Fractional carbon dioxide laser versus low-dose UVA-1 phototherapy for treatment of localized scleroderma: a clinical and immunohistochemical randomized controlled study.

Morphea is a rare fibrosing skin disorder that occurs as a result of abnormal homogenized collagen synthesis. Fractional ablative laser resurfacing has been used effectively in scar treatment via abnormal collagen degradation and induction of healthy collagen synthesis. Therefore, fractional ablative laser can provide an effective modality in treatment of morphea. The study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of fractional carbon dioxide laser as a new modality for the treatment of localized scleroderma and to compare its results with the well-established method of UVA-1 phototherapy. Seventeen patients with plaque and linear morphea were included in this parallel intra-individual comparative randomized controlled clinical trial. Each with two comparable morphea lesions that were randomly assigned to either 30 sessions of low-dose (30 J/cm2) UVA-1 phototherapy (340-400 nm) or 3 sessions of fractional CO2 laser (10,600 nm-power 25 W). The response to therapy was then evaluated clinically and histopathologically via validated scoring systems. Immunohistochemical analysis of TGF-ß1 and MMP1 was done. Patient satisfaction was also assessed. Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired (matched) samples and Spearman rank correlation equation were used as indicated. Comparing the two groups, there was an obvious improvement with fractional CO2 laser that was superior to that of low-dose UVA-1 phototherapy. Statistically, there was a significant difference in the clinical scores (p = 0.001), collagen homogenization scores (p = 0.012), and patient satisfaction scores (p = 0.001). In conclusion, fractional carbon dioxide laser is a promising treatment modality for cases of localized morphea, with proved efficacy of this treatment on clinical and histopathological levels.

Association of serum cytokines levels, interleukin 10 -1082G/A and interferon-γ +874T/A polymorphisms with atopic asthma children from Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon (IFN) -γ levels in atopic asthma patients by studying the relation between their serum levels and severity of the disease. The effect of IL-10 -1082G/A and IFN-γ +874T/A SNPs was also studied. The study included 200 atopic children with asthma and 50 age- and gender matched healthy children as controls. The levels of both IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly (p<0.001) higher, while IFN-γ was significantly (p<0.001) lower in patients compared to that of the controls. There was a significant effect of gene polymorphisms of IL-10 (p<0.05) and IFN-γ (p<0.001) in occurrence of atopic asthma and increased IgE level. Polymorphism of IFN-γ gene had an effect on the serum level of IFN-γ. In conclusion, IFN-γ gene polymorphism at position +874 and IL-10 gene polymorphism at position -1082A/G are genetic determinants which contribute to susceptibility to atopic asthma in children from Saudi Arabia.

Cyclooxygenase-2 169C>G and 8473T>C gene polymorphisms and prostaglandin E2 level in breast cancer: a case-control study.

AIMS: Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) with the resulting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is linked to increased risk of human breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to determine COX-2 169C>G and 8473T>C gene polymorphisms and PGE2 level at various stages of BC clarifying the role of COX-2 gene polymorphism and PGE2 in relation to BC. METHODS: The study population comprised 160 women at different stages of BC and 150 gender- and age-matched healthy control subjects. Plasma PGE2 was measured by ELISA, the COX-2 gene polymorphisms were determined using PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The variant alleles COX-2 169G and 8473C were significantly associated with BC susceptibility [OR=3.1, 95% CI (2.2-4.4), P<0.001 for 169C>G and OR=1.74, 95%CI (1.3-2.4), P=0.005 for 8473C]. However, both COX-2 gene polymorphisms were not associated with breast cancer stage. Plasma PGE2 levels were significantly increased in patients compared to the controls. In early and late stages of BC, there was a significant increase in the plasma PGE2 levels towards the presence of homozygous GG compared with homozygous CC (P<0.001) for 169 C>G, also towards the presence of CC than TT (P<0.001) for 8473T>C SNP. CONCLUSION: The 169C>G and 8473T>C polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene were associated with the BC in Egyptian women. Furthermore, individuals with COX-2 169GG and 8473CC genotypes showed significant increase in plasma PGE2 levels. PGE2 levels may serve as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with BC.

1'-Methyl-4'-(4-methyl-phen-yl)dispiro-[indane-2,3'-pyrrolidine-2',3''-indoline]-1,2''-dione.

