Assessment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and selected serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and clinical significance

This study was designed to elucidate the prevalence and clinical implications of various cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-2 in presence or absence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto- antibodies [ANCAs] in children with SLE. The present study was conducted on 29 children with SLE and 20 healthy children of matched age and sex as controls. Patients were selected from the Rheumatology Clinic, Cairo University Pediatric Hospital. Serum levels of ANCAs, ANA, anti-ds-DNA were assayed by an indirect immuno-fluorescence technique [IIP]. Serum levels of cytokines [TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-2] were assayed by ELISA technique. The anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto- antibodies were present in 55% of children with SLE. Furthermore, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 were increased and IL-2 level was decreased in SLE children positive for ANCAs. In addition, SLE complications were increased in those children. These results demonstrate that ANCAs may be detectable in SLE sera and their presence could be associated with particular clinical manifestations

Acute and chronic diarrhea in children: dietary management and its impact on nutritional status

The study aimed to assess the nutritional status of children with chronic and acute diarrhea through both anthropometric and biochemical parameters. It also aimed to investigate whether the body weight and different biochemical parameters may be modified by dietary rehabilitation with either a diet containing skimmed milk [modest amount] and fortified with zinc and vitamin A [diet I] or lactose restricted diet containing chicken meat [diet II]. Both diets contained anti-diarrheal edible plants, in addition to cereals and legumes using honey as a sweetener. The parameters that are determinant of the disease severity including stool frequency and consistency, duration of diarrhea and appetite improvement were also assessed. Dietary rehabilitation of both diets proved to be efficient [with different degrees] in the management of acute and chronic diarrhea and restoration of different biochemical parameters towards normal levels