Eosinophil cationic protein as a serological marker of disease activity in childhood bronchial asthma.

To study the value of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) as a serological marker of disease activity in childhood bronchial asthma, ECP levels were measured in 20 healthy control children and 25 asthmatic children, during and 2 weeks after acute exacerbation. The mean serum ECP level of all asthmatic patients, during and after exacerbation, was significantly higher than the control group and was significantly higher during attacks than 2 weeks after their termination. ECP levels were highest in severe attacks, but did not differ between mild and moderate attacks.

Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in Egyptian children.

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.

Quality of care of children with chronic diseases in Alexandria, Egypt: the models of asthma, type I diabetes, epilepsy, and rheumatic heart disease. Egyptian-Italian Collaborative Group on Pediatric Chronic Diseases.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of care delivered to children suffering from index chronic diseases using specific indicators of health care delivery and to study the predictors of suboptimal quality of care (SQC) and its outcome on children.

Design: Over a 9-month period, guidelines for optimal care were formulated. A specific questionnaire for every studied chronic disease was prepared in collaboration with the clinicians in charge of the diseased children (66% pediatricians and pediatric specialists and 34% adult specialists).

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in sera of children with bronchial asthma exacerbation.

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.