role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-[alpha]] , interleukin-6 [IL-6] and caspase-3 in lung diseases of cement factory workers in Assiut

Respiratory tract disease represents the most important group of occupational disease in the cement industry. Inhalation of silica dust leads to silicosis, the alveolar macrophage plays a key role in the onset and development of inflammatory and fibrogenic lung disease through their ability to release potent inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators. The present study aimed to measure the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, in order to determine a possible relationship between the presence of silica particles, cytokine production, and pulmonary dysfunction in workers exposed to cement dust for less and more than 10 years. Also, to test the hypothesis that silica-induced apoptosis of human AM may involve the activation of ICE, we determine the activity of caspase-3 in these workers. The correlations between these previously mentioned bioindices and pulmonary function tests were investigated. . The study consisted of forty male patients workers engaged in cement production and a control group of 40 normal healthy males. The exposed workers were divided according to the duration of the exposure time into two groups: 22 workers were exposed to cement dusts for less than I0 years and 18 workers for more than 10 years

Determination of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in plasma of exposed workers enzyme linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA] and caspase-3 activity in white blood cells of exposed workers by colorimetric methods. The results of the current study showed that pulmonary function tests were significantly lower in exposed workers for more than 10 years than those with less than 10 years. Moreover; in exposed workers for more than I0 years, the plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly increased compared to those revels in exposed workers to cement dusts for less than I0 years [P<0.001 for each]. Besides, in this group of workers, caspase-3 activity levels were significantly higher than that of controls [P < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in caspme-3 activity levels between both groups of workers. Significant correlations were also found between TNF-alpha IL-6, caspase-3 activity levels and pulmonary function tests. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that prolonged exposure to silica stimulates AM to produce significant increased levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 compared to those of controls. Moreover, increased caspase-3 activity was also observed in exposed workers. These changes were associated with a significant reduction in pulmonary functions of these workers

Serum levels of leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and growth hormone in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: the effect of metabolic control and pubertal development

The existing literature on the relation between serum leptin and growth hormone [GH] / insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1] axis in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] is conflicting. The present study included 45 children and adolescents with IDDM [22 recently diagnosed and 23 old known diabetics], aged from 6-14 years, they were 26 girls and 19 boys, together with 16 apparently healthy control children of matchable age and sex. All patients and controls were subjected to complete medical history and clinical examination including calculation of body mass index [BMI] and pubertal staging. The serum levels of leptin, C-peptide, CH and IGF-1 were determined in all patients and controls. Glycemic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1C]. Diabetic children showed significantly higher mean values of serum levels of leptin and GH than controls. This was true for the diabetic children in general, for those with poor metabolic control [HbA1C>9%], for the old diagnosed diabetics as well as the pubertal diabetic adolescents. On the other hand, the whole diabetic cases, prepubertal adolescent diabetics, the recently diagnosed ones and those with poor metabolic control showed significant lower serum levels of IGF-1 than their comparable partners. In all diabetic cases, serum levels of leptin as well as lGF-1 were positively correlated with BMI and C-peptide. However, leptin and GH showed significant positive correlation in pubertal diabetics only. IGF-1 levels were negatively correlated with HbA1C in the studied diabetic children, while no correlation could be detected between serum leptin and IGF-1 or between GH levels and either of IGF-1 or BMI in diabetic cases. Leptin and GH /IGF-1 system are altered in IDDM in relation to the degree of metabolic control and the pubertal changes. The improvement of glycemic control may help to correct such ulterations. The effect of these changes needs further studies to be settled