Transfer factor activation of the natural killer cell in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

Infection with hepatitis C virus [HCV] is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, little is known about how this virus is able to persist or whether this persistance might be because of its ability to alter the early innate immune response. The major HCV envelope protein E2 has been shown to bind to CD81; this leads to restricted cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells. Transfer factor advanced formula plus is formed of bovine and egg colostrum and has been found to increase NK cell activity by 437% above the base line. It is produced by 4 life research company/USA. Also, it contains several growth factors as insulin growth factors [IGF I], [IGF II], Transforming growth factor beta [TGF-B] and epidermal growth factor [EGF]. Assessment of Natural Killer [NK] cell activation by transfer factor in patients with chronic HCV infection whom are not candidate for standard therapy. 30 patients with chronic HCV infection, who are not candidate for standard therapy were subjected to: [1] History and clinical examination. [2] Liver function tests. [3] Viral markers [HBS Ag, HCV Ab]. [4] HCV RNA by PCR in the serum. [5] Flow cytometric analysis of NK cells in blood sample. [6] Patients were given transfer factor plus capsules twice daily before meals for 3 months then re-evaluation was done. Significant reduction of Mean alanine aminotransferase [SGPT] from 79.27 +/- 71.47 to 30.35 +/- 6.21, aspartate aminotransferase [SGOT] from 80.73 +/- 46.88 to 36.40 +/- 3.23 and serum Bilirubin from 1.58 +/- 0.72 to 0.86 +/- 0.33. Significant elevation of serum albumin from 3.19 +/- 0.70 to 3.59 +/- 0.54 and prothormbin activity from 0.63 +/- 0.14 to 0.82 +/- 0.12. No significant change in serum HCV RNA by PCR nor NK cell count by flow cytometry. Transfer factor advanced formula plus is an effective new therapeutic option for patients with chronic HCV infection who are not candidate for standard therapy

Study of some hemostatic factors in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome [type I]

Respiratory distress syndrome [RDS] and its complications are responsible for a large percentage of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hemostatic disturbances are frequently observed in sick preterm infants. Disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC] usually follows the development of RDS or the establishment of severe sepsis. The aim of the present study was to identify the frequency of DIC and consumptive thrombocytopenia in premature infants with RDS, to assess the activity of the main natural inhibitors of coagulation [Antithrombin III [ATIII] and Protein C [PC]], and to correlate the clinical findings of possible relation to DIC with the laboratory markers of DIC in the investigated preterm infants. The study was conducted on 50 premature infants with RDS and 10 normal preterm infants as a control group. Infants were subjected to full monitoring of their clinical status, vital signs and blood gases. Coagulation study included measurement of prothrombin activity, activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], serum fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products [FDPs], the activity of antithrombin Ill and protein C. Analysis of the results showed incomplete development of the coagulation system in preterm infants as indicated by decreased prothrombin activity %, the prolonged APTT, decreased ATIII and PC activity percentages. There was a significant reduction of platelet count, ATIII and PC activity % in the group of preterm infants with RDS. There was a significant correlation between the severity of RDS and the hemocoagulative parameters of DIC. Eight [16%] of the preterm infants with RDS had abnormal results suggestive of DIC. Six [12%] of our patients had compensated DIC and seven [14%] of them had consumptive thrombocytopenia

Conclusion: the results of this study highlighted the immaturity of the coagulation mechanism in Preterm infants. Consumptive thrombocytopenia and DIC are common complications of severe RDS

