Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines regulate the febrile response during infection. In this study, the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures was investigated, through comparing levels of interleukin-1beta in the peripheral blood of children with febrile seizures and in a matched control group of children with febrile illnesses without seizures. The study included 33 children with febrile seizures (mean +/- SD, 29.94 +/- 14.9 months) and 38 controls with comparable age, sex, and type of infection. A laboratory workup for the diagnosis of infection was performed, and interleukin-1beta levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the patients and the control groups immediately on arrival at the hospital. The plasma levels of interleukin-1beta were comparable in the patients and the control group (mean +/- SD, 7.321 +/- 3.123 and 8.087 +/- 4.8 pg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, there was no significant difference when comparing the plasma levels of interleukin-1beta in patients with simple and complex types of febrile seizures. Plasma interleukin-1beta levels did not show a significant correlation to either the duration of the last seizure, the number of the previous attacks of febrile convulsion, or the degree of temperature. However, interleukin-1beta levels were negatively correlated to the duration from the last seizure attack (r = -.8). Thus, the results of the present study do not support the hypothesis that increased production of interleukin-1beta is involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures in children.

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Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent worldwide female endocrine disorder, affecting nearly 5%-12% of reproductive-aged women. PCOS is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility and its foremost clinical symptoms include anovulation or oligo-ovulation, infertility, menstrual irregularity, polycystic ovaries and hyperandrogenism. PCOS is also common among infertile Arabian female population and it is associated with significant elevations in markers of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risks. Unfortunately, PCOS is not a simple pathophysiologic process for which one treatment is sufficient to control all manifestations. Therefore, when choosing a treatment regimen, it should target specific manifestations and individualized patient goals. Aim of the Work: The aim of this study is to assess the safety and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation therapy on ovulation and metabolic changes in women with PCOS. Study design: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients and Methods: The current study was conducted in the infertility clinics of Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital in the period between May 2015 and May 2017. It included 300 women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome attending the infertility clinics of Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital. Results: Being a classification criterion, 25OHD level was significantly lower in the vitamin D deficient subgroup compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup; whereas no significant differences were found between the vitamin D deficient group and the control group. In the same context, 25OHD level was statistically significantly lower in the control group compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup. Vitamin D deficient PCOS women tended to have higher degree of insulin resistance. Fasting glucose was statistically significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient subgroup compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup and the control group; and higher in the control group compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup. Fasting insulin level was statistically significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient subgroup and the control group compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup; whereas no statistically significant differences were found between the former two groups. HOMA2-IR was statistically significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient subgroup and the control group compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup; whereas no statistically significant differences were found between the vitamin D deficient subgroup and the control group. No statistically significant differences were found between the three groups in the various components of the lipid profile. Conclusion: Results of the thesis showed that cumulative ovulation rate was significantly higher in the vitamin D deficient subgroup following vitamin D supplementation compared to the normal vitamin D subgroup and the control group with a rate ratio of 1.27 and 1.22, respectively. Number needed to treat was calculated to be 5.34 and 6.38 compa...

Hemodialysis (HD) may adversely affect the immune system. It is established that intercurrent infection rate and severity may be increased in prevalent HD patients. Moreover, hepatitis C viral infection, a common infection in many HD centers, may further inhibit the immune system. To our knowledge, no previous study in the literature has attempted to investigate the possible effects of hepatitis C seropositivity on rate and severity of intercurrent infection in prevalent HD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the peripheral blood CD16-natural killer cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, as well as rate of intercurrent infection in hepatitis C seropositive prevalent HD patients as compared with hepatitis C seronegative prevalent HD patients. Twenty hepatitis C seropositive stable prevalent HD patients (group A), as well as another twenty hepatitis C seronegative stable prevalent HD patients (group B), were randomly selected from our HD unit and enrolled in the study. Both groups were similar in age, sex, body mass index, and duration of HD. Diabetics, smokers, and cases with advanced liver disease (Child classification stages B and C) were excluded from the study. A third group (group C) of 10 apparently healthy subjects (of similar age, sex, and body mass index), was also enrolled in the study. All subjects were investigated by complete blood count, routine chemistry, assessment of peripheral lymphocytes CD3,CD16, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio by flow cytometer, as well assessment of intercurrent infection frequency retrospectively (since the start of HD therapy and seroconversion in HD patients, and prospectively for a period of six months. Although we detected statistically significant higher frequency of intercurrent infection in both HD groups compared with the healthy group, we did not detect significant differences between hepatitis C seropositive and seronegative groups regarding frequency or severity of intercurrent infection. Moreover, we did not detect significant differences among the three studied groups regarding levels of CD16, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio in peripheral lymphocytes. It may be concluded that hepatitis C seropositive prevalent HD patients are not at increased risk of intercurrent infection as compared with hepatitis C seronegative prevalent HD patients, contrary to what is reported in hepatitis C seroconverted organ transplant candidates.

Background: The clinical experience gathered throughout the years endorses primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) awareness and guides research into newborn screening and future therapeutic strategies.Combined T-cell receptor excision circle levels (TRECs) and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) assay paves the way to new potential applications in this field. Objectives: We aimed to establish a technique for quantification of TRECs and KRECs in Egyptian individuals in our laboratory and to set a lower threshold of normal for TRECs and KRECs in pediatric population for different age groups as a start for its implementation in newborn screening protocols for PIDs. Methods: 50 apparently healthy children (25 males and 25 females) with age ranging from 1 day to 16 years were analyzed..Combined quantification of TRECs and KRECs in the genomic DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Individuals in the study were divided in to 5 different age groups Data regarding lower threshold of normal for TRECs and KRECs copies per ml of blood among the study group was obtained. A highly significant negative correlation between TRECs and KRECs, both calculated per 10 6 PBMCs and per ml of blood and age was observed. On the contrary, there was no statistically significant differences in the studied parameters between males and females when evaluated regardless of age (p value=0.697). Conclusion: It appeared that it is technically feasible to introduce the TRECs/KRECs quantitation by real time PCR into routine laboratory practice to be used in the near future both for new born screening for PIDs