The Role of Inflammatory Processes in Development and Treatment of Depression
Depressive DisorderDepression1 moreThe study investigates the influence of inflammatory processes on the development and the course of uni- and bipolar depression. It is assumed, that the concentrations of certain inflammatory proteins have an influence on the development of depression, its clinical severity, the response to treatment and the risk of relapse. To verify this hypothesis, a total of 145 patients, which were hospitalized für treatment of a depressive disorder in the study centers in Germany, Italy and France, were screened according to the criteria set out in the study protocol. Finally, 104 patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms were included in the study. These patients were treated according to the recommendations of the DGPPN treatment guidelines. All patients received a medication with sertraline or venlafaxine during the study, starting at baseline. The patients were examined for the presence and severity of depressive symptoms at the time of study enrollment, as well as after 4 and 8 weeks, using standardized clinical test procedures. In addition blood was taken. In the serum of the patients, the concentrations of specific inflammatory proteins were measured using Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and then correlated with the clinical data. The investigated proteins include high-sensitivity CRP (C-Reactive-Protein), Interleukin 4, Interleukin 6, Interleukin 12, tumor necrosis factor-α, Eotaxin, Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54), Interferone-gamma and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1).
Detection of Luminal and Mucosa-associated Microbiome in Healthy Controls vs. Local and Systemic...
Human MicrobiomeThis study should reveal differences in composition of luminal and mucosa-associated microbiome of the human gastrointestinal tract.Therefore bacterial species of different intestinal location sites (small intestine and colon) isolated of biopsies were compared to bacterial composition of stool samples. Additionally the bacterial composition of healthy persons, patients with inflammatory bowel disease and with liver disease (liver cirrhosis) will be compared to detect influence of local and systemic inflammation on microbiome.
Adiposity and Airway Inflammation in HIV-Associated Airway Disease
AsthmaHIV1 moreThe goals of this study are to 1) examine the relationships among inflammation, obesity, and asthma in people with HIV and 2) to test if special subtypes of cells or markers are present in the blood and lungs of people with HIV with asthma compared to those without asthma.
Control of Leukocyte Function
InflammationBrainThe protocol is to draw peripheral blood from healthy volunteers for in vitro studies. The aims of these in vitro studies are to determine the cellular and intracellular mechanisms by which hypertonic saline and ATP release regulate neutrophil and lymphocyte functions.
Platelet-associated Inflammation in Severe Sepsis
Severe SepsisSepsis represents a serious public health issue characterized by a complex inflammatory response. In addition to their hemostatic role, platelets display inflammatory functions by secreting a variety of immunomodulatory factors and interacting with circulating immune cells. The investigators postulate that, in severe sepsis, platelets become activated and release amounts of different soluble inflammatory molecules that contribute to sepsis-associated inflammation. First, the investigators propose to assess whether severe sepsis impairs the ability of platelets to release soluble CD40L (sCD40L), an powerful platelet-derived immunomodulatory molecule, in ICU patients with S. aureus documented infection, ICU patients with documented infection involving other bacterial species, compared to ICU patients with inflammation of noninfectious origin and healthy blood donors. Then, the investigators wish to assess whether the bacterial species affects the release of platelet sCD40L and by an extensive screening of platelet soluble factors, the investigators propose to set up profiles of inflammatory molecules associated with the type of infection. Finally, the investigators will analyze platelets' activation state and their association with circulating immune, according to the type of infection. Therefore, this project is expected to assess to which extent the platelet inflammatory function is super-activated in severe sepsis and to identify new platelet-related biomarkers of sepsis.
TransIent Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid Artery (TIPIC) Syndrome: Clinical and Radiological...
Cervical PainVasculitisTIPIC syndrome (previously called carotidynia) is a rare entity of unknown cause, where the patient has a temporary cervical pain associated with a suggestive inflammation around the carotid artery. Usually considered as a unique and benign episode, some patients have recurrences and the follow-up is usually short. In this study the investigators aim to evaluate patients who presented a TIPIC episode at least 3 months before, clinically and with a cervical doppler ultrasound
Radiomics to Identify Patients at Risk for Developing Pneumonitis, Differentiate Immune Checkpoint...
Stage IV Non-small Cell Lung CancerThe investigators will develop a radiomics signature for immune checkpoint-induced pneumonitis in 40 patients with a pulmonary event under anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 (cases) and 40 patients without a pulmonary event under anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 (controls). On the basis of the case-control study of patients treated with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1, they will further optimise the model using reinforcement machine learning. The model will then be validated in 300 prospective patients.
CMR Evaluation of Myocardial Inflammation Persistence After Acute Myocarditis: Prognostic Relevance...
Myocarditis AcuteMyocardial InflammationPatients with acute myocarditis (AM) usually experience spontaneous healing, but a considerable percentage of them evolve towards chronic long-term cardiac impairment. The evolution towards dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) occurs in a subtle manner, frequently after an initial recover that mimics complete healing. Differences in the course of the disease may reflect the course of underlying myocardial inflammation related to viral clearance or persistence and to the following autoimmune response. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) mapping parameters have been developed for the quantification of edema and necrosis, showing high diagnostic accuracy. No mapping parameter has been developed for the assessment of the third Lake Louise criteria, namely the hyperemia, and, furthermore, their prognostic role is not completely understood. The study hypothesis is that the early-enhanced T1 mapping parameter may have great diagnostic accuracy for myocarditis, and that a short-term monitoring with a complete CMR protocol at 2 month after symptoms onset may identify the subgroup of patients at high risk of progression towards DCM. The results of this study will help to significantly improve diagnostic performances of CMR and may help to manage patients with AM.
Markers of Inflammation and Metabolism in the ER
Acute InfectionSepsisAdult patients with suspected or confirmed infection and who will be sampled for blood culture will be recruited. Blood samples are collected for the analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their inhibitors. We also aim to analyse metabolic changes and use the samples for analysis of blood lactate, metabolomics, and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) as well. The primary aim of the study is to test the performance of MMP-8 in finding severely ill patients who will need treatment in high dependency unit or intensive care. The secondary aim is to study the metabolic changes in acutely ill patients with infection.
Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Paediatric Intraocular Inflammation in Singapore
Intraocular Inflammation in ChildrenData on demographics, etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, secondary complications, treatment and outcomes of intraocular inflammation in children aged 16 years and below that presented to uveitis clinic in Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) from January 1989 to January 2017, will be retrieved and analyzed from the uveitis database retrospectively. The results will be compared with other published studies on different study populations.