Antioxidant activity of milk protein hydrolysate in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

We investigated the effects of milk protein concentrate (MPC) and milk protein concentrate hydrolysate (MPCH) as antioxidant agents in rats. Six groups of healthy (non-diabetic) and type-II diabetic rats were used: (1) healthy rats (control), (2) alloxan-induced rats (diabetic control group), (3) healthy rats treated orally with MPC, (4) diabetic rats treated orally with MPC, (5) healthy rats treated orally with MPCH, and (6) diabetic rats treated orally with MPCH. We concluded that treatment with MPC or MPCH reduced the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in healthy and diabetic rats. Treatment with MPC or MPCH improved activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase) in healthy and diabetic rats. From the present data, we concluded that both MPC and MPCH contain potent antioxidants and could improve the health of rats or other animals with diabetes mellitus.

Factors influencing parental consent for participation in clinical research involving their children in Egypt.

Factors affecting parents' decision to involve their children in clinical research have not been studied in all cultural backgrounds. We aimed to explore the attitudes and beliefs influencing parents' decision to involve their children in clinical research in Mansoura, Egypt. Of 523 families approached, 357 filled the questionnaire. Only 98 (27.5%) parents consented to involve their child in clinical research. The children of consenters were significantly older than refusers: 8.6 (SD 7.2) versus 2.6 (SD 1.2) years. Factors favouring consent were: research of benefit to child (84.7%), enough explanation about the benefits (40.8%) and to learn more about child's condition (29.6%). Factors favouring refusal were: use of new drugs or vaccines (89.6%) and invasive procedures (84.2%). Parents' rate of consent was positively correlated with the research being non-invasive and the belief that research was of benefit to their child and negatively correlated with belief that refusal may negatively affect the care provided to their child.

The emergence of systemic lupus erythematosus in hypothyroid patients: two case reports and mini review.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-systemic autoimmune disease that involves almost all the organs in the human body and is characterized by auto antibodies formation. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are organ-specific diseases that are associated with a production of a variety of antibodies such as antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded DNA, anti-Ro antibodies, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, and others. The diagnosis of AITD in patients with SLE is well known, but the reverse is rarely reported. We present two cases of adolescent girls in whom SLE evolved one year after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Factors influencing parental consent for participation in clinical research involving their children in Egypt

Factors affecting parents' decision to involve their children in clinical research have not been studied in all cultural backgrounds.We aimed to explore the attitudes and beliefs influencing parents' decision to involve their children in clinical research in Mansoura, Egypt.Of 523 families approached, 357 filled the questionnaire.Only 98 [27.5%]parents consented to involve their child in clinical research.The children of consenters were significantly older than refusers:8.6 [SD 7.2]versus 2.6 [SD 1.2]years.Factors favouring consent were:research of benefit to child [84.7%], enough explanation about the benefits [40.8%]and to learn more about child's condition [29.6%]. Factors favouring refusal were:use of new drugs or vaccines [89.6%]and invasive procedures [84.2%]. Parents' rate of consent was positively correlated with the research being non-invasive and the belief that research was of benefit to their child and negatively correlated with belief that refusal may negatively affect the care provided to their child

لم تخضع العوامل التي تؤثر على موافقة الوالدين على إشراك أطفالهم في البحوث السريرية، للدراسة في جميع الخلفيات الثقافية. وهدف الباحثون إلى التعرف على المواقف والمعتقدات التي تؤثر على القرارات التي يتخذها الوالدان حول مشاركة أطفالهم في البحوث السريرية في المنصورة في مصر. وقد تواصل الباحثون مع 523 أسرة، استكملت الاستبيانات منها 357 أسرة، واتضح أن 98 من الوالدين [27.5%]، فقط قد وافقوا على مشاركة أطفالهم في البحوث السريرية، وأن متوسط أعمار الأطفال الذين وافق الوالدان على مشاركتهم بالبحوث وهو 8.6 عاما [7.2 +/- ] أكبر بمقدار يعتد به إحصائيا من متوسط أعمار الأطفال الذين رفض الوالدان مشاركتهم بها وهو 2.6 عاما [1.2 +/- ]، وأن العوامل التي ترجح الموافقة هي:البحوث التي تعود بالنفع على الطفل [84.7 %]والشرح الوافي عن المنافع [40.8%]والتعلم أكثر عن حالة الطفل [29.6 %]أما العوامل التي ترجح رفض الموافقة فهي: استخدام أدوية أو لقاحات جديدة [89.6%]، والإجراءات الباضعة [84.2 %]. وكان هناك ترابطا إيجابي بين معدل موافقة الوالدين مع كون البحوث غير باضعة وكذلك مع الاعتقاد بأن البحوث نافعة لطفلها، وكان هناك ترابط سلبي مع الاعتقاد بأن رفض المشاركة قد يؤثر سلبيا على الرعاية التي تقدم لطفلها

Les facteurs influant sur la décision des parents de laisser leur enfant participer à une étude de recherche clinique n'ont pas été étudiés dans tous les contextes culturels.L'objectif de 'étude était d'examiner les attitudes et les croyances influant sur la décision des parents de laisser participer leur enfant à une étude de recherche à Mansoura [Egypte]. Sur 523 familles contactées, 357 ont rempli le questionnaire.Seuls 98 parents [27, 5 %]consentaient à laisser participer leur enfant a une recherche clinique.Les enfants des parents qui avaient donné leur consentement étaient nettement plus âgés que ceux dont les parents avaient refusé:8, 6 ans [ET 7, 2]contre 2, 6 ans [ET 1, 2]. Les facteurs favorisant le consentement étaient les suivants:une recherche bénéfique pour l'enfant [84, 7 %], des explications suffisantes sur les avantages [40, 8 %]et l'occasion de mieux connaitre l'affection de leur enfant [29, 6%]. Les facteurs favorisant le refus étaient les suivants:l'utilisation de nouveaux médicaments ou vaccins [89, 6 %]et des actes invasifs [84, 2 %]. Le taux de consentement des parents était positivement corrélé à une recherche non invasive et à la croyance que la recherche serait bénéfique pour leur enfant, et négativement corrélé à la croyance selon laquelle un refus pourrait négativement influer sur les soins fournis à leur enfant

Clinical asthma phenotypes and therapeutic responses.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease that means not all asthmatics respond to the same treatment. We hypothesize an approach to characterize asthma phenotypes based on symptomatology (shortness of breath (SOB), cough, and wheezy phenotypes) in correlation with airway inflammatory biomarkers and FEV1. We aimed to detect whether those clinical phenotypes have an impact on the response to asthma medications. Two hundred three asthmatic children were allocated randomly to receive either montelukast (5 mg at bed time) or fluticasone propionate (100 ug twice daily) for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum concentrations of IL-2Rs, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, total IgE, eosinophilic %, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and FEV1 were done before and after treatment to patients and once to controls. Children who have SOB were found to have higher levels of total sIgE, older age, and longer disease duration, and they responded to fluticasone alone. Cough group was found to have higher levels of eosinophilic % and sECP, younger age, shorter disease duration and responded to montelukast alone. Wheezy group showed mixed pattern and responded to both medications. Conclusion. Although there is variability in response to ICS and LTRAs, we did identify characteristics of patient that should guide the clinician in the choice of asthma medications.

Eosinophilic cationic protein: is it useful in assessing control of childhood asthma?

This study evaluated peripheral eosinophil and serum eosinophilic cationic protein (s-ECP) levels as markers of asthma control. A total of 38 children with asthma (16 controlled and 22 partially controlled) were compared with 16 age- and sex-matched healthy children. Total asthma cases had higher eosinophil counts and s-ECP levels than healthy children and partially controlled asthmatics had significantly higher levels of both markers than controlled asthmatics. Controlled asthma cases showed non-significant changes in both parameters versus healthy children. A negative correlation was noted between degree of asthma control and both eosinophil counts and s-ECP levels (r = -0.60 and -0.75 respectively). s-ECP as well as peripheral eosinophil count may be helpful in the assessment of asthma control.

Eosinophilic cationic protein: is it useful in assessing control of childhood asthma?

This study evaluated peripheral eosinophil and serum eosinophilic cationic protein [s-ECP] levels as markers of asthma control. A total of 38 children with asthma [16 controlled and 22 partially controlled] were compared with 16 age- and sex-matched healthy children. Total asthma cases had higher eosinophil counts and s-ECP levels than healthy children and partially controlled asthmatics had significantly higher levels of both markers than controlled asthmatics. Controlled asthma cases showed non-significant changes in both parameters versus healthy children. A negative correlation was noted between degree of asthma control and both eosinophil counts and s-ECP levels [r = -0.60 and -0.75 respectively]. s-ECP as well as peripheral eosinophil count may be helpful in the assessment of asthma control

Progressive stridor: could it be a congenital cystic lung disease?

UNLABELLED: Bronchogenic cyst of the mediastinum, a cause of stridor early in life, is the result of abnormal budding of the ventral segment of the primitive foregut. Bronchogenic cysts are often asymptomatic in older children and adults. However, symptomatic cases usually manifest early in life with cough, stridor or wheezing due to airway compression. We report a female infant aged 4.5 months with a normal full-term pregnancy, who developed respiratory distress with stridor. This stridor was preceded by a history of slowly progressive noisy breathing. Physical examination revealed evidence of bilateral obstructive emphysema. Chest radiograph revealed bilateral overinflation. Fibro-optic bronchoscopy revealed posterior mediastinal compression. Possibility of congenital cystic lung disease (CCLD) was considered, emphasizing the value of computed tomography (CT) chest, which revealed a cyst probably bronchogenic. Surgical excision was performed with evident histological confirmation of bronchogenic cyst. CONCLUSION: we highlight that in any infant, presented with slowly progressive noisy breathing in the first year of life, CCLD should be considered in the differential diagnosis even with normal X-ray chest. CT chest should be performed for exclusion or diagnosis of the case.

Interleukin-2 in relation to T cell subpopulations in rheumatic heart disease.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and T cell subpopulations were evaluated in children with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Three groups were included: 13 patients with active RHD, 12 with non-active RHD, and 14 control children. Serum IL-2 and T cell subpopulations were measured by radioimmunoassay and monoclonal antibodies respectively. Patients with active RHD showed a significant increase in IL-2 concentrations and helper:suppressor (H:S) ratio compared with controls with a mean (SEM) IL-2 of 3.48 (0.62) v 1.26 (0.16) U/ml and H:S ratio 2.31 (0.14) v 1.66 (0.04). There was a significant decrease in T suppressor (CD8+) and pan T (CD3+) cells compared with controls with a mean (SEM) for CD8+ of 23.75 (1.19) v 32.23 (0.56)% and CD3+ of 79.55 (0.94) v 85.00 (0.11)%. Patients with non-active RHD showed a significant decrease only in the CD3+ cells (78.20 (0.20)%) when compared with controls. A deficiency of CD3+ cells is a constant finding in patients with RHD, whether the disease is active or not. There was a significant increase in IL-2 concentration with a significant decrease in CD8+ cells in patients with active RHD in comparison with the non-active group (mean (SEM) IL-2 of 3.48 (0.62) v 1.85 (0.24) U/ml and CD8+ of 23.75 (1.19) v 28.83 (1.91)%). Thus an increase in IL-2 and a decrease in CD8+ cells may be related to rheumatic activity. T helper (CD4+) cells did not differ significantly between groups.

Improved erythrocyte survival with combined vitamin E and selenium therapy in children with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and mild chronic hemolysis.

To study the antioxidant effect of high-dose vitamin E alone and in combination with selenium in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency with mild chronic hemolysis, 36 male children with such manifestations were enrolled consecutively into two equal groups. Group 1 received 800 IU vitamin E daily, and group 2 received 800 IU vitamin E in combination with 25 micrograms selenium. Hematologic status before and 2 months after treatment was evaluated. After treatment there was a significant change toward normal in both groups. The mean red cell half-life increased in group 1 from 16.9 to 22.8 days (P less than 0.01), and in group 2 from 15.6 to 24.3 days (P less than 0.01). A comparison of the mean difference of paired values in the two groups revealed a more significant increase in hemoglobin (0.9 +/- 0.1 gm/dl vs 1.2 +/- 0.2 gm/dl, P less than 0.05), hematocrit (2.4% +/- 0.4% vs 3.8% +/- 0.3%, P less than 0.05), and red cell half-life (5.9 +/- 3.0 days vs 9.1 +/- 4.4 days, P less than 0.01), and more significant reduction in reticulocytes (-0.7% +/- 0.2% vs -1.5% +/- 0.4%, P less than 0.01) in group 2. Clinical assessment and follow-up indicated no side effects related to the drugs.