Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease, where vascular lesions are one of the typical symptoms. The pathological process often involves skin vessels, renal glomeruli, the cardiovascular system, brain, lung alveoli, and gastrointestinal tract vessels. This review presents possible adverse mechanisms underlying the cause and effect relationship of various factors causing vascular lesions in SLE patients. The generally accepted hypothesis links vascular damage in SLE with the deposition of immune complexes in the vascular endothelium. The anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA), antiphospholipid antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies present in SLE, that directly or indirectly affect endothelial cells, causing inflammatory damage to the vessel wall, and their role, have been discussed. It has been stressed that although the suggested role of AECA in vasculitis pathogenesis has not been fully established, evidence, however, has demonstrated that AECA is a factor causing endothelial damage in SLE patients. On the other hand, issues concerning cellular adhesion molecules which enable leukocyte adhesion and rolling along the endothelial cell surface, and their extravascular migration, focus on the role they may be playing in SLE patients with vasculitis. A potential role of soluble forms of adhesion molecules, pentraxin 3, medications, infections in the pathogenesis of this disease has also been shown. Special attention has been given to the role of type 3 hepatitis virus in vascular damage in SLE.
Objectives: Workers of X-ray departments are occupationally exposed to long-term low levels of ionizing radiation (LLIR), which may affect their humoral immunity. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of LLIR on the number and proportion of B cells (CD19+), B1 cells (CD5+CD19+) and memory B cells (CD27+CD19+) in peripheral blood of such workers. Materials and Methods: In the study group of 47 X-ray departments workers and the control group consisting of 38 persons, the number and percentage of CD19+, CD5+CD19+, CD27+CD19+ cells as well as CD5+CD19+/CD19+ and CD27+CD19+/CD19+ cell ratios were assessed using flow cytometry. Additionally, the study group was divided into 2 groups by the length of employment below and over 15 years and analysis adjusted for age and smoking habit was performed. Results: The total number of CD19+ cells showed significant increase in the group of workers in comparison with the persons from the control group, whereas the percentage of CD5+CD19+ cells as well as CD27+CD19+/CD19+ and CD5+CD19+/CD19+ cell ratios were lower. Percentage, number of CD5+CD19+ cells and CD5+CD19+/CD19+ cell ratio were significantly lower in the workers with length of employment longer than 15 years in comparison with those employed below 15 years. Moreover, we found positive associations between the number of CD19+ cells and employment as well as smoking habit, whereas the number of CD5+CD19+ cells was positively associated with cigarette smoking alone. Percentage of CD5+CD19+ cells as well as CD5+CD19+/CD19+ and CD27+CD19+/CD19+ cell ratios were negatively correlated with employment. Conclusions: The study suggests association between the suppressive influence of low level ionizing radiation on circulating in peripheral blood, especially of B1 cells as well as of memory B cells, in workers of X-ray units, which is adverse in relation to microbiological threat.
Many serious and fatal infections with urogenital mycoplasmas in immunocompromised patients have been reported. M. genitalium is recognized as a cause of male urethritis and other common genitourinary diseases. The aim of the study was to estimate prevalence of urogenital mycoplasmas which can cause complications in men with common genitourinary diseases. Study included 85 men with genitourinary tract carcinoma (n = 35), urolithiasis (n = 36), and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) (n = 14). The control group consisted of 50 healthy men. FVU (first void urine) samples were examined by PCR for the presence of urogenital mycoplasmas DNA. Occurrence of urogenital mycoplasmas was significantly more common in study group compared with control 24/85 (28.2%) and 7/50 (14%), respectively (p = 0.05). In men with urolithiasis, positive results for mycoplasmas DNA were significantly more frequent than in control: 33.3% vs. 14% (p < 0.05). In patients with urolithiasis DNA of U. urealyticum was most often found, while in the genitourinary carcinoma and BPH groups, U. parvum was more frequent. Incidence of M. fermentans was also significantly higher in the urolithiasis group vs. control (p = 0.03). A higher percentage of positive results for urogenital mycoplasma DNA in study group has been found. Further studies are required to confirm the role of urogenital mycoplasmas in the development of infectious complications among patients with urolithiasis, genitourinary carcinoma, and BPH.
The prevalence of urogenital mycoplasmas in men with NGU in Upper Silesia (Poland) was studied. Mycoplasmas were detected in 36.7% men (Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma genitalium were found in 30% and 16.7% respectively). Urealyticum urealyticum was not detected. We suggest including M. genitalium in the diagnostic scheme for nongonococcal urethritis (NGU).
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