In the title mol-ecule, C(27)H(24)N(2)O(2), the pyrrolidin-2-one ring is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.003 Å), the pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation (the N atom is the flap atom) and the cyclo-penta-none ring is twisted about the C(q)-C(m) bond (q = quaternary and m = methylene). The ketone O atoms are directed to opposite sides of the mol-ecule. Supra-molecular chains along the a axis are formed in the crystal packing mediated by N-H⋯N and C-H⋯O inter-actions. These are connected into layers in the ab plane via C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Interleukin 13 receptors as biochemical markers in atopic patients.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL) 13, a type 2 helper T cell (T(H)2), is an important regulator of inflammatory immune responses. It mediates its action through a receptor complex consisting of IL-13Ralpha1 and IL-4Ralpha. IL-13Ralpha2 binds IL-13 with high affinity and is thought to act primarily as a decoy receptor, sequestering IL-13 and thus inhibiting its action. Our aim was to clarify the role of these receptors in the diagnosis and follow-up of atopic patients. METHODS: We genotyped the 1398A>G polymorphism in the IL-13Ralpha1 gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism for causal genetic diversity and measured serum levels of IL-13Ralpha2 in 105 atopic patients suffering from atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and atopic rhinitis (35 each). We compared the results with those of 35 nonatopic control individuals. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and serum IL-13Ralpha2 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the eosinophil counts were recorded. RESULTS: A significant increase in serum IL-13Ralpha2 levels was recorded in the 3 atopic groups compared with the control group (P < .001), as well as a significant increase in total IgE levels and eosinophil counts. No significant association was found between 1398A>G and atopy other than a suggestive association between this polymorphism and raised total serum IgE levels in all 3 atopic groups (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that IL-13Ralpha2 plays an important role in atopy and that increased levels in different groups highlight its regulatory role in the development of atopic symptoms. The 1398A>G polymorphism might be involved in the production of IgE.

Interleukin 10 receptor alpha subunit (IL-10RA) gene polymorphism and IL-10 serum levels in Egyptian atopic patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of serum interleukin (IL) 10 levels as an immunological marker in atopy and to determine the role of an IL-10RA gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (serine 138-to-glycine exchange [S138G]) in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with atopic disorders were compared with 25 age-matched healthy volunteers. Serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IL-10 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the IL-10RA gene S138G variant was screened by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: There was a significant association between G allele frequencies of the S138G variant (62%, 60% and 68% for atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, respectively) in atopic patients compared to in controls. There were significant differences in mean IgE levels but not mean serum IL-10 levels between the allelic variants in atopy groups. CONCLUSION: The IL-10RA gene SNP S138G may contribute to susceptibility to atopic diseases but serum IL-10 level is not a sensitive indicator in atopy.

Interferon gamma gene polymorphism as a biochemical marker in Egyptian atopic patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of interferon (IFN) gamma in the diagnosis and follow-up of atopic patients. We genotyped the IFN-gamma polymorphism at position +874 to examine the relationship between serum levels of IFN-gamma and disease severity and the role of IFN-gamma as a biochemical and immunologic marker. METHODS: The study population comprised 75 patients suffering from atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis (25 each), and 25 control participants. Total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and serum IFN-gamma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the IFN-gamma polymorphism at position +874 was determined by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction, and eosinophil counts were recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant association between genotype and the frequency of the A allele of the +874T/A polymorphism in atopic patients when compared with controls (P < .001). In all 3 groups, there was a significant increase in total IgE levels and eosinophil counts, and a decrease in serum IFN-gamma levels towards the presence of homozygous AA compared with homozygous TT. CONCLUSIONS: The IFN-gamma gene polymorphism at position +874 contributes to susceptibility to atopic diseases by decreasing the amount of IFN-gamma. Identification of variants of IFN-gamma gene signalling and its role in the development of atopic diseases provides a focus for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these diseases.

Effect of garlic on lead contents in chicken tissues.

Lead has been indicted to be involved in the aetiology of human and animal diseases. In view of earlier literature indicating that garlic antagonized lead toxicity, we have investigated the possible use of garlic feeding to clean up lead contents from chickens which had been exposed to natural or experimental lead pollution and consequently eliminate one of the sources of lead pollution to human consumers. Groups of chickens (10 birds each) were given lead alone (lead acetate equivalent to 5 mg lead/kg B.W.) or both lead and garlic simultaneously or lead followed by garlic post-treatment or garlic alone or distilled water. Lead concentrations were reduced in muscle and liver tissues of chickens given both lead and garlic simultaneously or as a post-treatment. Reduction in tissue-lead concentrations were greater in birds given garlic as a post-treatment than those given garlic simultaneously with lead. The results indicate that garlic contain chelating compounds capable of enhancing elimination of lead. Garlic feeding can be exploited to safeguard human consumers by minimizing lead concentrations in meat of food animals which had been grown in a lead polluted environment.

An epidemiological and biochemical study on osteomalacia among pregnant women in Egypt.

230 pregnant women of low socio-economic standard were studied regarding the nutritional status and state of calcium and bone mineralization, social, environmental, dietary and biological factors of the women were also investigated to determine their possible role in such state. Results revealed a low nutritional status associated with biochemical abnormality denoting an impaired calcium state and defective bone mineralization. The low intake of available calcium and lack or inefficient supplements are suggested to be the main factors in causing the low state of calcium.