ABSTRACT
Background: IL-17 plays a major protective role against fungal infection in mice and humans. Genetic defects involving IL-17 increase the susceptibility to candidiasis
Objective: This study aimed at assessing the association between serum Interleukin-17A [IL17A] and candida infection in Intensive Care Unit patients with candidemia versus non-candidemic patients
Methodology: 90 individuals were included; 60 ICU patients, divided into 2 groups; group1: 30 patients with Candidemia, group 2: 30 patients with Candida in sputum and/or urine samples and 30 apparently healthy as a control group. All enrolled individuals underwent history taking, physical examination, laboratory assessment for Candida albicans infection and serum IL-17A
Results: IL17A level was significantly high among candidemia group [0.24 +/-0.10 pg/ml] followed by group of candida in urine and sputum [0.08 +/- 0.02 pg/ml] [P-value <0.001]
Conclusion:There was an association between IL-17A levels and candidemia suggesting its predictive value for a forthcoming invasive candidiasis
ABSTRACT
Background/Aim Unexplained infertility constitutes around 15% of patients presenting with infertility. It is claimed today that unexplained infertility is often associated to immunologic factors. This condition may be a result of autoimmunity [in man and woman] or of isoimmunity [in woman]. Antisperm antibodies [ASA] are detected in 7 to 15 % of men and in 13 to 80 % in women with unexplained infertility. There is some evidence suggests that anti-thyroid antibodies [ATA] could exert a negative influence on the female reproductive potential. The elevated levels of anticardiolipin [aCL] in women with unexplained infertility yielded a hypothesis of pathogenetic involvement of aPL in unexplained infertility. The aim of this study was to determine the immunologic aspect in idiopathic infertility by detecting Non-organ specific [aCL], [ASA] and [ATA] antibodies in patients with unexplained infertility
Methods: This study was carried out on 55 women aged from 27 to 42 years. The cases were collected from January 2011 to December of the same year. The cases were admitted to the infertility outpatient clinic of the Gynecological and Obstetric Department of Benha University Hospital. Investigations were performed in Microbiology and Immunology Department of Benha Faculty of Medicine. Women under study were classified into two groups: Group I: included 30 women with unexplained infertility. Group II [control]: included 25 fertile women, women of this group were selected to have two children at least and they were selected from women who come to the clinic to insert intrauterine device [IUD]
Patients and controls were subjected to: Indirect immunofluorescence assay [IFA] that was used for detection of circulating ATA. Serum level of aCL was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA], while ASA level in serum and cervical secretion was also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay [ELISA]
Results: Serum ASA were positive in sera of [33.3%] of infertile women, while it was positive in [17.6%] in cervical secretion. Postcoital test was negative in [36.7%] of infertile women and in all women with positive ASA in cervical secretion. In fertile women aCL was below negative cut-off level [96%], while women with unexplained infertility were positive in [17%] for IgG antibodies and [36.7%] for IgM and [16.7%] for both together. ATA were detected in [20%] of infertile women and [12%] of fertile controls
In conclusion: altered immune system function and autoimmunity is a possible explanation for some cases of unexplained infertility as demonstrated by increased level of both organ specific and non-organ specific autoantibodies in women with unexplained infertility
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis [SBP] is a severe complication in cirrhotics with ascites. The immune system plays an important role in the development or eradication of this infection, however there is a lack of knowledge about this issue in ascitic infections. The aim of this study was to investigate lymphocyte subgroups and some cytokine levels in ascitic fluid [AF] in cirrhotic patients with and without SBP
Methods: A case-control study consisted of 31 cirrhotic patients with ascites, divided into two groups [16 SBP, 15 non-SBP]. For all patients, AF samples were examined for leucocytic count and differentiation ,lymphocyte surface markers [CD3,CD4,CD8] by flow cytometry, albumin, protein, glucose, serum-ascitic albumin gradient, bacterial growth on BACTEC blood culture bottles together with both serum and AF levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] and interleukin-6[IL-6]
