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

Comparison of cervicovaginal proinflammatory cytokines with fetal fibronectin and cervical length in predicting preterm labor in Egyptian woman

Spontaneous preterm birth remains a significant problem allover the world despite increase research to decrease its prevalence. Strategies have been limited by inability to identify patients at risk for preterm birth, as the majority of patients don't have historical risk factors. The development of an assay to detect cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin [fFN], proinflammatory cytokines along with transvaginal cervical length determination has greatly increased our ability to identify those patients with high risk. We performed quantitative analysis of fFN, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in cervicovaginal secretions by ELISA to predict preterm delivered patients with intact membrane and cervical dilatation of