溃疡性结肠炎患者外周血C 反应性蛋白、血清降钙素原及白细胞介素-6 水平及临床意义

目的:分析溃疡性结肠炎(Ulcerative colitis,UC)患者血清降钙素原(Procalcitonin,PCT)、C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)及白细胞介素-6(Interleukin-6,IL-6)水平与病情严重程度的关系。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年5月在我院就诊的溃疡性结肠炎患者91例作为研究对象,另选择同期在我院接受健康体检的志愿者69例作为对照组。检测并比较两组研究对象血清降钙素原(PCT)、C反应性蛋白(CRP)及白细胞介素-6(IL-6)的水平,并分析PCT,CRP及IL-6水平与溃疡性结肠炎的相关性。结果:溃疡性结肠炎患者PCT水平为(1.24±0.23)ng/m L,对照组PCT水平为(0.12±0.10)ng/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者PCT水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);溃疡性结肠炎患者CRP水平为(105.27±19.93)mg/m L,对照组CRP水平为(7.62±2.97)mg/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);溃疡性结肠炎患者IL-6水平为(248.15±35.60)ng/m L,对照组IL-6水平为(144.05±20.26)ng/m L,溃疡性结肠炎患者血清IL-6水平显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。溃疡性结肠炎患者血清PCT,IL-6及CRP水平之间均呈正相关关系(r=0.301,0.468,0.413,P0.01)。结论:溃疡性结肠炎患者血清PCT,CRP及IL-6水平均显著高于健康人群,其水平变化与患者病情严重程度有关。因此,我们在临床实践中应予以重视。     

益生菌联合美沙拉秦治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效及对血清炎症指标的影响

目的探讨应用益生菌对溃疡性结肠炎(UC)患者的临床疗效和血清炎症指标的影响。方法选取2016年10月-2018年10月甘肃省人民医院消化内科就诊的轻、中度活动期UC确诊患者为研究对象,将其随机分为治疗组(n=47)和对照组(n=46),治疗组采用益生菌和美沙拉秦联合治疗,对照组采用美沙拉秦单药治疗,两组其余治疗相同。观察、检测并记录两组患者治疗前后的临床表现、结肠镜检查结果、血清炎症相关指标、药物不良反应和医师总体评价。共观察6个月,通过改良Mayo评分系统进行评分,判定临床疗效。比较两组治疗前后临床疗效、血清炎症相关指标及药物不良反应。结果治疗组和对照组的总有效率分别为93.6%和73.9%(P0.05);两组患者治疗前血清降钙素原(PCT)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)及红细胞沉降率(ESR)的差异无统计学意义(均P0.05),两组患者治疗后较治疗前血清PCT、CRP及ESR水平下降显著(均P0.05),同时在治疗后,治疗组与对照组比较血清PCT、CRP及ESR水平下降更显著(均P0.05);治疗组6例发生不良反应,对照组9例,发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论益生菌联合美沙拉秦治疗溃疡性结肠炎可显著提高治疗效果,降低血清炎症指标水平。     

美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP,IL-10及TNF-α水平的影响

目的:探讨美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血清CRP,IL-10及TNF-α水平的影响。方法:收集我院就诊的120例溃疡性结肠炎患者,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组60例。两组给予柳氮磺吡啶肠溶片治疗,实验组患者给予美沙拉嗪肠溶片治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后血清C-反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)及白介素-10(IL-10)水平、临床疗效及安全性。结果:与治疗前相比,治疗后两组患者血清CRP及TNF-α水平均下降,而IL-10水平均升高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者血清CRP及TNF-α水平较低,而IL-10水平较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者临床治疗有效率较高,不良反应发生率较低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:美沙拉嗪能够抑制溃疡性结肠炎患者的炎症反应水平,降低CRP、TNF-α水平,升高IL-10水平,临床疗效较好,且用药安全。     

