms. The impact of BPS/IC on quality of life is enormous and the economic burden is sig...

BACKGROUND Bariatric surgery has been suggested to improve arterial hypertension and renal function. This prospective controlled observational study aimed to investigate changes in renal inflammation, renal function and arterial blood pressure before and after bariatric surgery. METHODS Blood pressure was measured, and urine and blood samples were collected from 34 morbidly obese patients bef...

background: repeated implantation failure (rif) is one of the most intricate obstacles in assisted reproduction. the cytokine and chemokine composition of uterine cavity seem to play important roles in the implantation process. objective: to compare the cytokine profile in the endometrium of normal fertile women and those with repeated implantation failure. methods: after enzymatic digestion of...

t lymphocytes that are involved in cellular mediated immunity include two types known as tcd8+ (cytotoxic t lymphocytes) and tcd4+ (helper t lymphocytes). tcd4+ has four main subtypes, including th1, th2, th17, and treg lymphocytes.th17 lymphocytes play a role in defense against microbes that th1 and th2 lymphocytes have not the ability to respond to them. the most important cytokines, which ar...