ABSTRACT
Urinary tract infection [UTI] is one of the most common infections in infants and children, especially in their first decade of life. These patients are more susceptible to renal scars and other possible complications like growth retardation, arterial hypertension, proteinuria, isostenuria, and finally chronic renal failure. Trace elements like vitamins and minerals are essential for efficient metabolism and proper function of various body systems namely immune system. In this trial we compared the relation between serum levels of zinc, vitamins A and D in children inflicted with UTI and control group. This was a cross-sectional study on 25 patients with UTI admitted to pediatric wards of Rasul Akram Hospital and Bahrami Hospital. They were compared to 40 other patients admitted in surgical wards for elective surgery. Serum levels of zinc, vitamins A and D were measured in both groups. Seventy two percent of the patients were male and 28% female. The average age was 2.17. Despite the lower levels of vitamins A and D in cases than controls, the difference was not significant [P=0.4 and P=0.9, respectively]. However, serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in cases than controls [P<0.05]. Vitamins A and D may play some role in patients' vulnerability to UTI, but this supposition needs more research on larger samples, considering differences among patients of various age groups and their nutritional status. According to the study, lower levels of zinc were associated with susceptibility to UTI; thence, its administration might be helpful
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Vitamin A/blood , Vitamin D/blood , Zinc/blood , Child , Hospitals, UniversityABSTRACT
Tonsils and adenoid hypertrophy is a major respiratory symptom in children which is partly due to recruitment of inflammatory cells in upper airway lymph nodes as a result of the effects of synthesis and release of different inflammatory cytokines. It seems that infections play role in concert with these cytokines leading to tonsilar hypertrophy and other pathologic consequences. It is proposed that cellular infiltrate of tonsils and adenoids may secrete different quantities of these cytokines compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] cultures. Among patients who were admitted for adenotonsillectomy to the ENT ward, 37 patients, under 1-12 years old patients with fulfill criteria selected to include the study. Excised adenoid and tonsils cultured and inflammatory cytokines Interferon-gamma [INF-gamma], Interlukine-1 [IL-1], IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] measured in cellular culture supernatant. The same cytokines measured in PBMC cultures. The data shows that there is a significant difference between IFN-gamma and IL-8 amounts in adenoid tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of our patients. Furthermore, the amounts of IFN-gamma, IL-1 and IL-8 showed considerable difference between tonsilar tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of these patients. Although there is a significant correlation between IL-6 amounts in tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture [P=0.02], the respective data for TNF is only almost significant. Inflammatory cytokines may have significant role in the early provoke of inflammation occurred in hypertrophied tonsils and adenoid. The majority of these cytokines increase the expression of adhesion molecules on epithelial cells and influence the recruitment of leucocytes and inflamed tonsils. On the other hand lack of sufficient cytokine release may lead to persistent infections and may cause chronic inflammation and hypertrophied tissue
ABSTRACT
Staphylococcus aureus secretes numerous superantigenes which trigger the inflammatory mechanisms of sinus mucosa and cause chronic rhino-sinusitis. This study was designed to evaluate the role of staphylococcus aureus superantigens in polyp tissues of patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis in comparison with a control group. Polyp tissue samples of 28 patients and mucosal specimens of 19 healthy individuals were evaluated for staphylococcus aureus bacterium superantigens, exotoxins A, B, C and D and TSST-1 with RT-PCR and ELISA methods Rasoul Akram Hospital during 2 years. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] results revealed that 88.2% of the patients and 45.5% of the controls had at least one type of superantigen [P=0.03]. Evaluation of superantigens using ELISA method showed presence of at least one type of superantigen in the nasal samples of all patients and in 35.3% of the controls [P < 0.001]. A relationship between staphylococcal superantigens and nasal polyps is concluded from this study which indicates the probable role of these superantigens in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis