Interleukins 12 and 13 levels among beta-thalassaemia major patients

The role of inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia is still unclear. In this study production levels of interleukins [IL]-12 and IL-13 were measured by commercial ELISA in cultureI supernatants of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 non-splenectomized beta-thalassaemia cases with iron overload and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. IL-12 levels were significantly lower among cases compared with controls [91.4 pg/mL versus 154.6 pg/mL] while IL-13 levels were significantly higher [42.5 pg/mLversus 5.7 pg/mL]. There was a significant negative correlation between IL-12 and IL-13 levels among beta-thalassaemia cases [r= -0.42]. Patients with beta-thalassaemia alone had higher IL-12 levels than beta-thalassaemia patients who were seropositive for chronic hepatitis B or C virus Infection [140 pg/mL versus 50 pg/mL]; IL-13 levels were slightly lower [65 pg/mL versus 67 pg/mL]. An imbalance In the IL-12/IL-13 axis may be relevant to the pathophysiology of beta-thalassaemia

Could the MMR vaccine replace the measles vaccine at one year of age in Egypt?

This cross-sectional study evaluated the immune status of non-vaccinated healthy infants to determine if it is possible to replace both measles vaccine [at 9 months] and measles, mumps and rubella [MMR] vaccine [at 18 months] with a single dose of MMR at 12 months. Serum samples from 566 children in Alexandria, Egypt showed a significant decrease in the seropositive rate to the 3 viral diseases with increasing age, but a significant increase in the seropositive rate among infants who were ranked 1st or 2nd in their family, full-term or born to mothers with no history of hypertension during pregnancy. We recommend administration of the first dose of MMR vaccine between 9 and 12 months of age, and a booster dose of MMR vaccine at 4 years of age