Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are an important family of receptors that constitute the first line of defense system against microbes. They can recognize both invading pathogens and endogenous danger molecules released from dying cells and damaged tissues and play a key role in linking innate and adaptive immunity. TLRs are widely distributed in both immune and other body cells. The expressions and locations of TLRs are regulated in response to specific molecules derived from pathogens or damaged host cells. The binding of ligands to TLR activates specific intracellular signaling cascades that initiate host defense reactions. Such binding is liganddependent and cell type-dependent and leads to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type 1 interferon. TLR-dependent signaling pathways are tightly increased during innate immune responses by a variety of negative regulators. Overactivation of TLRs can ultimately lead to disruption of immune homeostasis and thus increase the risk for inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. Antagonists/inhibitors targeting the TLR signaling pathways have emerged as novel therapeutics to treat these diseases. Aim of work: The present review summarizes the structure, characterizations, and signaling of TLRs and their regulators, as well as describes the implication of TLRs in many diseases with a brief idea about the inhibitors that target TLR signaling pathways. Conclusion: We conclude that TLRs are the main elements of our immune system, and they should be maintained functioning to keep the integrity of innate immunity. Targeting of TLR signaling represents a new challenge for treatment of many diseases.

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The right lateral positioning is associated with decreased TA pepsin. The implications of the present study on hospital practice and clinical outcomes need further investigations.

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are type I integral transmembrane receptors involved in recognition and conveying of pathogens to the immune system. These receptors are located either on cell surfaces or within endosomes. They are activated by specific ligand leading to the release of cytokines via signal transduction pathway. The excess production of these cytokines leads to disrupt the immune homeostasis. There are several factors regulating TLR expression and consequently affecting their functions. Among these are inflammation, cytokines, some cellular process, air pollution, depression, stress, some drugs, genetic polymorphism, nutrition, and micronutrients. Some micronutrients (vitamins and trace elements) may be considered as important TLR regulators, as they have immunomodulatory functions. Vitamins D, B12, and A; zinc; copper; and iron have important role on innate immune responses. Aim of work: This review gives a brief idea on TLR family and attempts to cover the factors affecting the physiological functions of them. Conclusion: Of many factors affecting TLRs functions are micronutrients. There is a shortage of researches concerning the effect of micronutrients deficiency on the function of TLRs, all of which focused on vitamin D but other vitamins have not got the same importance that they deserve. This orients our efforts to work at this point in the future.

Background: Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue composed of adipocytes. Recently, this tissue has been recognized as a major endocrine organ. The physiological process of fat loss occurs when fats are liberated from adipocytes into circulation to supply the needed energy. Nutrition supplements that increase fat metabolism, impair fat absorption, increase weight loss, and increase fat oxidation during exercise are known as fat burners. A good fat burner must burn the stored fats, break down the fat cells, and increase the metabolic rate. Eating thermogenic foods helps burn fats. Fat flush diet comes to repair the damage that resulted from ingested and environmental toxins stored in adipocytes. Aim of work:This review will focus on the recent advances in fat burning supplements, fat burning foods, and fat flash diet. Conclusion:The human body can act as a fat-burning machine by depending on low-calorie foods instead of high-calorie foods in addition to doing regular exercise, avoiding toxins and processed food, and applying any fat flush dietary program under the approval of a professional doctor. What's new in this review is that it may orient our attention to the importance of using natural fat burners in the fat burning process in an attempt to avoid medications that have many side effects by targeting other organs and it also gives an idea of the importance of increasing the brown adipose tissue content because its activation could be linked to a feeling of being full. We need further studies in this context.

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BACKGROUND:In developing countries, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is mainly acquired during childhood and may be a predisposing factor for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer later in life. Noninvasive diagnostic tools are particularly useful in children for screening tests and epidemiological studies. Data on serologic testing of children are lacking. Accurate noninvasive tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in children are strongly required.AIM:The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a serological test (serum IgG antibody for H. pylori) in Egyptian children with recurrent abdominal pain necessitating endoscopy.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:One hundred children, referred to the endoscopy unit at Mansoura University. Upper endoscopy was done for each with rapid urease test (RUT) and histological examination as the gold standard test for detection of H. pylori infection. Serum samples were collected for detecting IgG for H. pylori infection.RESULTS:The mean age of the subjects included in the study was 7.23 ± 1.94 year. Serological test (IgG to H. pylori) was positive in 60% of all cases. A highly significant association between the standard test and the serological test at a cutoff > 10 U/ml at p = 0.001 were detected for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the IgG antibody a cutoff > 10 U/ml, were 96.5%, 93%, 13.83, 0.038 respectively.CONCLUSION:Serum IgG antibody to H. pylori infection has a high diagnostic value and can be considered as a suitable and reliable noninvasive test for detection of H. pylori infection.

AIM:There are no reports regarding the influence of vitamin D on thymosin ß4 and the cluster of differentiation CD4 levels which are important for maintaining a healthy immune system. Consequently, we aimed to explore this relationship through a study.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study was carried out on 35 subjects, screened for 25-hydroxy vitamin D[25 (OH) D] using ELISA method and they were divided into two groups: Group 1 consists of 10 healthy subjects with sufficient vit. D level > 24.8 ng/ml. Group 2 consists of 25 subjects suffering, severely, from vitamin D deficiency at level < 11.325 ng/ml. Also, Thymosin ß4, CD4 and zinc levels were performed.RESULTS:There were significant differences between the two groups in the concentration levels of thymosin β4, as the group 1 has shown higher levels (P = 0.005). Whereas, CD4 and zinc levels didn’t show any significant difference between the two groups. At the same time, a significant positive correlation has been observed between vitamin D, thymosin β4, and CD4 at (r = 0.719; P = 0.001), and (r = 0.559, P = 0.001) respectively.CONCLUSION:We concluded that vitamin D may be an essential factor that influence or determine the level of thymosin β4. This study is the first that focused on demonstrating that sufficient level of vitamin D may have the ability to influence the thymic hormone thymosin β4 levels. Further studies on large scale of subjects are needed to explore the positive correlation we had found between vitamin D and thymosin β4 and CD4.