Cytokine priming of eosinophils in bronchial asthma

To investigate the degree of eosinophil activation in the airway of children with bronchial asthma, granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF] and eosinophil cationic protein [ECP] from sputum extracts obtained from 33 asthmatic children during acute attacks and in remission were detected. The chronicity of asthma ranged from 4 to 14 years [mean +/- SD = 8.97 +/- 3.65 years]. In addition, 20 age and sex matched healthy children were enrolled in the study to serve as a control group. After complete history taking and clinical assessment of the severity of asthma, sputum and peripheral blood samples were obtained from all subjects for determining the concentrations of sputum and blood eosinophil%, sputum and serum GM- CSF by enzyme immunoassay [EIA], serum IL-3 by EIA and sputum ECP by radioimmunoassay [RIA]. These findings suggested that continuous priming of eosinophils occurs in asthmatic children regardless of the severity or quiescence of asthma. This activation can be simply detected by sputum analysis for GM-CSF and ECP; both should be considered as useful markers for the evaluation of the efficacy and response to therapy in asthmatic children

Zinc status in Egyptian children with connective tissue diseases

In order to evaluate the metabolic handling of zinc in children with connective tissue diseases and to correlate zinc status among these patients with the type and activity of the disease, 52 children were enrolled in this study. A significant deficiency of plasma zinc levels was observed among patients compared with controls. Also, 2 hours after oral zinc supplementation, the mean% change of plasma zinc levels from basal values were significantly lower in patients than the controls. Concerning the 24 hours urinary zinc content, it was significantly reduced in patients compared with controls. However, the type, the activity or the duration of the disease did not influence zinc status in the patients

Dermatoglyphics in children with paralytic poliomyelitis

This work was conducted on 30 children with paralytic poliomyelitis and 10 healthy children as a control group. Dermatoglyphics of patient was studied in comparison to controls and to standards for normal Egyptian children. The most prominent differences among patients and controls were encountered in the palmar areas where vestiges constituted the main pattern in patients reaching up to 100% in the 1st palmar area whereas in controls the arches were predominating. The percent distribution of accessory triradii a, b, c and d were significantly higher and partial simian crease occurred more frequently in poliomyelitis patients. There were no significant differences in the median digital ridge counts and digital patterns among patients and controls. These peculiar dermatoglyphic features constitute a further proof for the genetic basis of susceptibility to poliomyelitis. Further studies of the applicability of a multifactorial inheritance model are recommended

pathogenicity of thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 in asthmatic children

The role of platelets and platelet specific proteins in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma was studied in 40 known asthmatic children [13 receiving antihistaminics, 14 on beta 2 agonists and /or theophyllines and 13 were given corticosteroids] as well as in 10 age and sex matched healthy children [controls]. Platelet aggregation test and estimation of platelet factor 4 [PF4] and beta- thromboglobulin [beta-TG] were performed to all subjects on day 0 of the study and 7 days later [after therapy]. PF4 and beta-TG were high in asthmatics on day 0 while the results of platelet aggregation were comparable to those of the control group. Moreover, PF4 and beta-TG were positively correlated to serum IgE level and the absolute eosinophilic count. After therapy [day 7], antihistaminics had no effect on PF4 and beta-TG but led to a reduction in platelet aggregation. Bronchodilators and corticosteroids led to significant reduction in PF4 and bete-TG accompanied by clinical improvement and had no effect on platelet aggregation. It was concluded that PF4 and beta-TG as sensitive indices of platelet activation are closely related to clinical improvement of asthma and may be used in the assessment of severity and response to therapy in asthmatic children

efficacy of smaller dose of hepatitis B vaccine

The efficacy of two different doses [2.5 and 5meg] of Hepatitis B [Recombinant DNA] vaccine was tested in 20 healthy full term infants born to HBs Ag negative mothers. They were vaccinated at 0, 1 and 6 months. HBs antibody levels were measured using ELISA. technique in sera of mothers and, their corresponding infant prior to vaccination and repeated in infants 2 months after the last dose. The vaccine was well tolerated in either doses without local or systemic adverse reactions. The antibody response was comparable both in i:nmune infants born to HBs Ab positive mothers and non-immune ones born to HBs Ab negative mothers. HBs Ab level was 92.5 mlu/ml when the reduced dose [2.5 mcg] of the vaccine was given compared to 88.3 mlu/ml with 5 meg dose [P > 0.05] indicating comparable antibody response. We concluded that smaller doses of 2.5 meg could be used safely in mass vaccination of infants against hepatitis B infection