RESUMO
We studied the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody seropositivity using ELISA (Ortho Diagnostic system, 3rd generation test) polymerase chain reaction testing of HCV-RNA (PCR, Promega) and serum alanine transferase (ALT) level in 100 healthy, HIV-negative, pregnant women who delivered spontaneously at the Alexandria University Hospital, and their newborns. Some risk factors were studied using Fisher's exact test. Nineteen per cent of pregnant women were HCV seropositive and 14 of them (14/19) had circulating HCV-RNA, detected by PCR. Nine of the babies born to the 19 HCV seropositive females had circulating antibodies, whereas HCV-RNA was detected in five of them. This gives a vertical transmission risk of 5/14 (36 per cent) for mothers carrying the HCV-RNA and 5/19 (26 per cent) for those having circulating HCV antibodies. History of previous blood transfusion, elevated serum ALT level, and history of infection with schistosomiasis were significant risk factors for HCV infection in mothers. In addition to the previous factors, maternal history of jaundice, stillbirth and hepatomegaly were significant risk factors for neonatal infection. The occurrence of early jaundice and the presence of congenital anomalies in the newborns were non-significant risk factors. In conclusion, our data indicate a high prevalence of HCV seropositivity in Egyptian HIV-negative pregnant women with a significant high rate of vertical transmission of HCV.
Assuntos
Hepatite C/epidemiologia , Transmissão Vertical de Doenças Infecciosas/estatística & dados numéricos , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/epidemiologia , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Egito/epidemiologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Hepacivirus/isolamento & purificação , Hepatite C/diagnóstico , Hepatite C/transmissão , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/diagnóstico , Fatores de Risco , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), one of the haemopoietic growth factors, has rarely been detected in human serum. It has, therefore, been suggested that a paracrine model can explain its behaviour where the substance is produced and acts locally. An alternative explanation might be due to blood sampling time with GM-CSF concentrations undetectable at the nadir of secretion. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesised that endogenous production of GM-CSF in humans is subject to diurnal rhythm. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 17 healthy individuals and 17 neutropenic hospitalised patients with haematological malignancies on myelosuppressive therapy at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours. In the neutropenic patients, samples were collected at the nadir of the neutrophil count (ANC < 0.2 x 109/L). Serum was assayed for GM-CSF levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean levels of GM-CSF within the two groups (P < 0.001). In normal subjects, peak GM-CSF levels were reached at six hours (mean = 10.1 pg/ml). Peak levels were reached in hospitalised neutropenic patients at 18 hours (mean = 13.7 pg/ml). The difference between the peak GM-CSF levels in the two groups was not significant (P = 0.11). On factorial design analysis, there was a significant interaction between the time of blood collection and the subject groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data are consistent with a diurnal secretion pattern for GM-CSF in both normal and neutropenic patients. As this finding might have practical implications, including timing of administration of GM-CSF in neutropenic patients, further studies are suggested.
Assuntos
Ritmo Circadiano , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/sangue , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/metabolismo , Neutropenia/sangue , Adulto , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Análise Fatorial , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
The distribution of eight blood phenotypes (ABO, Rh, MNSs Lutheran, Kell, Duffy, Kidd and Lewis) was determined in Saudi Arabs and compared with corresponding published information for Caucasians and Negroes of United States of America, Saudi Arabs manifest ABO phenotype distribution similar to Negroes; rhesus phenotypes similar to Caucasians but an MNSs pattern largely distinct. Heterozygous Kell phenotype, Kk, was much more frequent in Saudi Arabs than in either Caucasians, or Negroes. The Kidd system null allete, JKa-b- was not seen in the studied group. However, increased frequencies of null alleles of the Duff (Fya-b-) and Lewis (Le(a-b-)) systems were observed in Saudi Arabs.
Assuntos
Árabes/genética , Antígenos de Grupos Sanguíneos/genética , Frequência do Gene/genética , Sistema ABO de Grupos Sanguíneos/genética , População Negra/genética , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo Duffy/genética , Testes Genéticos , Heterozigoto , Humanos , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo de Kell/genética , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo Kidd/genética , Antígenos do Grupo Sanguíneo de Lewis/genética , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo Lutheran/genética , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo MNSs/genética , Fenótipo , Sistema do Grupo Sanguíneo Rh-Hr/genética , Arábia Saudita , População Branca/genéticaRESUMO
Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version.
