ABSTRACT
Researchers reported high carriage rate of S.aureus on skin of Atopic dermatitis [AD] patients with suggestion of local production of exotoxin causing the inflammatory condition. The objective of this study was to identify prevalence of S. aureus on skin of AD children and to test for presence of superantigen genes using multiplex PCR. 118 swabs from AD children and 40 swabs from apparently healthy children were subjected to routine microbiologic culture. Revealed S. aureus isolates have been further subjected to Multiplex PCR for detection of superantigen gene sequences. S. aureus strains have been isolated from 40 out of 118 AD patient [33.8%] and in 26 out of 40 skin swab among the control group [65%]. Detection of superantigen gene sequence positivity by multiplex PCR was 82.5% in S. aureus isolates from AD patients which is statistically significant higher than the controls 0% [X[2]=42.9]. Our study agree with studies accusing S. aureus carrying superantigen genes as one of the causes triggering atopic dermatitis evidenced by absence of these genes in strains isolated from healthy children versus a high rate of detection in strains isolated from AD children. Our novel observation that S.aureus not carrying superantigen coding gene have no role in triggering AD could lead to new preventive approaches
ABSTRACT
To detect the effect of oral contraceptive pills on some aspects of the immune system. The present study was conducted on forty apparently healthy females who were using combined oral contraceptive pills [OCs] for not less than 2 years. They were compared to an equal number of apparently healthy females who did not use the pills or any other hormonal method of contraception. The comparison included: the cellular immunity [T-cell population and function] and humoral immunity [immunoglobulins, C3, C4]. Significant increase in helper T-cells with significant decrease in suppressor T-cells was demonstrated. H: S ratio was shown to increase proportional to duration of pill use. Impairment of T-cell function was reported by significant increase in MII. The percentage of phagocytes was significantly higher in pill users. The levels of IgA, 1gM, C3 and C4 did not show significant change. IgG levels were significantly higher in pill users. T-cells and their subsets are the primary target for steroid hormone influences. Modulation of T-cell population and impairment of T-cell function have been proved to be related to the duration of pill use. OCs may have a possible role in auto-immune diseases