Assessment of the natural killer cell, IFN- and IL-10 blood levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affects millions of youngsters and typically persists into adulthood. The pathophysiology of ADHD may be due to an impaired immune response, common genetics, and environmental linkages, as all have been suggested as potential underlying mechanisms for ADHD. During systemic inflammation, natural killer (NK) cells can produce pro-inflammatory cytokines like interferon (IFN- ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL-10); this demonstrates the importance of both of their roles as regulators to counteract inflammation and prevent immune-mediated host damage. In this work we aimed to determine the role of inflammation in children with ADHD by measuring the level of NK cells in peripheral blood compared to typically developing children besides estimating the inflammatory cytokines INF- and IL -10 in both groups. This study included 50 children diagnosed with ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition and 50 age and sex- matched normally developed children, as controls. The estimation of NK was done using flow cytometry, while the studied cytokines were measured using the ELISA technique. We found that children with ADHD had a significantly higher level of NK cells in peripheral blood compared to controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, increased IFN -, while decreased IL-10 serum levels were observed in children with ADHD compared to their control group. In conclusion our findings suggested that children with ADHD may have impaired immune responses, as NK cells were increased in peripheral blood compared to the control group. Also, the serum level of IFN - was higher, while the serum level of IL-10 was lower in ADHD children as compared to controls.

Study of Monocyte Subsets and Their Surface Expression of CD86 and Serum IL-17 Compared to Serum Procalcitonin as Markers of Early Neonatal Sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal sepsis can quickly progress to multi-organ failure with high morbidity and mortality, making early diagnosis mandatory. Although being the gold standard, the long duration of blood culture may lead to hazardous neonatal complications. Sepsis activates monocytes and changes their subset distribution with the resultant activation of lymphocytes and adaptive immune cells changing the plasma cytokines levels. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Percentages of monocytes subsets, pattern of monocytes surface CD86 expression and serum IL-17 compared to serum procalcitonin were measured in 30 neonates with early sepsis and compared with age and sex matched 30 apparently health neonates as a control group. RESULTS: Gestational age, neonatal weight and hemoglobin concentration were significantly low in septic neonates vs the control group. Percentages of intermediate, nonclassical and CD86 positive monocytes, the mean fluorescence intensity of CD16 on CD16 positive monocytes, and serum levels of CRP, IL-17 and procalcitonin were significantly increased in septic neonates compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Early neonatal sepsis was associated with increasing the percentage of CD86 positive monocytes. Serum IL-17 levels were positively correlated with increased serum procalcitonin.

Accelerating Hepatitis C virus elimination in Egypt by 2030: A national survey of communication for behavioral development as a modelling study.

AIM OF THE WORK: This study aimed at assessing the dominance of risk practices associated with HCV endemicity in Egypt and detecting the behavioral development level concerning different aspects of HCV risk behaviors with respect to age and gender. The survey highlights the most cost-effective strategies that could accelerate HCV elimination in Egypt. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A national household survey targeted 3780 individuals (age range: 10-85 years). The sample was a systematic probability proportionate to size from 6 governorates representing the six major subdivisions of Egypt. The indicators used for assessing the behavioral development level towards HCV included six domains: awareness (7 indicators), perceived risk (5 indicators), motivation with the intention to change (4 and 5 indicators for males and females respectively), trial, rejection or adoption (6 and 5 indicators for males and females respectively). RESULTS: The study revealed that along the continuum of behavior development, the percentage of the participants who acquired half of the scores was as follows: 73.1% aware, 69.8% developed perceived risk, 80.6% motivated with only 28.9% adopting the recommended behaviors, 32% rejected them, 2.3% were in the trial stage versus 35.8% who did not try any. Adolescents had significantly lower levels of development for almost all domains when compared to adults. Statistical higher significance was detected in favor of adults, employees, married, Lower Egypt governorates, and university-educated participants (p<0.001) regarding awareness, perceived risk, and motivation scores. More than half of the participants incorrectly believed that contaminated food, sharing food utilities, contaminated water, mosquitoes, and schistosomiasis would lead to HCV transmission. CONCLUSION: Egypt would be closer to HCV elimination when cost-effective strategies are directed not towards creating awareness, perceived risk or motivation to change- (at an acceptable level)- but towards motivating adopting risk-reduction behaviors for HCV, tackling misconceptions and reinforcement of social support.