Role of IL-17A in enhancing liver fibrosis induced by TGF-β1 and IL-13 in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

Schistosoma mansoni liver fibrosis is a complicated multicellular process involving numerous cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-1) and interleukin (IL)-13 have been identified as critical pro-fibrotic mediators in many studies. IL-17A was linked to enhanced TGF- and IL-13-induced pathologies.

Endoscopic procedure as a diagnostic tool for intestinal parasitic pathological changes.

Parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) may cause severe morbidity and even death in untreated patients. In certain cases, endoscopy may be the only possible option for diagnosis and management of GIT parasitic diseases. This study aimed to elucidate the role of endoscopy in the identification of GIT pathological changes during parasitic infections.

Maternal brucellosis and human pregnancy.

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic gram-negative bacterium of worldwide distribution. Its role in causing miscarriage in animals is well documented. Data on its role in human abortion are very few.

Clinical, parasitological and social studies on Wuchereria bancrofti in Egypt.

This study was conducted on patients attending Al-Hussein University Hospital and Mansura University Hospitals. Sheets were filled out on each patient (age, residence, occupation, family similar condition, travelling, disease duration, symptoms suggesting acute dermatolymphangitis attacks, frequency and duration. They were 25 lymphoedema patients and 8 controls (17 males & 16 females) and subjected to clinical and parasitological examinations.

Phylogenetic evidence for recombination in SAG5 locus in Toxoplasma gondii.

The present study evaluated the hypothesis that genetic diversity in SAG5 genes was generated by recombination events. Three lines of evidence suggested that recombination occurred in SAG5 genes in T. gondii.

Diagnostic criteria for house dust mites sensitized allergic patients.

House dust mites (HDM) contain a large number of components that react with IgE in individuals with allergies and induced sensi-tization and allergic diseases. The work aimed to correlate between clinical manifestations of HDM allergic patients and skin prick test (SPT) grading, and to clarify some markers denoting allergic disorders caused by HDM exposure. Thirty allergic patients with positive SPT reaction to HDM were selected, grading of disease severity according to SPT and clinical presentations.

Differential regulation of beta-defensin gene expression during Cryptosporidium parvum infection.

Invasion of enterocytes by pathogenic microbes evokes both innate and adaptive immune responses, and microbial pathogens have developed strategies to overcome the initial host immune defense. beta-Defensins are potentially important endogenous antibiotic-like effectors of innate immunity expressed by intestinal epithelia. In this study, the interplay between the enteric protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum and host epithelial beta-defensin expression was investigated.