Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels reflect mononuclear cell activation and are elevated in a variety of autoimmune, neoplastic and infectious conditions. Several investigators have studied sIL-2R levels in patients with Type I diabetes mellitus (IDDM), but results have been conflicting. Our primary objective in this study was to compare sIL-2R levels of children and adolescents with...

This study evaluated the influence of silane heat treatment and glass fiber fabrication type, industrially treated (I) or pure (P), on flexural and compressive strength of methacrylate resin bars (BISGMA/TEGDMA, 50/50%). Six groups (n = 10) were created: I-sil: I/silanated; P-sil: P-silanated; I-sil/heat: I/silanated heated to 100°; P-sil/heat: P/silanated heated to 100°; (I: I/not silanated; a...

Super hemispherical solid immersion lens system becomes a matter of interest due to its high numerical aperture (NA) gain. However, because of the instability of the aplanatic condition, even small amount of alignment error can easily lower the optical performance. To overcome the instability while maintaining high NA gain, we suggest an optimum solid immersion lens (opti-SIL) system which comb...

Soluble cytokine receptors are normal constituents of body fluids that regulate peripheral cytokine and lymphoid activity. Levels of soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) are elevated in psychiatric disorders linked with autoimmune processes, including ones in which repetitive stereotypic behaviors and motor disturbances are present. However, there is no evidence that sIL-2Rs (or any peripheral solub...

BACKGROUND Dysregulated production of cytokines has a critical role in systemic lupus. The aim of this work is to identify, by a comprehensive analysis of IL-1 family cytokines and receptors in serum, correlation between cytokines/receptors' levels and the clinical and serological features of the disease. METHODS A full clinical evaluation was performed in 74 patients with systemic lupus eryt...

BACKGROUND The soluble form of the interleukin 7 receptor (sIL-7R) is produced by fibroblasts after stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines. Increased sIL-7R serum and synovial fluid levels were recently demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether sIL-7R production is dysregulated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and whether this correlates w...

Concentrations of interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) have been suggested as a marker of rejection episodes after organ transplantation. To evaluate the analytical performance of a "sandwich-type" enzyme immunoassay method for sIL-2R and to verify whether increased concentrations of sIL-2R might be a useful marker of allograft rejection, we quantified sIL-2R in serum samples from heart- or kidney-t...

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer deaths in Tanzanian women. Prevention of cervical cancer relies on the detection and treatment of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL), a premalignant disease stage. Worldwide there are overwhelming reports associating SIL and HIV infection, however in Tanzania such reports are limited. A cross-...