Study of nonstandard auto-antibodies as prognostic markers in auto immune hepatitis in children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antibodies to chromatin and soluble liver antigen have been associated with severe form of autoimmune hepatitis and/or poor treatment response and may provide guidance in defining subsets of patients with different disease behaviors. The major clinical limitation of these antibodies is their lower individual occurrence in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To estimate the value of detection of these non-standard antibodies in autoimmune hepatitis as prognostic markers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Both antibodies were tested by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with autoimmune hepatitis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Antibodies to soluble liver antigen were not detected in any of our patients. On the other hand anti chromatin antibodies were present in 50% (10/20). Antibodies to chromatin occurred more commonly in females than males (8/14 versus 2/6). Of the 14 patients who relapsed 8(57%) had antichromatin antibodies while they were present in only 2 out of 6(33.3%) non relapsers. Antichromatin antibodies were found more in patients with antinuclear (3/4) and anti smooth muscle antibodies (9/13) more than in those with liver kidney microsomal antibodies (1/4) and those seronegative (1/4) i.e. they were +ve in patients with type I (8/12(66.6%)) more than those with type II (1/4(25%)) and those seronegative (1/4(25%)). Antibodies to chromatin are associated with high levels of γ globulin but yet with no statistical difference between seropositive and seronegative counterparts (p = 0.65).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Antibodies to chromatin may be superior than those to soluble liver antigen in predicting relapse and may be useful as prognostic marker. Further studies with larger number of patients and combined testing of more than one antibody will improve the performance parameters of these antibodies and define optimal testing conditions for them before they can be incorporated into management algorithms that project prognosis.</p

Study of obesity associated proopiomelanocortin gene polymorphism: Relation to metabolic profile and eating habits in a sample of obese Egyptian children and adolescents

AbstractBackgroundMelanocortinergic system represents a known system involved in the central regulation of body weight with the central proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons forming a potent anorexigenic network. Polymorphisms in the POMC gene locus are associated with obesity phenotypes.AimTo assess the contribution of the POMC gene 9-bp insertional polymorphism in the susceptibility to obesity and its relation to body mass index (BMI) and adiposity-related co-morbidities in obese children and adolescents; as well as binge eating behavior.Patients and methodsFifty obese children and adolescents with simple obesity were screened for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), they were compared to 50 age, sex and pubertal stage-matched non obese controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, abdominal ultrasound for fatty liver, measurement of fasting lipid profile, fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose and assessment of POMC gene 9-bp insertional polymorphism were done.ResultsObese patients had significantly higher anthropometric measurements, blood pressure percentiles, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting lipid profiles, and higher frequency of occurrence of non alcoholic fatty liver disease and BED. Allelic frequencies of POMC gene 9bp insertional polymorphism were comparable in patients and controls (p=0.956). Fasting insulin levels were significantly higher in the heterozygous cases having the polymorphism than in wild homozygous cases; whereas no difference was observed among the controls.ConclusionThis polymorphism was associated with higher fasting insulin levels in the obese patients only. These findings support the hypothesis that the melanocortin pathway may modulate glucose metabolism in obese subjects indicating a possible gene-environment interaction. POMC variant may be involved in the natural history of polygenic obesity, contributing to the link between type 2 diabetes and obesity

Chemopreventive effects of curcumin analogs in DMH-Induced colon cancer in albino rats model

Synthesis and preclinical safety evaluation in mice and rats of Curcumin (1) and curcumin analogs (2, 3) were done. Besides, the chemopreventive effects in DMH-induced colon cancer in albino rats model were performed. Sections of mammary gland, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, and colon were done. Administration of the prophylactic treatment for four weeks before the induction of cancer by DMH, showed that compound 3 is the most active one. Chemopreventive treatment with different forms of curcumin extracts for 2 and 4 weeks caused a reduction in the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) especially compound 3. Chemopreventive treatment with different forms of curcumin extracts for 2 and 4 weeks caused a reduction in the number of tumor cells

Health related quality of life and psychological problems in Egyptian children with simple obesity in relation to body mass index

