The endothelium is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). So far knowledge of the precise role of soluble adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors at different periods of activity in IBD is scarce or contradictory. Our goal in this study was to determine the serum levels of adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors in IBD patients at different periods of disease activity--clinical remission, biochemical evidence of inflammation, and clinical evidence of activity. We used a cross-sectional study design consisting of 218 patients (145 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 73 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 115 randomly assymptomatic blood donors. To assess disease activity, Harvey and Bradshaw's and Truelove-Witts' indexes were used. Circulating plasma sE-selectin (sE-S), sP-selectin (sP-S), human soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and human soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and serum levels of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), and placenta growth factor (P/GF) were measured with ELISAs. The amount of mRNA VEGF in blood mononuclear cells was also evaluated. In inactive CD patients, serum levels of sP-S, sE-S, sVCAM, and sICAM were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in controls. In active CD patients, only the sE-S values were higher than in controls. In UC patients, sP-S and sVCAM levels were significantly lower than those in controls. Considering growth factors, CD patients in remission had levels of ANG and VEGF lower than those found in controls. The VEGF RNAm in blood mononuclear cells was similar among all CD activity groups. In conclusion, in UC patients the serum levels of VEGF, ANG, and P/GF were similar to those in controls. The serum levels of adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors were low in IBD patients in periods of remission. Low levels of angiogenic factors in inactive CD patients suggest dysfunction of the angiogenic process and wound repair.

Dopamine and its receptors may be involved in inflammatory reaction. The availability of this molecule depends on its receptors. The DRD2 gene, which codifies for the D2 dopamine receptor, has several polymorphisms. In this study, the DRD2 TaqIA polymorphism, which confers a decreased receptor density, was evaluated in 313 individuals including 220 inflammatory bowel disease patients (143 patients with Crohn's disease and 77 with ulcerative colitis) and in 93 healthy blood donors. The analysis was carried out by PCR-RFLP techniques. The frequencies of A (1) A (1) and A (2) A (2) genotypes were similar among Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis patients, and health controls. Also, the genotype frequency was similar in different groups of disease localization, behavior, and age of disease onset. However, the Crohn's disease patients carriers of A (2) A (2) genotype showed a lower risk for development refractory Crohn's disease (37 out 65) than A (1) A (1) and A (1) A (2) carriers (28 out of 65) [(OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.21-0.87; p=0.02)]. Our results support an involvement of the dopamine receptor in inflammatory bowel disease and suggest a new potential target for therapy in refractory Crohn's disease patients.

Dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) is a zoonosis, considered an endemic disease of dogs and cats in several countries of Western Europe, including Portugal. This study assesses the levels of D. immitis exposure in humans from Northern Portugal, to which end, 668 inhabitants of several districts belonging to two different climate areas (Csa: Bragança, Vila Real and Csb: Aveiro, Braga, Porto, Viseu) were tested for anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia surface proteins (WSP) antibodies. The overall prevalence of seropositivity to both anti-D. immitis and WSP antibodies was 6.1%, which demonstrated the risk of infection with D. immitis in humans living in Northern Portugal. This study, carried out in a Western European country, contributes to the characterisation of the risk of infection with D. immitis among human population in this region of the continent. From a One Health point of view, the results of the current work also support the close relationship between dogs and people as a risk factor for human infection

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In this study, the risk of recurrent deep venous thrombosis in young people was not related with the presence of FV G1691A, FII G20210A, MTHFR C677T or PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphisms.

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The weak D phenotype is the most common D variant, with a frequency of 0.2-1% in Caucasian individuals. There are several weak D types, with different frequencies in European countries, which may pose serologic problems and have the potential for alloimmunization. Samples from Portuguese individuals were tested for RhD by two or three distinct monoclonal and oligoclonal antisera, in direct agglutination tests. When discrepant results were observed, samples were tested with panels of monoclonal anti-D by LISS-indirect antiglobulin test. Cases that reacted weakly with IgM but positive with IgG anti-D were analysed by PCR-sequence-specific primers and real-time PCR. Ninety-nine samples were referred after being characterized as weak D. This genotype was recognized, with a preponderance of weak D type 2 (63.6%) over type 1 (16.2%) and 3 (14.1%). The high incidence of weak D type 2 in our population is in marked contrast to studies performed in other European populations and might be due to our sample selection criteria or ethnic variation. There are advantages in genotyping serologically depressed D samples to avoid the waste of D-negative RBC units and the use of immunoglobulin in pregnant women, who have no risk of alloimmunization.

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