Quantitative estimation of interferon-gamma levels among Egyptian polytransfused haematology cases

This study was designed to estimate interferon-gamma [INF-gamma] levels among polytransfused haematology cases. Cases were selected from the haematology unit of Alexandria main university hospital, Egypt. Complete blood counts, estimation of INF-gamma and hepatitis B and C virus [HBV and HCV] status were conducted on 20 unsplenectomized patients with thalassaemia major and 20 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] in the maintenance phase and 20 healthy subjects. Mean haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts were significantly higher in the control group than the AML and thalassaemia groups, while white blood cell counts were significantly lower in the control group than the case groups. Two AML patients [10%] and 1 thalassaemia patient [5%] were HBV-positive, while 5% of both case groups were HCV-positive. Mean values of INF-? were significantly different between AML, thalassaemia major and control groups: 5517 [SD 1142] pg/mL, 1024 [SD 249] pg/mL and 2980 [SD 604] pg/mL respectively

Interleukins 12 and 13 levels among beta-thalassaemia major patients

The role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia is still unclear. In this study production levels of interleukins [IL]-12 and IL-13 were measured by commercial ELISA in cultureI supernatants of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 non-splenectomized beta-thalassaemia cases with iron overload and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. IL-12 levels were significantly lower among cases compared with controls [91.4 pg/mL versus 154.6 pg/mL] while IL-13 levels were significantly higher [42.5 pg/mLversus 5.7 pg/mL]. There was a significant negative correlation between IL-12 and IL-13 levels among beta-thalassaemia cases [r= -0.42]. Patients with beta-thalassaemia alone had higher IL-12 levels than beta-thalassaemia patients who were seropositive for chronic hepatitis B or C virus Infection [140 pg/mL versus 50 pg/mL]; IL-13 levels were slightly lower [65 pg/mL versus 67 pg/mL]. An imbalance In the IL-12/IL-13 axis may be relevant to the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia

Study of host immunity in patients with Helicobacter pylori-related idiopathic thrombocytopenia

To test the role of T helper cell Th1 immunity we recruited 24 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia associated with H. pylori seropositivity. They were divided into 2 groups: 12 with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia [Group 1] and 12 with non-immune mediated thrombocytopenia [Group 2]. We also recruited 10 individuals seronegative for H. pylori [Group 3] as controls. Initial platelet count was significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2. H. pyloriwas eradicated in 10 of 12 patients in Group 1 and in all patients in Group 2. Transient improvement [< 3 months] in the platelet count occurred in only 2 patients in Group 1 while improvement for > 6 months was observed in all patients in Group 2. There was a statistically significant direct correlation between platelet count and levels of TNF- and IFN-gamma in both study groups, while a non-significant correlation was seen in Group 3. Thus, H. pyloriinfection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all cases of thrombocytopenia, and should be eradicated in all H. pylori-positive patients with thrombocytopenia

Potential role of cytokines as predictors in infection induced premature rupture of membranes; I-colony stimulating factor one [CSF -1] in premature rupture of membranes whether term or preterm

Acute bacterial intraamniotic infections are an important cause of perinatal morbidity and death. Although early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are believed to decrease the ill effects of intraamniotic infection, this goal is frequently difficult to achieve because the infection may not be clinically apparent before delivery in all patients. In this respect, the current study was designed to assess the potential role of CSF-l as a predictor of infection induced rupture membrane whether term or preterm. Collectively 75 amniotic fluid samples were obtained through caesarian section [C.S.] route of delivery. Fifty of them were from women suffering from premature rupture of membrane [PROM] [25 preterm and 25 full term] as well as 25 full term women with intact membranes served as controls. Bacterial cultures, chlamydial LPS antigen, mycoplasma and CSF-l detections revealed a significant association of bacterial infections and CSF-l with PROM deliveries [term and preterm] compared to the controls. A significant increase in CSF-l values were observed among PROM cases compared to the controls. CSF-l values were higher among preterm cases than full term ones and among positive amniotic fluid bacterial culture cases compared to negative culture ones. The highest CSF-l values were with ordinary bacterial infections and the least were with mycoplasmal and ureaplasmal ones

