effect of ochratoxin on antimicrobial polypeptide expression in channel catfish [Ictalurus punctatus]

Mycotoxins contamination of agricultural commodities poses a serious risk to animal health, including aquaculture species. While chronic effects of mycotoxins, including immunosupression, are much more important than acute toxicities, they are much less evident. Ochratoxin A [OA] is the most immunotoxic ochratoxin, yet little is known about its effect on immune function in fish. Antimicrobial polypeptides [AMPPs] are one of the most potent, innate, host defense factors, yet very little is known about what types of chronic stressors affect their expression. Among the most prevalent and potent AMPPs in fish are histone-like proteins [HLP]. In this study, fish were fed 2, 4, or 8 ppm OA. Skin antibacterial activity was measured on Days 0, 28 and 56. Feeding 2, 4 or 8 ppm OA resulted in no changes in AMPP expression in any treatment group. Our data suggests that the immunosuppression of OA is probably due to impaired cell-mediated immune mechanisms other than a direct effect on antimicrobial polypeptide expression

Role of dexamethasone iontophoresis in treatment of epicondylitis as evaluated with quantitative high resolution ultrasonography

To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone iontophoresis in treatment of epicondylitis based on high resolution ultrasonography. This study included 25 patients with epicondylitis and 14 healthy controls. Pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue score [VAS] and by patient global assessment [PGA]. Measuring the maximum grip force of the sound side, maximum grip force [MGF] and pain-free grip force [PFGF] of the affected side, using the hand grip dynamometer, were also assessed. Ultrasonographic assessment was performed for the site of complaint either the common extensor origin [CEO] or the common flexor origin [CFO]. Patients received 6 sessions of 4 mg/ml dexamethasone [DXM] iontophoresis on alternating days over a period of two weeks. After the treatment program, the patients were re-assessed both clinically and by ultrasonography. After treatment with dexamethasone iontophoresis, the decrease in the VAS, PGA as well as the changes in MGF and PFGF of the affected side was statistically significant. Regarding diagnostic US, abnormal findings were detected in 11 patients [44%] at the beginning of the study with no abnormal findings in the control group. High resolution ultrasonography proved to be of 48.5% sensitivity. and 65.7% specificity in diagnosing epicondylitis. The improvement of epicondylitis after iontophoresis treatment, though well evident and proved on clinical reassessment, couldn't be detected except in 3 patients out of the 6 patients reassessed by ultrasonography. Dexamethasone iontophoresis could be considered a simple, easy, safe, effective and non-invasive therapeutic option for epicondylitis. High resolution ultrasonography has a role in diagnosing epicondylitis but has no role in follow up

Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients: correlation with disease activity and serum leptin

To assess the occurrence of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and their correlation with disease activity and serum leptin in patients with pediatric SLE. This study included 30 non-diabetic pediatric SLE patients diagnosed according to ACR revised criteria for SLE and 10 age and sex matched controls. Patients were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination and evaluation of disease activity using SLEDAI. Fasting serum insulin, glucose, leptin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein [HS-CRP] and lipid profile were measured. Insulin resistance [IR] was calculated with the homeostasis model assessment [HOMA-IR]. Patients were divided according to International Diabetes Federation [IDF] criteria for metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents into patients with and without metabolic syndrome who were compared regarding disease activity and serum leptin. Metabolic syndrome was detected in 9 patients [30%]. There was a non-significant difference regarding SLEDAI and HS-CRP between patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Serum leptin was non-significantly higher among patients with metabolic syndrome than in patients without. There were significantly higher fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR in patients in comparison to controls. Stepwise multiple regression analysis of factors associated with HOMA-IR revealed that BMI, serum triglycerides and leptin level were the most sensitive independent predictors for IR. Pediatric SLE patients are susceptible to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome regardless of disease activity. Management of metabolic syndrome in these young patients is beneficial to prevent its complications such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease