1.
Biomarkers of necrotising soft tissue infections: aspects of the innate immune response and effects of hyperbaric oxygenation-the protocol of the prospective cohort BIONEC study.
Hansen, MB, Simonsen, U, Garred, P, Hyldegaard, O
BMJ open. 2015;(5):e006995
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mortality and amputation rates are still high in patients with necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTIs). It would be ideal to have a set of biomarkers that enables the clinician to identify high-risk patients with NSTI on admission. The objectives of this study are to evaluate inflammatory and vasoactive biomarkers as prognostic markers of severity and mortality in patients with NSTI and to investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is able to modulate these biomarkers. The overall hypothesis is that plasma biomarkers can be used as prognostic markers of severity and mortality in patients with NSTI and that HBOT reduces the inflammatory response. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a prospective, observational study being conducted in a tertiary referral centre. Biomarkers will be measured in 114 patients who have been operatively diagnosed with NSTI. On admission, baseline blood values will be obtained. Following surgery and HBOT, daily blood samples for measuring regular inflammatory and vasoactive biomarkers (pentraxin-3, interleukin-6 and nitrite) will be acquired. Samples will be analysed using validated ELISA assays, chemiluminescence and Griess reaction. Clinical data will be obtained during admission in the intensive care unit for a maximum of 7 days. The primary analysis will focus on pentraxin-3, interleukin-6 and nitrite as early markers of disease severity in patients with NSTI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the Regional Scientific Ethical Committee of Copenhagen (H-2-2014-071) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (J. no. 30-0900 and J. no. 30-1282). Results will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02180906.
2.
Hydrogen peroxide and nitrite reduction in exhaled breath condensate of COPD patients.
Stefanska, J, Sarniak, A, Wlodarczyk, A, Sokolowska, M, Doniec, Z, Bialasiewicz, P, Nowak, D, Pawliczak, R
Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2012;(5):343-8
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predominantly the result of years of cigarette smoking. Increased oxidative stress in COPD derives from the increased burden of inhaled oxidants (cigarette smoke), air pollution and the increase in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), generated by some inflammatory, immune, and structural airways cells. In view of the lack of therapy that might inhibit the progress of the disease, there is an urgent need for a successful therapeutic approach. Apocynin is a molecule inhibiting activation of NADPH oxidase - enzyme generating ROS and RNS precursor. Thus, our aim was to analyze apocynin influence on hydrogen peroxide and nitrite concentrations in EBC of COPD patients. Apocynin reduced concentration of H(2)O(2) in COPD patients 60 and 120 min after apocynin inhalation, in comparison to placebo (0.43 μM vs. 0.59 μM, and 0.4 μM vs. 0.59 μM respectively, p < 0.05). Moreover, apocynin decreased NO(2)(-) ions concentration in airways of COPD patients after apocynin nebulization (3.97 μM vs. 4.48 μM after 30 min, 3.82 μM vs. 4.48 μM after 60 min, and 3.76 μM vs. 4.48 μM after 30 min respectively, p < 0.05). No adverse effects have been observed. The results suggest that apocynin might be considered as anti-inflammatory agent, and, possibly used in therapy of COPD.
3.
Intrapleural interleukin-2 induces nitric oxide production in pleural effusions from malignant mesothelioma: a possible mechanism of interleukin-2-mediated cytotoxicity?
Porta, C, Rizzo, V, Zimatore, M, Sartore-Bianchi, A, Danova, M, Mutti, L
Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands). 2002;(2):159-62
Abstract
Due to the frequent use of intrapleural interleukin-2 (IL-2) to treat pleural effusions from malignant mesothelioma (MMe), we measured nitric oxide (NO) end product nitrite (NO(2)(-)) in pleural effusions of 12 MMe patients with chronic or chronic-relapsing pleurisy. Through high performance liquid chromatography analysis, NO(2)(-) was found in the initial pleural fluid sample of all patients (156.25 pmol ml(-1)), and increased significantly following IL-2 intrapleural instillation, both at 24 (589.91 pmol ml(-1), P < or = 0.0005) and 48 h (756 pmol ml(-1), P< or = 0.0005). Even though it is difficult to argue if the large amounts of NO end product NO(2)(-) we observed is produced by IL-2-stimulated and recruited immune cells, by MMe cells themselves, or by both, it is possible that NO could contribute to the complex antitumor activity of IL-2.