Fungal and bacterial infection in malnourished children and its relation to severity of the disease

The present research was conducted to assess the prevalence of fungal and bacterial infections in malnourished children and correlating these infections with the severity and type of malnutrition. The study included 50 malnourished children [25 Marasmus and 25 Kwashiorkor KW], their ages ranged from 1 to 36 months with a mean of 10'7 months. All patients were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination: Anthropometric measures: Routine investigations and Microbiological study [fungal and bacterial cultures] of urine samples obtained by suprapubic aspiration both rectal and mouth swabs as well as gastric aspirate using nasogastric feeding tube were taken from each patient. The present study revealed that Candida albicans was the most prevalent fungal pathogen isolated, constituted 81% of +ve fungal cultures [85% in marasmus and 15% in KW patients]. E. coli was the most prevalent bacterial pathogen, detected in 50.5% of all +/- ve cultures [57% in marasmus and 43% in KW patients]. The severity of childhood malnutrition determines the incidence of fungal and bacterial infection

PCR and immunocytochemistry detection of p27[kip1] in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia [B-CLL] is a clonal expansion of B-cells with low proliferative activity in which the cells are arrested in G[0]/G[1] phase of cell cycle. p27[KIP1] is one of the KIP/CIP family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors [CKIs] which inhibit all cyclin dependent kinases by direct binding to cdk complexes. It is highly expressed when cells are arrested in G[0]/G[1]and its expression declines as cells progress towards S phase. In B-CLL the non-physiological increase in p27[KIP1] appears to be of clinical relevance since high protein levels correlate with poorer survival of patients. To study the expression of p27[KIP1] in B-CLL patients and correlate these results with the clinical and laboratory data of patients. p27[KIP1] expression was determined at the mRNA level by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] and at the protein level by immunocytochemistry in 35 patients with de novo B-CLL and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects. p27[KIP1] mRNA levels by RT-PCR was significantly higher among CLL patients compared to the control subjects [p<0.001] and was significantly higher among group II CLL patients [lymphocyte count >30 x 10[3]/L] compared to group I CLL patients [lymphocyte count

Role of interferon-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and T cell activation in aplastic anemia pathogenesis

The present work was performed to clarify the role of stimulatory cytokine as IL-1 beta and inhibitory cytokine as IFN-gamma and T cell activation evidenced by CD25 expression in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia. Twenty-eight newly diagnosed aplastic anemia patients and 15 age and sex matched healthy controls were included in this study. An estimation of IL-1 beta, IFN-gamma and the percentage of CD25 expression was done to all patients and controls. IFN-gamma was significantly higher in AA patients as compared with the age matched controls. IL-1 beta was significantly lower in AA patients as compared with the controls. The percentage of CD25 expression was significantly higher in AA patients as compared with the controls. There was a highly positive significant correlation between IFN-gamma and leucocytopenia. There was a negative significant correlation between IL-1 beta and each of age and leucocytopenia. There was a highly positive correlation between CD25 expression and Hb level of the patients

Dietary Modification and its relation to anorexia in Egyptian school children suffering from uncomplicated hepatitis A virus

Dietary modification and its relation to anorexia was studied in children with uncomplicated hepatitis a. Out of 60 cases of acute viral hepatitis collected from primary and preparatory schools, 34 cases [56%] proved to have hepatitis a with positive Anti HAV IgM. All of these patients were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination, liver function tests, dietary assessment and followed up for 4 weeks. Anorexia was positive in all cases [100%]. A significant negative correlation between the duration of anorexia in days and certain foods mainly honey, molasses and milk, especially if these had been taken in the first week was found. These food items beside uncooked vegetables were found to be significantly correlated to the serum level of GPT. They may be helpful in improving liver function and lowering the serum level of GPT. We found that all our patients were taking a hypo caloric and unbalanced diet

Ascaris: Skin test and eosinophils

In the present study, skin testing, stool analysis and differential leucocytic count were performed for 115 children [4-12 years]. Children were either: infected with Ascaris. Healthy, low socio economic-class. Healthy, high socio-economic class. 4.6% of infested children gave a positive skin reaction to Ascaris, compared to 42% of the controls. All infested children had eosinophilia ranging from 2% up to 28%