Serum adiponectin and resistin levels in de novo and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia children patients

Adipose tissue secretes a large number of adipocytokines such as leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. Many of these hormones and cytokines are altered in obese individuals and may lead to disruption of the normal balance between cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The aim of our work was to investigate the disturbance of secretion of adiponectin and resistin in de novo and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] in Egyptian children and determine whether adiponectin and resistin are implicated in increased risk relapse compared to healthy individuals. Measurements of adiponectin and resistin were performed at diagnosis, in 32 patients with de novo ALL aged 3 to 18 years [mean 9.8 y] and 19 children with relapsed ALL aged 5 to 17 [mean 9.9 yr]. 10 apparently healthy children with matched age and sex were used as controls. Mean adiponectin levels were low [P < 0.05], whereas mean resistin levels were high [P<0.05] at diagnosis and relapsed ALL [compared to healthy controls]. A significant decrease of adiponectin levels was observed in relapsed ALL compared to de novo ALL. In contrast resistin was significantly increased in relapsed ALL compared to de novo patients. Adiponectin in ALL subjects inversely correlated with resistin level [r = -0.51, P < 0.001]. Low adiponectin and high resistin level at diagnosis suggest their implication in ALL pathogenesis and may serve as potential clinically significant diagnostic markers to detect leukemic relapse

Involvement of chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerosis: Importance of methodology in determination the relation between them

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae [C. pneumoniae] in atherosclerotic vascular tissue to assess their role in atherogenesis, and also the choice of the best methodology for detection. Immunohistochemistry staining [IHC] for vascular tissue specimens were done on 34 atherosclerotic vascular tissues and 54 normal vascular tissues as controls [34 internal control specimens and 20 external control specimens from healthy individuals]. Using 2 monoclonal antibodies: the species specific and the Chlamydia genus-specific antibody. Three PCR assays are used for detection of C. pneumoniae DNA: Single-step PCR with different DNA polymerases enzymes, the nested PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in 58. 8% of atherosclerotic vascular tissues by single-step PCR which used Tag DNA polymerase and detection by hybridization with specific probe, no detection by other methods and also no detection in healthy vascular tissues. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in atherosclerotic vascular tissues and no detection in healthy vascular tissues indicating that C. pneumoniae is playing a role in atherogenesis. Detection of C. pneumoniae is method dependent, so, the choice of assay I is of major importance when evaluating a relationship between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis