Involvement of chlamydia pneumoniae in atherosclerosis: Importance of methodology in determination the relation between them

Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae [C. pneumoniae] in atherosclerotic vascular tissue to assess their role in atherogenesis, and also the choice of the best methodology for detection. Immunohistochemistry staining [IHC] for vascular tissue specimens were done on 34 atherosclerotic vascular tissues and 54 normal vascular tissues as controls [34 internal control specimens and 20 external control specimens from healthy individuals]. Using 2 monoclonal antibodies: the species specific and the Chlamydia genus-specific antibody. Three PCR assays are used for detection of C. pneumoniae DNA: Single-step PCR with different DNA polymerases enzymes, the nested PCR, and real-time quantitative PCR. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in 58. 8% of atherosclerotic vascular tissues by single-step PCR which used Tag DNA polymerase and detection by hybridization with specific probe, no detection by other methods and also no detection in healthy vascular tissues. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in atherosclerotic vascular tissues and no detection in healthy vascular tissues indicating that C. pneumoniae is playing a role in atherogenesis. Detection of C. pneumoniae is method dependent, so, the choice of assay I is of major importance when evaluating a relationship between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Enhanced expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 in hepatic cells and its role in response to interferon therapy

Expression of Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling-1 [SOCS-1] in liver tissues of chronic hepatitis C patients [CMC] and to assess whether SOCS-1 had any relationship to resistance to interferon-a [INF-alpha] therapy. RT-PCR was done on hepatic tissues obtained from 42 CMC patients before starting of INF-alpha therapy and 26 controls without CMC with normal livers for detection of SOCS-1 mRNA. And also, on serum samples collected from CMC patients at the end of treatment by INF-alpha to assess respond to therapy. SOCS-1 expression in hepatic tissues of CMC patients in a significant higher incidences than controls [p<0.0001]. The response to INF- alpha therapy was found in [30.9%] of CMC patients. There is over-expression of SOCS-1 in hepatic tissues from non-responders to INF- alpha therapy [96.6%]. SOCS-1 expression is enhanced in the livers of CMC patients and involved in resistance to INF- alpha therapy

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the lungs: CD[+4] T cells and CD[+8] T cells in peripheral blood and their relation to disease outcome

To determine the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in peripheral blood [Pb] in the patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the lungs and to assess their roles in disease recovery. Flow cytometric analysis of the Pb from 41 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 healthy individuals as controls for determination the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in Pb. the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells in Pb from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was higher than controls [p<0.001 and 0.05 respectively]. The frequency of CD[+4] T-cells was higher than CD[+8] T-cells in Pb of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The rate of recovery from active pulmonary tuberculosis was inversely related to the frequency of CD[+4] and CD[+8] T-cells being higher in SR, but less in RR and IR. More CD[+8] T-cells producing IFN-y, while more CD[+4] T-cells producing IL-10. there was a higher frequency of CD[+4] T cells in Pb of active pulmonary tuberculosis. The recovery from this disease requires fine balance between CD[+4] c CD[+8] T cells in Pb

role of interleukin 16 in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by hyperplasia of the synovium and excessive cellular infiltration, which leads to progressive joint destruction. We analyzed, interleukin 16 [IL16], in relation to disease activity to characterize its biologic function in RA. Secreted IL-16 was measured by enzyme immunoassay in sera from 30 RA patients and 30 healthy controls [HC], and also in synovial fluid [SF] from 16 RA patients and 15 patients with non-RA synovitis as controls. IL-16 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMC] was characterized by flow cytometric analysis after intracellular cytokine staining for IL-16. In synovial tissue specimens, both were done: Immunohistochemistry for localization of IL-16, and histopathology, in which the tissue scored semiquantitatively for synovial hyperplasia and cellular infiltration. IL-16 was detected at significantly higher levels in sera and SF of RA patients in comparison to HC and non-RA synovitis [p<0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively]. Also, IL-16 was detected significantly higher in SF in comparison to sera in RA patients [p<0.001]. Flow cytometry of PBMC showed that a great proportion of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells expressed IL-16 protein. Also, immunohistochemistry revealed more CD4+ and less frequency of CD8+ cells in synovial infiltration. A significant correlation between IL-16 expression and local inflammatory activity could not be established [p>0.21] by microscopic analysis of the synovial cells infiltrate. In addition, no significant association was observed between serum, SF, and synovial tissue expression of IL-16 and clinical disease activity in RA [p>0.61, p>0.5 and p>0.42 respectively]. This indicated that, IL-16 played a regulatory rather than a proin-flammatory role in the immunopathogenesis of RA

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis: a brief clinical report on a bedouin girl

This report describes a case of osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis [OS-CS] in a Bedouin girl. This patient to our knowledge is the first case to be reported in KMGC, throwing light on the clinical and radiological findings. Clinical examination, skeletal survey, echocardiography, ultrasonography and chromosomal study. The patient had craniofacial dysmorphic features including overgrowth of the craniofacial bones which is characteristic of the disorder, developmental delay, hearing impairment, congenital heart [VSD] and she had also repeated attacks of seizures. Radiographic findings included marked ossification and sclerosis of the base of the skull and metaphyseal widening of long bones with linear striations. In the few reported cases of OS-CS all over the world, our case could have the typical form of the syndrome with dominant inheritance and the first case to be described in Kuwait