Annals of clinical and laboratory science
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2008
Influence of Nrf2 genotype on pulmonary NF-kappaB activity and inflammatory response after traumatic brain injury.
Inflammatory response plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that plays a crucial role in cytoprotection against inflammation. The present study explored the influence of Nrf2 genotype on the production of cytokines and on activation of transcription factors in a murine TBI model. ⋯ Nrf2 (-/-) mice were shown to have a greater increase in the lung wet/dry weight ratio compared to their wild-type Nrf2 (+/+) counterparts after TBI. This exacerbation of lung injury in Nrf2 (-/-) mice was associated with increased levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, ICAM-1, and their mediator, NF-kappaB. The results suggest that Nrf2 plays an important protective role in attenuating the pulmonary inflammatory response and NF-kappaB activation after TBI.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2008
Case ReportsKidney injury molecule-1 expression identifies proximal tubular injury in urate nephropathy.
Urate nephropathy in children is uncommon, occurring mostly in those who have undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The characteristic obstruction of distal nephron tubules by uric acid precipitates is considered key to the subsequent parenchymal injury. ⋯ In their renal biopsies, we demonstrate upregulation of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), a specific injury marker, in proximal tubular cells. This finding implicates a role for proximal tubular injury in urate nephropathy.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2008
Progesterone administration modulates TLRs/NF-kappaB signaling pathway in rat brain after cortical contusion.
This study investigated whether progesterone administration modulates toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway in the injured rat brain following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Right parietal cortical contusion was made by a weight-dropping method. Male rats were given 0 or 16 mg/kg injections of progesterone at postinjury hr 1 and 6 and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. ⋯ Administration of progesterone following TBI down-regulates the cortical levels of these agents related to the TLRs/NF-kappaB signaling pathway. After progesterone administration, apoptotic TUNEL-positive cells in the injured brain were significantly decreased. In summary, post-TBI progesterone administration attenuates the TLRs/NF-kappaB signaling pathway in injured rat brain, and this may be a mechanism whereby progesterone improves the outcome following TBI.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2008
Case ReportsCase report: spontaneous splenic rupture during acute parasitemia of Babesia microti.
Babesia is a malaria-like protozoan parasite spread by Ixodes ticks primarily from the white-footed deer mouse to humans. Typically it causes subclinical disease, but occasionally causes acute febrile disease with hepatosplenomegaly. We report a case of spontaneous splenic rupture of a 56-yr-old man with acute Babesia microti infection.
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Ann. Clin. Lab. Sci. · Jan 2007
ReviewRational use and interpretation of urine drug testing in chronic opioid therapy.
Urine drug testing (UDT) has become an essential feature of pain management, as physicians seek to verify adherence to prescribed opioid regimens and to detect the use of illicit or unauthorized licit drugs. Results of urine drug tests have important consequences in regard to therapeutic decisions and the trust between physician and patient. ⋯ These factors include metabolic conversion between drugs, genetic variations in drug metabolism, the sensitivity and specificity of the analytical method for a particular drug or metabolite, and the effects of intentional and unintentional interferants. In this review, we focus on the technical features and limitations of analytical methods used for detecting drugs or their metabolites in urine, the statistical constructs that are pertinent to ordering UDT and interpreting test results, and the application of these concepts to the clinical monitoring of patients maintained on chronic opioid therapy.