Endothelin-1 stimulates neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells by an effect on the expression of adhesive molecules on the neutrophil surface. Endothelin-1 stimulates neutrophil accumulation in vivo and in vitro in the heart. Antibodies against the integrin complex block the endothelin-1-dependent neutrophil adhesion. These findings have potential importance in the pathophysiology of endothelin-1-increased states.

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BackgroundNeurological disorders are common in HIV-infected patients. Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma should always be considered because it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. ObjectivesTo investigate the clinical utility of flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) in diagnosing or discarding leptomeningeal involvement in HIV-infected patients and to compare its sensitivity with that of conventional cytological methods. MethodsFifty-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 29 HIV-infected patients were independently evaluated by flow cytometry and cytology. The description of an aberrant immunophenotype was the criterion used to define the malignant nature of any CSF cell population. ResultsFCI and cytology gave concordant results for 48 of the 56 CSF samples studied: 37 were negative for malignancy and 11 had evidence of CNS lymphoma. Discordant results were obtained for eight CSF samples, and the accuracy of the FCI findings could be demonstrated for four CSF samples described as positive for malignancy according to the FCI criteria. ConclusionsA high level of agreement was found between the results obtained using the two methods, but FCI gave at least 25% higher sensitivity than conventional cytomorphological methods for the detection of malignant cells. This advantage suggests that, in case of negative flow cytometry results, disorders other than non-Hodgkin's lymphoma should be strongly considered.Keywords: AIDS lymphoma, central nervous system, cerebrospinal fluid, flow cytometry IntroductionDespite the great advances that have been achieved with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in improving the management of AIDS patients and their outcome [1], non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients [2,3]. Invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) in this type of lymphoma is particularly common in the HIV-infected population; in necropsy studies, it has been estimated that it occurs in more than two-thirds of these cases [4]. Forty percent of AIDS patients with NHL and bone marrow invasion at the time of diagnosis show CNS involvement [5]. Therefore, cytological investigation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is mandatory for the initial staging evaluation of a recently diagnosed NHL, and also in patients with neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of meningeal involvement. Conventional cytological investigation of the CSF has limited sensitivity, and malignant cells will only be detected in 15-25% of patients [4]. An improved diagnostic test would therefore be of great value.Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) is an indispensable tool for the diagnosis and ulterior evaluation of many haematological malignancies in routine clinical At the time of the study, 17 patients were diagnosed with systemic haematological malignancies (15 with systemic NHL, one with Hodgkin's disease and one with multiple myeloma), one patient was suspicious for primary CNS lymphoma and 11 patients had no previous evidence of haematological disea...

ObjectivesHealthcare workers (HCWs) have been one of the most severely affected groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, though few studies have sought to determine the rate of undiagnosed cases among this population. In this study, we aim to determine the rate of undetected infection in HCWs, a potential source of nosocomial infection.MethodsSerological screening for IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was carried out among HCWs from four different hospitals in Madrid, Spain, from 6 April to 25 April 2020; HCWs with a previous diagnosis of infection based on real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay performed after presenting compatible symptoms were excluded. Prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies was calculated among HCWs to obtain the rate of COVID-19 presence of antibodies in each hospital.ResultsOf the 7121 HCWs studied, 6344 (89.09%) had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 5995 HCWs finally participated in the study, resulting in a participation rate of 94.49%. A positive IgM or IgG test against COVID-19 was revealed in 16.21% of the HCWs studied (n=972).ConclusionThis study reveals the importance of early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs to prevent nosocomial infection and exposure of patients, visitors and workers and the spread of COVID-19 in the overall community.

Twenty-six cases of high-grade lymphomas with activation markers (CD30) classified and immunophenotyped according to the Kiel classification were studied to determine their fine structural features. Transmission electron microscopy showed in 17 cases anaplastic nuclear and cytoplasmic changes identical to those observed in Hodgkin's disease, it being impossible to determine by the morphology a B, T, or null nature. Four high-grade B-centroblastic and immunoblastic cases and five T-pleomorphic cases showed nuclear changes and cytoplasmic differentiation that suggested a T or B nature. An immunogold-labeling technique showed CD30-positive particles primarily in the Golgi complex and occasionally in the cell membrane.