Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This document gives an overview of the proposed MSc study. The main goal of the study is to model the cases listed in the code benchmark study of the International Atomic Energy Agency CRP–6 fuel performance study (Verfondern & Lee, 2005). The platform that will be employed is the GETTER code (Keshaw & van der Merwe, 2006). GETTER was used at PBMR for the release calculations of metallic and some non–metallic long–lived fission products. GETTER calculates the transport of fission products from their point of fission to release from the fuel surface taking into account gas precursors and activation products. Results show that for certain experiments the codes correspond very well with the experimental data whilst in others there are orders of magnitude differences. It can be seen that very similar behaviour is observed in all codes. Improvements are needed in updating the strontium diffusion coefficient and in understanding, on a deeper level, the transport of silver in TRISO particles and how it deviates from simple diffusion models. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Lėtinė obstrukcinė plaučių liga (LOPL) – šiuo metu pasaulyje viena svarbiausių didelį sergamumą ir mirtingumą sąlygojančių ligų. Pacientams, kuriems pasunkėja kasdieniai LOPL simptomai pasireiškia LOPL paūmėjimas. Šio tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti nespecifinį uždegimą paūmėjus lėtinei obstruk¬cinei plaučių ligai. Nustatyti periferinio kraujo ir indukuotų skreplių ląstelių sudėties skirtumai ir įvertintos sąsajos su plaučių funkcijos rodikliais bakterinio ir nebakterinio lėtinės obstrukcinės plaučių ligos paūmėji¬mo metu. Tirtos sergančiųjų bakterinės kilmės lėtinės obstrukcinės plaučių li¬gos paūmėjimo indukuotų skreplių neutrofilų ir makrofagų funkcijos (apoptozė, fagocitozė ir reaktyvių deguonies formų susidarymas) bei palygintos su nebakteriniu paūmėjimu. Įvertinti sergančiųjų bakterinės ir nebakterinės kilmės lėtinės obs¬trukcinės plaučių ligos paūmėjimo periferinio kraujo neutrofilų ir monocitų apoptozė ir chemotaksis, bei periferinio kraujo neutrofilų fagocitozė ir reaktyvių deguonies formų susidarymas. Ištirta sergančiųjų bakterinės ir nebakterinės kilmės lėtinės obstruk¬cinės plaučių ligos paūmėjimu interleukino-8 koncentracija ir sąsajos su periferinio kraujo neutrofilų chemotaksiu bei C reaktyviojo baltymo koncentracijos periferinio kraujo serume sąsajos su plaučių funkcija ir rūkymo intensyvumu. / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. An acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is an acute event characterized by a worsening of the patient’s respiratory symptoms that is beyond normal day-to-day variations and leads to a change in medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-specific inflammation during acute exacerbation of COPD to investigate change of cellular activity (apoptosis, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species) during AECOPD depending on infection agent. Subjects with AECOPD and the same in remission were investigated. Increased count of induced sputum neutrophils and macrophages as well peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes during bacterial and non-bacterial AECOPD was related with impaired pulmonary function and smoking history. Induced sputum neutrophils and macrophage apoptosis and phagocytosis were weaker, but production of reactive oxygen species was strongly activated during bacterial acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than non-bacterial AECOPD. This study showed differences of peripheral blood neutrophil and monocyte apoptosis, chemotaxis, as well as peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis and the production of reactive oxygen species... [to full text]

An intact complement system including the complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/2) is crucial for the generation of a normal antibody response in animals and humans. Moreover, activation of the classical pathway is thought to be important since deficiency in complement components C1q, C2, C4 or C3 lead to impaired antibody responses. The classical pathway is mainly initiated by antibodies bound to their antigen. It is unclear how classical pathway activation can be crucial for primary antibody responses since the levels of specific antibodies are very low in naïve animals. It has been hypothesized that natural IgM, with high enough affinity, can initiate the classical pathway after immunization. To test this, we generated the knock-in mouse strain Cμ13, producing IgM unable to activate complement. Surprisingly, the antibody