In vitro and in vivo anti-Cryptosporidium and anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe vera gel in dexamethasone immunosuppressed mice.

Cryptosporidiosis has been considered as a serious diarrheal disease, especially in immunodeficient patients, where they failed to clear the infection leading to several consequences of infection (i.e death). The role of cell mediated immunity in clearing the infection was demonstrated by the increased susceptibility of HIV/AIDS patients to infection. To date, no specific treatment has been proven for cryptosporidiosis in immunodeficient patients. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Aloe vera gel for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in immunocompetent and dexamethasone immunosuppressed mice in comparison to that of nitazoxanide. Mice were orally administrated with Aloe vera gel, in a daily dose of 250 mg/L in drinking water, for 14 consecutive days post infection. Parasitological, molecular and immunological measurements were recorded on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 32nd days post infection. Our in vitro results showed that 250 mg/L of prepared gel achieved the highest parasitic reduction. The body weights of Aloe vera treated mice on the 21st and 32nd day post infection, either in immunocompetent or immunosuppressed groups, were nearly the same as those of their corresponding control groups. Aloe vera gel succeeded in clearing cryptosporidiosis with a percent reduction of 100% in immunocompetent mice and 99.67% in immunosuppressed mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of Aloe vera reduced the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, -6 and -17. The success of Aloe vera gel, in clearing cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed mice, was obvious either from the reduction of Cryptosporidium DNA or the oocysts in stool samples; and from the improvement of histopathological sections.

Prognostic Value of TLE1 Gene Expression in Patients with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Transducin-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1( is a member of the TLE family of transcriptional co-repressors that control the transcription of a wide range of genes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of TLE1 gene expression in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). METHOD: This study was conducted on 97 newly diagnosed T-ALL patients admitted to the Mansoura University oncology center (59 males and 38 females) with median age (33 years) in addition to 102 apparently healthy individuals served as a control group. TLE1 gene expression was measured in both patients and control groups by real time - PCR. The calculation of relative gene expression was done using the ΔΔCt method. RESULTS: TEL1 gene expression was significantly down regulated in T-ALL cases (median 2.83) as compared to controls (median 84.65) (p < 0.001). The low TEL1 gene expression was significantly associated with CNS infiltration, non-remission and higher relapse rate (p < 0.001, 0.001 and 0.023 respectively). Likewise, Low TEL1 gene expression was significantly associated with shorter OS and DFS (P= 0.012 and 0.011 respectively). Furthermore, Low TEL1 gene expression was considered as risk predictor of relapse with OR 3.636(CI.1.422-9.295) (P =0.007); and OR 0.803(CI. 0.609-0.96) (P=0.021) and independent predictor of T-ALL patient's outcome with OR 0.619 (CI. 0.44-0.872) (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: TLE1 gene expression was significantly down regulated in T-ALL cases as compared with controls. Low TLE1 expression is independent predictor of the T-ALL patient's outcome.
.

Trans-diaphragmatic Pathologies: Anatomical Background and Spread of Disease on Cross-sectional Imaging.

The diaphragm is not only a sheet of muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities: it plays an essential role in ventilation and can act as a gateway for the spread of different disease processes between the abdominal and the thoracic cavity. Careful attention to the appearance of the diaphragm on various imaging modalities is essential to ensure the accurate diagnosis of diaphragmatic disorders, which may be secondary to functional or anatomical derangements.