Potential role of cytokines in infection induced premature rupture of membranes; II- interleukin-6 in the amniotic fluid in cases of premature rupture of membranes whether term or preterm

The study aimed at evaluating the role of IL-6 in infection induced premature rupture of membranes [PROM]. 75 pregnant women at labor were the subjects of the study. Group I, included 25 preterm PROM cases, gp II included 25 full term PROM cases and group III included 25 full term with intact membranes [controls]. Amniotic fluid was collected through caesarean section route of delivery. Bacterial culture, chlamydial LPS antigen, mycoplasma detection and IL-6 quantitation, all except mycoplasma revealed, significantly higher values among PROM cases compared to the controls. They revealed to be good diagnostic tools to assess the microbial state of amniotic fluid. IL-6 recorded a significant constant level of 1050 pg/ml among all preterm PROM cases regardless the bacterial results. We conclude that lL-6 determination could be a good predictor of infection induced PROM

Potential role of cytokines in infection induced premature rupture of membrane; III- interleukin one beta in premature rupture of membranes whether term or preterm

The study was conducted upon 75 pregnant women delivering by caesarean section [CS] route. Group I [n=25] included preterm premature rupture of membranes [PROM] cases [20-37 wks of gestation], Group II [n=25] included full term PROM cases [38-42 wks], Group III [n=25] included the controls who were full term with intact membranes submitted to elective CS. Routine bacteriologic culture, chlamydial LPS and mycoplasmal detection and IL-1beta estimation of amniotic fluid samples revealed a significantly elevated IL-1beta values among preterm PROM cases with positive bacterial culture compared to negative culture cases. Also full term PROM cases revealed significantly elevated IL-1beta values among positive chlamydial amniotic fluid samples. To conclude IL-1beta could be a potential marker in infection induced PROM cases. Further studies arc warranted to clarify the role of IL-1beta receptor antagonist as a causal therapy in PROM cases

Should we routinely check for hepatitis B and C in patients with lichen planus or cutaneous vasculitis?

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies in a group of 43 patients with lichen planus and 19 patients with cutaneous vasculitis versus 30 controls. The results showed that 12 [27.9%] patients with lichen planus were positive for HBs-Ag, 9 [20.9%] were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 3 [7%] were positive for both. In cutaneous vasculitis patients, 3 [15.8%] were HBs-Ag-positive, 7 [36.8%] were anti-HCV-positive and 3 [15.8%] were positive for both. In the control group, 8 [26.7%] were HBs-Ag positive, 3 [10%] were anti-HCV-positive and 1 [3.3%] was positive for both. These values were not statistically significant

Cellular immune response in acute hepatitis B leading to chronic carrier state

Immunological studies among jaundiced patients revealed significant changes in T-helper and T-suppressor cells among chronic HBV cases from the acute and control groups. The chronic cases revealed a highly significant decrease in interleukin-2R expression but their low interferon-gamma values were statistically nonsignificant from the control group. The acute cases recorded the highest interleukin-2R and interferon-gamma values. Lymphocyte blastogenesis assay in response to different mitogens and antigens produced two groups: responders [acute cases] and nonresponders [chronic cases]. The responders revealed more intact specific and nonspecific cellular immune responses. Neither group differed with regard to their proliferative response to HBsAg, but vigorous response to HBcAg was a significant feature of the responders

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] in serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

A total of 45 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 45 healthy individuals were subjected to chest examination, radiography and ELISA tests for IgA and IgG antibodies. Sputum smear and culture were performed for all tuberculous patients. Evaluated against clinical and radiological diagnosis, ELISA's specificity exceeded 90% in detecting specific IgA and IgG antibodies. The parallel application of ELISA and microscopic examination of sputum yielded 80% sensitivity compared with clinical and radiological examination and 100% sensitivity compared with culture. ELISA alone can be used in ruling out pulmonary tuberculosis but not in diagnosing the disease. However, coupled with microscopic examination, it can be used instead of culture to provide positive diagnosis within 24 hours