柳氮磺胺吡啶联合丽珠肠乐治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效及对患者炎症反应的影响

目的:观察丽珠肠乐联合柳氮磺胺吡啶治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效及对患者炎症反应的影响。方法:选取我院2014年6月-2017年6月期间收治的溃疡性结肠炎患者120例,根据数表法将患者分为观察组(n=60)和对照组(n=60)。对照组采用柳氮磺胺吡啶治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上增加丽珠肠乐治疗。连续治疗8周后观察两组患者的临床疗效以及结肠炎症状改善程度,并对两组患者治疗前后的血清炎症因子水平进行检测对比,同时观察两组患者不良反应发生情况。结果:观察组临床治疗的总有效率为93.33%(56/60),高于对照组的80.00%(48/60)(P0.05)。治疗后两组患者Sutherland指数评分、肠道菌群评分、肠镜评分均低于治疗前,且观察组低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后两组患者CRP、IL-6、TNF-α水平均低于治疗前,且观察组低于对照组(P0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率为13.33%(8/60),与对照组的8.33%(5/60)比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:柳氮磺胺吡啶联合丽珠肠乐治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效显著,能够改善患者的临床症状,降低患者体内的炎症因子水平,且无严重不良反应发生,临床应用价值高,值得进一步推广应用。     

美沙拉嗪颗粒联合美常安胶囊对溃疡性结肠炎患者临床疗效及炎症反应的影响

目的:研究美沙拉嗪颗粒联合美常安胶囊治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效及对炎症反应的影响。方法:选取本院自2015年1月至2016年1月收治的92例轻、中度溃疡性结肠炎患者,随机分为对照组和治疗组各46例。对照组单独行美沙拉嗪颗粒治疗,治疗组行美沙拉嗪颗粒联合美常安胶囊治疗,总疗程16周。对比观察两组患者治疗后对临床症状、临床症状积分、有效率以及炎症指标的改变。结果:治疗组患者的症状改善情况、总有效率均显著高于对照组(P0.05),治疗组术前术后临床症状评分也明显优于对照组(P0.05);两组患者治疗后红细胞沉降率(ESR)和C-反应蛋白(CRP)均明显降低,且治疗组降低更显著,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:美沙拉嗪颗粒联合美常安胶囊可有效提高轻、中度溃疡性结肠炎治疗效果,减轻炎症反应,改善患者临床症状,临床效果显著,值得推广和应用。     

微生态制剂联合美沙拉嗪治疗轻中度溃疡性结肠炎临床疗效

目的评价微生态制剂联合美沙拉嗪治疗轻中度溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效。方法选取2012年1月至2014年12月来瑞安市人民医院治疗的轻中度溃疡性结肠炎患者52例,将其随机分成对照组和治疗组,对照组采用美沙拉嗪治疗,治疗组采用美沙拉嗪联合微生态制剂治疗,治疗8周后分别对两组患者的CRP、ESR、内镜评分、疾病活动指数(DAI)以及不良反应情况进行比较。结果在治疗8周后,治疗组CRP、ESR、内镜评分及DAI均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者不良反应相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论微生态制剂联合美沙拉嗪治疗轻中度溃疡性结肠炎疗效明显,且联合治疗明显优于单纯美沙拉嗪治疗,无明显不良反应,值得临床推广。     

中药灌肠联合美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎患者血小板功能的影响

目的:研究中药灌肠和口服美沙拉嗪对溃疡性结肠炎(Ulcerative colitis,UC)患者血小板功能的影响。方法:选择2013年1月至2014年6月我院接受治疗的溃疡性结肠炎患者60例,法随机分为两组,每组30例。观察组患者给予中药灌肠联合口服美沙拉嗪治疗,对照组患者单纯给予口服美沙拉嗪治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后C反应蛋白(CRP)、血沉及血小板计数的变化情况。结果:观察组患者总有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗前CRP、血沉、血小板计数等指标差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,观察组CRP、血沉及血小板计数显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:中药保留灌肠加口服美沙拉嗪肠溶片用于治疗UC,可较好地改善患者症状,增大疗效,改善其血小板功能状态。值得推荐。     

