Frequency of ragweed sensitization and allergy among patients with respiratory allergy.

Pollen is well known to cause seasonal allergy. Ragweed sensitization and allergy represent a worldwide challenge for allergists. Ambrosia is one of the major genera in the Asteraceae family which includes at least 51 species known as "ragweed".

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection impairs natural killer cells-dendritic cells cross-talk: An in vitro culture study.

To examine the cross-talk between NK cells and DCs in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we isolated monocytes and NK cells from 20 chronic HCV patients and 20 healthy controls. Monocytes were used to generate immature DCs which were pulsed with HCV peptides (core, NS3-NS4, and NS5). Four different cocultures were carried out: E1, both DCs and NK cells were from a chronic HCV patient; E2, NK cells from a healthy control cocultured with DCs from a chronic HCV patient; E3, NK cells from a chronic HCV patient cocultured with DCs from a healthy control; and E4, both DCs and NK cells were from a healthy control.

Influence of vitamin D receptor gene FokI and ApaI polymorphisms on glucocorticoid response in patients with asthma.

Background: Glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant asthma, a complex disease phenotype, has a high morbidity and mortality and takes up a disproportionate share of healthcare costs. The aim of this work was to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)VD) levels in steroid-resistant, steroid-sensitive patients with asthma and in healthy controls, and to investigate the association between the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) FokI and ApaI polymorphisms and GC resistance in patients with asthma.

Methods: This case-control study included 70 patients with severe bronchial asthma and 30 apparently healthy controls.

Diamine oxidase enzyme: a novel biomarker in respiratory allergy.

Background: Well-known allergy tests are used to evaluate and diagnose allergic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the role of serum level diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme as a diagnostic marker in respiratory allergy.

Methods: This case-control study included 40 patients with respiratory allergies (atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis) as well as 40 age- and sex-matched controls.

Vitamin D Increases Percentages of Interleukin-10 Secreting Regulatory T Cells in Children with Cow's Milk Allergy.

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is known to be either IgE- or non-IgE mediated. Regulatory T (Treg) cell defect is involved in the pathogenesis of both types. Vitamin D has been suggested to improve the generation of allergen-specific Treg cell populations with the potential to provide safe and long-term alleviation of disease symptoms.

Plasma Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Levels in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

This study aimed to determine whether plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) could serve as an activity biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. suPAR levels were assessed in SLE patients, compared to healthy controls and correlated with disease activity. Sixty SLE patients were enrolled with assessment of disease activity using SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), C3, soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor level.

The immunomodulatory role of zinc in asthmatic patients.

Background: Zinc deficiency may play an important role in the development of atopic asthma.

The Aim Of The Work: To assess serum zinc levels in adult atopic, non-atopic asthmatic patients, and in healthy controls and to investigate its modulatory effect on production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro.

Methods: Sixty asthmatics and 30 apparently healthy volunteers were included in this study.

The influence of interferon-β supplemented human dendritic cells on BCG immunogenicity.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a huge worldwide burden, despite extensive vaccination coverage with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only vaccine available against this disease, indicating that BCG-driven immunity is inadequate to protect the human population against TB. This underscore the critical necessitate to develop an improved TB vaccine, based on a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions and immune responses during mycobacterial infection.

Aim Of The Work: To examine whether the exogenous addition of IFN-β could improve dendritic cell (DC) response to Mycobacterium bovis (M.

Transient elastography as a noninvasive assessment tool for hepatopathies of different etiology in pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To identify the prevalence and effect of hepatopathies of different etiologies among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using transient elastography (TE) and its relation to glycemic control.

Methods: One hundred T1DM patients were studied focusing on liver functions, fasting lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), hepatitis C virus (HCV), serum immunoglobulins, autoimmune antibodies; anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM). Abdominal ultrasound was performed and TE was done for patients with HCV, positive autoimmune antibody and/or abnormal ultrasound findings.

Serum indolamine 2,3 dioxygenase as a marker in the evaluation of allergic rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis occurs on exposure to a known allergen and is correlated with a positive skin test and physical examination results. Tryptophan is a substrate of many important proteins, e.g.

Comparison between magnetic activated cell sorted monocytes and monocyte adherence techniques for in vitro generation of immature dendritic cells: an Egyptian trial.

Introduction: Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most efficient antigen presenting cells, which are considered a central component of the immune system for their extraordinary capacity to initiate and modulate the immune responses elicited upon recognition of infectious agents. This has made them a major focus of interest in the conception of immunotherapeutic vaccine strategies.

Aim Of The Study: To standardise a protocol for in vitro differentiation of human peripheral blood monocytes into immature DCs (iDCs) upon treatment with specific growth factors and to compare two monocyte isolation methods including magnetic activated cell sorted (MACS) monocytes by CD14(+) immuno-magnetic beads and monocytes separated by adherence.

OX40 ligand: a potential costimulatory molecule in atopic asthma.

Objective: We aimed to assess the percentage of peripheral blood B-lymphocytes expressing OX40 ligand (OX40L) in adult atopic and non-atopic asthmatic patients, and in healthy controls.

Methods: This case-control study included 15 atopic asthmatic patients, 15 non-atopic asthmatic patients, and 15 healthy controls. Atopic status was determined by skin prick test reaction to the most common locally-encountered allergens.

Vitamin D level among Egyptian patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and its relation to severity of the disease.

Vitamin D has an important role in the immune system. Decreased serum vitamin D level is known to be associated with autoimmune and atopic diseases. This study aimed to assess vitamin D status in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and its relation with severity of the disease.

Serum visfatin, resistin and IL-18 in A group of Egyptian obese diabetic and non diabetic individuals.

Resistin and visfatin have been proposed as playing a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. We assessed the relationship between their serum concentrations and insulin resistance in lean, obese diabetic and obese non-diabetic. We explore their relationship with inflammatory markers and anthropometric parameters in obese patients.

Association of FOXP3 regulatory gene expression with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity among Egyptian patients.

The concept that regulatory T cells (Treg) play a key role in both development and maintenance of autoimmune response in rheumatological diseases is well accepted. In recent years, several studies analyzed Treg cell phenotype and function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototypical systemic autoimmune disorder in humans. The forkhead family transcription factor FOXP3 currently represents the most specific marker molecule for T cells with suppressive/regulatory capacity (Treg).