A project to reduce the rate of central line associated bloodstream infection in ICU patients to a target of zero.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are life-saving and the majority of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) have them placed in order to receive medicine and fluids. However, the use of these catheters can result in serious bloodstream infections. The rate of Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) in Adult Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at King Abdulaziz Medical City Jeddah (KAMC-J) at the start of the project was 2.

Regulation of interleukin-4 production and cytokine-induced growth potential in peripheral T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The malignant cells in tumour tissues produce cytokines/growth factors that may influence tumour growth, tumour immunogenicity and host immune response. We demonstrate that lymph node cell (LNC) purified neoplastic T cells from CD4+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma (CD4+ PTCL) and CD8+ PTCL spontaneously, and after stimulation with anti-CD3, secreted high amounts of interleukin-4 (IL-4) as compared to LNC-purified CD4+ and CD8+ non-malignant T cells. Furthermore, IL-4 was observed to be the most potent cytokine that induced in vitro proliferation and growth of the malignant T cells.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis: IL-10-dependent CD4+CD45RO+ T cell-B cell antibody synthesis.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a major immunoregulatory cytokine and has a multitude of immunomodulatory effects in the immune system. In this study, we have examined the secretion and in vitro function of IL-10 in B cell hyperactivity in antibody production in two common autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-10 was detectable in serum of all active SLE and serum and synovial fluid samples of all RA patients but in none of the normal controls.

CD4+ Th2 cell response cytokine production in bacterial meningitis.

There has been a growing body of evidence suggesting that CD4+ Th1/Th2 cell responses participate in pathologic and immunologic processes in infectious disease. Bacterial meningitis is a fatal disease of children and is associated with a spectrum of clinical syndromes. This study provides evidence of CD4+ enhanced interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 but decreased IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production, the induction of characteristic Th2 cell response cytokines in bacterial meningitis, which may play an important role in disease mechanism.