Regulatory T cells (Treg) are a specialized subpopulation of T cells that act to suppress inadequate immune response. Psoriasis is recognized as a T -cell driven immune-mediated systemic inflammatory disease with skin manifestation. Effective therapeutical approach to treat psoriasis is Goeckerman therapy (GT ). The aim of this study was to compare the number of Treg in the peripheral blood of 27 psoriatic patients and 19 controls and to evaluate the influence of GT on Treg population in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis. There was no significant difference in the relative number of Treg cells in the peripheral blood of healthy blood donors and patients with psoriasis before initiation of GT (P = 0.2668). In contrary, the relative number of Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis after GT was significantly higher than those found in healthy blood donors (P = 0.0019). Moreover, the relative number of Treg is significantly increased in psoriatic patients after Goeckerman therapy compared to the pre-treatment level (P = 0.0042). In conclusion, this significant increase in Treg count after GT is probably associated with amelioration of inflammation by GT , as disease activity expressed as PASI decreased in our patients by GT (P = 0.0001)., Kateřina Kondělková, Doris Vokurková, Jan Krejsek, Lenka Borská, Zdeněk Fiala, Květa Hamáková, Ctirad Andrýs, and Literatura 39
BACKGROUND: The presence of several risk factors (genetic and non-genetic) has greater impact on the risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) than single risk factor. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to establish possible relations between genotypes and alleles of 677C>T polymorphism of MTHFR gene and some traditional risk factors e.g. elevated levels of lipid parameters and smoking in development of premature CAD. METHODS: The groups comprised 152 patients with angiographically documented premature CAD (aged 42.9 +/- 5.5) and 121 age-matched blood donors (aged 42.3 +/- 6.5) were studied. The MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism was genotyped with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: Patients with TT genotype who simultaneously smoked had increased risk of premature CAD compared to non-smoking cases with CC genotype (OR = 24.62). We also found that individuals with TT genotype and elevated LDL-cholesterol (LDL-chol.) level had significantly higher risk of CAD (OR = 9.92) than individuals with normal LDL-chol. level and CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that simultaneous presence of MTHFR TT genotype and smoking or elevated levels of LDL-chol. influences the risk of premature CAD. This findings give interesting contribution to gene-environment interaction problem that may have clinical implications in the future. and B. Sarecka-Hujar, I. Zak, J. Krauze
BACKGROUND: The current treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) consists of performing periodic whole blood phlebotomies. Erythrocytapheresis (EA) can remove up to three times more red blood cells per single procedure and could thus have a clinical benefit. A prospective study of 30 consecutive cases of HH were included in a periodic EA program. METHODS AND PATIENTS: EA were performed using a discontinuous flow cell separators. The protocol consisted of a bimonthly EA until normalization of the serum ferritin was reached. The aim was to reduce the total erythrocyte volume by 25-35%, eventually, to adjust the amount so that hematocrit would not drop below 0.25. RESULTS: 530 +/- 101 ml of erythrocytes were removed (median 517, range 116-761 ml). Iron depletion (ferritin < 20 microg/l) was achieved in all patients after a mean 6.9 +/- 7.6 months, median 5 months, range 1-36 months and a mean 14 EA sessions. The procedures were well tolerated and there were no severe side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that HH patients treated with EA achieved iron depletion quickly under good conditions of tolerance. The efficacy, speed, tolerability, and more favorable schedule of an EA program facilitate treatment of HH. and V. Rehácek, M. Bláha, H. Jirousová, J. Cernohorská, P. Papousek
Cíl. Korelace ultrazvukového vyšetření polohy disku temporomandibulárního kloubu s vyšetřením na magnetické rezonanci. Metoda. Celkem bylo vyšetřeno 95 pacientů, 112 čelistních kloubů, soubor zahrnoval 10 mužů, 85 žen, věkové rozhraní 14-74 let, průměrný věk 37 let. Vyšetření na ultrazvuku probíhalo na přístroji Philips iu22 lineární 17 MHz sondou ve dvou fázích - klidové a dynamické - při otevírání úst. Na magnetické rezonanci byli pacienti vyšetření na přístroji Philips Achieva 1,5 T s povrchovou cívkou a mikroskopickou cívkou, každé vyšetření zahrnovalo sekvenci s postupným otevíráním úst. Výsledky. Souhlas mezi ultrazvukovým vyšetřením a magnetickou rezonancí při ventrální poloze byl 96%, z toho byla diagnostikována repozice disku v 94%, u pacientů bez repozice byla senzitivita nižší - 65%., Aim. The aim of this study was the correlation of an ultrasound examination of the disk of the temporomandibular joint with the magnetic rezonance examination. Method. In total has been examined 95 patients, 112 mandibular joints, file include 10 men, 85 women, age interface 14-74 years old, the average age of 37 years. The patients were examined using Philips iu22 with linear 17 MHz probe with dynamic phase - with opening the mouth. On the MRI, the patients were examined using Philips Achieva 1.5 T with the surface coil and microscopic coil, each examination included a sequence with the gradual opening of the mouth. Results. Consent between the ultrasound examination and magnetic resonance imaging in the anterior position was 96%, disc reposition in 94% of patients, without reposition in 65% cases., Andrea Šprláková-Puková, Alena Štouračová, Miloš Keřkovský, Ondřej Liberda, Vojtěch Peřina, Karel Bartušek, Zdenek Smékal, Ondřej Šmirg, and Literatura