Elevated serum KL-6 in pediatric asthma exacerbation: a proof of alveolar injury

Background: Asthma is one of the most popular chronic diseases in children. It is defined as a complicated inflammatory disorder in which the patient suffers from chronic and persistent inflammation of the airways. The sialylated glycoprotein Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), one of the lung epithelium-specific proteins, has been recognized as a significant biomarker which directly associates with interstitial lung disease (ILD) pathogenesis, indicating the extent of damage and regeneration of type II pneumocytes. Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the degree of alveolar damage in asthmatic children with acute exacerbation as reflected by serum KL-6 levels. Methods: This cross-sectional controlled study included 50 patients with acute asthma exacerbation diagnosed as per the GINA guidelines definition and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls. Spirometry was done for all participants. Serum KL-6 level was estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), and total serum IgE level was measured via the electrochemiluminescence technology. Results: The asthma patients included 35 (70%) males and 15 (30%) females with mean age of 10.76 ±1.9 years. Forty-seven patients (94%) had a positive family history of bronchial asthma and 32 (64%) had other atopic manifestations The mean serum KL-6 level in patients was more than double the mean level of the control group (115.79 vs 55.64). No significant relation was observed between KL-6 serum level and age, family history of asthma, seasonal variation, or atopic manifestation among the cases. Serum total IgE levels were significantly higher in cases compared to controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum KL-6 levels in pediatric asthma patients may be a useful diagnostic tool for detecting and monitoring the severity of airway inflammation. The use of serum KL-6 alone may help to differentiate between asthmatic patients in exacerbation and healthy controls

Effect of vaginal progesterone in combination with cervical cerclage on improved gestational age and perinatal outcome in twin pregnancy: A prospective randomized study

Background: Prematurity is the second leading cause of death in the first month of life. Objective of present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage each alone and in combination in improving gestational age in twin pregnancy and its subsequent impact on perinatal outcome.Methods: A sample size of seventy-five patients has been calculated out of those recruited from outpatient clinic at menoufia university hospital. All fulfilled eligibility criteria of having a twin pregnancy with a history of spontaneous preterm labour, or with a sonographic short cervical length <25mm in mid trimester. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups. Group 1 (N-25): received vaginal progesterone supplementation of 200 mg from 20 weeks until 34 weeks of gestation. Group2 (N-25): were remedied with cervical cerclage of Mc Donald type at 14-16 weeks of gestation Group 3 (N-25): received both vaginal progesterone as well as cervical cerclage. The primary outcome measure was spontaneous delivery between 34-37 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes were delivery prior 34 weeks of gestation as well as some parameters of neonatal morbidity and mortality.Results: There was a statistically significant higher gestational age in combination group when compared to progesterone group or cerclage group (P<0.001). Comparison between progesterone and cerclage groups did not reach statistical significance(P=-0.85). Both progesterone and cerclage groups demonstrated significantly lower birth weights, lower Apgar scores and a higher NICU admission rate than in combination group(P<0.001), while such significant difference did not exist between progesterone and cerclage groups.Conclusions: Combination of vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage can improve gestational age at delivery as well as some parameters of perinatal morbidity and mortality in twin pregnancy

Phosphorus Loss into Ground Water in Paddy Soils as Influenced by Irrigation System and Rate of Added-P

A field experiment was carried out in delta Nile region of Egypt, to elucidate the impact of irrigation system and graded phosphorus fertilizer rates on P loss into ground water in paddy soils (heavy clay soil). Three irrigation system were used: submergence with continuous head of water (about 8 cm), irrigation with saturation percent and discontinous irrigation where soil was irrigated every 7 days. The rate of applied P were 45 and 90 Kg P2O5/acre as super phosphate. Values of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in ground water increased under saturation and discontinuous irrigation compared to it under submergence condition (e.g.,0.25,0.18 and 0.14 mg P/L, respectively) under 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. and after 15 days of added-P. Accumulation values of DRP in ground water after 105 days at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. of added-P were 1.18,0.76 and 0.67 mg P/L under saturation, discontinuous and submergence irrigation methods, respectively. The rate of loss for DRP in ground water was the highest under saturation method at 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. ( 0.01 mg P/L/day). Results also showed that, accumulated total phosphorus (TP) at the end of ground water collection (105 days after transplanting) when 90 Kg P2O5 /ac. was added were 2.78,2.18 and 1.69 mg P/L under discontinuous, saturation and submergence irrigation system, respectively. Also, the rate of loss for TP was the highest under discontinuous irrigation condition (0.025 mg P/L). These results indicated that, increasing added phosphorus fertilizer let to increasing P loss into ground water by leaching through the soil profile.In addition, phosphorus loss into ground water was increased with decreasing added water for irrigation in paddy soils (increasing drought regime) and that was not expected

Frequent use of paracetamol and risk of allergic disease among women in an Ethiopian population

