Hypercoagulable state in children with nephrotic syndrome: a study of some markers of hemostasis activation

This study included 50 children with nephrotic syndrome; 28 were in relapse [group I] and 22 were in therapy withdrawal after successful remission [group II]. Twenty healthy children were included as controls. Thrombin antithrombin complex [TAT], fibrin monomer [FM], plasma fibrinogen, alpha-2-antiplasmin [alpha-2AP] tests and platelet counts were performed to detect the coagulation anomalies that are suggestive of a hypercoagulable state in the nephrotic cases. Serum albumin, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were also determined. In conclusion, data suggested the presence of a prethrombotic state in the nephrotic cases, particularly in the relapse group. Elevated TAT, FM as well as fibrinogen and platelet count seem to be reliable indicators of this prethrombotic state. A significant reduction in the anti-fibrinolytic marker alpha-2AP was detected in the plasma of relapsing nephrotic cases

Von Willebrand factor: a biomarker of endothelial cell damage in dehydrated and malnourished children

The level of von Willebrand factor [vWF] as a marker of endothelial cell injury was evaluated in 73 children with age ranged from 3 to 30 months. Twenty-three cases suffered from dehydration, nineteen from marasmus, twelve from Kwashiorkor [KWO] and nineteen healthy children were included as controls. In both dehydrated and malnourished groups, the level of vWF was highly significantly elevated than the control group. A strong negative correlation was found between vWF and each of hemoglobin level, hematocrit, red blood cell count as well as several anthropometric Z scores [HAZ, WAZ and BMI]. The prothrombin concentration also correlated significantly and negatively with vWF level. In the dehydration group, vWF level correlated strongly and positively with the score of clinical severity. This work demonstrated that the integrity of the endothelium is likely to be affected in dehydration and malnutrition where pathologic unfavorable conditions are likely to exist. The measurement of vWF levels in such conditions proved to be benefit in accurate assessment as well as prognosis

Iron Deficiency in Egyptian rural infants: Nutrition correlates and relevance to screening

Iron status and the impact of dietary intake were studied in Egyptian rural infants ranging in age from 6 to 24 months. Complete hemogram, serum iron, iron binding capacity, ferritin, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin [FEP] and transferrin% saturation were determined in 200 infants. 24-hour dietary recall was completed in 174 infants. 65% of infants were found to be anemic [Hb <11 g/dL] with higher prevalence in the 1st year of life. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 37.7% using FEP parameter [>100 mug/dI Rbes]. 29.5% of infants had low levels of both hemoglobin and FEP. In this study, FEP proved to be the best indicator for iron deficiency screening. The dietary intake of the studied infants was markedly less than the recommended dietary allowances [RDA]. In spite of the absence of difference between the mean values of nutritional elements between anemic and non-anemic infants, iron intake correlated with both hemoglobin and% sat. Also, vitamin C correlated with hemoglobin while the total caloric intake correlated with serum ferritin

Immunohistopathological study of chalazia

Chalazion is a chronic lipogranuloma of the Meibomian glands. The exact nature of the cellular components has not been adequately described before, especially in an immunophenotypic context. In the present work, monoclonal antibodies [MAB] are used to characterize the accumulating macrophages, lymphocytes or other cellular elements in 25 eyelid chalazia, ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months duration in young Egyptian adults. A small panel of monoclonal antibodies, reportedly effective for routinely processed tissue [anti Leu M1, L26, UCHL1, HLA-DR, KP1, MT1] was used with B5 fixed and paraffin-embedded resected chalazia, using a modification of the avidin-biotin complex method. Phagocytic and multinucleated giant cells were stained positively with KP1, in a cytoplasmic staining pattern. Stellate cells were stained by HLA-DR. Some lymphocytes reacted positively with UCHL1, a few others with L26 and no specific reaction was evident with MT1 and Leu M1. conclusions: The present study demonstrates reactive cellularity in chalazion granuloma and proposes the role of antigenic cells, with lymphoid cells acting as memory cells that require further description. Our findings suggest a mixed pathogenesis for chalazia

Immunoelectron microscopy of neovascular epiretinal membrane

A 59 year old woman presented with vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. She has seen a dark spot in front of the left eye since one month. The right eye had normal visual acuity with ocular fundus showing mild age related macular Drusen. An important neovascular membrane in the L.E. emerging from the optic disc was harbouring large congested vessels and gave some traction on the papillomacular area. A cardiovascular check-up disclosed a substenoses of the left common carotid artery. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed on L.E. and the membrane was peeled off in one piece and divided into two similar portions. One was B5 fixed paraffin embedded tissue. Stained with monoclonal antibodies directed against T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, Langerhans cells and HLA-DR antigens. The other portion was frozen and prepared for immunoelectron microscopy. The cellular componant was mainly T-Lymphocytes with positive OKT8 staining