Ginger and its constituents in asthma: a mini-review.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this review is to focus on research findings that aim to determine the immunomodulatory action of ginger's active components and the molecular mechanisms that reduce asthma. The study aims to provide an overview of the scientific literature available on ginger's efficacy in treating allergic asthma. DATA SOURCE: The mouse model of asthma has been used to investigate the actions of ginger and its active compounds on allergies and asthma. Various studies and scientific literature on ginger's health-improving qualities and its traditional use have been examined. RESULTS: The findings indicate that ginger and its active ingredients have anti-asthmatic features and a suppressive impact on mast cell production of histamine. Animals given ginger and compounds derived from ginger demonstrate a notable reduction in allergic response, suggesting a significant role in lowering the allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: While ginger shows promise as a potential treatment for allergies and asthma due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antioxidant effects, further examination, extrapolation, and confirmation of these results are necessary before utilizing ginger and its active components in human treatments. This review highlights the need for additional research and provides an overview of the current scientific literature on ginger's efficacy in treating allergic asthma.

Longer duration of kangaroo care improves neurobehavioral performance and feeding in preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To investigate the effect of kangaroo care (KC) and its duration on neurobehavioral performance, stress response, breastfeeding success, and vital signs in premature infants. METHODS: One hundred and twenty premature infants were randomized to receive either KC for 60 min daily, KC for 120 min daily or conventional care (controls) for at least 7 days. Salivary cortisol was measured before and after the first KC session and then after 7 days. Temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were recorded, before and after KC. Neonates were evaluated by the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). RESULTS: Both KC groups demonstrated higher scores for attention, arousal, regulation, nonoptimal reflexes, and quality of movements and lower scores for handling, excitability, and lethargy, compared to controls (p < 0.05). Both KC groups had higher infant breastfeeding assessment tool score and reached full enteral feeds faster than controls (p < 0.05). After the first KC session, improvement in O2 saturation and temperature was observed in KC 120-min group compared with the KC 60-min group (p < 0.05). Salivary cortisol decreased in both KC groups compared with controls after 7 days (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Preterm neonates who receive KC for long durations reach full enteral feeds faster, have better breastfeeding success, neurobehavioral performance, thermal control, and tissue oxygenation.

Gli-similar 3 (GLIS3) rs7020763 (C>G) polymorphism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders characterized by the incapability of pancreatic beta cells to increase insulin secretion to compensate for insulin resistance in the peripheral tissues. T2DM is a multi-factorial disease including several environmental factors with the presence of genetic predisposition. The transcription factor GLI-Similar 3 (GLIS3) has an important role in the development, survival and proliferation of pancreatic beta-cells and insulin gene expression regulation. Accordingly, genome-wide association studies have shown that GLIS3 gene polymorphism may confer risk to type 2 diabetes mellitus T2DM. The present study intended to investigate the association between GLIS3 rs7020673 gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus and its impact on glycemic control among Egyptian population. This study was conducted on 100 Egyptian patients diagnosed asT2DM patients and 100 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic normal controls. All subjects underwent full history taking, thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Detection of rs7020673 polymorphism of GLIS3 gene was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and verified by sanger sequencing. Genotype and allele frequencies of rs7020673 did not differ between case and control groups. Regarding the heterozygous mutant genotype (GC), it was statistically less frequently distributed in diabetic patients (53%) versus controls (67%). Therefore, it can be considered as a negative risk factor for T2DM (OR: 0.5098, 95% CI (0.2827-0.9193), (P< 0.05). In conclusion, our study indicated that the.

Interaction between apolipoprotein E genotyping, serum inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive functions in Egyptian elderly.

