Blastocystis hominis is highly prevalent with respiratory allergies among Egyptian children. Yet, little is known about the possible immunological relationship. Aims of this study were to measure complement-3 (C-3), total and specific IgE to intestinal allergens in patients' serum regarding the identified B. hominis genotypes. In a cross-sectional study, three hundred children (150 asthmatics and 150 non asthmatics) participated in the study from both sexes, mean age 7.5 ± SD (3-4) years after a questionnaire administration. PCR-based genotyping of B. hominis selective in vitro cultivation was performed. C-3, total and specific IgE were all measured in patients' serum utilizing ELISA. Blastocystosis was detected in 100 out of 300 children, 65 (43.3%) out of 150 asthmatics and 35 (23.3%) out of 150 non-asthmatics. Vacuolar forms were the most prevalent in both direct wet mount and stool cultures. Forty (61.5%) out 65 asthmatics and 5 (14.2%) out of 35 non-asthmatics were C 5 organisms/HPF. Sex and irritable bowel disease were statistically insignificant (p value \ 0.05). Urticaria was coincided in 15.4% of asthmatics and 8.6% of non-asthmatics. Of 100 cases of blastocystosis, eighty-four were genotype-3 and sixteen were genotype-4. Out of these, 55 cases of genotype-3 and 6 cases of genotype-4 were asthmatics. Positive C-3 serum levels were in 46 (54.81%) of genotype-3 and 2 (12.5%) of genotype-4. High total IgE levels in 30 (35.7%) out of 84 cases of genotype-3 and 4 (25%) out of 16 cases of genotype-4. Positive specific IgE was in 25 (29.8%) of genotype-3 and 3 (18.75%) of genotype-4. Genotype-3 was of higher infection intensity (p value = 0.0001). In conclusion, B. hominis possess a hidden allergy triggering impact that can be obscured by simultaneous high (total and specific) IgE levels towards specific common intestinal allergens. Blastocystosis induces allergy by increasing C-3 serum levels in a genotype-dependent manner being higher in genotype-3. Virulence of genotype-3 seems to stand beyond increased parasite intensity and wide absorption of intestinal allergens that indirectly elevate IgE serum levels.

Dementia is an ominous neurological disease. Scientists proposed a link between its occurrence and the presence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The long-term sequels of anti-Toxoplasma premunition, chiefly dominated by TNF-α, on the neurons and their receptors as the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), which is tangled in cognition and synaptic plasticity, are still not clear. IGF-1R mediates its action via IGF-1, and its depletion is incorporated in the pathogenesis of dementia. The activated TNF-α signaling pathway induces NF-κβ that may induce or inhibit neurogenesis. This study speculates the potential impact of anti-Toxoplasma immune response on the expression of IGF-1R in chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis. The distributive pattern of T. gondii cysts was studied in association with TNF-α serum levels, the in situ expression of NF-κβ, and IGF-1R in mice using the low virulent ME-49 T. gondii strain. There was an elevation of the TNF-α serum level (p value ≤ 0.004) and significant upsurge in NF-κβ whereas IGF-1R was of low abundance (p value < 0.05) compared to the controls. TNF-α had a strong positive correlation with the intracerebral expression of NF-κβ (r value ≈ 0.943, p value ≈ 0.005) and a strong negative correlation to IGF-1R (r value -0.584 and -0.725 for area% and O.D., respectively). This activated TNF-α/NF-κβ keeps T. gondii under control at the expense of IGF-1R expression, depriving neurons of the effect of IGF-1, the receptor’s ligand. We therefore deduce that T. gondii immunopathological reaction may be a road paver for developing dementia.

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Background and Objectives: Myelo-suppression is the most common toxicity encountered in the oncology clinic today.This study was planned to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic role of the traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb; Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Methods and Results: This study was carried out on thirty six adult male albino rats. They were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=6) received a vehicle of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Group II (n=12) were injected I.P. with cyclophosphamide (CY) for 3 days (gIIa n =6) and continued for one more week to receive AM orally (gIIb n=6). Group III (n=6) received CY I.P. together with AM orally for 3 days. Group IV (n=12) received AM orally for one week (gIVa n=6) and continued for extra three days receiving CY I.P. with AM orally (gIVb n=6). Blood samples were analysed for Total Leucocytic Count and Lymphocytic Count. Counting of CD34 +ve cells in bone marrow was performed by flowcytometry. Bone marrow sections were subjected to H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical staining for anti-CD20 antibody. The mean area % of cellular bone marrow regions occupied by developing haemopoietic cells, mean area of fat cells and mean number of CD20 immunopositive B lymphocytes in the bone marrow were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. AM proved to have a myelo-protective and myelo-therapeutic capacity, evidenced at both laboratory and morphological levels. Conclusions: The greatest myelo-potentiating effect of AM was achieved when supplied before and together with CY therapy.

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Can co-helminthic infections suppress immunity against COVID-19?Some parasites have the capacity to modulate the immune system to assure their longevity inside their hosts [20,21] . This process is chiefly observed in helminths across the three taxonomic categories

Background: Folinic acid (FA) is used to reduce Methotrexate (MTX) toxicity during treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, FA has been shown to reduce MTX treatment efficacy and cure rates of ALL. Recent studies suggested that fish oil (FO) supplementation may protect bone during MTX chemotherapy. Aim of Work: to compare the protective effect of FA versus FO on the growing bone of MTX-treated young rats monitored by histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric and laboratory methods. Materials and Methods: Forty two, 6 weeks-old-male albino rats were divided into: group I (control), group II (MTXtreated), group III (MTX and FA-treated) and group IV (MTX and FO-treated). MTX was injected subcutaneously, once daily for 5 consecutive days, 0.65 mg/kg, followed by 9 days of rest, then 1.3 mg/kg twice weekly for 4 weeks. FA was injected intraperitoneally, 6 hours after each dose of MTX, 0.87 mg/kg, then1.3 mg/kg twice weekly. FO was given orally daily for 6 weeks, 0.5 ml/100 gm. Left knee joints were processed for measuring RANKL/ OPG ratio (Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kapp-B Ligand/ Osteoprotegerin). Right knee joint sections were stained with H&E, Masson's Trichrome and immunohistochemical staining for Caspase-3. Morphometric measurements and statistical analysis were done. Results: MTX-treated group sections revealed disruption in the growth plate structure with subsequent reduction in endochondral bone formation. Supplementation with FA and FO preserved growth plate integrity and bone formation. Conclusion: Fish oil showed better effect than Folinic acid in ameliorating growth plate disruption and retarded bone formation encountered during MTX chemotherapy in young rats.