Atopic profile of asthmatic children in Bahrain.

This study aimed to define the profile of asthmatic children in Bahrain and the prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens and foods. A total of 95 children who were clinically diagnosed with asthma were enrolled: 71.6% mild, 20.0% moderate and 8.4% severe asthma (NIH criteria). Serum IgE concentrations were elevated (> 200 kU/L) in 21.1% of patients and highly elevated (> 400 kU/L) in 9.5%. Absolute eosinophil counts were elevated (> 350 × 106/L) in 54.8%. Overall, 67.4% of children were atopic; 56.8% were sensitive to inhalant allergens and 39.0% to foods. The atopic profile was generally similar to asthmatic children in the region and worldwide. Conditions significantly associated with atopic asthma included food allergies, allergic rhinitis and eczema.

Atopic profile of asthmatic children in Bahrain

This study aimed to define the profile of asthmatic children in Bahrain and the prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens and foods. A total of 95 children who were clinically diagnosed with asthma were enrolled: 71.6% mild, 20.0% moderate and 8.4% severe asthma [NIH criteria] Serum IgE concentrations were elevated [> 200 kU/L] in 21.1% of patients and highly elevated [> 400 kU/L] in 9.5%. Absolute eosinophil counts were elevated [>350 X 10[6]/L] in 54.8%. Overall, 67.4% of children were atopic; 56.8% were sensitive to inhalant allergens and 39.0% to foods. The atopic profile was generally similar to asthmatic children in the region and worldwide. Conditions significantly associated with atopic asthma included food allergies, allergic rhinitis and eczema

Clinical and histopathological features of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major is a growing public health problem and endemic in many parts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The vector is Phlebotomus papatasi and the animal reservoirs are mainly desert rodents. METHODS: In this prospective study, the clinical and histopathological features of ZCL in 120 patients are described and classified. The majority of these patients (n = 84) were non-Saudi expatriate workers who suffered mostly from multiple and severely inflamed nodulo-ulcerative lesions on the exposed parts of the body. Saudi patients were mainly children (n = 21) with few(1-3) lesions on their limbs or sometimes unique erysipeloid facial lesions. RESULTS: Histopathological grouping of ZCL lesions showed four types of granulomatous reactions based on the predominant types of inflammatory cells, presence or absence of necrosis and ranking of parasitic index. CONCLUSION: A possible correlation between histopathologic evolution of ZCL lesions and the immune status of the host is discussed.

Modulation of the immune response of Balb/c mice against Leishmania major by imuvert.

This study investigated the effect of Imuvert, a biological response modifier derived from Serratia marcescens, on the progression of Leishmania major infection in Balb/c mice. A single 100 micrograms Imuvert injection was significantly protective in Balb/c mice when challenged 28 days later in the footpad with 5 x 10(5) stationary phase L. major promastigotes. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) and intravenous (i.v.) immunization of mice with heat-killed stationary phase L. major promastigotes significantly reduced lesion development following challenge with L. major promastigotes. Subcutaneous (s.c.) immunization had no protective effect. A single 100 micrograms Imuvert injection significantly reduced lesion development in s.c. immunized mice, but had a lesser effect in mice immunized by i.p. and i.v. routes. Balb/c mice receiving four Imuvert injections 14, 7, 2 and 1 day prior to footpad challenge with L. major promastigotes were not protected, but rather displayed significant exacerbation of infection. Our results suggest the possibility that Imuvert could be useful in stimulating a protective response against L. major when given along with s.c. vaccine, a realistic route for vaccinating humans in contrast to either i.v. or i.p. routes. Since the protective response in Balb/c mice against L. major is dependent on the stimulation of Th1 cells, it is suggested that the observed adjuvant effect of Imuvert given with s.c. vaccine perhaps is due to changes in immunological responses in such a direction.

Effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on neutrophil function.

The bactericidal activity of neutrophils depends primarily on free oxygen radicals released by the activation of NADPH oxidase when neutrophils are stimulated by microorganisms. Severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is associated with decreased NADPH production. Increased susceptibility to recurrent bacterial infections in children with severe neutrophil G6PD deficiency as a consequence of decreased NADPH production has been reported earlier. In this study, the in vitro activity of neutrophils from normal and G6PD-deficient individuals was assessed by measuring the [14C]CO2 released via the hexose monophosphate shunt from radiolabeled [1-14C]-glucose and the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction test. Our results show that the G6PD activity of neutrophils from 48 individuals, identified as severely erythrocyte (RBC) G6PD deficient (< 2 U/10(12) RBC) was 23% of the enzyme activity of neutrophils from 53 individuals with normal RBC G6PD levels (98.8 U/10(12) RBC). However, the results of functional assays of neutrophils as measured by hexose monophosphate shunt and the NBT test were comparable in G6PD-deficient and normal individuals, suggesting that a reduced activity of G6PD to as low as 23% of normal does not affect neutrophil function.