Serum selenium status in Egyptians patients who had Graves' disease with and without ophthalmopathy.

Selenium is efficient in reducing the progression of active Graves' orbitopathy and improving life quality. The impact of mending relative deficiency of selenium on improving Graves' orbitopathy is not known, due to the lack of previous measurement of baseline levels of selenium. The study object was to determine whether serum selenium levels are lower in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) disease in comparison with those without ophthalmopathy. This prospective case control study was conducted between 2019 and 2021 at the endocrine and ophthalmology clinics, Ain Shams University, Cairo. The study included a total of 75 subjects, 50 patients with Graves' disease (GD) and 25 subjects as a control group. Of the GD patients, 25 had Graves' orbitopathy. Serum selenium concentrations were measured in each group. The mean level of serum selenium was significantly lower in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (16.6 ± 7.5 ng/ml) than in patients with Graves' disease (42.9 ± 8.2 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). Mean selenium levels were reduced with increasing severity of GO, as selenium level was 30-55 ng/ml in GD, 21-28 ng/ml in mild GO, 18-22 ng/ml in moderate GO and 5-16 ng/ml in severe GO (p < 0.001). In conclusion, serum selenium levels were lower in GO patients compared with GD patients in an Egyptian population. Low selenium levels may be a risk factor for ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease patients.

Glutathione Transferase as a Potential Marker for Gut Epithelial Injury versus the Protective Role of Breast Milk sIgA in Infants with Rota Virus Gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) plays an important protective role in the recognition and clearance of enteric pathogens. AIM: This study was designed to assess if mucosal integrity "measured by secretory IgA (SIgA)" is a protective factor from more epithelial alteration "measured by glutathione transferase" in infants with Rota gastroenteritis and its relation to infants' feeding pattern. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 79 infants aged 6 months and less from those diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and admitted to Gastroenteritis Department in Abo El Rish Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University. Plasma glutathione s-transferases and Stool SIgA were measured using ELISA technique. Rota virus detection was done by Reverse transcriptase PCR. RESULTS: SIgA was found to be significantly positive in exclusive breast fed infants, Glutathione transferase was significantly more frequently positive in Rota positive cases than Rota negative cases by Reverse transcriptase PCR. A significant negative correlation between Glutathione transferase and Secretory IgA was found, (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Breast feeding should be encouraged and highly recommended in the first two years of life as it provides Secretory IgA to breast fed infants who in turn protect them against epithelial damage caused by Rota viral gastroenteritis.

Detection of camel pox and vaccinia viruses by polymerase chain reaction.

PCR following two methods of DNA extraction was used to confirm the growth of camel pox virus (CPV) and vaccinia virus in cell culture and chorioallantoic membrane. Results were compared with the commonly used neutralization test. The first method of DNA extraction was accomplished by using viral DNA in tissue culture supernatant and Chorioallantoic membrane, which was released by initial heating for 15 min at 99 degrees C followed by ordinary PCR. In the second method DNA was extracted by using DNA Isolation Kit from tissue culture supernatant and used as a template. Rapid identification and differentiation of CPV and Vaccinia virus were achieved by PCR and this assay proved to be fast and feasible, and can be an alternative to orthodox serological methods.

Growth characteristic of Camel pox and Vaccinia viruses in embryonated eggs and cell culture.

Camel pox viruses isolated in Sudan and VD45 (African camel pox strain) and Vaccinia virus (Elstree strain) were used for inoculation of chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated eggs (EE) and cell culture (CC). In EE Lesions were seen as pocks ranging in size from 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter, and they increase in size with serial passage and taking opaque- white and opaque- yellow colors. When propagated in Vero cells, these viruses gave clear CPE, characterized by rounding of cells, plaque formation, syncytia and detachment of cells from the glass.