Results: Lower CD4, CD4/CD8 ratio and higher CD8 were detected in patients with SBP. Serum IL-6 levels and [TNF-alpha] were significantly higher in patients with SBP, but in AF, IL-6 levels only were significantly higher in patients with SBP. Also, AF IL-6 increased significantly in culture negative patients with SBP [p=0.04]
Conclusion: Measurements of ascitic fluid IL-6 in cirrhotics with ascites could be a useful guide for detection of SBP especially in patients with negative cultures. Changes in the T lymphocyte subpopulation may be involved in the pathogenic process of ascites infection
ABSTRACT
Background/Aim Campylobacter is a major cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis in many industrialized and developing countries. The majority [approximately 90%] of cases of campylobacter gastroenteritis in humans is caused by Campylobacter jejuni [C jejuni], and most of the remainder is caused by Campylobacter coli [C.coli]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of campylobacter antigen[Ag] detection by enzyme immunne assay[EIA] using Premier Campy assay [Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, OH], and ImmunoCard STAT [Meridian Bioscience, Cincinnati, OH], in comparison to conventional culture for detection of Campylobacter in pediatric stool specimens in cases of gastroenteritis
Methods: This study was held in Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, from May 2011 to August 2011. A total of 80 stool specimens were collected from pediatric patients attending the Pediatric outpatient clinic and Pediatric Department of Benha University Hospital. All patients were complaining of diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Stool samples were cultured on modified charcoal cefoperazol dextrose agar [mCCDA] and were examined for Ag detection by ELISA using Premier Campy assay and lateral flow ImmunoCard STAT
Results: The sensitivities of these tests were 100% and 88.9%. The specificities were 97% and 95.5%. The positive predictive values [PPVs] were 81.9% and 72.7%. The negative predictive values [NPVs] were 100% and 98.5% respectively
On conclusion: These results showed that Premier Campy assay and ImmunoCard STAT are convenient methods with short turnaround times for final test results; they provide rapid and reliable alternatives for conventional culture in the laboratory diagnosis of campylobacter enteric infections. Abbreviations: C jejuni, Campylobacter jejuni; C. coli, Campylobacter coli; EIA ,enzyme immunne assay; mCCDA, modified charcoal cefoperazol dextrose agar; PPV, positive predictive value ; NPV, negative predictive value
ABSTRACT
Background/Aim: Human bocavirus [HBoV] is a recently discovered parvovirus associated with acute respiratory tract infections in children. The aim of this study was to define the epidemiological profile and the clinical characteristics associated with HBoV infection in a population of children hospitalized with respiratory tract infections at Benha University Hospital, especially in terms of HBoV load
Methods: 200 nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected and analyzed at the period from September 2010 to July 2011 from children with respiratory manifestations, their ages ranged from 1 month to 12 years. All samples were tested for HBoV DNA by quantitative real time PCR and tested by Ag detection immunofluorescence test for 8 of the most important viruses encountered in lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children namely, Adenovirus [ADV], Influenza A and B [Flu-A and B], Para influenza 1,2 and3 [PIV 1-3], Human metapnuemovirus (HMPV) and Respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]
Results: Our results revealed that HBoV was the most prevalent virus 20/200 [10%] followed by RSV [8%] and HMPV [4%]. 15/20 [75%] ofHBoV+ samples were in co-infection with one of the tested viral agents and the majority of the co-infections, 10/15 [66.7%] were HBoV-RSV co-infection. The mean age of HBoV+ cases was 19.1 months and the majority 14/20 [70%] were under 2 years old. HBoV+ cases were concentrated in the winter season. No significant differences were found in term of age , gender or frequencies of respiratory manifestations between patients with sole-HBoV infection and patients with co-infection with other viruses. The median viral load in patients with sole HBoV Infection [196xl0[5] was significantly higher than those who had co-infection with other respiratory viruses [0.033xl0[5] [p=0.006]
The manifestations observed in patients with serious lower respiratory tract infections, like tachypnea, dyspnea and cyanosis, were significantly presented more frequently in children with high HBoV loads than those with low HBoV load
On conclusion: HBoV is one of the most prevalent respiratory viruses and plays an important role in respiratory illness in children?