Antibody profile, interferon-y and nutritional status in cryptosporidial infection among school children

This work studied the antibody profile, interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] serum level and nutritional status among infected schoolchildren aged 11 years in a rural school in Abis 8 Village. Fecal examination showed that only 19 cases infected with Cryptosporidium and 10 children were free from parasites [controls]. The IgA, IgG and IgM serum levels in infected cases were within normal level, without significant differences as compared to controls. The IgE serum level was significantly high in infected children. The cytokine IFN-gamma was significantly lower in the infected cases as compared to controls. Malnutrition was diagnostic among infected children. The study showed that malnutrition is the important finding related to Cryptosporidium infection. Malnutrition decreased IFN- gamma, the recognized factor in protection from infection, and elevated serum IgE level

Interleukin-8 [IL-8] production by activated neutrophils in rheumatoid disease

lnterleukin-8 [IL-8] produced by neutrophils was estimated before and after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide [LPS] in four groups of subjects:-a- 12 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, b-8 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis [JCA], c-12 patients with osteoarthritis [OA] and d- 12 healthy controls. Neurorphil IL-8 production without stimulation by exogenous mitogen was significantly higher in different groups of patients than in the control group. The contrary was detected when neutrophils were stimulated by LPS. On the other hand, significantly higher levels of IL-8 were produced by neutrophils [with or without stimulation] from patients with active RA than from active JCA and OA. This may suggest that the higher levels of IL-8 released from neutrophils may be, at least in part, responsible for the different behaviour of RA with respect to JCA and OA. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role [if any] played by IL-8 in the pathogenesis of OA