Study of some immune aspects in patients with fascioliasis before and after commiphora molmol [mirazid] treatment

This study was planned to evaluate the in vitro production of IL-1 beta and IL-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] and total IgE in patients with fascioliasis before and three months after treatment with purified extract of myrrh from Commiphora molmol tree [mirazid], to determine the role of these variables in the immunopathogenesis of the disease in relation to this new drug. The study was carried out on a total of 35 patients with chronic fascioliasis with an age range from 9 to 45 years, in addition to 10 healthy subjects with matched age and sex serving as controls. Serum IgE and in vitro IL-1 and IL-4 were estimated by enzyme immunoassay [ELISA] before and three months after therapy. The study concluded that mirazid is an effective fasciolicidal drug. IL-1 may be involved in the disease immuno-pathogenesis and the depressed IL-4 may be a phenomenon of the parasite immune suppression. A complete decline of total IgE is not an early criterion of cure

Helicobacter pylori infection as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

The work included 17 coronary diseased patients and 10 controls, their mean ages were 56.4 +/- 12 years vs 46.3 +/- 15.2 years, respectively. Electrocardiography, echocardiography, cardiac enzymes levels in blood, lipid profile together with IgG and IgA to detect Helicobacter pylori infections were done to both coronary heart disease and control groups. The results showed that H. pylori infections were detected in 41% of CHD patients and control group, respectively, while recent infections was detected in 47% of CHD patients, it was doubtful in 24% with no recent infection in 29% of them as showed by IgA. For the control group, none had recent infections and 20% of them were doubtful. H. pylori seropositivity was inversely related to the level of HDL in both the CHD and the control patients