Varicella vaccine: a clinical and immunological study in healthy and immunocompromised children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The increased number and long term survival of immunocompromised children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL] might lead to their affection with fatal varicella, The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of varicella vaccine in a group of children with ALL and non-immune siblings of leukemic children. Forty-five children with ALL and 26 healthy siblings of children with ALL all with negative history of chicken pox were immunized with live attenuated varicella vaccine [Oka strain]. At the time of the study, thirty-five were still receiving maintenance chemotherapy [group I] and 10 have completed their maintenance therapy [group II]. Group III included the 26 healthy siblings of children with ALL. The control group comprised 15 children with ALL who acquired natural varicella virus infection [group IV]. Serum IgG antibodies against varicella zoster virus [VZV] were measured by ELISA at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after vaccination for leukemic children and at baseline and 6 weeks after vaccination in healthy siblings, and once for the control group. The results showed that patients in groups II and III tolerated well the vaccine with no side effects. However, varicella form rash occurred in 5 [14%] children out of 35 cases of group I, Three of them were treated with oral acyclovir. Zoster occurred in 3 cases [8.5%] of group I. Seroconversion in 71.1% of children of group I and 70% of group II after one dose and in 91.4% of group I and 80% of group II after a second dose of the vaccine. The mean serum level of [VZV] IgG was significantly higher in groups III and IV than groups II and I after one dose of the vaccine [F=24.765, P<0.001]. The mean serum level of [VZV] IgG was significantly lower in ALL in children of group I after 6 months of vaccination compared to the healthy siblings [P<0.001]. However, during 3 years follow up; breakthrough varicella occurred in only one case of group II after household exposure. It was mild with no fever and with only 7 skin lesions

Conclusion: varicella vaccine administered carefully with close follow-up is safe and beneficial to leukemic children. The vaccine-induced immunity appeared effective in preventing or modifying chicken pox after exposure to natural disease in ALL children

Study of some autoantibodies in cases of lymphoproliferatve disease

lymphoproliferative disorders are usually complicated by autoimmune disorders, the aim of this work is to study the autoimmune profile in some cases of lymphoproliferative disease. Material and Sixty cases of B-lymphoproliferative disorders, forty-five cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL] and fifteen chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL] were included in this study. The autoimmune profile including; anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-ds-DNA anti-cardiolipin antibodies, both IgG and IgM were evaluated. 42% percent of studied cases displayed one or more autoimmune marker positivity. A total thirteen out of sixty [22%] were postive for anti-nuclear antibodies; three out fifteen CLL cases [20%] and ten out of forty-five non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases [22%]. Two out of fifteen [13%] CLL cases and eight out of forty-five [18%] NHL cases were positive for anti-ds-DNA antibodies. Only thirty-eight cases were tested for anti-cardiolipin antibodies; three case were acL IgG positive and nine were acL IgM positive. Although there was a high percent of positive autoimmune marker, SLE was diagnosed clinically in only of the NHL cases [2.2%]. HCV seropositivity was tested to exclude HCV as a contributing factor for autoantibodies development. Causes of autoimmune phenomena in lymphoproliferative conditions are heterogeneous and the association may not necessarily causal; certain individuals may be genetically predisposed to develop both disorders i.e. that genetic factors disturbing the regulation of the immune system may predispose both to lymphoid neoplasms and to autoimmune disease

Chromosome aberrations in chronic renal failure

A high frequency of cancer appears among uremic patients. Meanwhile, occupational and environmental pollutants may have a role in the development of chronic renal failure [CRF] and some of these pollutants have a potential genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The present study was undertaken to investigate the rate of chromosomal aberrations [CA] in patients with advanced CRF of known and unknown etiology. Chromosomes were analyzed in Peripheral blood lymphocytes of two groups of patients with CRF. Group I [n = 10] with known and group II [n = 10] with unknown etiology of CRF and the results were compared to those of 10 healthy controls [group III] of matched age, sex and region of residence [urban or countryside] to those in group I, II. Increased rate of CA of peripheral blood lymphocytes predominantly of chromatid break was noticed in patients with unknown etiology of CRF in comparison to the controls and to patients with known cause of CRF. Similar findings were obtained among farmers in group I, II in comparison to the controls and to other subjects with CRF. Increased rate of chromosomal damage occurs among patients with unknown etiology of CRF and also among farmers with CRF which may suggest a role of environmental exposure to genotoxic agent which may be nephrotoxic. The impact of these findings on the increased cancer incidence among uremic patients deserve further follow up studies