Aharon Kessel

..We conclude that CU patients have higher levels of serum BAFF which associate with disease severity...

..HAE patients have enhanced production of autoantibodies due most probably to the increased activation of B cells, which was found to be in association with a high expression of TLR-9...

..Our preliminary results suggest tacrolimus as a treatment option for patients with severe CIU...

..In such patients CsA given for 1-3 months (3mg/kg/d) was reported to induce in 2/3 of patients a full remission, lasting 3-6 months, and in 1/4 of patients a long-lasting full remission...

..3 versus 6 +/- 2.9, p = 0.01). An increased prevalence of anti-CRP antibodies was manifested in HCV-infected patients. The presence of anti-CRP antibodies correlated with the presence RF, cryoglobulinemia, and severity of liver disease...

..Activated T cells are capable, through cell-cell contact, of inducing MMP-9 expression in human mast cells...

..It is relatively difficult in a community setting to perform salivary gland biopsy or reliable diagnostic tests for salivary gland involvement in a patient suspected to suffer from Sjögren's syndrome (SS)...

..We conclude that treatment with Gln was associated with down-regulation of TLR-4, MyD88 and TRAF6 expression and concomitant decrease in intestinal mucosal injury caused by LPS endotoxaemia in a rat...

..This rescue was strengthened when BAFF (100 microg/ml) was further added. Thus, alterations in Bcl-2 or serum BAFF level may explain the increased rate of cord blood B cell apoptosis...

..53, P = 0.029). The increased CD4:CD8 ratio in SSC may result from increased CD8+ T cell apoptosis. Increased SSc CD8 T cell apoptosis is associated with low levels of NF-kappa B...

..The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) on CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN-CpG) activated B cells from SLE patients...

..CONCLUSION: An infant that recovers from cow milk food-induced enterocolitis syndrome might develop afterward IgE-mediated cow milk allergy...

..The relative resistance of the CD5(pos) B-cell subpopulation to apoptosis may play a role in HCV-related autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation...

..The role and function of T regulatory (Treg) cells have not been fully investigated in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc)...

..The data also suggests the presence of TNFalpha-mediated autocrine signaling, serving to accelerate or catalyze the maturation process of MDDCs...

..Elevated IgE levels in patients with chronic urticaria have been noted previously, but the significance of these findings has not been appreciated...

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..The overexpression of CD81 and the expansion of the population of CD5(+) peripheral B cells in HCV-infected patients may possibly play a role in the development of HCV-associated autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation...

..The examined function of MDDCs from SSc patients and healthy volunteers did not differ under these conditions and was not dependent on the presence of ET-1...

..03). PBM of BD patients in the present study did not overproduce TNF-alpha upon stimulation with LPS. However, BD patients with a higher TNF-alpha-producing capacity had worse sense of well-being...

..Functional studies on DCs from patients with AS are needed to evaluate the integrity of their antigen-presenting function...

..This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of sema3A and NP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the specific effect of sema3A on the auto-reactive properties of B cells in SLE patients...

..In conclusion, human Breg cells decrease the proliferation of CD4(+) T cells and also enhance the expression of Foxp3 and CTLA-4 in Treg cells by cell-to-cell contact...

..To evaluate the immunologic and infectious consequences of delayed versus immediate cord clamping in premature infants (<35 weeks) during the neonatal period...

..We hereby demonstrate an additional mechanism by which IVIg could maintain self-tolerance and decrease immune-mediated inflammation...

..18). We conclude that the added Qn treatment to former established therapeutic protocols may eliminate aCL response in SLE patients. Whether this agent's effect is permanent needs further elucidation...

..Preliminary studies in animal models suggest that more work is needed to understand the conditions under which such a therapy may be effective...

..To present the data available supporting the existence of an arthropathy associated with hepatitis C infection...

..The overexpression of CD81 and the expansion of CD5+ peripheral B-cells in HCV-infected patients may possibly play a role in the development of HCV-associated autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation...

..Alterations in CD4(+)CD25(+) cell apoptosis and cell count were found to correlate with RA disease activity. Reversal of these deviations from normal was documented in association with the beneficial outcome of infliximab therapy...

..Elevated serum BAFF levels were associated with clinical and laboratory features of autoimmunity, suggesting that BAFF may play a role in HCV-related autoimmunity...

..To assess changes in macrophage phenotype and function after rituximab-induced B cell depletion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...

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..However, this needs to be confirmed in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies...

..In the present study we have investigated the role of bcl-2 and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) in dexamethasone-induced apoptosis of peripheral T cells in chronic HCV infection...

..To examine whether the complexity of atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms and the sensory modulation deficiencies (SMD) that accompany it may limit child's preference to participate in leisure activities...

..Nasal corticosteroids improve the pulmonary function tests of these children with impaired lung function...

..Many of these patients present with significant decreased caloric intake. It appears as if the appetite regulation center in the hypothalamus is not attuned to the calorie requirements of the infant...

..To investigate whether immunologic factors in breast milk change in response to nursing infants' infection...

..This suggests that the MMPs and TIMPs involved in SSc are different than those playing a role in RA, which may indicate that in SSc they are produced in different locations than in RA...

..In this review our aim is to summarize the data on the mechanisms responsible for HCV persistence and HCV-related autoimmunity. We will try to determine the importance of autoimmunity in the evaluation of chronic HCV infected patients...

..The available data on rituximab's action in autoimmune diseases is reviewed...

..The ability to predict CU duration may facilitate decisions regarding the possible early initiation of cyclosporine A as a means by which to reduce disease severity and duration...

..We also report on the clinical and immunological features of 16 novel patients with IL-7Ralpha deficiency and discuss the results of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation...

..Recently pilot studies have demonstrated the benefit of leflunomide in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Herein we describe the successful treatment of two lupus patients with leflunomide and review the current literature...