response against SRBC and KLH in Cµ13 mice was normal. Thus, the importance of classical pathway activation and natural IgM in antibody responses is not dependent on the ability of IgM to activate complement. SIGN-R1, SAP and CRP are other known activators of the classical pathway, but mice lacking these also had normal antibody responses. Complement activation leads to the generation of C3 split products which are ligands for CR1/2. In mice, CR1/2 are expressed on B cells and follicular dendritic cells (FDC), but it is unclear on which cell-type expression of CR1/2 is needed for the generation of a normal antibody response. Some reports argue that increased antigen retention by CR1/2+ FDC would increase the effective antigen concentration, giving more effective B-cell stimulation. In contrast, several mechanisms involving CR1/2 on B cells are suggested. First, marginal zone B cells could transport complement-coated antigen or IC via CR1/2 into the follicle. Second, different ways of co-crosslinking the B-cell receptor with CR1/2, lowering the threshold for B-cell activation, have been proposed. Finally, CR1/2 on B cells are shown in vitro to facilitate endocytosis and thereby presentation of antigen to T cells. We show that abrogated antibody responses in mice lacking CR1/2 are not due to lack of CR1/2-mediated antigen presentation to T cells. Chimeric mice with CR1/2 expression on both B cells and FDC, on neither B cells nor FDC, or on either B cells or FDC, were generated. The antibody response against SRBC was completely dependent of CR1/2-expression on FDC. However, when this requirement was fulfilled, B cells without expression of CR1/2 were equally efficient antibody producers as wildtype B cells. Antigen-specific IgM together with its antigen can enhance the antibody response to that antigen and CR1/2-expression is crucial for the enhancement. We show that the response to IgM in complex with SRBC is dependent on CR1/2 expression on both B cells and FDC.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-02-06T10:56:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 paulogiovannidealbuquerquesuassuna.pdf: 2986435 bytes, checksum: 601a570e293e2ce7dbca44808cdfce4a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-02-06T16:04:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 paulogiovannidealbuquerquesuassuna.pdf: 2986435 bytes, checksum: 601a570e293e2ce7dbca44808cdfce4a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-06T16:04:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 paulogiovannidealbuquerquesuassuna.pdf: 2986435 bytes, checksum: 601a570e293e2ce7dbca44808cdfce4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-30 / INTRODUÇÃO: Os fatores de risco cardiovasculares tradicionais e os relacionados à Doença Renal Crônica contribuem para a alta taxa de mortalidade cardiovascular na população em diálise. A coexistência nesta população de desnutrição, inflamação, aterosclerose, anemia e calcificação vascular têm enorme impacto na sobrevida dos pacientes. Como na população geral, as estatinas reduzem a mortalidade geral e cardiovascular na população em diálise através da redução lipídica e seus efeitos pleiotrópicos, destacadamente a capacidade de reduzir a resposta inflamatória crônica destes pacientes, evidenciada pela redução dos níveis de Proteína CReativa ultra-sensível (PCR-us). O grupo de pacientes em hemodiálise com baixo LDL-colesterol (LDL-c), níveis elevados de PCR-us e anemia apresentam alto risco cardiovascular e ainda não existem evidências definitivas de benefício com uso de estatinas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia de uma baixa dose de sinvastatina que visa apenas efeitos pleiotrópicos em comparação com uma dose padrão na redução da resposta inflamatória evidenciada pelos níveis de PCR-us, parâmetros hematimétricos, resistência à eritropoetina (IR-EPO), índice de massa corpóreo (IMC) e escore de inflamação-desnutrição (MIS). MÉTODO: Quarenta e dois pacientes estáveis em hemodiálise há mais de seis meses, maiores de 18 anos e sem evidência de processos inflamatórios foram divididos segundo os níveis de LDL-c. Os pacientes com LDL-c<100mg/dl receberam apenas 20mg de sinvastatina após hemodiálise (HD) (grupo-1), enquanto os pacientes com LDL-c>100mg/dl (grupo-2) receberam 20mg/dia durante oito semanas. Antes e após o tratamento foram medidos os níveis de PCR-us, hemoglobina (Hb), hematócrito (Hct) e calculado o IR-EPO, IMC e MIS. Os dados foram analisados com o programa estatístico SPSS. Foi considerado significante p<0.05. RESULTADOS: Houve redução significativa dos níveis de LDL-c e PCR-us em ambos os grupos, sendo a redução do LDL-c significantemente maior no grupo-2 (16,26±17,51% vs 37,73±11,73%, p<0,0001) enquanto a redução da PCR-us foi equivalente em ambos os grupos (35,97±49,23% vs 38,32±32,69%, p=0,86). Houve também queda da IR-EPO e melhora dos parâmetros hematimétricos. Não houve mudança no IMC ou MIS. CONCLUSÃO: A baixa dose de sinvastatina mostrou-se tão eficaz quando a dose usual em reduzir os níveis de PCR-us, a IR-EPO e melhorar os parâmetros hematimétricos, apontando para uma importante redução do risco cardiovascular nestes pacientes. / BACKGROUND: The traditional cardiovascular risk factors and the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) related risk factors contribute to the extremely high rate of cardiovascular mortality seems in dialysis population. The coexistence of malnutrition, inflammation, accelerated atherosclerosis, vascular calcification and anemia has an enormous impact in the life span of these patients. As in the general population, statins reduce cardiovascular mortality in dialysis population through lipid lowering and its pleiotropic effects, mainly by the chronic inflammatory process reduction capacity, shown up by the high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels (CRP-hs) reduction. The group of dialysis patients with low LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c), elevated CRP-hs levels and anemia present the highest cardiovascular risk and there are no definite evidences of benefit with statins use. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a low dose of simvastatin that aims only pleiotropic effects in comparison with a standard dose in CRP-hs levels reduction, hematimetric parameters, erythropoietin resistance (EPO-RI), body mass index (BMI) and inflammation score (MIS). METHODS: Forty-two stable dialysis patients with more than six months on maintenance dialysis program, with more than 18 years old and without inflammation evidence were divided based on LDL-c basal levels. The patients with LDL-c <100mg/dl received only 20mg of simvastatin after hemodialysis session (HD) (group-1), while the patients with LDL-c >100mg/dl (group-2) received 20mg/day during eight weeks follow-up phase. Before and after the statin use, the CRP-hs levels and hematimetric parameters was measured and calculated the EPO-RI, BMI and MIS. The data were analyzed with the SPSS statistic program, through. Was considered significant p<0.05. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction of LDL-c and CRP-hs levels in both groups, but the LDL-c levels reduction was significantly bigger in group-2 (16,26±17,51% vs 37,73±11,73%, p<0,0001) while the PCR-hs levels reduction was equivalent in both groups (35,97±49,23% vs 38,32±32,69%, p=0,86). Lowering of EPO-RI and improvement of hematimetric parameters were also observed. There were no changes in BMI or MIS. CONCLUSION: The pleiotropic dose showed itself as efficient as the usual dose in CRP-hs levels, EPO-RI reduction and improvement of hematimetric parameters, showing an important cardiovascular risk reduction in these patients.

Introduktion: Inflammation är en bidragande orsak till flera av dagens folksjukdomar t ex diabetes, ateroskleros, neurodegenerativa sjukdomar och vissa former av cancer. Inflammation karaktäriseras av en 2-4 gånger förhöjd nivå av anti- och proinflammatoriska cytokiner (framför allt IL-6 och TNF-a) samt ökad halt C-reaktivt protein. Idag behandlas inflammation i första hand med NSAID-preparat. Då träning frisätter antiinflammatoriska cytokiner är syftet med detta arbete att undersöka om det finns vetenskapliga bevis för att träning skulle kunna vara en behandlingsmetod vid låggradig systemisk inflammation. Metod: Studien har genomförts genom att studera och utvärdera vetenskapliga artiklar inom området, framför allt översiktsartiklar och kliniska studier, vilka har erhållits genom sökning i vetenskapliga databaser. Resultat: Resultaten från studierna som mäter den antiinflammatoriska effekten av träning pekar på att träning minskar halten av TNF-a och CRP samt ökar halten av IL-6. NSAID verkar sänka nivån TNF-a, IL-6 och CRP. Vid inflammatoriska tillstånd ses en förhöjd halt IL-6, som produceras från T-celler och makrofager och som effekt av ökande halt TNF-a. I samband med träning ses en ökning av IL-6 från den kontraherande muskeln. IL-6 från muskler verkar ge såväl en metabolisk som en antiinflammatorisk effekt genom att påverka lipidmetabolismen respektive minska utsöndringen av TNF-a. Slutsats: Träning höjer halten IL-6, vilket även leder till en hämning av TNF-a. Den här studien kan dock inte avgöra om NSAID eller träning har bäst effekt för att minska systemisk låggradig inflammation.