Background: Obesity in childhood or adolescence could affect quality of life (QOL). There is little existing information about the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of obese children and adolescents. Objective: To assess HRQOL and psychiatric co-morbidities in obese children and adolescents; and their relationship to body mass index (BMI). Methods: Fifty obese children and adolescents were compared to 50 healthy age-, sex- and pubertal stage-matched non obese children and adolescents serving as controls. They were assessed by child self-report and parent proxy report using a pediatric HRQOL inventory scale, also, Children Anxiety Scale and Children Depression Inventory (CDI) were assessed. Results: Obese children had total HRQOL score: 69.1 ± 8.4 versus 81.1 ± 7.8 respectively, p < 0.001 and their parents had total score: 62.9 ± 9.5 versus 74.9 ± 7.2 respectively, p < 0.001. Obese children reported lower health-related QOL scores in all domains than controls. BMI standard deviation score (SDS) correlated negatively with total score and all domains in child self report and parent proxy report. Anxiety (mild: 8%, moderate: 38%, severe: 54%) and depression (mild: 18%, moderate: 24%, severe: 58%) were pre-existing or diagnosed in all obese children with significant positive correlations between BMISDS and each of anxiety (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) and CDI scores (r = 0.78, p = 0.01). BMI (OR: 5.72, 95%CI: 2.57–5.9) and waist circumference (OR:2.27, 95%CI:1.99–5.31) SDSs were independent risk factors affecting the total QOL score. Conclusions: Obese children and adolescents have lower health-related QOL that correlated negatively with BMI, also they are more susceptible to anxiety and depression symptoms than non obese children

Study of plasma amino acid levels in children with autism: An Egyptian sample

Background: The aetiology of autism is unclear and autistic symptoms had been attributed to an abnormal functional imbalance in neurotransmitter amines such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. Objective: To study plasma essential and non-essential amino acid levels, protein electrophoresis, serum ammonia, and urea in autistic children in comparison with controls. Methods: Twenty autistic children were compared to twenty healthy age and sex matched normal children serving as control, where serum amino acids, urea, ammonia and protein electrophoresis were estimated. Results: As regards essential amino acid levels, autistic children had significant lower plasma levels of leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine and cystine than controls (P  0.05). In non-essential amino acid levels, phosphoserine was significantly raised in autistic children than in controls (P  0.05). There was no significant difference between cases and controls as regards the levels of urea, ammonia, total proteins, albumin and globulins (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma) (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Autistic children had lower levels of some plasma amino acids except for glycine and glutamic acids and phosphoserine were increased with normal serum levels of urea, ammonia, total proteins, albumin and globulins (alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma)

Correction: Youssef et al. Foliar Spray or Soil Drench: Microalgae Application Impacts on Soil Microbiology, Morpho-Physiological and Biochemical Responses, Oil and Fatty Acid Profiles of Chia Plants under Alkaline Stress. <i>Biology</i> <b>2022</b>, <i>11</i>, 1844

There were three errors in the original publication [...

The Potential Effects of Quercetin-Loaded Nanoliposomes on Amoxicillin/Clavulanate-Induced Hepatic Damage: Targeting the SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Microbiota Modulation

Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Co-Amox), a commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections, has been associated with drug-induced liver damage. Quercetin (QR), a naturally occurring flavonoid with pleiotropic biological activities, has poor water solubility and low bioavailability. The objective of this work was to produce a more bioavailable formulation of QR (liposomes) and to determine the effect of its intraperitoneal pretreatment on the amelioration of Co-Amox-induced liver damage in male rats. Four groups of rats were defined: control, QR liposomes (QR-lipo), Co-Amox, and Co-Amox and QR-lipo. Liver injury severity in rats was evaluated for all groups through measurement of serum liver enzymes, liver antioxidant status, proinflammatory mediators, and microbiota modulation. The results revealed that QR-lipo reduced the severity of Co-Amox-induced hepatic damage in rats, as indicated by a reduction in serum liver enzymes and total liver antioxidant capacity. In addition, QR-lipo upregulated antioxidant transcription factors SIRT1 and Nrf2 and downregulated liver proinflammatory signatures, including IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, and iNOS, with upregulation in the anti-inflammatory one, IL10. QR-lipo also prevented Co-Amox-induced gut dysbiosis by favoring the colonization of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides over Clostridium and Enterobacteriaceae. These results suggested that QR-lipo ameliorates Co-Amox-induced liver damage by targeting SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB and modulating the microbiota