CD163, a membrane glycoprotein restricted to monocyte-macrophage cell lineage, is released in the terminal phase of acute inflammation and during chronic inflammation, with anti-inflammatory and antiangiogenic role. The proteolytically detached ectodomain of CD163 is the soluble component sCD163. A few studies were performed regarding circulating sCD163 in human diseases. Only two were accomplished in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our concern was (1) to evaluate sCD163 serum concentrations in active RA patients with long-standing evolution, (2) to correlate them with clinical parameters, laboratory markers, disease activity, and (3) to search possible relationships with some cytokines (IL-12, IL-17) and chemokine (CXCL10), involved in RA pathogenesis. First and third topics were not achieved until now, and the second one points out discordant findings and unspecified aspects. It was achieved immunoassay of serum sCD163, IL-12, IL-17, CXCL10 and traditional methods for RA laboratory markers. The mean sCD163 level of 33 patients was significantly higher than in 20 normal controls (p = 0.0001), 59.3 % of them with concentrations above normal cut-off value. sCD163 levels were weakly correlated with CRP and RF but not with ERS and disease activity. IL-12 and CXCL10 serum levels strongly correlated with sCD163 concentrations, while IL-17 positively but insignificantly correlated. In conclusion, serum sCD163 levels are significantly elevated in long-standing RA patients, but sCD163 has no role as a biomarker of disease activity. High correlation of sCD163 with IL-12 and CXCL10 suggests the association of their well-known anti-inflammatory function in long-standing RA patients.

ABSTRACT:Objectives: An increased level of apoptotic material and B cell activation leading to autoantibody-production are hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE). Increased

We carried out a preliminary study on the efficacy of endovaginal sonography (EVS) in the evaluation of rectal cancer. The study included 12 women with endoscopically documented rectal cancer, 10 of which were treated surgically. We found that EVS evidenced metastasized lymph nodes (7/9) and infiltration of the rectovaginal space more clearly; moreover, this technique can also be performed in cases of stenosing cancer. Endorectal sonography (ERS) evidenced infiltration of the rectal wall but was less accurate both in detecting metastasized lymph nodes (6/9) and for exploration of the rectovaginal space. We concluded that the two methods complement one another and improve ultrasonographic staging of rectal cancer.

SUMMARYSoluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) were detected in culture supernatants of activated human peripherai blood mononuclcar celts (PBMC) using a sandwich ELISA technique with two non-crossreacting TfR MoAbs. Mitogenic stiinulaiion oflymphoid cells induced both up-reguhition olTfR surface density and release of sTf R to the medium. Peak levels of sTf R in culture supernatants occurred at day 4 after activation, I day later than maximum expression of TfR in the plasma membrane. Production of sTf R was independent of proliferation, as demonstrated by measuring sTfR release by PBMC. whieh had becnirradiated with a dose of 20 Gy before activation. In addition to these in viiro experiments, we tested the sera of 85 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). an autoimmune disease accompanied by in vivo activation of lymphocytes, for their sTfR levels. No correlation of these data was detectable to serum concentrations of the soluble a-chain of the IL-2 receptor, an unequivocal marker of lymphocyte activation. However, ihey correlated negatively to the haemoglobin content of the patients" erythrocytes. indicating that erylhroid progenitors are the predominant source of sTfR in SLE patients" sera.

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