Abstract Most women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit features of metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance and low-grade chronic inflammation, reflected in elevated levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), placing these women at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (type 2 DM). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two well-known insulin-lowering drugs used in the treatment of type 2 DM, metformin and rosiglitazone, on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation in women with PCOS. In addition, the impact of rosiglitazone was evaluated as regards clinical, endocrine and metabolic aspects of PCOS. Six-months of metformin treatment in women with PCOS had beneficial effects on levels of CRP, lipid profile and blood pressure, expressed as increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and decreased levels of triglycerides (TGs), decreased ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-C, decreased levels of CRP, and decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Four-month treatment with rosiglitazone in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in overweight women with PCOS resulted in significant improvements in menstrual cyclicity, hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia. In addition, rosiglitazone decreased levels of markers of low-grade inflammation, CRP and white blood cell (WBC) count, and the liver function marker alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), while having neutral effects on levels of lipids, and blood pressure. In conclusion, metformin treatment, in accordance with the known beneficial metabolic effects of this drug, could be useful in the prevention of cardiovascular complications in women with PCOS. Rosiglitazone represents an alternative treatment for overweight anovulatory women with PCOS. It could be useful in the prevention of type 2 DM in overweight women with PCOS and for those suffering from possible side-effects related to metformin treatment. In addition, alleviation of inflammation and improvement of liver function during rosiglitazone treatment may indicate decreased future risks of cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

No description available.

Introduction: Gout is a painful form of acute inflammatory arthritis associated with elevated uric acid crystal deposition especially in the joints, but also in tendons and the kidney. Between 1 and 2% of Western populations are affected and in severe cases, gout sufferers can be completely incapacitated. Despite the number of gout sufferers, the high number of risk factors and high incidence of adverse drug reactions using the standard treatment regimens, little research involving gout has been done within the highly diverse multiracial and multicultural population of South Africa. Hypothesis: This study was a hypothesis generating observational study to assess whether serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute phase protein levels could be used as markers of the gout status of a patient. Method: Thirty gout patients were enrolled onto the study and attended two visits. At the screening visit; medical history, vital signs and demographic details were collected from intercritical gout patients. At both visits, patients completed visual analogue scales; namely: subject’s assessment of pain and subject’s assessment of disease activity. A doctor completed the physician’s assessment of disease activity at both of the visits. At the end visit, patients experiencing an acute gout attack were asked to list various foods and beverages that triggered said attacks. Patients were requested to return for their second visit as soon as they experienced a gout attack, however, those patients that did not experience a gout attack were asked to return to the clinic to complete the follow up visit four months after their baseline visit. Uric acid, IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP were measured for each patient at both visits. Results: Many of the patients displayed risk factors for