Introduction The hypothesis that paracetamol might increase the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases have gained support from a range of independent studies. However, in studies based in developed countries, the possibility that paracetamol and asthma are associated through aspirin avoidance is difficult to exclude. Objectives To explore this hypothesis among women in a developing country, where we have previously reported aspirin avoidance to be rare. Methods In 2005/6 a population based cohort of 1065 pregnant women was established in Butajira, Ethiopia and baseline demographic data collected. At 3 years post birth, an interview-based questionnaire administered to 945 (94%) of these women collected data on asthma, eczema, and hay fever in the past 12 month, frequency of paracetamol use and potential confounders. Allergen skin tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and cockroach were also performed. The independent effects of paracetamol use on allergic outcomes were determined using multiple logistic regression analysis. Findings The prevalence of asthma, eczema and hay fever was 1.7%, 0.9% and 3.8% respectively; of any one of these conditions 5.5%, and of allergen sensitization 7.8%. Paracetamol use in the past month was reported by 29%, and associations of borderline significance were seen for eczema (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 8.51 (1.68 to 43.19) for 1–3 tablets and 2.19 (0.36 to 13.38) for ≥4 tablets, compared to no tablets in the past month; overall p = 0.055) and for ‘any allergic condition’ (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.73 (1.22 to 6.11) for 1–3 tablets and 1.35 (0.67 to 2.70) for ≥4 tablets compared to 0 in the past month; overall p = 0.071). Conclusions This study provides further cross-sectional evidence that paracetamol use increases the risk of allergic disease

The spectrum of imaging findings in pulmonary hydatid disease and the additive value of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in its diagnosis

Purpose: To describe the spectrum of imaging findings in pulmonary echinococcosis and to study the additive value of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the characterisation of pulmonary hydatid disease. Material and methods: This was a descriptive, prospective study conducted for a period of 3 years from December 2016 to November 2019. Patients suspected of having pulmonary echinococcosis (n = 110) on preliminary chest radiography were examined with chest computed tomography (CT). Among them 41 cases were additionally examined with T2-weighted MRI of thorax. Final diagnosis was based on surgery or histopathology. Results: Of the 110 patients enrolled for the study 15 were lost to attrition, and among the final cohort of 95 patients CT correctly diagnosed 68/84 (80.9%) as hydatid cyst, whereas 16/84 (19.1%) received an erroneous alternate diagnosis on CT. Based on the classical findings of hyperintense pulmonary cystic lesion with T2-weighted hypointense rim or detached internal T2-weighted hypointense membrane, a correct diagnosis of hydatid cyst was possible in 30 patients whereas a correct alternate diagnosis was made in 8 cases. T2-weighted MRI was found to have sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 80%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 93.7% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.9% with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 92.6%. Using the McNemar test, MRI was found to be diagnostically superior to CT (p = 0.019). Conclusions: Most of the pulmonary hydatid cysts can be diagnosed on CT; however, sometimes the findings may be indeterminate or atypical, leading to a diagnostic dilemma. MRI, owing to its ability to demonstrate hypointense endocyst, can act as a useful adjunct to correctly diagnose hydatid cyst or suggest an alternative diagnosis

Epidural spinal cord compression from metastatic cancer: clinical features and management

We retrospectively analyzed thirty-three patients (21 males, 12 females) with malignancy induced spinal cord compression (SCC). The mean age of the patients was 42.8 years and almost half (51%) of them presented with SCC. Mean duration of symptoms was 4.5 months and the mean interval between the original diagnosis of cancer and the development of SCC was 14.6 months. Back pain was the most frequent (97%) symptom with an equal number of patients having subjective or objective evidence of lower limb weakness. Majority (73%) of the patients were non-ambulatory at the time of diagnosis. Spinal level involvement was mostly thoracic (62%) followed by lumber (38%). Breast cancer was the commonest underlying malignancy (21%). Lung (12%), prostrate (12%), multiple myeloma (9%), and carcinoma with unknown primary (12%) were also frequently encountered. There was an overall response rate of 22% to the therapeutic interventions: mostly observed in the ambulatory patients. Only 7% of the non-ambulatory patients regained ability to walk. None of the responders had bladder or bowel dysfunction. Twenty-two percent of the responders are still ambulatory with a mean follow-up of six months

Impact of Transformational Leadership on Psychological Empowerment and Job Satisfaction Relationship: a Case of Yemeni Banking

The banking sector of Yemen is under threat due to the lack of confidence and trust of the prospective clients that hindered economic development of the country. The study aimed to measure a moderating effect of transformational leadership on employees\u27 psychological empowerment and job satisfaction relationship so that attitudes of the Yemeni can be bumped towards banking. In this study, 160 employees were surveyed in different branches of four banks in Yemen. The data were analyzed in four stages namely, reliability and validity analysis, descriptive analysis, multivariate analysis, and hypotheses testing analysis. The study revealed a significant positive relationship between employees\u27 psychological empowerment and transformational leadership towards their job satisfaction level. If the policy makers consider the findings and undertake necessary measures, the Yemeni banking is expected to be accelerated which will contribute to the economy of the country