Association of neopterin as a marker of immune system activation and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis activity / Associação de neopterina como marcador de ativação do sistema imunológico e atividade da artrite reumatoide juvenil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neopterin plasma concentrations in patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and correlate them with disease activity.METHODS: Sixty patients diagnosed as active JIA, as well as another 60 apparently healthy age- and gender-matched children as controls, were recruited from the Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Ain Shams University. Disease activity was assessed by the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 27 (JADAS-27). Laboratory investigations were performed for all patients, including determination of hemoglobin concentration (Hgb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and neopterin were measured.RESULTS: Significant differences were found between JIA patients and controls with regard to the mean levels of Hgb, ESR, TNF-a, IL-6, and MCP-1 (p < 0.05). A statistically significant higher mean level serum neopterin concentration (p < 0.05) was found in JIA patients (20.43 ± 8.73 nmol/L) than in controls (6.88 ± 2.87 nmol/L) (p < 0.05). Positive significant correlations were detected between serum neopterin and ESR, TNF-a, IL-6, MCP-1, and JADAS-27 (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between serum neopterin and CRP (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that JADAS- 27 and ESR were the main variables associated with serum neopterin in JIA patients (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The elevation of plasma neopterin concentrations in early JIA patients may indicate stimulation of immune response. Serum neopterin can be used as a sensitive marker for assaying background inflammation and disease activity score in JIA patients.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as concentrações plasmáticas de neopterina em pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil (AIJ) ativa e correlacioná-las com a atividade da doença.MÉTODOS: Foram recrutados da clínica de Alergia e Imunologia Infantil da Universidade Ain Shams 60 pacientes diagnosticados com AIJ ativa, bem como 60 crianças aparentemente saudáveis com a mesma idade e o mesmo sexo no grupo de controle. A atividade da doença foi avaliada pelo Escore de Atividade da Doença da Artrite Juvenil em 27 Articulações (JADAS-27). Foram feitas investigações laboratoriais em todos os pacientes, incluindo a determinação da concentração de hemoglobinas, a taxa de sedimentação de eritrócitos e a proteína C-reativa. Foram mensuradas as concentrações séricas do fator de necrose tumoral alfa, interleucina-6 e proteína quimiotática de monócitos-1 e neopterina.RESULTADOS: Foi encontrada uma diferença significativa entre os pacientes com AIJ e os controles quanto às médias de Hb, TSE, FNT-a, IL-6 e MCP-1 (p < 0,05). Foi encontrado um nível estatística e significativamente maior de concentração média de neopterina sérica (p < 0,05) em pacientes com AIJ (valor médio de 20,43 ± 8,73 nmol/L) do que em controles (valor médio de 6,88 ± 2,87 nmol/L) (p < 0,05). Foram detectadas correlações positivas significativas entre a neopterina sérica e TSE, FNT-a, IL-6, MCP-1 e JADAS-27 (p < 0,05). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a neopterina sérica e a PCR (p > 0,05). A análise de regressão linear múltipla mostrou que o JADAS-27 e a TSE foram as principais variáveis associadas à neopterina sérica em pacientes com AIJ (p < 0,05).CONCLUSÃO: A elevação das concentrações plasmáticas de neopterina em pacientes com AIJ precoce pode indicar um estímulo de resposta imune. A neopterina sérica pode ser usada como um indicador sensível para analisar o histórico de inflamações e o escore de atividade da doença em pacientes com AIJ.

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Markers of Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

Increasing evidences link free radicals and oxidative stress to the pathogenesis of diabetes and related complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous coenzyme Q10 supplementation on streptozotocin induced experimental diabetes in rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by single subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin ( 50 mg/kg/ body weight) . Forty male albino rats were used in this study, they were divided into 4 groups: control group, coenzyme Q10 treated group, diabetic group and coenzyme Q10 treated diabetic group. At the end of the experiment (8 weeks) urine samples were collected, rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Significant high levels of blood sugar, glycated Hb, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, advanced oxidative protein products , 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and percent of DNA damage as well as significant low levels of nitric oxide and HDL cholesterol were observed in diabetic group. Significant low levels of blood sugar, glycated Hb, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, advanced oxidative protein products, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and percent of DNA damage as well as significant high levels of nitric oxide and HDL cholesterol were observed in coenzyme Q10 treated diabetic group. The data confirmed the property of coenzyme Q10 as an antioxidant that ameliorates oxidative stress and that it may be used as an additional therapeutic agent for prophylaxis and slowing down the progression diabetic complications.

Oxidant-antioxidant status in Egyptian children with sickle cell anemia: a single center based study / Estado oxidante-antioxidante em crianças egípcias com anemia falciforme: estudo baseado em um único centro

OBJECTIVE: the present study was conducted to investigate the oxidant-antioxidant status in Egyptian children with sickle cell anemia. METHODS: the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAO), paraoxonase (PON), vitamin E, nitrite, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in 40 steady state children with homozygous sickle cell anemia (24 males and 16 females) and 20 apparently healthy age- and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: mean serum TAO, PON, vitamin E, and nitrite levels were significantly lower in the group with sickle cell anemia, whereas mean serum MDA was significantly higher in these children compared to controls. No significant differences in mean levels of TAO, PON, nitrite, vitamin E, and MDA were found in sickle cell anemia patients receiving hydroxyurea when compared with those not receiving hydroxyurea. A significant negative correlation between serum nitrite and the occurrence of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) was observed (r = -0.3, p = 0.04). PON level was found to be positively correlated with patients' weight and BMI (r = -0.4, p = 0.01; r = -0.7, p < 0.001, respectively), but not with frequency of VOC. The area under the curve of serum nitrite in predicting occurrence of VOC was 0.782, versus 0.701 for PON, and 0.650 for TAO (p = 0.006). Serum MDA was not correlated with nitrite, PON, TAO, or vitamin E levels. No significant correlations were detected between serum nitrite and hemoglobin or antioxidant enzymes. CONCLUSION: children with sickle cell anemia have chronic oxidative stress that may result in increased VOC, and decreased serum nitrite may be associated with increases in VOC frequency. A novel finding in this study is the decrease in PON level in these patients, which is an interesting subject for further research. .

OBJETIVO: o presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de investigar o estado oxidante-antioxidante em crianc¸as egípcias com anemia falciforme. MÉTODOS: dosamos os níveis séricos da capacidade antioxidante total (CAT), paraoxonase (PON), vitamina E, nitrito e malondialdeído (MDA) em 40 crianças estáveis com anemia falciforme homozigótica (24 meninos e 16 meninas), e 20 controles pareados por idade/sexo aparente-mente saudáveis. RESULTADOS: os níveis séricos médios da CAT, PON, vitamina E e nitrito foram significativamente menores, ao passo que o nível sérico médio de MDA foi significativamente maior em crianças com anemia falciforme (AF), em comparação aos controles. Não foram encontradasdiferenças significativas nos níveis médios de CAT, PON, nitrito, vitamina E e MDA em pacientescom AF em tratamento com hidroxiureia, em comparação aos que receberam hidroxiureia. Encontramos uma correlação negativa significativa entre o nitrito sérico e a ocorrência decrises vaso-oclusivas agudas (CVO) (r = -0,3, p = 0,04). Descobrimos que o nível de PON está correlacionado positivamente com o peso e o IMC dos pacientes (r = -0,4; p = 0,01; r = -0,7; p < 0,001, respectivamente), porém não com a frequência de CVO. A área sob a curva (ASC) donitrito sérico na previsão da ocorrência de CVO foi 0,782, em comparação a 0,701 para PON e 0,650 para CAT (p = 0,006). O MDA não está correlacionado a nitrito, PON, CAT ou vitamina E. Não foram detectadas correlações significativas entre nitrito sérico e hemoglobina ou enzimas antioxidantes. CONCLUSÃO: crianças com AF apresentam estresse oxidativo crônico que pode resultar emaumento das CVO. Em crianças com AF, a redução nos níveis de ...

Significance of apoptotic markers Bcl-2, CD4+ T cells, hepatocyte growth factor and metalloproteinase -9 in infected patients with HCV.

To examine the possible involvement of human B-cll leukemia /lymphoma 2(Bcl2) , CD 4+ cells , hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and metalloproteinase -9 ( MMP-9), in the development of liver diseases caused by HCV infection, serum activities of these biomarkers were demonstrated by quantitave detemination of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay(ELISA) . Two groups of subjects (60 for each) were examined in this study: healthy control and patients with chronic hepatitis C(HCV) The results showed significant decrease in Bcl-2 (P≤ 0.0001) , and CD 4+ (P≤0.001) , while significant increase in HGF and MMP-9(P≤0.05). These findings imply an influence of these biomarkers by the existence of virus that might influence the following progression of liver disease, and a distinction between the pathological mechanisms of HCV. Since the serum MMP-9 activity were significantly varied between each stage of liver disease, an individual profile of these parameters might serve as an easy accessing serum marker to monitor the progression of liver disease.