Monocyte chemotactic protein-4 [MCP-4/CCL-13] and CC chemokine receptor 3 [CCR3] in the sputum of asthmatic children

Monocyte chemotactic protein-4 [MCP-4/CCL-13] is a potent chemoattractant to eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. We aimed to investigate MCP-4 and its CC chemokine receptor 3 [CCR3] expression on cells of induced sputum during acute asthma exacerbation. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess MCP-4 and CCR3 expression on induced sputum cells of 30 children during asthma exacerbation and 20 healthy matched controls. Patients were divided into three groups according to exacerbation severity; mild, moderate and severe [n = 10 for each]. Patients were followed until quiescence, when sputum was re-examined. MCP-4 and CCR3 were expressed on eosinophils and monocytes. Lymphocytes expressed only MCP-4. The percentages of sputum total cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes expressing MCP-4 and/or CCR3 were significantly higher during asthma exacerbation than in controls and negatively correlated with peak expiratory flow rate, whereas that of monocytes was not. The percentages of sputum total cells, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes expressing MCP-4; and total cells and eosinophils expressing CCR3 were significantly higher in patients with severe than those with mild and moderate exacerbations. When patients were followed till remission, the percentages of sputum cells expressing MCP-4 and CCR3 decreased. Sputum eosinophil percentage correlated positively with the percentage of eosinophils expressing MCP-4 and CCR3 [r = 0.69, p < 0.0001; r = 0.62, p < 0.001, respectively]. The percentage of sputum eosinophils expressing MCP-4 correlated positively with that of cells expressing CCR3 [r = 0.95, p < 0.0001]. The expression of MCP-4 and CCR3 on sputum cells increases during acute asthma exacerbation and this increase correlates with exacerbation severity, and it decreases during remission. Modification of their expression could be a potential target for asthma therapy

Sputum epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide-78 [ENA-78/CXCL5] in asthmatic children: relation to eosinophil activation

Epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide-78 [ENA-78] is a chemokine that recruits, and activates neutrophils, possesses angiogenic properties and promotes, connective tissue remodeling. Thus, it could play a pathogenic role in allergic airway inflammation. Eosinophils are the major source for this chemokine in inflamed airways. To evaluate sputum ENA-78 expression and its relation to acute asthma exacerbations of varying severity, and eosinophil cationic protein [ECP] as a marker of eosinophil activation, as well as eosinophil counts in blood and sputum. Sputum ENA-78 and serum ECP were measured by ELISA in 21 children, during and after acute asthma exacerbation and 21 healthy matched controls. Patient, were subdivided according to exacerbation severity into three equal subgroups; mild moderate and severe. Sputum ENA-78 was significantly higher in asthmatic children during acute exacerbation than controls [310.1 +/- 156.9 pg/ml vs 65.9 +/- 11.6 pg/ml, p<0.0001]. It was significantly higher in severe than moderate and in moderate than mild exacerbations, and was negatively correlated to the expiratory flow rate. Sputum ENA-78 showed significant positive correlations with serum ECP and eosinophil counts in blood and sputum. By flow up of patients with acute asthma exacerbation till remission of symptoms and signs, sputum ENA-78, serum ECP and eosinophil counts in blood and sputum decreased significantly, but their levels remained significantly higher than the control values. Sputum ENA-78 is increased during acute asthma exacerbation and it positively correlates with exacerbation severity and eosinophil activation. Thus, it may play a role in the evolution of acute asthma exacerbation and may be a future target for new asthma therapeutic madalities

Quantum mechanic study of basis set effect on NMR chemical shielding and hydrogen bonding of some amino acids in gaseous phase and solvent