metabolic syndrome. The mean subject’s assessment of pain score increased from 31mm at the screening visit to 40mm at the end visit (p=0.1947; n=26), while the mean subject’s assessment of disease activity score and the mean physician’s assessment of disease activity increased from 30mm to 37mm (p=0.3196; n=26) and 23mm to 35 mm (p=0.0937; n=26) respectively. Uric acid levels decreased from 1.053mmol/L to 0.871mmol/L between visits (p=0.0926; n=25) while CRP concentrations increased significantly from 10.2mg/L to 26.6mg/L (p=0.0278, n=24). IL-1β concentrations remained similar (12.17pg/ml to 12.54pg/ml) while TNF-α concentrations decreased from 12.63pg/ml to 3.54pg/ml, however neither of these were statistically significant differences. Upon stratifying results into active and non-active patients, both IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations decreased between non-active and active patients, while CRP and urate concentrations increased. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: The visual analogue scales all showed an increase between the screening and final visits, although this was not statistically significant. Uric acid concentrations decreased between visits, however this increase was once again not statistically significant. There appears to be no association between inflammatory markers and the level of gout activity, although this needs to be tested in a larger sample population. Results in South African patients have confirmed results from previous studies where gout patients are at a higher risk of metabolic syndrome than the normal population. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Pharmacology / unrestricted

Wundheilungsstörungen können zu einer ernsthaften Beeinträchtigung der Gesundheit des Patien-ten führen. Neben einem effektiven prophylaktischen und therapeutischen Wundmanagement ist auch die Erfassung von Störungen der Wundheilung von großer Bedeutung für den weiteren Ver-lauf. Aufgrund der Schwierigkeit, derartige Störungen frühzeitig anhand lokaler klinischer Sym-ptome zu diagnostizieren sowie aufgrund der Subjektivität dieser Beurteilung, hat sich in der Humanmedizin der Parameter Serum-CRP-Konzentration etabliert. Anhand der Untersuchung von Seren 39 klinisch gesunder Hunde mittels ELISA wurde für die canine CRP-Konzentration ein Vergleichswert von x (Median) = 13,5 µg/ml (25 % Quartil = 9,9 µg/ml; 75 % Quartil = 20,5 µg/ml) ermittelt. 175 Hunde, die einem chirurgischen Eingriff unterzogen wurden, konnten erfasst werden. Der Ein-fluss der zwischen einem Trauma und der präoperativen Probenentnahme verstrichenen Zeit (t) auf die CRP-Konzentration im Blutserum wurde bei 109 Patienten untersucht, die ein präoperatives Trauma erlitten. Gruppe II (t ≥ 6 Stunden < 48 Stunden; n = 52; x = 183,0 µg/ml) und Gruppe III (t ≥ 48 Stunden < 2 Wochen; n = 28; x = 72,7 µg/ml) zeigten im Vergleich zu klinisch gesunden Hunden (Vergleichswert x = 13,5 µg/ml) signifikant höhere CRP-Konzentrationen. In Gruppe I (t < 6 Stunden; n = 10; x = 12,1 µg/ml) und IV (t ≥ 2 Wochen; n = 19; x = 19,3 µg/ml) waren keine derartigen Unterschiede nachweisbar. Trotz erheblicher Traumatisierung erfolgte also bis 6 Stunden nach dem Trauma noch kein CRP-Konzentrationsanstieg. Der Einfluss der Schwere der Traumatisierung auf die präoperative Serum-CRP-Konzentration wurde bei 38 Patienten ermittelt. Patienten mit isolierter Weichteilschädigung dritten Grades (x = 160,6 µg/ml; n = 4), geschlos-sener Fraktur ersten (x = 104,0 µg/ml; n = 8), zweiten (x = 170,8 µg/ml; n = 14) und dritten Grades (x = 256,4 µg/ml; n = 7) sowie offener Fraktur dritten Grades (x = 378,8 µg/ml; n = 5) wiesen signifikant über dem CRP-Vergleichswert (x = 13,5 µg/ml) liegende Konzentrationen auf. Signifikante Unterschiede der CRP-Konzentration bestanden zwischen Hunden mit geschlossenen Frakturen ersten Grades (x = 104,0 µg/ml) und solchen dritten Grades (x = 256,4 µg/ml) sowie zwischen geschlossenen Frakturen ersten Grades (x = 104,0 µg/ml) und drittgradig offenen Frakturen (x = 378,8 µg/ml). Die präoperative CRP-Konzentration spiegelte folglich die Schwere des Traumas