Anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with bronchial asthma; relation to nuclear factor-kappa b [INF-ka B] and inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and IL-13

Asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases of the airways .We aimed to investigate the potential antiinflammatory role of omega -3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids [omega-3 PUFA] supplementation in children with bronchial asthma in relation to the pulmonary functions, NF-ka B and cytokines [IL -12 and IL-13]. Asthmatic children [110 subjects] were divided into two groups: group A [60] supplemented with fish oil capsules containing 300 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and 700 mg eicosapentaenoic [EPA] in a dose of one capsule per day for one month, and group B [50 subjects] received placebo capsules for one month. Plasma level of DHA, NF-ka B, IL-12, IL-13 and pulmonary functions were compared between both groups before and after supplementation. The results showed that plasma DHA was increased with decrease of NF-ka B, IL- 12, IL-13, and improvement of forced vital capacity of the lungs in the supplemented group. There was a significant difference between supplemented and placebo group. Plasma DHA level was positively correlated to pulmonary function tests and negatively correlated to NF-ka B, IL-12 and IL-13. These results suggest that omega-3 PUFA supplementation is useful for treatment of asthma due to suppression of NF-ka B with subsequent decreasing production of inflammatory cytokines and improvement of pulmonary functions

Study on evaluation of the persistent elevation of C-reactive protein as a predictor of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in elderly patients maintained on hemodialysis

The average age of dialysis patients is increasing each year, reflecting the aging of the population in general. Hemodialysis [HD] patients suffer from a chronic inflammation. They are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. To evaluate the persistent elevation of C reactive protein [CRP] as a predictor of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in elderly patients maintained on HD. Quantitative determinations of serum high-sensitivity C reactive protein [hs-CRP] by ELISA were done in the 3 studied groups; Group A: included 30 selected end stage renal disease [ESRD] elderly patients maintained on regular HD at the Main Alexandria University Hospitals. Their mean ages were 68.50 +/- 5.20 years [15 males and 15 females]. Group B: included 20 age-matched elderly healthy individuals. Their mean ages were 69.10 +/- 6.42 years [10 males and 10 females]. Group C: included 10 healthy adult individuals. Their mean ages were 34.20 +/- 4.85 years [5 males and 5females]. Doppler Echocardiography was done to all subjects with estimation of ejection fraction [EF%], fractional shortening [FS%], and left ventricular mass index [LVMi] as well as E/A and El/Al ratios. In elderly HD patients, hs-CRP showed statistically significant higher levels than those of groups B and C with significantly higher values in group B than group C [F=19.85, p=0.001]. By using echocardiography, LVMi showed statistically significant higher values in group A than the other 2 groups with no significant difference between them [F=0.854, p=0.01], whereas FS and EF percentages showed no significant differences between the 3 studied groups. Both E/A and El/Al ratios showed statistically significant lower values in group A than groups B and C [x[2]= 13.33 and 12.38, p= 0.00] and 0.02 respectively]. Correlation study showed a significant negative correlation between serum hs-CRP levels and serum albumin, EF% and E/A ratio. On the other hand, serum hs-CRP levels had a significant positive correlation with serum urea, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and LVMi. In elderly patients maintained on HD, the persistent elevation of CRP, which reflects chronic inflammation, had a high impact on the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] and dysfunction. These data lend support to the hypothesis that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in these patients

Immunosuppressive effect in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Using tissue culture techniques, peripheral blood lymphocytes [PBL], obtained from patients undergoing various types of oral and maxillofacial surgical operations, have been found to develop depressed immunological competence as reflected by their diminished ability, under maximal stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin, to incorporate 14 C thymidine and synthesise D.N.A. More important, however, was the observation that this biosynthetic defect was most severe in lymphocytes harvested from individuals of maxillofacial trauma with associated injuries and oral cancer. The clinical significance of this abnormality measured in vitro may be reflected by postoperative infection in case of multiple trauma, and the acceleration of metastasis which often takes place postoperatively in patients with carcinoma