Psoriasis and atopy

In an attempt to correlate psoriasis and atopy, personal and family history of atopy together with serum total immunoglobulin E [IgE] levels and peripheral blood absolute eosinophilic counts [AEC] were investigated in 50 Libyan patients with psoriasis [Sex: 21 males, 29 females; age: 12-60 years]. A random group of 100 subjects and their first degree relatives was included as 'control subjects' for comparing the prevalence of atopy. The serum total IgE levels and AEC in psoriatic patients were compared with a control group of 70 healthy subjects [Sex: 35 males, 35 females; age: 19-44 years]. Further comparison was mode with a group of 30 non-psoriatic patients with one or more atopic manifestations [Sex: 7 males, 23 females; age: 13-40 years]. Although 17 [34%] and 9 [18%] psoriatic patients gave personal history and only family history of atopy respectively, these were found to be similar to these of control subjects [P > 0.01]. No difference was also observed regarding the prevalence of atopy in first degree relatives of psoriatic and controls [P > 0.25]. Both serum IgE levels and AEC in psoriatic as well as atopic patients were significantly higher than in controls [Controls vs psoriatics - IgE: P < 0.005, AEC: P < 0.001; Controls vs atopics - IgE P < 0.05, AEC: P < 0.001], but no differences were noted between psoriatics and atopics [P > 0.5]. These changes in IgE levels and AEC in psoriatics were found to be independent of history of atopy as well as severity of the disease suggesting that there is no relation between psoriasis and atopy

Urolithiasis: microbiological and biochemical studies of 107 cases in Benghazi, Libya

In an attempt to correlate the chemical composition of renal stones with urinary tract infections [UTI] and serum biochemical parameters, a total of 107 Libyan patients with Urolithiasis [81 males, 26 females; age: 81-65 years] were studied. It was observed that of the 107 renal stones; 24 [22.4%], 1 [0.9%], 2 [1.9%], 29 [27.1%], 4 [3.7%], 19 [17.8%], 8 [7.5%], 12 [11.2%] and 8 [7.55%] were composed of calcium oxalate [S1], calcium phosphate [S2] uric acid [S3], S4 [i.e., S1+S2], S5 [i.e., S1+52+ ammonium oxalate + ammonium phosphate] and S9 [i.e., S7+S8] respectively. The preoperative urine cultures of all cases showed that Echerichia coli was the predominating organism [39.2%] followed by non-significant growth [26.2%], Enterobacter species [1.95]. The analysis of the frequency of occurrence of various types of renal stones in relation to UTI revealed that E. coli was associated with the highest occurrence of S1 [67%], S2 [100%], S3 [50%], S4 [31%], S5 [05%], and S8 [41%]. The S6, S7 and Sp were associated in high percentages with NSG [S6: 37%, S7: 37.5%, S9: 38%]. Further assay of serum biochemical parameters [calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, sodium, potassium, creatinine and uric acid] failed to identify any significant metabolic abnormality which may predispose to renal stone formation. It is therefore hypothesized that UTI is a major factor, with E. coli the predominant infectious agent, responsible for the problem of Urolithiasis in Eastern Libyans

role of immunoglobulins and complements in immunity against hydatis disease in Libyans

The serum immunoglobulins [IgG. IgM, IgA, IgE] and [C3, C4] levels were investigated in 45 [17 male and 28 female] Libyan patients with hydatid disease confirmed [age: 19-70 years; mean age: 44 years]. Twenty six healthy Libyans, age and sex matched, were also included in the study as control subjects. Of these 45 patients 34 had hepatic [76%]. 5 had pulmonary [11%] and 6 had multiple [hepatic, pulmonary and intestinal] [13%] lesions. The study showed that patients with hydatid disease had significantly higher total IgG [P<0.05], Igm [P<0.02] and IgE [P<0.01] levels as compared to control. Further statistical analyses for linear, exponential and geometrical correlations revealed that IgG had significant linear correlation with anti-echinococcus antibody titre [AEAT] [r=0.9214, t=5.7392, p<0.01]. Interestingly, IgE exhibited more significant exponential correlation [r=0.9309, t=5.7011, p<0.01] than geometrical correlation [r=0.8402], t=3.4643, p<0.02] with AEAT. These observations suggested than the host's immune response did occur concomitant with the existence and fluorishment of the hydatid cyst. The various possibilities as to how this can happen have been discussed

Monoclonal antibodies: their production and clinical applications

There has been a major breakthrough in immunology and medicine in that a new technology known as 'hybridoma technology' has been developed by Kohler and Milstein in 1975. The whole concept of antiserum production is dramatically changed. This advancement in immuno-technology allows homogenous monoclonal antibody to be made in unlimited amounts and to have that antibody available indefinitely. Many of these monoclonals including human monoclonals are now commercially available in pure form. They are finding their way in a variety of applications and uses in different branches of science and medicine, particularly in clinical immunology and nuclear medicine

Clinical, biochemical and hematological features of an outbreak of human brucellosis in Benghazi

During the outbreak of human brucellosis in Benghazi, Libya, in June-September 1987, haematological and biochemical parameters were analysed in 18 Libyan patients [age: 16:60 years; sex: 10 male, 8 female]. Since leukopenia with relative lymphocytosis was present in 5/18 [28%] patients only, it was not considered as a general rule for diagnosis of acute brucellosis. The ESR was raised in 14/18 [78%] patients which is generally a feature of acute brucellosis. Although biochemical analyses showed in some cases moderate elevation of serum ALT [8/18], AST [7/18], ALP [2/18] and LDH [5/18], serum ALT, AST and LDH were markedly elevated in only 5/18 [28%], 6/18 [33%] and 3/16 [18%] patients respectively. The implications of these findings and methods of choice for quick confirmed diagnosis of acute brucellosis as a possible cause for pyrexia of unknown origin are discussed

Dental caries: its etiology, pathogenesis and scientific approaches for prevention

Dental caries [tooth decay] is an infectious multifactorial disease manifested by progressive destruction of enamel, dentine and cementum of tooth. Several approaches, have been made to devolp effective prophylactic measures against tooth decay though prevention of forming, and destruction of dental plaque. Of the non-specific methods, fluoridation of diet or drinking water or both has received considerable attention and acceptance. Recent experiments with animal models [mice, rats, monkeys] strongly suggest that more effective and specific prophylaxis for dental caries is possible through immunization against the causative microorganisms, specially Streptococcus mutans [S. mutans]. It has been shown that fluoridation followed by imunisation with the vaccine developed by Giasuddin et al. [17] and Lehner et al. [34] leads to successful immune responses against S. mutans and confers complete protection against dental caries in monkeys. The phenomenon of heart cross-reactivity, either in vivo or in vitro, has not been observed over the long experimental period of 76 weeks. These findings have raised great hopes that effective, safe and acceptable human dental caries vaccine may not be too distant away