Determination of interleukin - 10 level in rheumatoid arthritis and corralation with disease activity parameters [a controlled study]

lnterleukin-10 [IL-10] has been shown to exert both anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory affects both in vivo and in vitro. We, therefore, sought to examine the role of this cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis [RA] by assessing serum and synovial fluid IL-10 level and correlating its level with disease activity parameters. Serum and synovial fluid samples were collected from 40 RA patients and 20 OA patients and 20 healthy persons as a control group. IL-10 was assessed by specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [EL1SA]. Results showed that both serum and synovial fluid IL-10 level were non-significantly higher than that of the control including OA patients with synovial level non significantly higher than serum level. Results, also, showed that there is an inverse non significant correlation with RA disease activity parameters This study suggested that there is a tendency of increased production of IL-10 in patients with RA. This increased IL-10 production is mainly originating from synovium. IL-10 level is not a reliable marker for RA disease activity

Cervical mucous and serum IgA in diabetics using intrauterine contraceptive devices [IUDs]

IgA levels were measured in cervical mucous and serum of 24 fertile women using I.U.D'S [12 diabetics and 12 non-diabetics] and 24 fertile women not using any contraceptives [12 diabeties and 12 non-diabetics] between the 7[th] and 10[th] day of the menstrual cycle using the agar gel radial immunodiffusion. IgA levels in the cervical mucous and serum of I.U.D's users were significantly higher than in I.U.D's nonusers [4.83 +/- 1.9vs. 2.055 +/- 1.065] and [2.9 +/- 1.01vs. 1.58 +/- 0.66] respectively. The increased levels of IgA with the use of I.U.D's occurred in diabeties and non diabeties. However both cervical mucous and serum IgA levels were significantly lower in the diabetic group compared to the non diabeties whether using I.U.D's [3.91 +/- 1.25vs 5.75 +/- 2.42] respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between cervical mucous IgA levels and days of the cycle in the group not using I.U.D's whether diabetics or not. No significant correlation was found between the duration of use of I.U.D's and IgA levels in both cervical mucous and serum. While a significant negative correlation was found between the duration of diabetes and IgA levels in cervical mucous but not in serum. It is concluded that using I.U.D's resulted in higher levels of IgA in cervical mucous and serum. This elevation in IgA levels was less marked in the cervical mucous of diabetic females which may implicate a lower efficacy of I.U.D's as a method of contraception in diabetics

Platelet indices in normal pregnancy

The purpose of this longitudinal, prospective study was to define platelet indices during normal pregnancy and to compare them to normal non-pregnant values. Indices evaluated included platelet count, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in 20 women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. There was a significant decrease in platelet count during the second and third trimester pregnancy as compared to non-pregnant values [P < 0.01 for both]. The mean platelet volume was significantly increased during the second trimester [P < 0.05] and platelet distribution width was significantly increased during the third trimester [P < 0.001]. These findings indicate that platelet consumption starts during the second trimester pregnancy and is followed by compensatory thrombocytopoiesis during third trimester pregnancy