Detection of enterovirus genome in cerebrospinal fluid of children with aseptic meningitis; the relationship with interferon - gamma

Aseptic meningitis is one of the most common inflammatory disorders of the meninges. The most common viruses causing aseptic meningitis are the enteroviruses, which account for more than half the cases. We analyzed the combined diagnostic utility of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT- PCR] and the level of interferon gamma [IFN-gamma] in cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] specimens obtained from children with aseptic meningitis, for the diagnosis of enterovirus. Out of 33 CSF samples, 9 [27.2%] gave positive results for enterovirus RNA by RTPCR and 15 [45.4%] gave detectable level of IFN-gamma, ranging from 15.6 up to more than 1000 picogram/ ml. The mean CSF IFN-gamma concentration was 243.73 picogram/ml. which was significantly higher in CSF samples gave positive results for enterovirus genome by RT- PCR [384.3 picogram /ml] when compared with CSF samples gave negative results for enterovirus genome [56.6 picogram /ml],the results was statistically significant [p=0.0001]. Overall, data from previous reports and from the present study indicated that RT-PCR for enteroviral meningitis is an important tool in the diagnosis of children with aseptic meningitis and IFN-gamma is produced in the CSF in response to viral infection, and about half of the patients with aseptic meningitis contain IFN-gamma in the cerebrospinal fluids

Clinico-epidemiological study of epilepsy in the first three years of life among children attending the Alexandria university Children's hospital during one year

The study is aimed at defining the patterns and possible risk factors of childhood epilepsy in the first three years of life. All children with epilepsy aged 29 days to three years attending Epilepsy Follow up Outpatient Clinic at Alexandria University Children's hospital [Alexandria. Egypt] from January 1st to December 31st 2000 were included. The eligible population was 182. Controls included an equal number of age and sex matched children. The records of children were retrieved and analyzed with a specially designed software program. The study revealed a significant difference between cases and controls regarding family socioeconomic profile, parental consanguinity, and family history of epilepsy, pre-natal and neonatal risk factors and home deliveries. Regarding post-natal factors, meningitis, encephalitis, significant head trauma, status epileptics [febrile or febrile], post-pertussis problems and febrile convulsions were significant. With regard to the epilepsy profile, generalized seizures were more common [80.2%]. Most had a single seizure type [85.7%]. Abnormal neurological findings occurred in 132 children [72.5%]. Abnormal inter-ictal EEG findings were found in 166 cases [91.2%]. Abnormal CT findings were found in 175 cases [87%]. Symptomatic epilepsy accounted for the majority of cases [106 children-58,2%], Epileptic syndromes were identified in 29 children [15.6%]. The most common one was West syndrome. With regard to treatment, the most commonly used drugs were carbamazepine and valproate. Monotherapy was the rule in 86.8%of cases. Regarding partial seizures, secondarily generalized seizures were the most responsive to treatment Absence seizures were the most responsive type of generalized seizures. There are well-defined significant risk factors in the first three years of life. Socioeconomic factors play an important role for the frequency of epilepsy especially in developing countries. Peculiar seizure types, epilepsy types and syndromes are more frequent in this age group

Passive smoking and lower respiratory tract illnesses in children

The relationship between household tobacco smoke exposure and wheezing and nonwheezing lower respiratory tract illnesses in young children was investigated using both a questionnaire and the urinary cotinine/creatinine ratio to assess passive smoking. A case-control study was conducted on 60 children [

Trials for restoring the toxicity of aflatoxin

The effect of selenium as nutritional agent as well as ultracorn and levamisole as two non specific immunomodulatory agents was studied in relation to the induced aflatoxicosis in growing chicks. 7 groups of growing chicks, each of 15 were used in this study. All groups were fed aflatoxin B1 at a rate of 0.25 mug/gm feed for 45 days, except the first group which kept as a control. The second group was fed aflatoxin B1 alone; while the third, fourth and fifth groups were fed selenium at a rate of 0.1, 5 and 10 mug/gm feed, respectively. The sixth group administered ultracorn [40 mu l/kg b.wt.] as a single dose. The 7th group was treated with levamisole [25 mu g/kg S/C] for 3 consecutive days per week for 6 weeks. The results revealed a reduction of glutamic pyruvic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities of the serum and a decrease of urea and creatinine as well as elevation of vitamin A, total protein and body weight gain in birds fed on ration containing aflatoxin plus selenium in low concentration. Ultracorn and levamisole succeeded in decreasing the severity of some biochemical changes