Antioxidants and proinflamatory cytokines in the sera of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis

Leishmania is a significant health problem in many parts of the world. Tumor necrosis factor [TNF] plays an essential role in Leishmania major infections. To study the pro-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidants in four groups of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. 39 patients were divided into four groups of: 1] active [acute phase of treatment]; 2] non-healing [received treatment for almost two years without recovery]; 3] healing [recovered upon treatment]; and 4] healed [previously received treatment and achieved complete remission] patients. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [IL-1B, TNF-alpha, IL-6] and serum antioxidant levels were measured by ELISA and FRAP assays, respectively. While serum antioxidant levels were elevated in the non -healing group, there was no difference among other groups of patients and healthy controls in this regard. Interleukin-1beta showed the highest level in the non-healing group followed by the other groups of patients. The mean serum IL-6 level was highest in the non-healing group, but showed no significant change in the other groups. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels were non-significantly elevated in the sera of active and non-healing patients. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6 maybe related to the progression of leishmaniasis. Serum antioxidant levels maybe correlated with patient response to drug treatment.

Neutrophil function [innate immunity] during Ramadan

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the essential religious practices of Muslims. The aim of this study was to evaluate opsonisation, phagocytosis, and nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction by white blood cells in normal, healthy, male subjects under nonfasting [before Ramadan] and fasting [after Ramadan] conditions. In this study, 13 Muslim men, aged 28-54 years, whose health was confirmed by health application forms, gave blood samples one week before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan and during the last week of Ramadan. Blood samples were tested for neutrophil phagocytosis, serum opsonisation power, and NBT reduction. Despite a decline in the neutrophil phagocytic index and serum opsonisation index, the percentage of neutrophils participating in phagocytosis increased with fasting. In addition, there was an increase in the percentage of neutrophils demonstrating NBT reduction. Although there was a decrease in opsonisation of the serum, the increased percentage of opsonisation compensated for this defect. This study demonstrates the beneficial effect of fasting during Ramadan on neutrophil phagocytic function