粪便乳铁蛋白评价溃疡性结肠炎活动性的临床价值

目的:探讨粪便乳铁蛋白作为溃疡性结肠炎活动性标志物的可能性。方法:选取溃疡性结肠炎患者42例,对照组炎症性肠病患者20例,采用酶联免疫吸附试验法测定粪便乳铁蛋白的含量,同时测定实验室指标白细胞计数、红细胞沉降率(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CPR)的水平。结果:1)溃疡性结肠炎组活动期粪便乳铁蛋白的含量显著高于缓解期和对照组,且活动期组轻、中、重度三级之间差异有统计学意义;粪便乳铁蛋白的含量随着内镜的分级程度的增高而增高,但与溃疡性结肠炎内镜分级之间相关性不明显r=0.4199(P=0.0517)。2)粪便乳铁蛋白对判断溃疡性结肠炎的活动性的特异性和敏感性显著高于外周血白细胞计数、C反应蛋白、红细胞沉降率。结论:粪便乳铁蛋白对溃疡性结肠炎活动性的判定价值显著高于白细胞计数、C反应蛋白、红细胞沉降率,但是否可以作为理想的替代肠镜的炎症性标志物还有待进一步的大样本研究。     

益生菌联合美沙拉秦治疗溃疡性结肠炎的疗效和安全性观察

目的探讨益生菌联合美沙拉秦对轻、中度活动期溃疡性结肠炎患者的临床疗效和安全性以及比较患者治疗前后实验室多种指标的改变。方法 42例确诊的轻、中度溃疡性结肠炎患者,采用随机对照的研究方法分为两组。其中治疗组(养乐多1瓶/次+艾迪莎1g/次、1日3次)20例,对照组(艾迪莎1g/次、1日3次)22例,共观察6个月。治疗前、后两组患者临床表现、安全性和实验室多种指标也进行比较。结果治疗组临床治疗总有效率为90.00%,对照组为81.82%,治疗组临床完全缓解率为45.00%,对照组为31.82%,治疗组的完全缓解率和总有效率均显著高于对照组(χ2值分别为57.48、59.42,P0.05),前者总复发率显著低于后者(χ2=58.65,P0.05)。且治疗中未见不良反应和副作用。治疗组治疗6个月后血红蛋白、红细胞压积和白蛋白水平均显著升高(t值分别为2.82、2.21、2.18,P0.05),而对照组在治疗后血红蛋白、白蛋白和红细胞压积均没有发生明显改变(t值分别为0.10、0.11、0.20,P0.05);治疗组的血沉和c-反应蛋白均非常显著下降(t值分别为5.17、4.87,P0.01),而对照组血沉和c-反应蛋白均显著下降(t值分别为3.01、2.43,P0.05);治疗组的血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23细胞因子出现非常显著下降(t值分别为3.39、5.98、12.19,P0.01),而对照组的血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23细胞因子出现显著下降(t值分别为2.33、2.59、11.37,P0.05);治疗6个月后两组间上述指标差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为2.92、2.23、2.09、2.09、2.34、2.26、2.78、2.71,P0.05),治疗组血红蛋白、红细胞压积和白蛋白水平均显著高于对照组,血沉和c-反应蛋白均显著低于对照组,治疗组的血清TNF-α、IL-17和IL-23细胞因子均显著低于对照组。结论益生菌联合美沙拉秦对轻、中度活动期溃疡性结肠炎患者比单用美沙拉秦更能显著地降低促炎症性细胞因子水平,诱导活动期溃疡性结肠炎的缓解作用和维持缓解作用更强,显示出良好的安全性和有效的治疗效果,表明该益生菌对溃疡性结肠炎具有良好的辅助治疗作用。     

TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8在不同程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清中的表达及意义

目的:探讨不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的表达及意义。方法:选择2011年1月~2014年7月我院收治的溃疡性结肠炎患者47例,根据严重程度将患者分为轻度组、中度组和重度组。另选取同期在我院接受健康体检的志愿者80例作为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测各组患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的水平。结果:溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8水平高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);不同严重程度溃疡性结肠炎患者的TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8水平呈显著差异(P0.05)。结论:检测溃疡性结肠炎患者血清TNF-α、IL-6及IL-8的水平变化有利于预测病情进展。     

d-Alanine as a biomarker and a therapeutic option for severe influenza virus infection and COVID-19

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), biomarkers for evaluating severity, as well as supportive care to improve clinical course, remain insufficient. We explored the potential of d-amino acids, rare enantiomers of amino acids, as biomarkers for assessing disease severity and as protective nutrients against severe viral infections. In mice infected with influenza A virus (IAV) and in patients with severe COVID-19 requiring artificial ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, blood levels of d-amino acids, including d-alanine, were reduced significantly compared with those of uninfected mice or healthy controls. In mice models of IAV infection or COVID-19, supplementation with d-alanine alleviated severity of clinical course, and mice with sustained blood levels of d-alanine showed favorable prognoses. In severe viral infections, blood levels of d-amino acids, including d-alanine, decrease, and supplementation with d-alanine improves prognosis. d-Alanine has great potentials as a biomarker and a therapeutic option for severe viral infections.     

