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Article
HIV and decreased risk of multiple sclerosis: role of low CD4+ lymphocyte count and male prevalence
In this retrospective case-control study, we compared the number of circulating lymphocyte subsets among 31 healthy controls, 18 naïve and 40 antiretroviral-treated HIV patients, 28 untreated and 18 treated re...
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Article
Open AccessDownregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in HTLV-1-infected T cells by Resveratrol
Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) is a lymphotropic retrovirus associated to adult T cell leukemia (ATL) and to non-neoplastic inflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system, lung or skin. The...
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Article
Open AccessA laboratory test based on determination of cytokine profiles: a promising assay to identify exposition to contact allergens and predict the clinical outcome in occupational allergic contact dermatitis
Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is the main allergen causing adverse reactions to hair dyes and a frequent cause of occupational-related skin sensitization among hairdressers and beauticians. The immunologic mecha...
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Article
Open AccessAnalysis of the ORFK1 hypervariable regions reveal distinct HHV-8 clustering in Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Kaposi’s cases
Classical Kaposi’s Sarcoma (cKS) is a rare vascular tumor, which develops in subjects infected with Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). Beside the host predisposing factors, viral genetic variants might possibly be r...
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Article
High frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies in relapse of multiple sclerosis: a possible indicator of inflammatory–thrombotic processes
The exact prevalence and pathogenic role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unclear. This observational laboratory-blinded study evaluated the rate of aPL positivity in heal...
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Article
Familial Kaposi’s Sarcoma in HHV8 infected subjects presenting the G-174C allele of the IL-6 promoter: a possible role for EBV?
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Article
Open AccessImmunomodulatory effects of total intravenous and balanced inhalation anesthesia in patients with bladder cancer undergoing elective radical Cystectomy: preliminary results
Although surgery and anesthesia induce immunesuppression, remains largely unknown whether various anesthetic techniques have different immunosuppressive effects on cancer patients. Therefore, the aim of this s...
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Article
Open AccessEvaluation of antigen specific recognition and cell mediated cytotoxicity by a modified lysispot assay in a rat colon carcinoma model
Antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes represent potent effector cells of the adaptive immune response against viruses as well as tumours. Therefore assays capable at exploring the generation and functi...
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Article
Open AccessAIDS-Kaposi Sarcoma and Classic Kaposi Sarcoma: are different ultrasound patterns related to different variants?
Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a malignancy of endothelial skin cells with multifocal localization on the skin, lymph nodes and visceral organs. Although all clinical variants are associated with HHV-8 infection, spec...
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Article
Open AccessNickel, palladium and rhodium induced IFN-gamma and IL-10 production as assessed by in vitro ELISpot-analysis in contact dermatitis patients
Recent attempts to diminish nickel use in most industrial products have led to an increasing utilization of alternative metal compounds for destinations such as the alloys used in orthopaedics, jewellery and d...
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Article
Open AccessIncidence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among HIV-uninfected individuals at high risk for sexually transmitted infections
The occurrence of, and risk factors for, HHV-8 infection have yet to be definitively determined, particularly among heterosexual individuals with at-risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections (STI). The...
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Article
Open AccessDecreased levels of metalloproteinase-9 and angiogenic factors in skin lesions of patients with psoriatic arthritis after therapy with anti-TNF-α
Inflammation represents an early and key event in the development of both the cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Compelling evidences indicate that the production of TNF-α plays a central role in pso...
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Article
A C1q solid phase microenzymatic assay for the detection of soluble immune complexes
The solid phase C1q-binding assay has been adapted to an enzymatic micromethod in which alkaline phosphatase labeled solubleStaphylococcus aureus protein A is used in place of the second antibody. The assay, whic...
