Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 [MMP-2] in children and adolescents with type I diabetes mellitus

Type I diabetes mellitus [T1DM] is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology. It has been suggested that matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] play important roles in the development and complications of autoimmune disorders. Results published on the use of MMPs as markers in relation to diabetic complications are somewhat conflicting. The aim of this study was to estimate serum levels of MMP-2 in children and adolescents with T1DM, compared with levels in age-matched controls, and to correlate the levels of MMP-2 with duration of the disease, and with parameters of both glycemic control and renal function. We measured serum levels of MMP-2 in 60 patients with T1DM, aged 2-18 years, with or without microangiopathic complications and in 20 sex-and age-matched controls using enzyme immunoassay. Serum levels of MMP-2 were significantly higher in the studied patients than in the controls [p=0.000]. Serum levels of MMP-2 in diabetic patients with microangiopathic complications were significantly higher than serum levels of MMP-2 in diabetic patients without microangiopathic complications [p=0.002]. Positive significant correlation between serum level of MMP-2 and disease duration [r=0.715; p=0.000] was noted. On the other hand, no significant correlation was found between serum level of MMP-2 and any of the following parameters: Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood urea, and serum creatinine [all p>0.05]. In conclusion, Serum MMP-2 levels are elevated in T1DM. Because higher MMP-2 levels were associated with the presence of diabetic complications, we raise the possibility that upregulation of MMP-2 levels might play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Measurement of serum MMP-2 is a potentially useful marker in studies of diabetic patients at risk of progression to diabetic complications

Genetic variant of interleukin-13 [IL-13] and asthma in children

Interleukin-13 [IL-13] is a central cytokine in promoting asthma through the stimulation of bronchial epithelial mucus secretion and smooth muscle hyper reactivity. Genetic variants of IL-13 have an important role in the development of asthma in children. The aim of this study was to detect the association of "Gln110Arg" [a new variant of the human IL-13 gene] with asthma and to compare with its association with healthy children controls. The study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, El- Minia University Hospital, during the period from January 2002 to January 2003. The study included two groups of age matched children: group I consisted of 35 asthmatic children [24 males and 11 females] with an age range from 2.1 to 8 years, and group II consisted of 15 apparent healthy children [7 males and 8 females] with an age range from 1.9 to 8.5 years as a control group. All children were selected from the followed up children and attendances of outpatient and inpatient of Department of Pediatrics, El-Minia University Hospital. Both patients and controls were subjected to clinical evaluation, complete blood count [CBC], pulmonary function tests, serum levels of total IgE and IL-13 performed by ELlSA technique, and PCR technique for detection of "Glnf10Arg" genetic variant of the human IL-13 gene on chromosome 5q31. The results showed that peripheral blood eosinophils [PBE] count, serum level of total IgE and serum level of IL-13 were significantly higher in asthmatic children compared with controls [p>0.0001, 0.0001,and 0,005 respectively]. There was no significant difference between PBE count and serum level of IL-13 in atopic and non-atopic asthmatic subgroups [p<0.3 and <0.3 respectively]. "Gln110Arg" variant was detected in 74.2% of asthmatic children and in 20% of the controls, with a statistically significant higher percentage in asthmatic children group [p<0.001]. There was no significant difference between the different clinical presentations in asthmatic children with positive "Gln110Arg" variant defection. There was no significant difference between the CBC including PBE count in asthmatic children with positive variant detection subgroup compared with those of negative variant detection subgroup. There was a significant higher serum level of IL-13 in asthmatic children with positive "Gln110Arg" variant detection subgroup than that in the asthmatic children with negative variant detection subgroup [p<0.002], while there was no significant difference of serum total IgE level in the two subgroups [p<0.2]

Conclusion: IL-13 has an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma in children. The genetic variant "Gln110Arg" of IL-13 gene on chromosome 5q31 has linkage to asthma in children of our area and may play a role in the elevation of the serum IL-13 level but has no effect on serum total IgE level or CBC including PBE count levels

Serum levels of S100beta protein and neuron specific enolase [NSE] as early biochemical markers for diagnosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in full-term asphyxiated neonates

Neonatal asphyxia can result in brain damage. It is important to be able to detect, predict, and monitor the development of this damage as early as possible. S100beta protein and Neuron Specific Enolase [NSE] are promising markers for brain damage in neonates. The aim of this work was to detect the reliability of serum levels of S100beta protein and NSE as early biochemical markers for prediction of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [HIE] in full term asphyxiated neonates. We compared serum levels of S100beta protein and NSE at 2 and 24 hours after birth among 3 groups of neonates: 12 full term asphyxiated neonates who developed moderate to severe HIE [group 1], 18 full term asphyxiated neonates who did not develop HIE [group 2], and 15 healthy neonates as control [group 3]. Group 7 had significantly higher levels of S100beta protein but not NSE than group 2 [P=0.001 and 0.14 respectively] and group 3 [P< 0.001 and 0.12 respectively] at 2 hours after birth. At 24 hours after birth, group 7 had significantly higher levels of NSE but not S100beta protein than group 2 [P=0.03 and 0.14 respectively]. Also group I had significantly higher levels of S100beta protein and NSE than group 3 [P=0.03 and 0.04 respectively] at 24 hours after birth. We concluded that S100beta protein is a marker for detection of HIE as early as 2 hours after birth, while NSE is somewhat a later marker at 24 hours after birth

Controlled clinical trial of using a soluble mixture of carob bean, sorghum and rice flour in the treatment of acute infantile diarrhea

The standard WHO oral rehydration solution [ORS] provides simple and effective approach to rehydration but it does not has anti-diarrhea effect, it does not reduce the stool volume or the duration or the severity of diarrhea. The present study is a comparative one aiming to evaluate the efficacy of using a soluble mixture of carob bean juice, sorghum, and rice flour in treatment of acute diarrhea among infants and young children in comparison with the standard WHO ORS. The study included 1000 children, with an age range from 6 to 36 months, who presented by acute watery diarrhea and some dehydration according to WHO classification. They were randomly divided into two groups: group A [the study group] included 80 patients and group B [the control group] included 20 patients. The patients of the study group were treated with a soluble mixture of carob bean juice, sorghum, and rice flour plus ORS while the patients of the control group were treated with ORS only. The study revealed that the study group, compared with the control group, had a significant reduction of diarrhea frequency [p<0, 001], a significant reduction in daily fluid intake [p<0, 001], and a significant reduction in the hours after which well formed stool appeared [p<0, 003]. There were no significant differences between the daily weight gain and the total duration of diarrhea! episode in both groups [p <0, 1 and <0, 1]

Conclusion: Soluble mixture of carob bean, sorghum and rice flour can be safely and effectively used in treatment of watery diarrhea among infants and young children