OBJECTIVE To investigate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antiangiogenic isoform A-165b on human muscle in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and to compare distribution of angiogenic/antiangiogenic VEGFs, as isoforms shifts are described in other autoimmune disorders. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We analyzed VEGF-A165b and VEGF-A by western blot and immunohistochemistry ...

The association of celiac disease and type I diabetes mellitus has been known for some time. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in diabetic children and adolescents. Eighty-seven patients (44 females, 43 males) aged 2- 18 years, with type I diabetes participated in this study. A group of 87 healthy unrelated girls and boys matched for age and gend...

A 26-year-old female presented with epidermolysis bullosa prurogompsa (EBP) since infancy, hair loss, proximal motor weakness, nasal tone speech, swallowing problem, and droopy eyes at age 20. Upon neurological examination, normal cognition, inability to walk unassisted, bilateral ptosis full range of extraocular movements, weak gag reflex, generalized muscle atrophy, decreased deep tendon refl...

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes are non-organized lymphoid populations that are composed of heterogeneous subsets with diverse ontogeny and phenotypes, and the differential diagnosis is crucial. A 43-year-old male patient underwent an emergency laparotomy due to a perforated mass of the terminal ileum. A right hemicolectomy plus small bowel resection was performed. Histopathological exam...

BACKGROUND The aim of our study is to evaluate if in children with highly positive serology and HLA-DQ2/DQ8 (triple test, TT) and only extra-intestinal symptoms, it is possible to omit performing an intestinal biopsy for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis, as suggested by the new European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition ESPGHAN guidelines. METHODS In this retrospec...

Objective This study aimed to assess if there is secondary care medical inertia towards coeliac disease (CD). Design Group (1): Time from primary presentation diagnostic endoscopy was quantified in 151 adult patients with a positive endomysial antibody test and compared 92 histologically proven inflammatory bowel (IBD). (2): Across four hospitals, duodenal biopsy reports for suspected CD were r...

BACKGROUND In coeliac disease (CD) patients, the dominant DQ2-Alpha-I-gliadin peptide recognised by CD4 T cells is contained within peptide sequence 57-73 (p57-73) of Alpha-gliadin. This peptide sequence is also located within a 33-mer protease resistant gliadin fragment and therefore is likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of CD. AIMS Our aim was to determine whether a B cell...

BACKGROUND The transition from persistent to permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased complexity of fibrillatory conduction. We have investigated the spatial distribution of fibrillation waves and structural alterations in the atrial free walls in a goat model of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS AF was maintained for 3 weeks (short term [ST], persistent AF) or 6 months (long ter...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS Fifty-six patients between 1 and 18 years old with dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis were evaluated and followed up at Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira. Patients with previous diagnosis of celiac disease were excluded. The functional classifica...

BACKGROUND Vitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches. The exact etiology and pathogenesis of vitiligo is not clear. Many theories have been presented regarding this subject among them aautoimmune theory is the most important one. The association of vitiligo with other autoimmune disorders has been reported, but the relationship b...