High-Throughput Multi-Analyte Luminex Profiling Implicates Eotaxin-1 in Ulcerative Colitis

Accurate and high-throughput technologies are needed for identification of new therapeutic targets and for optimizing therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Our aim was to assess multi-analyte protein-based assays of cytokines/chemokines using Luminex technology. We have reported that Luminex-based profiling was useful in assessing response to L-arginine therapy in the mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium colitis. Therefore, we studied prospectively collected samples from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and control subjects. Serum, colon biopsies, and clinical information were obtained from subjects undergoing colonoscopy for evaluation of UC or for non-UC indications. In total, 38 normal controls and 137 UC cases completed the study. Histologic disease severity and the Mayo Disease Activity Index (DAI) were assessed. Serum and colonic tissue cytokine/chemokine profiles were measured by Luminex-based multiplex testing of 42 analytes. Only eotaxin-1 and G-CSF were increased in serum of patients with histologically active UC vs. controls. While 13 cytokines/chemokines were increased in active UC vs. controls in tissues, only eotaxin-1 was increased in all levels of active disease in both serum and tissue. In tissues, eotaxin-1 correlated with the DAI and with eosinophil counts. Increased eotaxin-1 levels were confirmed by real-time PCR. Tissue eotaxin-1 levels were also increased in experimental murine colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium, oxazolone, or Citrobacter rodentium, but not in murine Helicobacter pylori infection. Our data implicate eotaxin-1 as an etiologic factor and therapeutic target in UC, and indicate that Luminex-based assays may be useful to assess IBD pathogenesis and to select patients for anti-cytokine/chemokine therapies.     

Role of microRNA-21 and microRNA-155 as biomarkers for bronchial asthma

MicroRNA (miRNA)-21 and miRNA-155 are important regulators of gene expression of different immunological molecules. This study aimed to investigate the role of miRNA-21 and miRNA-155 as biomarkers in asthma by comparing their serum expression levels in asthmatic patients to those in healthy controls and correlating their levels with serum IL-4. The expression levels of miRNA-21 and miRNA-155 were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. Serum levels of IL-4 were determined using ELISA. Asthmatic patients showed significantly higher serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-155 expression levels compared to controls. A statistically significant positive correlation between the expression levels of miRNA-21 and IL-4 serum levels in asthmatic patients was detected. Nonetheless, no correlation was detected between miRNA-155 expression and each of IL-4 and miRNA-21. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that at a cut-off value of 1.37, the sensitivity of miRNA-21 as an asthma biomarker was 100% and the specificity was 95%. At a cut-off value of 1.96, the sensitivity of miRNA-155 as an asthma biomarker was 100% and the specificity was 100%. It can be concluded that miRNA-21 and miRNA-155 are potential non-invasive biomarkers in the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma and its response to therapy.     

A distinct urinary biomarker pattern characteristic of female Fabry patients that mirrors response to enzyme replacement therapy

Female patients affected by Fabry disease, an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, exhibit a wide spectrum of symptoms, which renders diagnosis, and treatment decisions challenging. No diagnostic test, other than sequencing of the alpha-galactosidase A gene, is available and no biomarker has been proven useful to screen for the disease, predict disease course and monitor response to enzyme replacement therapy. Here, we used urine proteomic analysis based on capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry and identified a biomarker profile in adult female Fabry patients. Urine samples were taken from 35 treatment-naïve female Fabry patients and were compared to 89 age-matched healthy controls. We found a diagnostic biomarker pattern that exhibited 88.2% sensitivity and 97.8% specificity when tested in an independent validation cohort consisting of 17 treatment-naïve Fabry patients and 45 controls. The model remained highly specific when applied to additional control patients with a variety of other renal, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Several of the 64 identified diagnostic biomarkers showed correlations with measures of disease severity. Notably, most biomarkers responded to enzyme replacement therapy, and 8 of 11 treated patients scored negative for Fabry disease in the diagnostic model. In conclusion, we defined a urinary biomarker model that seems to be of diagnostic use for Fabry disease in female patients and may be used to monitor response to enzyme replacement therapy.     

