dinoprost and Acute-Phase-Reaction

Oxidative stress (OS) contributes to the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) in a manner that is as yet unknown. In the present study OS in the acute phase of KD was investigated by measuring urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PG) and evaluating its correlation to the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration.. The 62 patients with acute phase of KD were enrolled, as well as 20 healthy children (HC) and 20 with acute febrile illness (FI). Urinary samples were obtained before and after administration of IVIG. The HC and FI groups also had inflammatory markers evaluated at the same time. The 8-iso-PG was significantly elevated in the 62 KD patients (719 +/-335 pg/mg Cr) without IVIG administration compared with those with FI (583 +/-213 pg/mg Cr) as well as HC (443 +/-288 pg/mg Cr) (P<0.01). 40 patients were given 3 different regimens of IVIG: 16 received 2 g/kg for 1 day; 17 received 1 g/kg for 1 day; 7 received 400 mg . kg(-1) . day(-1) for 5 days. All regimens of IVIG reduced the 8-iso-PG level at 7 days after initiation.. OS provokes vasculitis in KD, the activation of which was reduced by IVIG. The urinary level of 8-iso-PG is a useful marker of the effectiveness of IVIG in the acute phase of KD.

Topics: Acute Disease; Acute-Phase Reaction; Biomarkers; Child; Child, Preschool; Dinoprost; Female; Fever; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Immunologic Factors; Infant; Male; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Oxidative Stress; Treatment Outcome

Particulate air pollution is known to increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Proposed mechanisms underlying this increase include effects on inflammation, coagulation factors, and oxidative stress, which could increase the risk of coronary events and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether short-term exposure to wood smoke affects markers of inflammation, blood hemostasis, and lipid peroxidation in healthy humans. Thirteen subjects were exposed to wood smoke and clean air in a chamber during two 4-h sessions, 1 wk apart. The mass concentrations of fine particles at wood smoke exposure were 240-280 mug/m3, and number concentrations were 95,000-180,000/cm3. About half of the particles were ultrafine (< 100 nm). Blood and urine samples were taken before and after the experiment. Exposure to wood smoke increased the levels of serum amyloid A, a cardiovascular risk factor, as well as factor VIII in plasma and the factor VIII/von Willebrand factor ratio, indicating a slight effect on the balance of coagulation factors. Moreover, there was an increased urinary excretion of free 8-iso-prostaglandin2alpha, a major F2-isoprostane, though this was based on nine subjects only, indicating a temporary increase in free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation. Thus, wood-smoke particles at levels that can be found in smoky indoor environments seem to affect inflammation, coagulation, and possibly lipid peroxidation. These factors may be involved in the mechanisms whereby particulate air pollution affects cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The exposure setup could be used to establish which particle characteristics are critical for the effects.

Topics: Acute-Phase Reaction; Adult; Air Pollutants; Biomarkers; Blood Coagulation; Dinoprost; Factor VIII; Female; Hematologic Tests; Humans; Inhalation Exposure; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Particle Size; Serum Amyloid A Protein; Smoke; Smoke Inhalation Injury; Surveys and Questionnaires; von Willebrand Factor; Wood

Acetylsalicic acid and indomethacin suppress the increase of alpha-amanitin sensitive RNA synthesis (pre-mRNA), but not that of alpha-amanitin resistant RNA synthesis (pre-rRNA), which occur in liver nuclei a few hours after the start of turpentine-induced inflammation in the skin. The inflammation-associated increase in activity of nuclear ATP-ase is also prevented. Synthesis of prostaglandins PGE2 and PGE2 alpha by liver microsomes from turpentine-treated rats is enhanced within 90 min. from treatment. The results suggest an important role of intracellular prostaglandins as mediators of the early nuclear events occurring in the liver at the beginning of the acute-phase response to inflammation.

Topics: Acute-Phase Reaction; Animals; Aspirin; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Indomethacin; Inflammation; Liver; Male; Nucleic Acid Precursors; Prostaglandins E; Prostaglandins F; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; RNA Precursors; RNA, Messenger; Turpentine