Painful intervertebral disc disease is characterised not only by an imbalance between anabolic (i.e., matrix synthesis) and catabolic (i.e., matrix degradation) processes, but also by infl ammatory mechanisms. The increased expression and synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases and infl ammatory factors is mediated by specifi c signal transduction, in particular the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-B)...

Main Findings: Hyperphosphatemia constitutes a major stimulus for FGF-23 secretion, together with infl ammation and reduced iron availability, either by iron defi ciency or by iron sequestration in infl ammatory diseases. FGF-23 can be expressed by the damaged liver. Alcoholism is a proinfl ammatory condition, and in alcoholics there is an increased cardiovascular risk. Preliminary data suggest...

issue of Arthritis Research & Th erapy [1]. Using proteomic analysis, the authors were able to show that plasma proteins present in osteoarthritic synovial fl uid are able to induce infl am-matory cytokine production via inter action with Toll-like receptor 4, thus contributing to the low-grade infl am ma-tion associated with osteoarthritis. We would like to add some observations concerning our...

Background: Scientifi c understanding of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has increased exponentially during recent decades, suggesting a link between OSA and cardiovascular disease. Few randomized controlled trials exist within the fi eld. Aim: To study the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular disease deterioration. Methods and Results:...

Vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid vasculitis) has a heterogeneous clinical presentation that includes skin disorders, neuropathy, eye symptoms and systemic infl ammation. The molecular mechanisms underlying rheumatoid vasculitis are not fully understood; however, the importance of a chronic imbalance of the cytokines and chemokines involved in orchestrating infl ammatory responses ...

Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob., Asteraceae, known as yacon, is an herb that is traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes in folk medicine. However, recent studies have demonstrated that this plant has other interesting properties such as anti-microbial and anti-infl ammatory actions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the topical anti-infl ammatory property of dif...

Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob., Asteraceae, known as yacon, is an herb that is traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes in folk medicine. However, recent studies have demonstrated that this plant has other interesting properties such as anti-microbial and anti-infl ammatory actions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the topical anti-infl ammatory property of dif...

From late stages in fetal development onward, tissue repair is always accompanied by a robust recruitment of infl ammatory cells to the wound site. Although this infl ammatory response is clearly necessary for defense against invading microbes, recent studies in several organisms have shown that it is not essential for the tissue repair process, per se, and may even be causal of a fi brotic res...