We confirmed previous studies showing a stable or slightly improved exocrine function over time. High focus scores and low UWS were identified as independent predictors of a worsened exocrine function.

Objective To investigate the effects of the intravesical instillation of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on nerve growth factor (NGF, which may mediate the pain associated with inflammation) protein and mRNA in the bladders of mice. Materials and methods E. coli LPS was instilled into the bladders of female mice; the whole-bladder NGF content was then determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the NGF mRNA content of the bladder determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Bladder NGF was also evaluated by immunohistochemistry in some of the mice. Results LPS stimulated a significant increase in bladder NGF 90 min after instillation, but bladder NGF content was significantly less than that in bladders of control mice 3 and 7 h after LPS instillation. Twenty-four hours after the intravesical infusion of saline or LPS, there was no difference in NGF content in bladders from saline or LPS-infused mice.Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of increased NGF in the mucosa of detrusor from bladders 90 min after LPS instillation. Bladder NGF mRNA increased more slowly in response to LPS, and 7 and 24 h after LPS instillation the relative abundance of NGF mRNA was 1.5 and 2.0 times greater in LPS-infused bladders, respectively. Conclusions E. coli LPS can stimulate increased NGF message and protein in the bladder. The increase in NGF protein preceded the increase in mRNA, suggesting that this increase was not the result of gene transcription. It is possible that NGF participates in the pathogenesis of pain associated with bacterial cystitis.

In a hospital population of 154 patients with a wide range of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, patients with sicca symptoms were subjected to objective ocular and oral tests to establish cases with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The plasma level of the leukocyte protein calprotectin has been shown to be a good indicator of disease activity and inflammation in various rheumatic diseases. In the present study, calprotectin levels in plasma and whole saliva were analysed and evaluated as potential markers of SS and salivary gland disease activity. Plasma calprotectin levels did not differ significantly between patients with SS and patients with no sicca symptoms. However, salivary calprotectin levels correlated significantly with the plasma calprotectin levels and with several ocular variables, weakly with salivary flow and serum rheumatoid factor, but not with focal sialadenitis. In conclusion, this study shows that salivary calprotectin levels seem to be associated with several variables of SS glandular pathology, indicating the need for further and more comprehensive studies on calprotectin in various oral fluids and in lacrimal fluid in relation to SS glandular disease activity.

The mixed haemagglutination technique was used to demonstrate IgG antibodies to peripheral nerve tissue in sera from patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome. The clinical effect and the effect on the antibodies of plasma exchange were examined in 18 patients. Neurological examination with muscle testing and neurophysiological examination of the patients were performed before and immediately after plasma exchange. Before the exchange antibodies were detected in sera from 11 of the patients. These patients showed clinical improvement during the treatment. After plasma exchange, antibodies were detected in sera from only two of the patients. The seven patients without detectable antibodies showed no clinical improvement.