Amino acids can be defined separately by the unique characteristic rendered to each amino acid molecule as a result of the varying reactive abilities of their side chains. Structural analysis is performed using ab initio calculations in GAUSSIAN 98 program. The behavior of every atom as well as that of molecular fragments COOH, CH2, NH2 show that atoms in molecules [AIM] and Natural Population Analyses [NPA] charges exhibit not only a good conformational independence but also provide a meaningful picture of the electron charge distribution in this system. In this paper relative energies, dipole moments, rotational constants, vibration frequencies, charges of important atoms in structure of amino acids, NMR chemical shielding [symmetric and asymmetric: delta sigma, eta and hydrogen bonded have been studied by systematic ab initio calculations in three levels of theory: Hartree- Fock[HF], DFT [B3LYP] and MP2. Nine amino acids consist of: alanine, asparagine, glycine, cysteine, methionine, serine, proline, threonine and valine were studied in gaseous phase and in two aprotic Solvent and different basis sets: 6-31g*, 6-311+g*,2-21g* and6-311++g** were tested and compared to determine. Which basis set is the most efficient to model these particular amino acids. A series of gauge independent atomic orbiter's [GIAO] magnetic shielding calculations also have been done in solution and gaseous phase

Interleukin-8 as a diagnostic marker of neonatal sepsis

Early diagnosis of sepsis in the neonate is often difficult as symptoms and signs are usually non-specific and there are cases that are clinically suggestive of sepsis with negative blood culture. So we should try to find out diagnostic markers to diagnose neonatal sepsis very early. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma IL-8 as a predictor of neonatal sepsis to facilitate early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy. This study comprised 54 full-term neonates divided into 2 groups; group I included 24 neonates with proven sepsis diagnosed clinically and by positive blood culture. Group II included 30 neonates with suspected or possible infection [they had 2 or fewer clinical signs of sepsis +/- positive CRP with a high risk factor of infection and negative blood culture]. Thirty healthy age and sex matched full-term newborns were studied as controls. After history taking and clinical examination, the following laboratory investigations were performed: complete blood count, CRP [latex agglutination], blood culture and sensitivity and estimation of IL-8 by ELISA technique The 30 patients with suspected infection were followed up clinically and CRP as well as blood culture were repeated after 48 hours. Patients who developed sepsis later on as evidenced clinically and by laboratory investigations including positive blood culture were considered as patients with early sepsis at the time of admission. Plasma IL-8 of neonates with proven sepsis [1794.38 +/- 1816 9 pg/ml] or early sepsis [229.16 +/- 221.02 pg/ml] was significantly higher than of the control group [35.53 +/- 17.8 pg/ml]. IL-8 had a sensitivity of 100% for sepsis [either at its early or late stages] as it was elevated in all patients with proven and early sepsis. The sensitivity of CRP for diagnosing neonatal sepsis before the evolution of overt clinical manifestations was 50% only. In addition, IL-8 had an excellent negative predictive value [100%] for early sepsis. IL-8 was significantly elevated in non-survivor neonates with sepsis when compared to the survivors indicating that high IL-8 values are associated with poor prognosis. In conclusion, IL-8 is a highly sensitive marker for diagnosing neonatal sepsis at its early stage. Also, it had an excellent negative predictive value [100%] thus it facilitates the exclusion of the infection in high-risk neonates to avoid the unnecessary antibiotic use. In addition, IL-8 is a useful prognostic marker of neonatal sepsis This highlights the importance of our recommendation of adding IL-8 to the laboratory investigations performed in neonatal sepsis especially in suspected cases

Isthmic spondylolisthesis posterolateral fusion with transpedicular fixation in adults

Twenty adult patients with symptomatic isthmic spondylolisthesis under-went in situ posterolaleral fusion with transpedicular Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation [CD]. Decompression was done in 14 patients [70%] with sciatica. There were 12 women and 8 men. with a mean age of 38 years [range, 20-52 years]. All patients were recommended for surgery after a failed trial of conservative treatment. The degree of olisthesis was: Grade I in 10, Grade II in 8, and Grade III in 2. All patients had low back pain; with leg pain-bilateral in 10 and unilateral in 4. The single level fusion was done at L5 - Sl in 14, and at L4 - L5 in 6 patients. At a mean follow-up of 20 months [range, 12-36 months], successful fusion was achieved in 90% and 85% had excellent or good clinical result. Successful fusion did influence the clinical outcome in terms of pain relief and increased activity. The results justify the use of instrumented posterolateral fusion for treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis in adults