肠道菌群分析及粪便炎性标志物检测在 炎症性肠病活动度评估中的作用

目的探讨肠道菌群和粪便炎性标志物在炎症性肠病(IBD)活动度评估中的临床价值。方法共纳入120例IBD患者为研究组,其中溃疡性结肠炎(UC)患者68例,克罗恩病(CD)患者52例。选择30例经结肠镜检查正常的健康体检者为对照组。采集全部研究对象的新鲜粪便标本进行粪便细菌培养及炎性标志物检测,比较不同疾病活动度IBD患者的肠道菌群及粪便钙卫蛋白(FC)、乳铁蛋白(LF)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)、髓过氧化酶(MPO)水平的变化。结果与对照组比,UC和CD患者肠道中肠杆菌、肠球菌、拟杆菌、消化球菌及酵母菌数量均明显增加(P0.05),双歧杆菌、乳杆菌及真杆菌数量明显减少(P0.05)。UC患者梭菌数量较对照组增加(P0.05),CD患者梭菌数量较对照组减少(P0.05)。UC、CD活动期患者肠杆菌、肠球菌、拟杆菌、消化球菌及酵母菌数量明显多于缓解期患者(P0.05),双歧杆菌、乳杆菌及真杆菌数量明显少于缓解期患者(P0.05),且重度活动期患者肠道菌群改变较轻、中度活动期改变更明显(P0.05)。UC活动期患者梭菌数量明显多于缓解期(P0.05),CD活动期患者梭菌数量明显少于缓解期(P0.05)。UC和CD患者粪便中FC、LF、MMP-9及MPO水平均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。UC、CD活动期患者FC、LF、MMP-9及MPO水平显著高于缓解期患者(P0.05),且重度活动期患者高于轻、中度活动期患者(P0.05)。结论肠道菌群变化和粪便中FC、LF、MMP-9及MPO水平可作为IBD患者疾病活动性评估的辅助指标。     

Evaluation of C-reactive protein, Haptoglobin and cardiac Troponin 1 levels in brachycephalic dogs with upper airway obstructive syndrome

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Brachycephalic dogs have unique upper respiratory anatomy with abnormal breathing patterns similar to those in humans with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between anatomical components, clinical signs and several biomarkers, used to determine systemic inflammation and myocardial damage (C-reactive protein, CRP; Haptoglobin, Hp; cardiac troponin I, cTnI), in dogs with brachycephalic upper airway obstructive syndrome (BAOS). RESULTS: Fifty brachycephalic dogs were included in the study and the following information was studied: signalment, clinical signs, thoracic radiographs, blood work, ECG, components of BAOS, and CRP, Hp and cTnI levels. A high proportion of dogs with BAOS (88%) had gastrointestinal signs. The prevalence of anatomic components of BAOS was: elongated soft palate (100%), stenotic nares (96%), everted laryngeal saccules (32%) and tracheal hypoplasia (29.1%). Increased serum levels of biomarkers were found in a variable proportion of dogs: 14% (7/50) had values of CRP > 20 mg/L, 22.9% (11/48) had values of Hp > 3 g/L and 47.8% (22/46) had levels of cTnI > 0.05 ng/dl. Dogs with everted laryngeal saccules had more severe respiratory signs (p<0.02) and higher values of CRP (p<0.044). No other statistical association between biomarkers levels and severity of clinical signs was found. CONCLUSIONS: According to the low percentage of patients with elevated levels of CRP and Hp, BAOS does not seem to cause an evident systemic inflammatory status. Some degree of myocardial damage may occur in dogs with BAOS that can be detected by cTnI concentration.     

Relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-2, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 in inflammatory bowel disease

AIMS: To study the relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2 and interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (18 males, 19 females, aged 8.8-26.1 years) with IBD (Crohn's disease, CD, n = 17, and ulcerative colitis, UC, n = 20) were studied. Patients were in relapse or remission according to established criteria. Serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels were determined in patients and 15 healthy controls (aged 8.2-19.0 years). RESULTS: IGF-1 levels were lower in patients with CD in relapse compared with controls (p < 0.05). IGFBP-2 levels were higher in CD in relapse compared with other groups (all p < 0.05). In CD and UC patients (n = 37), IGF-1 levels were inversely correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). IGFBP-2 levels correlated positively with ESR and IL-1beta. IL-6 levels correlated positively with ESR and CRP. IL-1beta levels were elevated in CD in relapse compared to controls (p < 0.05) and were higher in UC in relapse than in other groups (all p < 0.05). In combined CD/UC patients in relapse (n = 20), IL-1beta levels were higher (p < 0.05) in patients with recto-sigmoiditis (n = 5) than in other patients. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-1, IGFBP-2 levels were related to IL levels, disease activity and anatomical distribution, consistent with active inflammation modifying the IGF-IGFBP system, possibly relevant to disturbance of growth.     

Neutrophil CD64 expression and serum IL-8: sensitive early markers of severity and outcome in sepsis

The aim of the present study was to investigate which biomarker/s reliably assess severity and mortality early in the sepsis process. In 47 critically-ill patients within the 24h of septic onset, Interleukins (IL)-8, -1beta, -6, -10, and -12p70, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in serum. Additionally, CD64 expression was measured in neutrophils. In early sepsis, neutrophil CD64 expression and IL-8 levels are the only biomarkers that increased with sepsis severity, differentiating disease stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock (p<0.001). The biomarkers that best evaluate the severity of sepsis (via APACHE II) were CD64, IL-8 and IL-6 (p<0.01), and the severity of organ failure (via SOFA) were CD64 and IL-8 (p<0.01). CD64 expression and IL-8 levels were associated with mortality within 28-days (OR=1.3, p=0.01 for CD64 and OR=1.26, p=0.024 for IL-8 by logistic regression analysis) and ROC curve analysis showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting sepsis stages and the 28 day mortality. We conclude that there is an early increase of neutrophil CD64 expression and IL-8 levels during sepsis. Based on this single measurement it is possible to reliably assess the stage, detect the severity and predict the 28-day mortality of sepsis.     

Sympathetic overactivity in active ulcerative colitis: effects of clonidine

Previous reports suggest that inflammatory bowel diseases may be accompanied by abnormalities in the neural autonomic profile. We tested the hypotheses that 1) an exaggerated sympathetic activity characterizes active ulcerative colitis (UC) and 2) a reduction of sympathetic activity by clonidine would be associated with clinical changes of UC. In 23 patients with UC and 20 controls, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), ECG, blood pressure, and respiration were continuously recorded, and plasma catecholamine was evaluated both at rest and during a 75 degrees head-up tilt. Autonomic profile was assessed by MSNA, norepinephrine, epinephrine, spectral markers of low-frequency (LF) cardiac sympathetic (LF(RR); normalized units) and high-frequency (HF) parasympathetic (HF(RR); normalized units) modulation and sympathetic vasomotor control (LF systolic arterial pressure; LF(SAP)), obtained by spectrum analysis of the R-R interval and systolic pressure variability. Among UC patients, 16 agreed to be randomly assigned to 8-wk transdermal clonidine (15 mg/wk, 9 subjects), or placebo (7 patients). An autonomic profile, Disease Activity Index (DAI), and endoscopic pattern were compared before and after clonidine/placebo. At rest, MSNA, heart rate (HR), LF(RR), LF/HF, and LF(SAP) were higher and HF(RR) was lower in patients than in controls. Tilt decreased HF(RR) and increased MSNA and LF(RR) less in patients than in controls. Clonidine decreased HR, MSNA, epinephrine, LF(RR), and increased HF(RR), whereas placebo had no effects. Changes of the autonomic profile after clonidine were associated with reduction of DAI score. An overall increase of sympathetic activity characterized active UC. Normalization of the autonomic profile by clonidine was accompanied by an improvement of the disease.