Mean platelet volume and serum uric acid in neonatal sepsis: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a measure of platelet volume. It reveals the presence of inflammatory burden and disease activity in many diseases. Serum uric acid (SUA) is one of the most important antioxidants in human biological fluids and is responsible for neutralizing > 50% of the free radicals in the human blood. For this reason, it was thought that the antioxidant effects of SUA could increase the life expectancy and/or reduce the incidence of malignancy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) and serum uric acid (SUA) level in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis (NS). METHODS: This case-control study was done on 80 newborns divided into 3 groups: group A (n = 22): clinical NS, group B (n = 18): Proven NS and Group C (n = 40): apparently healthy control. All patients in the study were subjected to adequate assessment of history, full clinical examination, complete blood count including MPV, C - reactive protein (CRP), blood culture in CRP positive cases, and SUA level at the time of diagnosis of sepsis. RESULTS: Septic neonates showed statistically higher values of MPV and statistically lower levels of SUA than the control group. The diagnostic cut-off values of MPV and SUA for NS were 10.2 fL, and 3.70 mg/dL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MPV could be assessed in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis while SUA level has lower sensitivity in neonatal sepsis.

Detection of DNA of W. bancrofti in blood samples by QC-PCR-ELISA-based.

An internal control was used in a polymerase chain reaction PCR-ELISA-based technique to detect the DNA repeat of the filarial parasite W. bancrofti. The sensitivity of the test could detect as low as one single microfilaria added to 200 ul of blood. The assay was evaluated on field samples from persons living in areas endemic for filariasis. Examination of night blood of 113 individuals for the presence of microfilaria by filtration revealed 44 microfilaria carriers. All microfilaria carriers were positive in the PCR-ELISA and, in addition, 14 more samples were proven to contain parasite DNA. All the 58 proven cases had circulating filarial antigens in their serum samples. Assuming a sensitivity of PCR-ELISA on night blood of 100%, the sensitivity of night blood filtration was 74% and that of circulating filarial antigens is 100%. The data showed that the described PCR-ELISA method was capable of detecting the filarial infections. Consequently, this method facilitated the identification of the filarial endemic areas and the monitoring of control programs.

Detection of altered secondary lymphoid-tissue chemkine responsiveness in Balb/c mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

To determine the extent to which Balb/c mice splenic T cells were affected by S. mansoni infection, this study aims to investigate the ability of the T cells to produce interferon (IFN)-&, and their chemotactic ability at 7 weeks post-infection. The splenic T cells were capable of producing levels of IFN-& comparable with splenic T cells from naive mice. However, the T cells exhibited altered chemotactic activity, as evidenced by an inability to respond to secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21). Although no difference in chemokine expression was found between the spleens of infected versus control mice, chemokine production was greater in the livers of infected versus control mice. Collectively, these data indicate that Balb/c mice with 7-wk S. mansoni infection possess splenic T cells with altered chemotactic activity and that the alterations may be a consequence of granulomatous response in the liver.

Low avidity IgG antibodies in diagnosis of recent human schistosomiasis.

One hundred thirty school children from a schistosomiasis endemic area in Sharkia Governorate, were selected on parasitological findings. Seventy persons were negative on the first screen and turned positive after 3 months of the screening (recently infected). Stool examination, ELISA (IgG & IgM), low avid IgG, and circulating antigens were performed for all patients and controls. ELISA detected IgM in all cases. IgG and circulating antigens in 90% of schistosomiasis patients. Low avidity IgG were detected in 85.71% of recent cases. The specificity of ELISA appeared to be >99%. The IgM/IgG ratio was >1 in patients with recent infection. The percentage of fall of O.D. readings of IgG after addition of 6 molar urea was high among cases with recent infection. Low avid lgG appears to be good and valuable in diagnosis of recent schistosomiasis in man.