Displaced articular fractures of the distal radius open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws

In this study, open reduction and internal fixation with a T-plate were used in a series of 18 displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures in 18 young adult patients [12 males and 6 females] with a mean age of 27 years [range 19-40 years]. Eight fractures were AO type C2 and 10 were type C3. A dorsal plate was used in 7 patients and a volar plate was used in 11 patients, with cancellous bone grafting in 6 and supplemental K-wires in 8 cases. The mean follow-up period was 25.4 months [range 18-34 months]. By the criteria of Gartland and Werley, 15 patients had an excellent or good end-result. The mean grip strength was 70% of the contralateral normal side. Postoperatively, satisfactory open reduction was obtained in 17 cases and an excellent or good articular congruency was achieved in 14 cases. At the end of the follow-up, two wrists had substantial change in position of reduction achieved at surgery and there was a mean of 8.7 mm of radial length, 16.9 degrees of radial inclination, 5.2 degrees of volar tilt and 1.2 mm of radio-ulnar index. Post-traumatic arthritis of grade 2 or 3 developed in 5 cases. Sixteen patients were able to return to pre-injury occupation or level of activities. The study indicated that open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws can be recommended for displaced articular distal radius fractures, particularly in young adults, after failure of closed reduction in restoring articular congruency

Serum leptin levels in female children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to investigate whether serum leptin concentrations in female children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM, type I] were related to age, body mass index [BMI], percentage of body fat, insulin dose and pubertal stage. In this study, 74 girls with IDDM were studied and followed up, their ages ranged from 9 to 18 years with mean of 12.5 +/- 2.4 years. 28 healthy age matched girls served as controls. Diabetics were subjected to thorough history taking and clinical examination. To study the relationship between serum leptin and puberty, both patients and controls were grouped according to stage of puberty into three groups: Prepubertal [Tanner stage I], pubertal [Tanner stage II-IV] and postpubertal [Tanner stage V]. There was progressive increase in serum leptin with progress of puberty in diabetics and controls. It was most pronounced when prepubertal girls were compared with postpubertal ones whether diabetics or healthy controls. In conclusion, serum leptin in diabetic female children and adolescents is significantly correlated to age, diabetes duration, percentage of body fat and stage of puberty and not correlated to insulin dose or BMI. Serum leptin is lower in non-obese children and adolescents with IDDM than in non-obese healthy controls

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by microvascular de decompression

Fifty patients with trigeminal neuralgia were operated upon in Suez Canal University hospital, Al-Sahel Teaching hospital, and Al Azhar University hospital. Micro vascular decompression [MVD] was used in 42 cases, MVD and Rhizotomy in 3 cases, and Rhizotomy only in 3 Cases. The most common etiological factor was arterial loop compression [29 cases]. The superior cerebellar artery was the compressing factor in 24 cases. Thirty five patients had excellent outcome after MVD, 6 good, and 4 had poor outcome. MVD has proved to be an effective method for treatment of Trigeminal neuralgia

Effect of cephradine in therapeutic and toxic doses on some enzymes of normal mouse liver

Cephradine, a semisynthetic cephalosporin, was administered intraperitoneally in both therapeutic and toxic doses to two groups of mice each consisting of 10 animals. A third group of 5 mice served as a control. The effect of the antibiotic on some liver enzymes; acid ribonuclease, B-glucuronidase and pyridoxal phosphokinase was studied. The drug had the same effect on the first two enzymes while the third behaved differently. The therapeutic dose of cephradine inhibited the activity of both acid ribonuclease and B-glucuronidase and stimuated that of pyridoxal phosphokinase. The toxic dose, on the other hand, enhanced the activity of the former two enzymes and depressed that of the latter. Results are discussed and explanations suggested