There is evidence consistent with the hypothesis that genetic, inflammatory and immune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between Apolipoprotein E (Apo E), serum levels of inflammatory markers, and cognitive functions among elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to elderly with normal cognitive function. 88 participants (≥60 years) from Ain Shams University Hospital were enrolled. They were divided into 3 groups: Group A (32 elderly patients with AD), Group B (32 elderly patients with MCI) and Group C (24 controls with normal cognitive function). All participants were subjected to comprehensive geriatric assessment, Apo E genotyping, measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), by PCR-RFLP, ELIZA and semi-quantitative method respectively. The most common variant of Apo E gene was E3/E3 being more frequent in healthy control group (HC) than the other two groups and the least common variant was E4/E4 detected only in the AD group. ApoE4 allele was associated with 40.6% of AD patients (where 31.4% were heterozygous and 8.6 % homozygous) and 17.1% of MCI patients, whereas ApoE2 was more prevalent in the control group (P<0.05). A significant difference was observed when Mini mental status Examination (MMSE) score in different Apo E alleles was compared (P<0.01). The highest score was associated with (E2/E3) allele whereas, the lowest score was associated with (E4/E4) allele. Regarding inflammatory markers; CRP levels showed a statistically significant difference between the 3 groups and were higher in the AD group than the other 2 groups. (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups as regard ACT level (P>0.05). Carriers of at least one E4 allele showed great risk to develop AD when combined with high CRP serum levels (OR = 36; CI: 11.4-113.7; P< 0.01). In conclusion, Apo E together with CRP may be a useful tool to predict Alzheimer's disease.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SERUM N-TERMINAL PRO C-TYPE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE IN HEPATITIS C-RELATED CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES.

To evaluate the clinical utility of serum levels of N-terminal pro C-type natruretic pep-tide (NT-pro CNP) in patients with hepatitis C related chronic liver disease (CLD), in prospective to disease complications and progression. This study included 66 hepatitis C-related CLD patients with and without ascites and 15 healthy individuals (control group). Serum NT-pro CNP was measured by ELISA. A stepwise progressive increase in NT-pro CNP levels was recorded through controls, patients without ascites and patients with ascites (p< 0.05). In addition, patients with hematemesis or encephalopathy had more than its double values than those without (p<0.01). Moreover, a significant difference was observed in the marker levels among esophageal varcies stages 1, 2, 3 (H=13.679, p=0.001), with highest levels in grade 3. NT-pro CNP correlated positively with alpha fetoprotein (rs =0.455, p=0.008) with no significant correlation neither with MELD nor Child scores (p>0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed the overall performance of the marker in discriminating CLD patients collectively from controls, the optimum cut-off level was 85 ng/L (AUC= 0. 803, sensitivity 84.8%& specificity 53.3%). An increased level of NT-pro CNP is a promising non-invasive marker of hepatitis C related CLD complications and disease progression.

B-cell-attracting chemokine-1 (BCA-1/CXCL13) in systemic lupus erythematosus, its correlation to disease activity and renal involvement.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype of systemic autoimmune disease in which cytokines such as B lymphocyte chemoattractant (BLC or CXCL13) may play important roles in pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the implications of CXCL13 in SLE diagnosis and its correlation with disease activity and renal involvement. The study included 50 adult female patients with SLE and 30 age-matched female healthy individuals serving as a control group. Patients' Group was further subdivided according to disease activity calculated by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). All studied individuals were subjected to assessment of serum CXCL13 by ELISA. A highly significant stepwise progressive increase in CXCL 13 level was recorded through controls, inactive SLE and active disease (P < 0.01). Moreover, it correlated positively with SLEDAI and proteinuria (P < 0.01). At a cut- off level 80 pg/mL, CXCL13 could discriminate active SLE from inactive (AUC = 0.989, sensitivity 100% & specificity 96%). In conclusion, an increased level of CXCL13 is a distinctive feature in SLE. CXCL13 correlates with disease activity and renal involvement.

Neuropathies in hepatitis C-related liver cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: Neurological complications occur in a large number of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and range from peripheral neuropathy to cognitive impairment. We studied the association between neuropathy and HCV-related chronic liver disease. METHOD: Fifty patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease were enrolled in this prospective case-control study. Patients were classified into two groups: mild and severe corresponding to a model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score <14 and a MELD score >14, respectively. Complete neurological examination and nerve conduction studies have been done for all patients. All patients in addition to 25 healthy control subjects were tested for their serum B12 levels. RESULTS: Twenty-two percent of patients had sensory abnormality, 18 % had motor abnormality, while 10 % had both sensory and motor abnormalities. Autonomic function tests and nerve conduction studies revealed that 23 patients (46 %) had evidence of neuropathy and 10 patients (20 %) had both peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Neuropathies were not related to the severity of the liver disease. Serum B12 level had a very wide range among patients with no relation between its level and neuropathy. Vitamin B12 level was significantly and directly correlated to MELD score and age. CONCLUSION: Peripheral and autonomic neuropathy has high prevalence in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease. On the other hand, vitamin B12 level is high in those patients and there is no role for vitamin B12 in the liver cirrhosis-related neuropathy.