Study of soluble pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 18 in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Inflammatory mediators are intimately associated with the cascade of events ading to atherosclerotic plaque initiation, development, and rupture. This recognition has stimulated the evaluation of several markers of inflammation as potential tools for cardiovascular risk prediction interleukin IL-18 originally was identified as an interferon [IFN-gamma] inducing factor in Kupffer cells and macrophages. Increased IL-18 expression has been reported in human atherosclerotic plaque, mediating IFN-gamma release locally. The aim of this study is to assess the relation between serum concentrations of interleukin IL-18 and the clinical instability of coronary artery disease and to evaluate the relation between IL-18 serum levels and the extent of myocardial dysfunction. This study included forty subjects. Twenty patients with acute coronary syndrome [ten with myocardial infarction and ten with unstable angina] and ten patients with stable angina. Ten apparently healthy subjects were used as a reference group. All patients were examined and underwent ECG, diagnostic coronary angiography, some routine laboratory investigations such as [Complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting and post- prandial blood glucose, liver function tests and renal function tests] and specific laboratory investigation as Lipid profile assessment. Measurements of specific cardiac markers: [serum levels of CK, CK- MB, LDH and qualitative determination of troponin I]. Measurement of serum interleukin-18 [IL-18] and serum high sensitivity C- reactive protein [hs -[CRP]. Plasma concentrations of IL-18 were significantly increased in the unstable angina and MI groups in comparison with the stable angina and control groups [p < 0.01]. No difference in IL-18 oncentrations were found between patients with unstable angina, and patients with Q wave MI. Plasma IL-18 concentrations significantly correlated with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction [p = 0.001]. Plasma IL-18 concentrations are increased in patients with at acute- coronary syndrome and correlate with the severity of myocardial dysfunction

Cleaved L-Selectin in acute leukemia

L-selectin plays a critical role in the initiation of normal leukocyte attachment to activated endothelium, whereas other receptors [including integrins and immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules] are involved in leukocyte subsequent firm adhesion and transmigration into tissues. Soluble L-selectin retains bioactivity, and at high concentrations can inhibit binding of lymphocytes to endothelium. Little information is yet available on the diagnostic and physiologic significance of the circulating shed form of L-selectin. The present work was designated to measure sL-selectin levels during the clinical course of patients with acute leukemia. Serum samples were obtained from 59 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia, including 37 patients with AML and 22 patients ALL. The diagnosis and classification of AML or ALL were based on the criteria of the French-American-British Cooperative Group and immunophenotyping. Additional samples were obtained from patients in complete remission and patients after relapse. Control serum samples were obtained from 15 healthy blood donors. Serum samples were separated immediately and kept frozen at -20°C until assay. Leukemic patients were treated according to standard protocols for AML or ALL. Immunophenotyping was done on mononuclear cells separated on Ficoll-Hypaque. Cell surface antigens were detected by standard immunoflurescence methods using flowcytometer. Shed L-selectin assay was done using a sandwich immunoenzymometric technique. This study shows high levels of the sL-selectin in serum of patients with acute leukemia. The mean value of sL-selectin among healthy individuals was 1.120 +/- 0.178 micro g/ml. This value was increased in 17 of 22 patients with ALL [77%] and 25 of 37 patients with AML [65.5%]. Repeated measurements in 24 patients showed normal range in 19 patients with complete remission and high levels in 5 patients with therapy resistant acute leukemia. There are also increased levels in patients with relapse. High levels of serum sL-selectin in patients with acute leukemia may have an important role in regulating the initiation of blast cell adhesion to endothelium. In addition, measuring sL-selectin may be useful in detection of leukemia relapse. However, further in vivo studies are needed to establish definitely the role of sL-selectin in the regulation of blast cell migration into tissues

Symbiosis between bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean [glycine max] in different soils

Strain 110 was the most predominant one inside nodules formed on roots of plants grown in all tested soils. Soybean either inoculated or not could not grow more than 45 days in both calcareous and saline soils. Results of the second season showed that all the growth parameters in absence of rhizobial inoculation were lower than those of the first one. However, the previously inoculated treatments with mixed cultures showed significant response in respect to growth and nodulation

prevalence of salmonellae in meat and meat products

The number and types of salmonellae that were found in local and imported frozen meats and some meat products are reverted. Contamination of beef meat with salmonellae was heavier in imported frozen meat [30% positives] than, in samples of raw meat of local origin [21%]. Forty percent of sausage samples and 20% of minced meat samples were salmonellae positive, while only 10% of liver samples were positive. The presence of salmonellae in the kofta and kabab samples before but not after grilling, may be attributed to the heat treatment received by these products during processing. The recovery rate of salmonellae was higher in samples taken in the summer than in the winter. Salmonella typhimurium [causing food poisoing] was the most predominant serotype in the meats, followed by S, enteritidis and S. typhi [causing typhoid fever]. S. choleraesuis was isolated only from imported meats

Some factors affecting salmonellae growth in meat

The antimicrobial effect of onion, garlic, NaC1, and Iraqi spices on S. typhimurium and other organisms present in meat, as well as their microbial flora were studied. Fresh onion and garlic samples gave the highest counts for both total viable and coliforms. Few contaminants were recovered from the salt and spice samples. Salmonella was not recovered from any of the ingredients. The cooked meat treated with garlic resulted in greater inhibition of salmonellae growth than that in the onion treated sample. The inhibition rate reached, after storage for 7 days, was 85% with garlic and 21. 43% with onion. Iraqi spices were more effective in inhibiting the bacterial growth, whilst absolutely no growth occurred in the presence of salt, By increasing the concentration of the ingredients to 10% by weight, no significant change in growth curves of the organism was observed. When the food ingredients were added to the raw meat inoculated with. S. typhimurium, lesser inhibition was detected. The total bacterial counts, as well as the coliforms, were affected in a similar way as that of S. typhimurium in the presence of the different food ingredients. The effect of room, refrigeration and deep freeze storage temperatures on the growth of salmoneliae in meat was also studied. The initial viable counts of S. typhimurium was greatly increased at the room temperature [c. 23§C]. The maximum count reached in 4 days was 8.3 x 10§. No growth took place either at [3§C] or at [-8§C]. The freezer temperature eliminated more than 90% of the total salmonellae count in the meat. However, the organism could survive for more than one month

Interactions between salmonella typhimurium and other meat microorganisms

The competitive effect of certain organisms, that generally contaminate meat, on the growth of S. typhimurium was investigated. The test organisms were E. coli, Lactobacillus plantarum and certian species related to the genera Bacillus, Micrococcus and Pseudomonas. E. coli was found to exhibit antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium. Micrococcal organisms and L. plantarum slightly limited its growth rate. This was observed in meat as well as in the broth medium. Great stimulation of S. typhimurium growth was detected when grown together with the Pseudomonas sp. Lesser stimulatory effects were obtained for the Bacillus sp, The proteolytic activity of the organisms seemed to be responsible for their stimulatory effects