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Our objective was the assessment of serum lipoprotein(a) {Lp(a)} and nitrites in Behcet's disease (BD) patients and their relation to vascular events and disease activity. Thirty cases of BD and 14 healthy volunteers were included. Serum levels of Lp(a) were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum nitrites were measured according to the method of Benjamin and Vallence. Compared to controls, BD patients had significantly lower concentrations of serum nitrites, and significantly higher concentrations of Serum Lp(a). Significantly higher levels of serum Lp(a) were observed in patients with vascular complications, while significantly lower levels of serum nitrites were found during disease activity and in patients with erythema nodosum like lesions. Increased serum lipoprotein (a) may contribute to the increased incidence of vascular complications in Behcet's disease. Decreased nitrites can be considered as a marker of disease activity that may be related to endothelial dysfunction.

The present study was conducted to investigate if the mechanism of human heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mediated angiogenesis was through the induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Also, the effect of HO-1 on the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta),was studied in the presence and absence of HO-1 inducers. Rat lung microvessel endothelial cell line transduced with human HO-1 gene was subjected to cell culture (six separate experiments). mRNA extraction and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments, were performed to evaluate the expression of HO-1, VEGF, and TGF-beta in the presence and absence of HO inducers including H(2)O(2), endotoxin and snake venom metalloproteinase with disintegrin like activity(SnMP). ELISA technique was performed to evaluate the levels of the studied growth factors. The results of the study showed over expression of VEGF in endothelial cells transduced with HO-1 compared to control non-transduced endothelial cells. On the other hand, the expression of TGF-beta and its protein level were markedly inhibited in HO-1 transduced endothelial cells compared to control non-transduced cells. Endotoxin and SnMP showed more prominent effect on the expression of VEGF and suppression of TGF-beta in HO-1 transduced endothelial cells, suggesting that their effect is most probably mediated through induction of HO-1.

Although herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been detected in the peripheral blood of immunocompromised patients and in neonates with disseminated disease, the extent to which the virus may be present in the blood during a localized infection in otherwise healthy patients is still unknown. Literature on patterns of HSV shedding into the oral cavity at the prodromal stage of the disease, during recurrences, and also during asymptomatic periods is still lacking. The present study aims at the detection of HSV DNA in the serum and oral secretions during acute herpes labialis using a highly sensitive technique, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The study included 10 patients with acute herpes labialis and five healthy controls. Using PCR, herpes simplex virus DNA was detected in the serum of seven patients (70%) and in the saliva of nine patients (90%). One of the control cases showed positive HSV DNA in the saliva (20%). There was good statistical agreement between the presence of HSV DNA in the serum and saliva. Frequency of attacks, patient's age, and gender had no statistically significant effect on the presence of the virus in serum or in saliva. It is concluded that HSV viremia during attacks of recurrent herpes simplex is more frequent than previously appreciated.