Role of interleukin-6 in diagnosis of pleural effusion

AbstractObjectivesTo determine the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both serum and pleural fluid in order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of IL-6 in differentiation between different types of pleural effusion.BackgroundPleural effusion is a relatively common clinical condition. It is often diagnostic dilemma for the physician. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has multiple functions on various cells and tissues. It is often used as a marker for systemic activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.MethodsThis study was conducted on 40 patients of pleural effusion, they were selected from Al-Mahalla Chest Hospital in the period between October 2012 and May 2013. All patients were subjected to detailed clinical history, thorough clinical examination, plain chest-X-ray (postero-anterior and lateral views), blood sample for: Complete blood picture (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), liver functions, renal functions and serum and pleural fluid (LDH, protein and IL-6) by ELISA.ResultsSerum and effusion IL-6 could differentiate between exudate transudate as it increased in exudate than transudate. In the present study there was higher concentration of IL-6 in the serum and pleural effusion of parapneumonic effusion than malignant and tuberculous exudative pleural effusion and higher concentration in malignant than tuberculous effusion.ConclusionEffusion IL-6 could be used to differentiate between exudate and transudate and serum IL-6 could be used as an alternative non invasive method for differentiation between exudates and transudate as there was a significant positive correlation between serum IL-6 and effusion IL-6

Study the relationship between vitamin A deficiency, T helper 17, regulatory T cells, and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Vitamin A deficiency causes imbalance of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cell (Treg), deteriorating the progression of SLE. Aim To determine the relationship between vitamin A levels and Th17 and Treg level in patients with SLE and its relation to disease activity. Patients and methods A total of 45 female patients with SLE diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria and 45 healthy age-matched and sex-matched patients as control group were included. Full assessment was done including medications, clinical examination (pain evaluation by visual analogue scale and assessment of disease activity by SLE disease activity index), laboratory investigations, and albumin–creatinine ratio. Serum levels of vitamin A were measured by a human KAMIYA kits, and flow cytometry was used for measuring Th17 and Treg percentages. Results There was a significant deficiency of vitamin A level in patients with SLE compared with controls (P=0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between vitamin A and Th17 (P=0.001) and positive correlation between vitamin A and Treg percentages (P=0.001). There was a negative correlation between vitamin A levels and albumin–creatinine ratio in patients with SLE (R=−0.255). A positive correlation between serum levels of vitamin A and C3 and C4 was found (P=0.001). Conclusion Vitamin A deficiency is a bad prognostic factor in patients with SLE, affecting Th17/Treg balance. Routine use of retinoic acid may be a promising supplementary agent in patients with SLE, improving its prognosis

Regional Flood Frequency Analysis for the River Nile Basin

Regional differences have been investigated in the probabilities of high and low river flow extremes along the river Nile basin in eastern Africa. This has been done on the basis of statistical extreme value analysis applied to about one hundred flow gauging stations spread over the basin. The statistical analysis results have been combined with physical sub-basin characteristics such as topography and land use. The research has been conducted within the framework of the FRIEND/Nile project, which focuses on regional hydrology research cooperation between the main Nile countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and the Flemish universities. The high- and low-flow statistics developed can be used in water engineering and civil engineering design applications. Of equal importance are the supratechnical research outputs, among which enhancement of water-related transboundary research cooperation in the Nile region. During the course of the project, trust among the researchers and water managers from the different Nile countries gradually increased, data sharing enhanced, and politically sensitive issues (on transboundary water sharing) became debatable.status: publishe