Are paralysed chondrocytes really dying?

Paralysed chondrocytes are cells with uncommon morphology that recently have been seen among the non-hypertrophic chondrocytes of rabbit growth cartilage. Paralysed chondrocytes characterised by condensed nucleus and well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatous and numerous secretory vesicles. Because, in some examples, the cytoplasm of these cells appeared empty except from few organelles and the nucleus was condensed, paralysed chondrocytes were considered as an example of physiologically dying cells. Studying of paralysed chondrocytes is difficult due to the absence of an in vitro model in which the paralysed ehondrocytes could be induced. The aims of the current study were to establish a system of culture for induction of paralysed chondrocytes and to investigate if these cells are really dying. Chondrocytes were isolated from the growth cartilage of fetal equines, centrifuged and cultured as pellets in either 10% fetal calf serum or 10% horse serum for 28 days and processed for light and electron microscopy. Different cell types were counted and expressed as a percentage to the total cell number. Growth kinetics including the pellet weight and thickness and the cellular density were evaluated. After 7 days in culture, paralysed chondrocytes with similar morphology to those described in the rabbit growth cartilage could be identified in pellets in each serum type, however, the proportion of the cells was different. In pellet cultured with 10% fetal calf serum, more than 50% of the cells were paralysed chondrocytes but in 10% horse serum, less than 10% of cells were of paralysed type. At day 14, about 50% of the cells in pellets cultured in either serum type differentiated into hypertrophic dark chondrocytes and the proportion of paralysed cells was markedly decreased. After 21 days in each culture, more than 70% of the cells were hypertrophic dark chondrocytes and no paralysed chondrocytes could be observed. Interestingly, the pellets in both serum types showed similar growth kinetics. The paralysed chondrocytes may be not dying and they likely to be an immature form of hypertrophic dark chondrocytes. It is better to use the term immature dark chondrocytes instead of paralysed cells. This culture system will be useful for further molecular studies on paralysed chondrocytes and to explore the functions of these cells

Prevalence, risk factors and impacts of schistosomal and intestinal parasitic infections among rural school children in Sohag governorate

Parasitic diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in childhood in most parts of the world. Hygiene and play habits make children especially vulnerable to schistosomal and parasitic infections. The aim of this study is to define the prevalence of different types of parasitic infections, to define their risk factors and to determine their impacts on health and scholastic absenteeism and achievement of rural school students in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. A cross-section, analytical study design was chosen to perform this research on 960 rural school students. All the students were interviewed and examined clinically and laboratory. The study showed that 38.5% of the students were infected by parasites. Entaemoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis and Giardia lamblia had the highest percentages, 20.4%, 16.6% and 15.2%, respectively. Male sex, last birth order, poor personal hygiene, low socioeconomic level, >/=3 infected siblings, previous parasitic infections and no early consultation for therapy were important risk factors [ORs=1.41, 2.32, 2.63, 2.86, 4.17, 9.80 and 10.83, respectively]. Also, 29.2% and 31.6% of infected students were below the 5th percentiles as regard weight-for-age and height-for-age, respectively. Anemia was present among 52.4% of infected students. Further, 3.2% of them had hepatomegaly. Also, 37.8% and 41.1% of infected students had 0-3 and 4-6 days/month absent, respectively, while, 34.3% of infected students had a scholastic achievement <50.0%. Improving personal and environmental hygiene and regular screening, treatment and health education for students as regard parasitic infections in Egypt is recommended

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1-beta in rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma: Correlations with clinical, laboratory and radiological indices of disease severity

This study included 84 patients with arthritis; 34 with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 16 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 24 with systemic lupus erthematosus [SLE] and 10 with scleroderma. In addition, 25 normal healthy subjects' age and sex matched were included as controls. All studied cases have been subjected to careful history and clinical examination to joints to assess disease activity. They were also subjected to laboratory investigations which included hologram, acute phase reactants [erythroytic sedimentation rate: EST; C-reactive protein: CRP and alpha-macroglobulin: alpha-MG, rheumatoid factor: RF, antinative DNA ntibodies, LE cells and serum determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] and interleukin-1-beta [IL-1-beta]. Radiographic examination to the affected joints with quantitavite evaluation of joints erosin and narrowing in hands and feet were done. The results of the study revealed significantly higher serum levels pf TNF-alpha and IL-1-beta [p< 0.01 for each] in patients compared with controls. RA patients showed significantly higher serum levels of TNF-alpha than SLE scleroderma group [p< 0.01 for each]. The mean serum level of IL-1-beta was significantly higher in cases with RA than each of JRA, and scleroderma [p< 0.05, p< 0.001 respectively]. Significant positive correlation was found between the two cytokines; TNF-alpha and IL-1-beta [r=0.937, p< 0.001] and both showed positive significant correlation with ESR but not with CRP and alpha2mg, in spite of the significant correlation which were found between ESR and either CRP or alpha2m. Scores for bone erosions and joint space narrowing were significantly higher in RA group than either SLE or sclroderma group [p< 0.001 for each], but no significant difference was found between RA group and JRA group. Scores for bone erosins and joint space narrowing showed significant positive correlations with serum levels of either TNF-alpha or IL-1-beta in RA group [r=0.443 and 0.458, p< 0.04 and < 0.003 respectively], and in JRA group [r=0.451 and 0.416, p< 0.04 and < 0.05 respectively]. In conclusion, serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1-beta were found to be correlated with the degree of severity of arthritis as assessed clinically, laboratory and radiologically and the significantly higher levels of both TNF-alpha and IL-1-beta in RA and JRA can be attributed to more severe joints affection in both of them than SLE and scleroderma