wieder. Der Verlauf von Serum-CRP-Konzentration, Leukozytenzahl im Blut und Körpertemperatur in Bezug zur klinischen Symptomatik im Wundbereich konnte bei 99 Patienten untersucht werden. Diese wurden in die Gruppen komplikationslose Wundheilung, Wundinfektion, Nahtdehiszenz, Serom, Hämatom, passagerer Reizzustand eingeteilt. Mit wenigen Ausnahmen in den Gruppen Hämatom und Serom wiesen die CRP-Konzentrationen zu allen Entnahmezeitpunkten signifikante Konzentrationserhöhungen gegenüber dem CRP-Vergleichswert (x = 13,5 µg/ml) auf. Bei Hunden mit komplikationsloser Wundheilung (Kontrollgruppe; n = 57) war ein stetiger Rückgang der initi-alen postoperativen Entzündungsreaktion festzustellen. Die CRP-Konzentration zeichnete sich durch einen signifikanten Konzentrationsanstieg zum ersten postoperativen Tag (präoperativ: x = 57,2 µg/ml, erster postoperativer Tag: x = 170,8 µg/ml) und durch einen signifikanten Abfall an den darauffolgenden postoperativen Tagen (zweiter Tag: x = 104,9 µg/ml, dritter Tag: x = 67,4 µg/ml, vierter Tag: x = 44,9 µg/ml, fünfter Tag: x = 40,5 µg/ml, sechster Tag: x = 30,1 µg/ml) aus. Die CRP-Konzentration bei Hunden mit komplikationsloser Wundheilung verlief somit parallel zu den reaktiven Vorgängen im Wundbereich. Elf Hunde entwickelten eine Wundinfektion. Die CRP-Konzentrationen an den postoperativen Tagen zwei (x = 196,8 µg/ml), drei (x = 125,0 µg/ml), vier (x =120,5 µg/ml), fünf (x = 157,5 µg/ml) und sechs (x = 114,9 µg/ml) waren signifikant gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe (zweiter Tag: x = 104,9 µg/ml, dritter Tag: x = 67,4 µg/ml, vierter Tag: x = 44,9 µg/ml, fünfter Tag: x = 40,5 µg/ml, sechster Tag: x = 30,1 µg/ml) erhöht. Die weitgehend unverändert hohen oder wieder ansteigenden CRP-Konzentrationen bei Patienten mit Wund-infektion verliefen parallel zu einer intensiven Entzündungssymptomatik, die noch am sechsten Tag postoperativ deutlich ausgeprägt war und in der Regel mit purulenter Exsudation einherging. Hunde mit Nahtdehiszenz (n = 5) zeigten an den postoperativen Tagen vier (x = 52,2 µg/ml), fünf (x = 77,5 µg/ml) und sechs (x = 63,4 µg/ml) signifikante Erhöhungen der CRP-Konzentration gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe (vierter Tag: x = 44,9 µg/ml, fünfter Tag: x = 40,5 µg/ml, sechster Tag: x = 30,1 µg/ml). Auch bei Hunden mit Nahtdehiszenz bestand eine ausgesprochene Paralle-lität zwischen dem Ausmaß der lokalen Entzündungsreaktionen und der Höhe der CRP-Konzen-tration. Bei Hunden mit Serom (n = 6) bestanden zu den jeweiligen Entnahmezeitpunkten keine signifikanten Unterschiede der CRP-Konzentration zur Kontrollgruppe (x = 40,5 µg/ml), bei Patienten mit Hämatom (n = 7) lediglich am fünften postoperativen Tag (x = 51,8 µg/ml). Die Wundheilungssituation bei Patienten mit passagerem Reizzustand (n = 12) war durch das Fehlen einer deutlichen Abnahme der initialen Entzündungsreaktion charakterisiert, jedoch ohne Vor-liegen offensichtlicher Anzeichen für das Vorhandensein einer Wundinfektion. Gegenüber der Kontrollgruppe (dritter Tag: x = 67,4 µg/ml, vierter Tag: x = 44,9 µg/ml, fünfter Tag: x = 40,5 µg/ml, sechster Tag: x = 30,1 µg/ml) waren die bei Patienten mit passagerem Reizzustand an den postoperativen Tagen drei (x = 115,6 µg/ml), vier (x = 91,6 µg/ml), fünf (x = 97,5 µg/ml) und sechs (x = 74,3 µg/ml) ermittelten CRP-Konzentrationen signifikant erhöht. Der CRP-Verlauf war somit dem Verlauf der CRP-Konzentration bei Patienten mit Wundinfektion ähnlich. Auf Grundlage der Untersuchungsergebnisse kann das Vorliegen einer Wundinfektion dann als gegeben angesehen werden, wenn mit einer unverändert ausgeprägten oder wieder aufflammenden Entzündungssymptomatik im Wundbereich ein entsprechendes Verhalten der CRP-Konzentration im Blutserum einhergeht. Zudem kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass die serielle Bestimmung der CRP-Konzentration eine geeignete Methode darstellt, die Wundheilungssituation objektiv zu beurteilen und die subjektive Interpretation klinischer Befunde zu ergänzen. Im Gegensatz hierzu erwiesen sich Leukozytenzahl im Blut und Körpertemperatur als hierfür ungeeignet.