Previous studies have suggested that intercellular adhesion molecule–1 (ICAM–1; CD54) may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. In addition, a soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule–1 (sICAM–1) has been detected in increased concentrations in the sera from adult patients with certain inflammatory, immune, or malignant diseases. To determine whether bronchial asthma exacerbation in children is associated with increased levels of serum sICAM–1 and to investigate the effect of the severity of exacerbation on these levels, the concentrations of sICAM–1 were measured in sera of 20 healthy control children and 45 asthmatic children (15 with mild, 15 with moderate, and 15 with severe asthma exacerbation) using an immunoenzymatic assay. Assessment of the severity of asthma exacerbation was based on clinical and physiological parameters. The mean (± SD) level of serum sICAM–1 for asthmatic children (390.0±108.3 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that for healthy (193.2±33.95 ng/ml; p = 0.000). We have also found a differential rise of serum sICAM–1 level which correlates well with the severity of asthma exacerbation. The elevated concentrations of serum sICAM–1 in acute bronchial asthma may reflect the extensive inflammatory response occurring in the airways during acute exacerbation of the disease with airway obstruction. The results of this study suggest that serum sICAM–1 is a promising serological marker of the severity of inflammation in bronchial asthma in children and it would not only facilitate staging of inflammation but also allow the monitoring of therapy and intervention.

Background: If exposed to oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), persons with primary immune deficiency disorders (PID) are at increased risk of paralytic poliomyelitis; and can chronically excrete poliovirus. However, the risk of excretion of vaccine derived poliovirus among immunodeficient persons (iVDPV) is not well characterized. We present summary of data from poliovirus surveillance project among PID patients collected between 2011 and 2014 from 11 Egyptian Governorates. Methods: Stool was tested for polioviruses in suspected or confirmed PID children regardless of whether Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) was present or not. Those excreting poliovirus were followed until three consecutive negative stool samples were obtained. Results: There were 122 patients with suspected or confirmed PID identified; 13/122 (11%) excreted poliovirus; of these, 6 excreted iVDPVs, the remaining 7 excreted Sabin virus. The duration of iVDPV excretion ranged from 1 to 21 months. AFP was detected in 3/6 (50%) of those excreting iVDPVs. All iVDPV excretors had history of receiving OPV. Conclusions: Chronic poliovirus excretion in PID patients is rare, however, poliovirus eradication requires removal of all polioviruses from circulation; and because PID individuals are not necessarily paralyzed they might be missed by current poliovirus surveillance based on detection of AFP. To achieve poliovirus eradication, surveillance for polioviruses among PID patients should be routinely conducted in all countries, and poliovirus antiviral therapy must be made available for those with chronic excretion.

In 1992, Egypt adopted a hepatitis B vaccine schedule at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. We evaluated the long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccination using this schedule in 180 children whose time lapse since last vaccination varied between 1 month and 5 years. None of the participants had clinical hepatitis, HBsAg was not detected in any participant and all but one had negative results for anti-HBc test. Although a high seroprotection rate [93.3%]was elicited 1 month after vaccination, there were low initial anti-HBs concentrations and both declined rapidly over time. Thus, the short interval [2 months]between the second and third doses of vaccine is less desirable in the long term. We recommend booster inoculations for all previously vaccinated children and a new vaccination schedule at 1, 2 and 9 months

Only 52% of mild asthmatics were given inhaled bronchodilators during acute attacks and 6.84% of moderate to severe asthmatics were taking prophylactic drugs (inhaled sodium cromoglycate and/or inhaled beclomethasone) between acute attacks. Similarly, only 53 of 134 (39.6%) of diabetic children were regularly performing self-monitoring of blood glucose and/or urine testing. In contrast, in epileptic children, 121 of 173 (69.9%) were judged as being compliant by their managing clinicians and more than two