Role of urinary leukotriene E4 in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis

This study was meant to evaluate the importance of LTs in atopic dermatitis [AD] and to study the correlation of urinary LTE4 with disease severity and some commonly altered parameters in AD. The study included 30 children and adolescents diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis. Ten age and sex matched healthy children and adolescents were enrolled for comparison. They were subjected to clinical evaluation and measurement of urinary LTE4, absolute eosinophilic count, serum IgE and IL-4 and IL-5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture [PBMC] supernatant. The patients were categorized into mild [n = 5], moderate [n = 16] and severe [n = 9] AD subgroups. The study revealed a significant increase in absolute eosinophilic count. Urinary LTE4, serum IgE and IL-4 and IL-5 in PBMC culture supernatant in the patients as compared to controls. Moreover, urinary LTE4 levels were significantly increased in moderate and severe cases of AD as compared to the control group, whereas mild cases had levels that were comparable to the controls. Urinary LTE4 levels were higher in severe and moderate cases when compared to mild cases. Significant positive correlations could be elicited between urinary LTE4 and PBMC IL-4, disease severity scale, absolute eosinophilic count and serum total IgE. However, urinary LTE4 could not be correlated statistically with PBMC IL-5

study of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist as a marker of early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the serum level of IL- Ira in the blood of high risk neonates [with PROM >24 h.] as a predictor of sepsis before the clinical diagnosis. The study included 29 term neonates [15 males and 14 females, their mean value of gestational ages was 37.65 +/- 1.1 weeks and the birth weight was 2.9 +/- 0.5 kg]. They were subjected to full history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including complete blood count [CBC], C-reactive protein [CRP], blood culture and quantitative determination of serum IL-Ira levels by ELISA technique. Three consecutive samples were taken from each neonate: The first sample [A] was obtained immediately after delivery, the second sample [B] after 48 hours and the third [C] after 96 hours. The studied neonates were divided into two groups: Group I [septic group] included 15 neonates with proven sepsis and group II [healthy non-septic control group] included 14 neonates. Data suggested that the assessment of IL-Ira may be used as an early diagnostic tool in neonates with a suspicion of sepsis

Apolipoproteins in protein-energy malnutrition among Egyptian infants and children

This study included 64 infants and children with different forms of protein - energy malnutrition [PEM. They were classified according to wellcome's classification into simple underweight, marasmus, Kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor goups together with 16 comparable healthy infants and children as a control group. Anthropometric measurements including: weight, length, head circumference, mid arm circumference, skin fold thickness, arm area muscle circumference, arm a, muscle area and fat area beside biochemical tests including: complete urine and stool analysis, complete blood picture, total serum protein, serum albumin, total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, high density lipoprotein - cholesterol, low density lipoprotein - cholesterol, apolipoprotein - A-I and apolipoprotein - B were done to all infants and children. The results showed that all anthropometric measurements were decreased in all forms of PEM but the decrease was more in marasmic group Also, the biochemical tests were decreased in PEM but more in kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor groups. Apo-A-I was the main biochemical test that decreased in simple underweight group. Apo B-was decreased in all PEM forms except simple underweight group and the decrease was markedly in kwashiorkor and marasmic kwashiorkor groups. Apo- A-I and B could be considered as good in-dicators of nutritional status especially apo-A-I which was proved to be of prime importance in the diagnosis of early cases of malnutrition