new insight into the immune regulatory functions of vitamin A in children and adolescents

Background/Aim: vitamin A deficiency [VAD] is a serious and widespread public health problem. Vitamin A has an important role in regulating human immune function. It increases rates and severity of infections in young children mainly in developing countries. The present study aims to assess the effect of vitamin A on cluster of differentiation 4 [CD4] and thymosin beta4 [Tbeta4] levels as indicators of adaptive immunity. Moreover, we evaluate the association between serum vitamin A concentration and BMI among Egyptian children and adolescents

Patients and methods: this cross-sectional survey was conducted on 46 apparently healthy participants, including 19 girls and 27 boys aged from 3 to 17 years. We assessed weight and height using standard techniques. Serum vitamin A, CD4, and Tbeta4 concentrations were assessed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. We planned to divide the participants into vitamin A-sufficient and vitamin A-deficient groups according to its level

Results: cutoff for VAD was 44 microg/dl. It was detected in 56.6% of the enrolled participants. Vitamin A was significantly lower in teenagers comparative with children [P=0.04]. Vitamin A and Tbeta4 levels were significantly decreased in deficient group in comparison with sufficient one at P values of 0.002 and 0.017, respectively, whereas CD4 level was nonsignificantly decreased in vitamin A-deficient patients compared with the sufficient ones. A significant positive correlation was detected between vitamin A and both of CD4 [r=0.348, P=0.018] and Tbeta4 [r=0.392, P=0.007]. A significant positive correlation was found between vitamin A and BMI [r=0.311, P=0.035]

Conclusion: vitamin A may influence Tbeta4 and CD4 levels. This study is the first to explore the effect of vitamin A on Tbeta4 level in children and adolescents and correlate it with CD4 level. This finding must be verified using large-scale studies

Osteoporosis knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among Egyption female students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, believes and behaviors regarding osteoporosis risk factors and preventive health habits such as adequate calcium intake and physical activity. A sample of 494 girls aged between 16-24 years from Faculty of Education for Specific Studies was recruited in the study. Information was gathered through across-sectional survey. A self administered questionnaire was distributed among the students to collect data about osteoporosis knowledge physical activity and calcium intake. Four hundred and thirty five girls [88.1%] had heard of and [48%] had the correct definition of osteoporosis. The main source of information about osteoporosis was television [34%] followed by mothers and relatives [27.1%]. Overall,[22.5%] of girls perceived that they were likely to develop osteoporosis for different reasons. Respondents believed that osteoporosis is more serious [59.6%] than other common causes of morbidity and mortality such as heart disease and breast cancer. More than half of girls were aware of the benefits of exercise in preventing osteoporosis [59.1%], only [42.9%] participate in some sort of sports not on regular basis. Knowledge related to calcium rich food and requirements were poor. In summary, results obtained from this study were used to build on for health education intervention program targeted to this group of girls

Noninvasive markers in monitoring hepatocellular damage: role of natural antioxidants: nigella sativa, honey and silymarin in treatment of hepatocellular damage

Liver fibrosis induced experimentally by using carbontetrachloride [CC14] as a toxic substance. To evaluate the treatment effects of some natural antioxidants such as Nigella sativa [N. sativa], Honey [H.] and Silymarin [S.] in CC14-induced liver fibrosis in rats, some biochemical markers such as glutathione-S-transferase [alpha-GST], Malonedialdehyde [MDA], Nitric oxide [NO] and matrix metalloproteinase [MMP-2] were determined and compared to the liver functions [ALT and AST] and Hemoglobin [Hb]. 100 rats were divided into 20 normal rats served as control, 20 rats injected 1 mg/kg/day CC14 intrapretonially 3 times a week for 8 weeks, 60 rats divided equally into 3 subgroups subjected to the same injection plus oral administration of 50 mg/kg/ day N. sativa, H. and S. daily for another 4 weeks. alpha-GST, MDA, NO and MMP-2 were estimated by enzyme immunoassay and ALT, AST and Hb were estimated by colorimetric assay. Statistical program SPSS, VI2 was used for data analysis. The results showed a significant increase [P<0.05] in alpha-GST, MDA and NO and high significant increase [P<0.01] in MMP-2 in rats group administered CC14 as compared to normal control. The results matched the role of S. in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and revealed the role of N.sativa as treatment agent by improvement in ALT and AST, enhance antioxidant capacity by significant decrease [P<0.05] in alpha-GST and NO, improvement in general health by high significant increase [P<0.01] in Hb, enhanced antifibrotic response by high significant decrease [P<0.01] in MMP-2 and decrease in lipid peroxidation by significant decrease [P<0.05] in MDA compared to CC14 group. Although H. showed the least effective ability for treatment of liver fibrosis, it appeared to improve liver functions. The histological results were found to be matched with the biochemical results. This work proved that one of the mechanisms involved in the process of liver fibrogenesis induced by CC14 is the development of oxidative stress and fibrotic response, the determined biochemical markers proved to be good markers for the detection of hepatocellular damage and documented also that N. sativa and H. can be used effectively as tools in the treatment of hepatic injury without any fear of complications

Biochemical markers of fibrogenesis in pediatric chronic liver diseases

Non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis has become the focus, especially in the surveillance of treatment and in screening hepatic fibrosis. To investigate the clinical usefulness of fibrogenesis markers in evaluating liver fibrosis, we determined serum levels of TGF-beta 1, collagen N, and laminin, their relationship with frequently used liver function tests, and findings of liver ultrasonography and biopsy were investigated. 50 patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled from the National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University. Serum markers of fibrosis, liver function indices [for the patients and 30 controls], and ultrasonography for all patients were performed and compared with histologic fibrotic changes. showed that Serum levels of TGF beta 1, collagen IV, and laminin were significantly higher in patients than those in control [P<0.000]. The levels of serum fibrosis markers were not correlated with fibrotic scores [P>0.05], but laminin was positively correlated to histologic activity index. There were no significant changes in the level of serum fibrosis markers related to ultrasongraphic findings. Their levels were also not correlated to ALT or AST. The cut-off values, specificity and sensitivity were determined for all markers, among which collagen N was the marker with the highest sensitivity and specificity. our that Serum level of TGF- beta 1, collagen N, and laminin can be used as indices for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Among them, Collagen N is more sensitive. Biochemical markers of fibrogenesis might be useful in regular monitoring of disease development and treatment effectiveness and should be inseparable part of progression assessment in all chronic hepatopathies

Vitamin A and beta-carotene status in childhood diarrhea

Assessment of vitamin A status and beta-carotenes and an association between acute diarrhea and plasma levels of vitamin A were done. Plasma vitamin A and beta-carotenes were measured by colorimetric method of Neeld and Pearson. Eighty-four children in the age group of 6-60 months with a current history of diarrhea were studied. They were divided into two groups, one group included 22 children with recurrent diarrhea and the other one included 62 children with non- recurrent diarrhea, in addition to 56 healthy age matched children served as a control group. Children with a history of diarrhea showed significant low levels as compared with controls. Studying the odds ratio [OR] revealed that the risk for developing recurrence of diarrhea is increased if the child has a low vitamin A level or bad nutritional status

Assessment of irritable bowel syndrome: guidelines for the diagnosis

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain in a community based population of children and whether a subgroup of these subjects have symptoms resembling irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], and to find out whether anxiety, depression, self concept and self image are more commonly affected in those children. A total of 300 subjects participated, one hundred from each of the primary, middle and high schools, with an age range from 8 to 16 years. Abdominal pain was noted by 61% to 76% of all studients. The pain occurred weekly in 3% to 14% and was severe enough to affect activities in 12% to 17%. Among students with abdominal pain 37.7% to 60.5% related the onset of pain to some significant events. Irritable bowel syndrome type symptoms were noted by 6.6%, 8.6% and 15.8% of primary, middle and high school studens who reported abdominal pain respectively, representing [in the same order] 4%, 6% and 12% of all students. A statistical significant higher incidence of associated psychosomatic symptoms were noted among students with abdominal pain [P<0.05]. Similarly higher incidence of mood and personality disturbances were found in students with abdominal pain and those with IBS-type symptoms [P<0.01]