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.

Interleukin-1-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, insulin secretion and oral glucose tolerance in non-diabetic siblings of children with IDDM.

Recent reports suggest that the pancreas participates in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-A) production during stress, and that the islets are predominantly responsible for such synthesis. In vitro TNF-A and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1-beta) inhibit insulin release from islet beta-cells. We measured the circulating levels of IL-1-beta, TNF-A and islet cell antibody (ICA) in 30 children with IDDM (10 of them at their first presentation), 30 of their non-diabetic siblings, and 30 normal age-matched children.

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.

Interleukin-1-beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, islet-cell antibody, and insulin secretion in children with thalassemia major on long-term blood transfusion.

In vitro, cytokines like interleukin-1-beta (IL-1-B) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-A) inhibit insulin release and can destroy islet B-cells. We measured blood levels of IL-1-B, TNF-A, and islet cell antibody (ICA) in 20 children with IDDM, 20 of their non-diabetic siblings, 20 children with thalassemia major on long-term hypertransfusion therapy and iron chelation, and 10 normal age-matched children. In the non-diabetic and thalassemic children we investigated the early phase of insulin release after i.

Effect of passive smoking on frequency of respiratory illnesses and serum immunoglobulin-E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) concentrations in exposed children.

We studied the relationship of serum immunoglobulin-E (Ig-E) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) concentrations, eosinophil counts, and frequency of respiratory illness with passive smoking in 70 randomly selected children of smoking parents. Fifty randomly selected age-matched children of non-smoking parents served as controls. Children of smoking parents had higher frequency of respiratory illnesses per year (P < 0.